1 Samuel 12:1-40
Repent and Worship
16 “Now then, stand
still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes! 17 Is
it not wheat harvest now? I will call upon the Lord to send thunder and rain.
And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when
you asked for a king.”
WE adults often have the opportunity to say, “Yes.” or “No.”
to a child’s request. Sometimes we grant a request even if it’s bad for the
child. There’s something about our hearts that causes us to grant requests that
could harm a child. Perhaps our desire is to have him learn for himself that
his decision is bad so that he will obey us next time.
God gave Israel a
king he didn’t want t hem to have. Samuel reminds them it was “an evil thing”. In
this is an opportunity to show his people their true King.
Thunder and rain
just doesn’t happen in Israel at the end of summer, the time of the wheat
harvest. Samuel actually shows he has more power than Saul because he proclaims
the power of God. Samuel speaks for the Lord of the universe, and God’s
disobedient children suddenly pay attention.
“All the people stood
in awe of Lord and of Samuel” (v 18), and they ask Samuel to pray for them “for
we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.” (v 19).
In response to
their repentance, Samuel says, “Serve the Lord with all your heart.” (v 20) And
he tells them to “consider what great things he has done for you.” (v 24) In
other words, “Give up your sin and worship God.”
Perhaps God has
made his point.
A Moment’s Thought: Consider your requests carefully.
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