Decision Time
1 Samuel 12:1-25
Turn to 1 Samuel 12. What we experience in our Christian lives is the power of God and our human effort. And we have been seeing this in our study thus far, where the people of Israel have asked for a human king, though they have been guided by a divine power, God. And we experience this tension all the time in our lives as well, for we know that God leads and guides and we owe Him all the glory for all He has done for us, yet the Bible never tells us to sit back and not persevere, as we are to give great effort in our Christian lives. And this is the struggle where Israel has found themselves, where God has led them by divine power. And yet we find them wanting human power as they ask for a human king. Is that wrong?
God said in 1 Samuel 8:7, that they have rejected Me as their King, in other words, they have rejected God’s power for human power. Yet we too look to human power, for we may be glad when one leader rules and not another leader, and for good reason. But the tension is still there, that no matter what human leader is in power, God is still on the throne. And human rule and human reign are not necessarily bad, though it can be. John Woodhouse writes that not all human power is always godless. There are times when human power can be very much in line with biblical truth. For to think that all power is corrupt would mean that all fathers are corrupt, or that all bosses are corrupt. We certainly know how important it is for Dads to lead well biblically. And fathers, though they may look to God’s power and be under His authority, they cannot sit back and do nothing but must work hard to lead as God would have them lead. In other words, to lead under God’s authority.
I wish to let you know men that we are beginning a new men’s study on Thursday, Feb 13, which will be a 6-part series running every other week entitled “God’s Call to Leadership,” and it will focus on men leadership in the home, at the workplace, and in the church. We plan to look at the life of Peter and how the Lord invested in him. And then how Peter learned himself to lead. Our time together will be very interactive as we consider how each of us can become a better leader. We will be meeting at the church on those Thursdays PMs from 7-8:30 sharp, and we would love to challenge each man to attend whether young or old. And there is a sign-up sheet in the foyer. And it would be great to have all the men attend, as each session will be very practical, though very challenging. Desiring as men here at Elim for God to work in us, the power of God. But also, we understand that we have lots to learn and to put great effort into leadership.
So, considering the value of men leadership, and knowing the value of godly leadership in a home or in the workplace, or even a godly leader in government. How then are we to consider that human ability versus the leadership of God? We read at the end of chapter 11:
“So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal. There they also offered sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all the men of Israel were exceedingly glad.”
1 Sam 11:15 (LSB)
Here Saul is made king in Gilgal before the Lord. So, now we have a human leader being made king before the ultimate power, God.
“Then Samuel said to all Israel, ‘Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and I have appointed a king over you. So now, here is the king walking before you.’”
1 Sam 12:1-2a (LSB)
Now Israel has been through much thus far in our study. They suffered through some of the evil behaviour of Eli’s sons. They had brought the ark into battle against the Philistines only to be soundly defeated. They had chosen to serve the Baals and the Ashtaroth. So, they certainly come as a battered people and certainly not a squeaky-clean people. Now we could understand from Samuel’s words that he had given into the people, giving them a king when it was declared as something evil and was a rejection of God. Yet it was God who ultimately said, give them their king, Samuel, so he did. And notice here this is a direction (vs 1) to all Israel. This call to the people was to all the people. So, this act by Samuel is really an act of obedience to God. And there is certainly tension here as on one hand, Israel is receiving their king whom they have chosen, and the king whom God has chosen.
“So now, behold, the king whom you have chosen, whom you have asked for, and behold, Yahweh has set a king over you.”
1 Sam 12:13 (LSB)
So, yes, this was the people choosing, yet this king is the king whom the Lord has chosen. So, here we have the inauguration of the new king. Not sure what pomp and pageantry they had arranged. I saw where Mr. Trump’s inauguration they had this wonderful rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, a hymn I mentioned last week. But listen as Samuel goes on in the middle of verse 2:
“‘… but I am old and gray, and behold, my sons are with you. And I have walked before you from my youth even to this day. Here I am; bear witness against me before Yahweh and His anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? I will restore it to you.’ And they said, ‘You have not extorted us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.’ So he said to them, ‘Yahweh is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day that you have found nothing in my hand.’ And they said, ‘He is witness.’”
1 Sam 12:2b-5 (LSB)
Remember this is the same Samuel who was a young boy at the temple. And it would seem that he has been faithful for many years in leading Israel. And though the Lord had told him that the people had not rejected Samuel’s leadership, but that they had rejected the Lord’s leadership, it may be difficult for Samuel not to have taken this personally. But what Samuel is doing in this speech is declaring his honesty as a leader, and therefore, he is able to demand honesty from the people. Verse 3, “Here I am; bear witness against me before Yahweh and His anointed.” In other words, my record was pure and now you have before you the Lord’s anointed, Saul. Therefore, there is an expectation from those who rule well and honestly. That those who follow that leadership would do the same. It is also important for us to learn how Samuel led, for this is the suspicion we may have with human leadership, that they do things for their own benefit and not for others, or that they are secretly corrupt.
I suppose that we could say that many leaders are corrupt and be right. But I would also warn that we do not want to condemn someone simply because we think they are corrupt, maybe a notion we received from an Internet source. I am sure that many had been talking about Samuel, especially after the failure of his sons. It would seem that many spoke improperly about the Apostle Paul, as this would be quite obvious in his defense of himself in 2 Corinthians 10. This would teach us to be discerning and not to be condemning. I have to admit I am always a little skeptical of those who are quick to condemn, or who come down on others by the word of someone they do not even know. Our new way of finding information has somewhat eliminated our need to know the facts and to confront someone, and to spew out a response without really knowing. It’s actually called slander. The Apostle Peter wrote that slander can be categorized alongside such things as intense fury, lying, being a hypocrite, and jealousy. And yet all we have to do is press enter. And it is not good to be so negative. I would not be too excited to have someone so negative about me. John MacArthur wrote:
“People who are cynical and gloomy debilitate everyone they speak to. They’re like bloodsucking leeches. They make people pale, weak, and passive.”
John MacArthur, The Book on Leadership 39
Our men’s group will not be looking at the book on leadership that MacArthur wrote, but I have been scanning through it. And he later spoke about times when he heard negative things about certain people. He said his first instinct is to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume the best of them unless concrete facts prove otherwise. I think those who are cynical, condemning, and suspicious, likely do not have a great view of you either. So, when the people respond to Samuel by saying (vs 5) “He is witness,” they are literally agreeing to all that Samuel has said. This is like our “I do’s.” Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth? I do. Do you take this man or woman for better for worse until death do you part? I do.
“Then Samuel said to the people, ‘It is Yahweh who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt.’”
1 Sam 12:6 (LSB)
He mentions here Moses and Aaron. Now was the leadership of Moses and Aaron free of fault or could we describe it as perfect leadership? No, but it was good leadership. And difficult for Israel to look back on their leadership and not be thankful for it. Unless we sort of sit in a judgmental bubble and feel that no one really adds up to my standards or what I think or have done. Certainly, those who I have mentioned to you before as having a great impact on my life were not perfect. Times when they may have decided on a matter different from me. But it was their commitment to Christ that was the overriding factor that impacted me.
“So now, take your stand, that I may judge you before Yahweh concerning all the righteous acts of Yahweh which He did for you and your fathers. When Jacob went into Egypt and your fathers cried out to Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.”
1 Sam 12:7-8 (LSB)
This emphasizes that the Lord was faithful, and God used His leaders to lead them, but (vs 9) “they forgot Yahweh their God.” That trouble came to Israel, enemies fought against them, and they became buried in their troubles because they did not remember the Lord. Yet (vs 10) when:
“they cried out to Yahweh and said, ‘We have sinned because we have forsaken Yahweh and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve You.’”
1 Sam 12:10 (LSB)
And then notice (vs 11) Yahweh sent leaders, and Samuel mentions them. Certain judges who came to save and rescue Israel. So, what we notice here is a permanent change in the life of Israel. A time when they would fall away from God and then they would cry out to the Lord, and He would send a judge to save and rescue them. Yet this pattern in now ending, as now through a time of faithfulness by the people or a time of falling away, a king will permanently reign over them. Now we cannot read this passage and miss the foolishness of man. For we see a people who flounder at every turn. They serve other gods, yet God forgives them. So, they cry out to God and He hears them. They even reject Him and ask for their own human king and He gives them one. And all this mounting evidence against them, all the foolishness of their choices and craziness in their thinking, yet Samuel says to them (vs 14) that despite all this:
“If you will fear Yahweh and serve Him and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of Yahweh, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow Yahweh your God.”
- Sam 12:14 (LSB)
This is the unexplainable faithfulness of God. Some of your Bibles have added at the end (vs 14), after saying about following the Lord, that if you do all this, it will be well or well for you, which helps a little make sense of this passage. But it is actually not in the original. This passage could be written:
“If you fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God.”
1 Sam 12:14 (Woodhouse)
In other words, though you have done all this sinfulness and rejecting God as king; yet if you serve and obey Him now, both you and the king will follow Him and will do well. Yet (vs 15):
“But if you will not listen to the voice of Yahweh, but rebel against the command of Yahweh, then the hand of Yahweh will be against you, as it was against your fathers.”
1 Sam 12:15 (LSB)
In other words, you have a choice to make here. Do this and this will happen or do this and this will happen. So, this becomes a decision time for Israel. A transition time from judges to kings, and a transition time from rejecting God to serving God. And part of the warning here is that the judgment of God will be on them. In the same way (end vs 15) it was on their fathers. It almost seems that if Israel does not respond to God here this may be the end. That’s the threat.
One of the great warnings here in the Bible for His people is the risk of playing with God, presuming on His longsuffering. And what God does here, is give the people a display of His power. For notice in (vs 16-18) where God sends a thunderstorm during a season when they do not get thunderstorms. And the fact that God told of it beforehand was a further demonstration of His power. To put this in a present-day context, it would be like someone announcing that God had said that we were going to have a massive weather event when it was not on anyone’s radar. And it occurred the very next day exactly as predicted. It would tend to put the fear in us as it did in these people. End of (vs 18), “and all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.” Tomorrow, you are going to have blue skies and sunshine and a high of 25C in Arkona. Admittedly, you would think twice if it happened! And interesting that the fear of God also includes the fear of Samuel. As what the Lord is doing here is pulling together with all the people, Samuel, their new king, and God Himself. And a commitment to obey and serve Him. There is something to be said about unity and commitment, where a people come together to join with God in love, service, and obedience.
I have experienced this a few times over the years. I remember once during youth ministry we were planning a trip to the Pinery for a weekend. And the Pinery has group areas that you could rent for tenting only. And we rented one of the group areas, which had three large campgrounds spread out. So, we had a boys’ section, a girls’section, and a leaders’ section. And we actually did that a few times. Now it was a lot of work, trying to make campers out of many young people who were not campers was always a challenge. We still laugh as some brought coolers with no ice. I am not sure the value in that! And they left doughnuts and chips in tents, after telling them about the coons. And they said, well I had them in a secure plastic bag. We had fun laughing at them actually!
But prior to going on our retreat we met as leaders and we chose about eight senior youth, all from grade twelve. And had them prepare to lead a Bible study and prayer, girls with girls and boys with boys. But we also met with them a few times before the trip. And we did two things: one, we prayed for the weekend; and two, we challenged those leaders to truly dedicate themselves as leaders and consider their own walk with God. And nothing was said about that with the other teens, as no one really knew we were doing this. But what happened was probably one of the most blessed times we had as a youth group, as teens opened up about their relationship with Christ, admitted sins, their struggles at home. There was a unity, a oneness, a commitment, that wasn’t just enjoyed by a few, but by the whole group.
And this is what Samuel is doing here. It is a challenge to the leadership and a challenge to the people, so that the entire group must respond. Now it would be something if the people said, yes, Samuel I know we have done this and we have done that; but we do want a king, so please ask the Lord to bless us. In other words, we are going ahead with this Samuel, but we promise to do better. But they actually go much deeper than that.
“Then all the people said to Samuel, ‘Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil by asking for ourselves a king.’”
1 Sam 12:19 (LSB)
This is really amazing. They say to Samuel, not, pray that the Lord would allow us to have a king; but pray that we would not die. They say to Samuel, not, you’re right Samuel it was dumb that we asked for a king; but they say we have added to all our sins this evil by asking for a king. They experience a true heart of repentance here. And as an aside, it is interesting to think of Saul here, as he is the guy who came into power because of the people’s sin and rejection of God. Not the kind of grand inauguration that David would get later on, but again, we see God’s kindness to them.
Verse 20, “And Samuel said to the people, ‘Do not fear.’” Wow! That would have a powerful impact with the people. “You have committed all this evil.” True! “Yet, yet do not turn aside from following Yahweh.” In other words, don’t do this now!. “But serve Yahweh with all your heart. And you must not turn aside, for then you would go after meaningless things.” Good reminder for us anytime we place life stuff over godly reality. “Which cannot profit and cannot deliver.” Something I need to learn. “Because they are meaningless.” Samuel seems to want to use the word meaningless twice so that we would get it in our little pea brains. This passage is packed. Look at verse 22, as John Piper sometimes will say, put your eyeballs down on this verse. For don’t take my word for it, but see what God has written!
“For Yahweh will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because Yahweh has been pleased to make you a people for Himself”
1 Sam 12:22 (LSB)
Wow! That is a verse that needs up there with some of the greats. This is a refrigerator verse. Remember we said earlier that it seemed that if they did not respond to God here there was the threat of being the end for Israel. But another consideration must be considered here. In fact, there are two things that must be considered apart from the people’s response. “For Yahweh will not abandon His people on account of His great name.” His name must be considered here. “Because Yahweh has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.” And His pleasure must be considered here.
Do you realize the bigness of your faith, your relationship with God? It involves God’s name and God’s pleasure. This is not just about little old Mark Ottaway’s believing in God. This is about God’s name and His pleasure in choosing you as part of a people. Don’t narrow your view of salvation as this little one-sided event. For the God of the universe chose a people for Himself. Why? Because He wanted to, it was His desire. This is like children who get adopted. Why were you adopted? Because Mom and Dad wanted to. It was their pleasure, it was their heart. God called a people because God desired a people that included you. And God called you because God desired you.
“Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and upright way. Only fear Yahweh and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for see what great things He has done for you.”
1 Sam 12:23-24 (LSB)
Well, we again come to this time of lessons in our study this morning, instruction from God through His Word. And I would call lessons a practical application of God’s Word, But these this morning are more like principles. Things that we need to know from God’s Word. Firm statements coming from God’s Word. So, I want to leave you with four principles.
- Though God calls individuals—there are times when God calls a people to Himself.
And that is the case here in this story as the Lord was calling to all the people. Verse 1, Samuel said to all the people. And these Old Testament stories are for our benefit and learning today. So, this too is written for all of us individually. This is something that you cannot hide from, as God has placed in every heart the responsibility to serve Him and to worship Him. God calls to you this morning because God is calling to all the people.
- Though we grow as leaders and it is a blessing to lead—pure leadership is to be unselfish and therefore a true blessing to others.
And do not pass this one aside thinking I am not a leader. As we are all called to be leaders in some form or another. Husbands leading wives and family, mothers leading children. And we all lead by example, good or bad in some form or another. In our men’s study, one of the chapters addressed C. S. Lewis’ teaching that even love for others can be so tainted. And it struck me to examine my own intentions when leading. He said that we can love someone and yet our affection can be possessive, easily injured, it can be manipulating, wanting its own way. I am the pastor here for my benefit, or I lead this ministry, whatever it might be at Elim, because it fulfills my needs. Or as a Mom or Dad, I may love, but I am desperate to be needed by my kids. And I use the term “pure leadership” in the principle, because I do look at leadership as a privilege from God, but the focus needs to be for the benefit of those I am leading and not primarily for my needs or my benefit.
If you asked me, Mark, what was one of the greatest blessings in your life? And I would quickly answer, being a Dad. Having young kids at home and teens at home was a complete joy. If the Lord said Mark, do you want to do this again I would say yes, yes! You know in the tragedy of Job that we read a few weeks ago in our church read. He goes through all that suffering after losing his kids. But there was a blessing there, he got to do it over again as the Lord gave him seven more sons and three more daughters. And being a pastor for me is a dream come true. There is not an ounce of disappointment in my life that I can do what I do here at Elim. But I always need to self-examine that it is for the Lord and you that I do this, and not for me, though it is such a blessing. For pure leadership needs to be unselfish and for the benefit to others.
- Though man is often foolish—God is faithful.
I believe we could all state that there have been many times in our lives when we too have acted foolishly. Now it may be something that was very damaging to you: some kind of physical relationship prior to marriage; some bondage to drugs or alcohol; some kind of bad behaviour toward your children; some kind of complete unkindness toward someone at home, at work, at church; some misjudgment where you look back and think, I was completely wrong; or something that you may have done even last week or yesterday that really betrays who you are as a believer. And you so wish that you could redo it properly next time.
But here is what we learn from this story, God is still faithful. And you may have to live with that decision or action, but it does not eliminate you from serving and loving God. And I say that you may have to live with that decision or action, because in this case, God made them deal with their decision, King Saul, but God did not abandon them. True, some wrong decisions, some foolish decisions will have ongoing consequences that God may not release you from, but He will still walk with you. Maybe you married someone that is a great challenge. Maybe you chose foolishly, and you cannot release yourself from that, but God will walk with you as you honour that commitment. Maybe you have severed a tie with a child that as you look back was partly your fault, and though you try, you may never be able to completely enjoy that relationship again to its fullest, but God will still forgive and walk with you. Because though man is often foolish, God is faithful.
- Though God is gracious and forgiving—we should not presume on His goodness.
We saw this in the repentance of these people as they make no excuses for their sin, as they do not downplay it, but they call it what it is. And there are many warnings in the Bible about presuming on God’s goodness, as Samuel warns them here in (vs 25):
“But if you still do wickedly, both you and your king will be swept away.”
1 Sam 12:25 (LSB)
We see such warnings in the New Testament as in the book of Hebrews it says:
“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.”
Heb 10:26-27 (LSB)
Though God is gracious and forgiving—we should not presume on His goodness. This passage in 1 Samuel 12 is a passage of decision. And it is true that we may come to faith in Christ, but over that period, there may be times when we find ourselves drifting from Him. And if we could describe this chapter in a concluding way, we might describe it as a time to make a decision, or maybe a time to get serious with God. And maybe for you, you have never truly received Christ as Saviour and Lord, never truly repenting of your sins and ask Him for forgiveness, never truly desired to serve Him all the days of your life.
Or maybe you are a believer this morning, yet it is a time to get serious with God. I certainly have had times in my own life, when the Lord sort of grabbed a hold of my arm along the way, and I am thankful that He did. And maybe you have been doing some presuming on God, or you have been running after some things that are sinful or things that could be described as meaningless, and you know that you need to get serious with God. You know, if there is a battle going on in your heart, don’t ignore it. In fact, it would be good to speak with me this morning or another elder, or an elder’s wife and ask them to be thinking about you and praying for you. Let’s pray. Lord, you desire our hearts. Thank You that You do not give up on us, that You do not let us go, though we can be so foolish at times, but You are faithful. We praise You for Your goodness to us. May we live to make You look good before a lost world. And all God’s people said, amen.