Sapate Tisema 12, 2021
Indeed I have heeded your voice in all that you said to me
Ko eni kuo u fakaongo kiate kimoutolu ‘i he me‘a kotoa pē
1 Samiuela 12 (1 Samuel 12)
(v. 1-3) PEA lea ‘a Sāmiuela ki ‘Isileli kātoa ‘o pehē, Ko eni kuo u fakaongo kiate kimoutolu ‘i he me‘a kotoa pē na‘a mou lea ai kiate au, pea kuo u fakanofo hamou tu‘i. Pea vakai ko e tu‘i ena ‘oku laka ‘i homou ‘ao: pea ko au kuo u motu‘a mo hinā; ka ko ‘eku fānau ena ‘oku ‘iate kimoutolu: pea kuo u taka ‘i homou ‘ao talu ‘eku talavou ‘o a‘u ki he ‘aho ni. Ko au eni: mou fakamo‘oni kiate au ‘i he ‘ao ‘o Sihova, pea ‘i he ‘ao ‘o ‘ene pani; ko e pulu ‘o hai kuo u to‘o? Pe ko e ‘asi ‘o hai kuo u ‘ave? Pea ko hai ha taha kuo u fakahekeheke‘i? Mo hai ha taha kuo u fakamālohi‘i? Pe kuo u tali mei he nima ‘o hai ha koloa ke fakakuikui ‘aki au? ka u fakafoki ia kiate kimoutolu.
(v. 1-3) Now Samuel said to all Israel: “Indeed I have heeded your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you. And now here is the king, walking before you; and I am old and grayheaded, and look, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”
G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible
At the confirmation of the king appointed by God by the consent of the nation, Samuel delivered what was practically his last address to them.
It was of the nature of a farewell message, in which was there a touch of pathos in his speaking of his past relation with the people.
He first challenged them as to his conduct during the period in which he had walked before them, and then proceeded solemnly to warn them, in view of the new departure in their history now taking place.
In a rapid survey of that history he reminded them of two things; first, the consistent faithfulness of God; and, second, their constant failure. The incident is full of dramatic force as Samuel, in the presence of Saul, charged people with having sinned, in that they had sought a king; and it is the more remarkable because he so spoke to them as to bring home a consciousness of wrong.
However, the thing was done, and he now charged them still to serve and follow Jehovah, and promised tenderly that he would continue to pray for them and instruct them in the right way. His final word was to warn them that if they continued in their waywardness their king would not be able to save them.
It is evident how clear Samuel's vision was of the fundamental truth concerning the people-that they were, and could be, great only as they remained a people governed by God and obedient to Him.
David Guzik :: Study Guide for 1 Samuel 12
After the victory of Saul over the Ammonites in 1 Samuel 11, Samuel knew the nation would now begin to look to this king for leadership. Here he helped Israel make the transition from Samuel’s leadership to Saul’s leadership. Samuel made this clear when he said, “now here is the king” and “I am old and gray headed.” Samuel told Israel that his day was over, and Saul’s day was beginning.
It is true that Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life (1 Samuel 7:15), but now that a king was raised up, his role would change and diminish. Samuel never officially “stepped down” from leading Israel as a judge, but didn’t allow his shadow to eclipse Saul. Perhaps he knew Saul would have enough trouble on his own and Samuel didn’t want to be accused of subverting Saul’s reign as king.
In this, Samuel showed himself as a truly godly man. He was willing to pass from the scene when God brought up another leader. Samuel did not grasp onto a position when God wanted to change it.
Indeed I have heeded your voice in all that you have said to me: Samuel wanted it clearly known that it was not his idea to appoint a king over Israel. This idea began in the hearts of Israel, not in the heart and mind of God. God allowed it and directed its execution, but it was the voice of the people that prompted it.
My sons are with you: In 1 Samuel 8:1-5, Samuel was challenged to take his sons out of leadership in Israel because they were not godly men. Though it must have been difficult, he did it. The words my sons are with you are proof; Samuel’s sons were simply a part of the assembly of Israel and not “up on the platform” with Samuel.
“It is generally agreed that these words intimate [imply] that Samuel had deprived them of their public employ, and reduced them to a level with the common people.” (Clarke)
I have walked before you from my childhood to this day: Samuel remembered his humble beginnings as a child, dedicated to the Lord and serving Israel and the Lord at the tabernacle (1 Samuel 2:18; 3:1).
I have walked before you is not the idea “I have been on display before you.” Instead, it is the idea of a shepherd walking before his flock, leading it on. Samuel was a godly leader and shepherd for Israel these many years.
Witness against me before the Lord: Samuel reminded them that he had not defrauded or oppressed or been corrupt in anyway. He simply challenged the nation: “If I have wronged you or been corrupt, come forward now and declare it.”
Samuel wanted the nation to know that he passed a good legacy of leadership to the new king Saul. He wanted Israel to recognize that he didn’t hand Saul a mess to clean up. If Saul proved to be a poor leader no one could say it was because of Samuel’s bad example.
I will restore it: It seems as if Samuel meant, “I may have wronged someone without knowing it. If that is the case, state it now, so I can make it right. I don’t want to leave any unfinished business.” This testified to Samuel’s humble heart.
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