1 SamuelChapter 12
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1Then Samuel spoke to all Israel. He said, "I have listened to you. I have done everything you asked me to do. I have put a king over you. 2Now you have a king to lead you. As for me, I am old and gray. My sons are here with you. I have led you from the time I was young until today. 3Here I am. Speak against me in front of the LORD and in front of his anointed king. Have I taken anyone's ox or donkey? Have I cheated anyone or been cruel to anyone? Have I taken a bribe from anyone to look the other way? If I have, tell me, and I will pay it back." 4They answered, "You have not cheated us or been cruel to us. You have not taken anything from anyone." 5Samuel said to them, "The LORD is a witness against you today. His anointed king is also a witness. They have seen that you found nothing wrong in my hands." "He is a witness," they said. 6Then Samuel said to the people, "The LORD is the one who chose Moses and Aaron. He brought your people of long ago up out of Egypt. 7So now, stand here. I am going to face you in front of the LORD. I will tell you all the righteous acts he did for you and your people of long ago. 8Jacob went down to Egypt. Later your people cried out to the LORD. So he sent Moses and Aaron. They brought your people out of Egypt and settled them in this place. 9But they forgot the LORD their God. So he handed them over to Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor. He also handed them over to the Philistines and to the king of Moab. These all fought against them. 10Then they cried out to the LORD. They said, 'We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now save us from our enemies, and we will serve you.' 11So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel. He saved you from the enemies all around you. And you lived in safety. 12But then you saw Nahash king of the Ammonites coming to attack you. So you said to me, 'No, we want a king to rule over us.' But the LORD your God was your king! 13So now here is the king you chose. You asked for him. See, the LORD has put a king over you. 14If you fear the LORD, serve him, and obey him, and if you don't go against his commands, and if you and the king who rules over you both follow the LORD your God, then all will go well. 15But if you don't obey the LORD, and you go against his commands, his hand will be against you. It will be against you just as it was against your people of long ago. 16So now stand still and watch this great thing the LORD is about to do right in front of your eyes! 17It is wheat harvest time now, isn't it? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see what a great evil you did in the LORD's eyes when you asked for a king." 18So Samuel called to the LORD. That same day the LORD sent thunder and rain. Then all the people were very afraid of the LORD and of Samuel. 19They begged Samuel, "Pray to the LORD your God for us, your servants, so we won't die! We have added one more evil to all our sins. We asked for a king." 20Samuel answered, "Don't be afraid. Yes, you have done all this evil. But don't turn away from following the LORD. Serve the LORD with all your heart. 21Don't turn away to go after worthless things. They can't help you or save you. They are empty. 22The LORD will not leave his people, for the sake of his great name. He will not, because he was pleased to make you his very own people. 23As for me, I will never sin against the LORD by stopping my prayers for you. I will keep on teaching you the good and right way to live. 24Most of all, fear the LORD. Serve him faithfully with all your heart. Think about the great things he has done for you. 25But if you keep on doing evil, you and your king will be swept away."