1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

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46 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 Editiondiscipline to come would be a result of the sin of the people, not Samuel. Furthermore byhis life and ministry among them Samuel had given the people no reason for demanding aking. He was also seeking to vindicate the type of rule he represented that was God's willfor Israel then."Here, as in 8:11-18, a keyword is the verb take: if kingship was to becharacterized by the tendency to take rather than to give, it was otherwisewith the prophet. As he stepped down from high office, Samuel's handswere empty (verse 5)." 141Samuel's review of God's faithfulness 12:6-12Neither had God given the people occasion to demand a king. He had delivered them inthe past from all their enemies when they confessed their sins, repented, and sought Hishelp. They had been unfaithful to God and had disobeyed His Law, but He remainedfaithful to His commitment and promises to them.Samuel's challenge to obey God 12:13-18The Hebrew grammatical construction translated "the king whom you have chosen,whom you have asked for" (v. 13) shows that the people had not just requested a king butdemanded him out of strong self-will. The key to Israel's future blessing would be herfearing Yahweh, serving Him, listening to His voice through the Mosaic Law and theprophets, and not rebelling against His commands (v. 14). The major message of theBooks of Samuel thus comes through again clearly in Samuel's final words to the nation,as we would expect. For the Israelites, obedience to the Mosaic Covenant would result infertility of all kinds (cf. Deut. 28:1-14).God confirmed the truth of Samuel's words supernaturally when He sent rain during thewheat harvest, the driest period of the year. The rain symbolized the blessing of God forobedience (cf. Deut. 28:12). This storm was a sign that Yahweh was supporting Samuel.However, coming at this time of the year, it proved to be judgmental, since farmers donot appreciate rain during harvests, and a warning of future potential judgment.Samuel's reassurance of the people 12:19-25The people's rebellion against God was not something they could undo. Consequenceswould follow. Nevertheless Samuel counseled them to follow and serve the Lordfaithfully from then on. They should not fear that God would abandon them because oftheir sin of demanding a king. He would not cast them off because He had promised tostay with them and had committed Himself to them (Exod. 19:5-6). His name (reputation)would suffer if He abandoned them.Not only did the Israelites need to walk in obedience to God, they also needed thesupportive intercession of Samuel that would bring down God's enablement so they could141 David Payne, pp. 57-58.
2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 47follow Him faithfully. This Samuel promised them too. Intercession is a vitally importantministry of leaders of God's people, and Samuel realized this (Jer. 15:1; Ps. 99:6)."Prophetic intercession is regarded as essential to Israel's continuedprosperity; only when her doom is sealed is a prophet told to desist (Je.11:14; 14:11). Samuel's ministry of intercession and teaching, exercisedindependently of the offices of state, becomes the norm for those whofollowed him in the prophetic succession. These are 'the irreducibleaspects of the prophetic office' (McCarter, p. 219)." 142To fear and serve God faithfully the Israelites would need to remember God's faithfulnessto them in the past and to bear in mind the certain consequences of disobedience (cf.Deut. 28:41, 64-64; 30:15-20). The dark alternative was being swept away in exile.This chapter sets forth clearly the basic principles by which God deals with His people.As such it is very important. It explains why things happened as they did in Israel and inthe personal lives of the major characters that the writer emphasized. God articulatedthese principles earlier in Torah, but He repeated them here.In chapters 8—12 the record emphasizes that even though the people insisted on having aking, God gave them one who was personally admirable and victorious in battle.Everything about Saul in these chapters is positive. God gave blessing to His people aslong as their representative submitted to His authority.C. KINGSHIP REMOVED FROM SAUL CHS. 13—15This section documents Saul's disobedience to the revealed will of God that resulted inhis disqualification as Israel's king. Saul's failure proved to be God's instrument ofdiscipline on the people as a whole because they demanded a king. Failure followeddisregard for God's Word.Baldwin expressed well the situation Saul faced as he began to reign."In relation to Samuel, it is obvious that Saul had a problem. On the onehand he owed his appointment to Samuel, but on the other hand he wastaking over Samuel's position as Israel's leader. Samuel spoke frequentlyof the wickedness of the people in requesting a king, apparently implyingthat he, Saul, should not really be in office. Yet Saul had not sought to beking, and would have preferred, at least at first, to have been left inobscurity, but he had not been offered any option. Too many signs hadbeen given that he was the person of God's appointment, and prayers fordeliverance from the Ammonites had been marvelously answered. He wasking by divine anointing, by God's overruling of the sacred lot, and byunited popular demand. He had caught the imagination of the people, whowanted a hero, and against all odds he was expected to pass muster.142 Gordon, p. 130. His quotation is from P. Kyle McCarter Jr., I Samuel.
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