Inevitably leaders move on. Either events force them to move on, a replacement steps forward, or it is time for them to step back. This is true in the church, business, charities, and government. None of us lead forever.
The anointing of Saul as king meant the end of one age of leadership, and the start of another. Samuel, as the last of Israel’s judges, was stepping down from leadership as Saul stepped up as Israel’s first king. In this speech, Samuel reminded Israel of their obligations, Israel responded with forgiveness for their past sins, and they received an assurance of God’s promises and Samuel’s help as a mediator.
After Saul’s leadership of Israel to victory over Ammon, Samuel and the people renewed the vows of obedience they had made to Saul as the king God had given them. At the same time, it was appropriate for Samuel to take a step into the background.
Samuel began by reminding them that he had bent to their wishes and appointed a king, despite his previous counsel against this (vv.1-2). He also defended his ministry among them, reminding them that he had not enriched himself at their expense, and asking them to witness before God that this was true (vv.3-5). Samuel knew that people often come to resent their leaders, because they start to act corruptly.
The reason for this was not to ensure a good telling for Samuel in the history books, but because Samuel wanted it clear that Israel’s request for a king was sinful. Calling on God as witness, Samuel reminded Israel of God’s goodness to Israel from the days of Moses in Egypt (vv.6-8).
Despite this, Israel had sinned and forgotten God’s goodness, and so endured times of discipline for their unfaithfulness to God’s covenant, as we read in Judges (vv.9-11). Most recently, Nahash king of Ammon had loomed as a threat over them, and had apparently been the prompt to have a king to unite around (v.12).
Since it was similarly sinful behaviour that meant God sent Nahash to attack Israel, it becomes clear in the text that Saul’s appointment as king was a form of judgement by God on Israel (v.13)!
The message for Israel was clear. They needed to repent. Even though sin had led them to that place, if they were faithful to God through fearing, obeying, and serving him, all would go well (v.14). If not, trouble would come for them and their king (v.15).
To demonstrate these were not empty words, Samuel called on God to send unseasonable thunder and rain (it was wheat harvest season, no rain was usually forecast) to show these threats were real (vv.16-18).
The terrified people called on Samuel to intercede for them, “for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king” (v.19). The act of God led directly to a confession of sin, and a request for someone to mediate with God.
To this, Samuel offered them grace. He told them not to be afraid (v.20), and instead to repent and follow God “with all your heart” and forsake the empty promises of this world (vv.21).
They could do this because God is faithful to his promises, and would not forsake his people (v.22). He would save his people as he promised. God can be relied on.
Samuel also would remain among them, praying for them and continuing to teach them “the good and the right way” (v.23). While no longer a judge, he would remain a prophet among them.
Ultimately, king or no king, the problem was one of sin. Their eternal destiny would be decided by whether they followed God in faith, or continued to sin and would be “swept away” in judgement (vv.24-5).
These words for Israel are words for us too. Our eternal destiny relies on whether we repent of our sins and seek to fear, obey, and serve God, or carry on after this world’s empty promises.
God’s goodness and his graciousness are presented to us in the Bible, which shows us how God has been faithful to his people, even when they have not been faithful to him. God is someone we can rely on, but not someone we can take advantage of.
Notice in all this that Samuel did not prioritise himself, but God. Like Samuel, we too should place God first. The holiness of life we pursue is not to justify ourselves, but to glorify God and demonstrate we are his disciples, led by and trusting in him.
It also reminds us of the need for a mediator. For Israel, that man was Samuel. But even Samuel was a sinner, and needed forgiveness from God. Samuel needed a mediator too, that he looked forward to in faith.
That mediator was Jesus, our great mediator (1 Tim 2:5). Samuel’s leadership ended, and his prophetic and priestly ministry too, but Jesus’ ministry is eternal (Hebrews 7). If we call on Jesus, we will enjoy God’s eternal grace.
