Study 14: 1 Samuel 12 : Trent Evans

In this sermon on 1 Samuel 12, listeners are guided through Samuel’s farewell address, where he recounts Israel’s history of deliverance and their repeated cycles of disobedience, urging the people to remember God’s faithfulness and warning them against trusting in human strength over God’s sovereignty. Samuel calls Israel to revere the Lord and obey His commands, emphasizing that neither a king nor human schemes can replace dependence on God. He demonstrates the importance of personal, not merely corporate, faith by contrasting Israel’s outward religiosity with genuine heart devotion. Ultimately, the sermon challenges believers to pursue a life of integrity, rooted in repentance, continual prayer, and unwavering trust in God’s righteous character, encouraging deep reflection on how obedience and remembrance of God’s past faithfulness shape present and future faithfulness.

Sermon Outline

1️⃣ Introduction and Context

🕰️ 00:00–03:00

• Samuel gathers Israel at Gilgal during a moment of celebration.

• Introduces the transition from judges to monarchy (1 Samuel 12:1).

• Highlights Samuel’s lifelong service.

2️⃣ The Recap: Israel’s Recent Deliverance

🕰️ 03:00–08:00

• Recounts Saul’s victory over Nahash, king of the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11).

• Emphasizes God’s hand in the miraculous crossing of 330,000 men across the Jordan.

3️⃣ Samuel’s Testimony of Integrity

🕰️ 12:00–19:00

• Samuel publicly invites judgment of his leadership: “Here I am; bear witness against me…” (1 Samuel 12:3–4).

• Calls for any evidence of corruption or injustice; the people affirm his faithfulness.

4️⃣ God, Not Man, is Israel’s True Deliverer

🕰️ 26:00–29:00

• Samuel reviews Israel’s history: from Moses to the judges like Gideon (Jerubbaal), Barak, Jephthah, and himself (1 Samuel 12:6–11).

• Points to God’s consistent deliverance despite Israel’s forgetfulness.

5️⃣ Israel’s Rejection of God as King

🕰️ 33:00–36:00

• Despite God’s past faithfulness, Israel demands a human king after seeing Nahash’s threat (1 Samuel 12:12).

• Fear and faithlessness led them to trust in earthly power.

6️⃣ Conditional Blessing: The Big “If”

🕰️ 38:00–39:40

• Samuel declares: “If you fear the Lord…then all will be well” (1 Samuel 12:14).

• Highlights the key conditional promises tied to obedience for both people and king.

7️⃣ Supernatural Confirmation: Thunder and Rain

🕰️ 41:40–44:00

• Samuel calls on God for thunder and rain during harvest—a supernatural sign (1 Samuel 12:16–18).

• The unusual storm confirms God’s displeasure at Israel’s request for a king.

8️⃣ Israel’s Repentance and Samuel’s Call to Faithfulness

🕰️ 44:00–48:40

• People plead with Samuel: “Pray to the Lord your God for us” (1 Samuel 12:19).

• Samuel urges personal faith, not mere corporate identification: each must know God individually.

9️⃣ The Mercy of God

🕰️ 51:00–53:30

• Despite Israel’s sin, God remains faithful: “For the sake of His great name…the Lord will not abandon His people” (1 Samuel 12:22).

• Encouragement to trust in God’s enduring covenant love.

🔟 Samuel’s Charge: Fear, Serve, Remember

🕰️ 57:00–59:30

• Final exhortation: “Fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully…consider what great things He has done” (1 Samuel 12:24).

• A warning: persistence in evil will bring judgment upon both people and king (1 Samuel 12:25).

Scripture References

1️⃣ 1 Samuel 11 (Recap)

🕰️ 03:00–08:00

• Describes Nahash besieging Jabesh Gilead, Saul rallying Israel, and God’s deliverance.

• Used to set up why Israel was gathered at Gilgal and Samuel’s context for addressing the nation.

2️⃣ 1 Samuel 12:1–4

🕰️ 12:00–19:00

• Samuel declares he has appointed a king (Saul) and invites Israel to judge his integrity.

• Highlights Samuel’s transparency and integrity as a spiritual leader.

3️⃣ 1 Samuel 8:4–5 (Implied)

🕰️ 14:00–16:00

• Israel’s elders previously demanded a king because Samuel was old, and his sons were corrupt.

• Samuel reminds them he heard their complaints, and now they have what they asked for.

4️⃣ 1 Samuel 3:19–20

🕰️ 19:00–20:15

• Describes how Samuel grew, and God let none of his words fall to the ground.

• Used to establish Samuel’s lifelong credibility and prophetic authority.

5️⃣ James 4:4

🕰️ 24:48–25:55

• “Friendship with the world means enmity against God.”

• Emphasizes that aligning with worldly values puts one in opposition to God—used as a warning to Israel (and us) about misplaced trust.

6️⃣ 1 Samuel 12:6–11

🕰️ 26:58–33:00

• Samuel recounts God’s righteous acts: raising Moses, Aaron, judges like Gideon (Jerubbaal), Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel himself.

• Demonstrates God’s repeated faithfulness despite Israel’s disobedience.

7️⃣ Deuteronomy 17:14–15

🕰️ 46:37–47:36

• God foresaw Israel asking for a king but required it to be one He chose (an Israelite, not a foreigner).

• Clarifies the issue wasn’t wanting a king, but distrusting God and shifting hope to human power.

8️⃣ 1 Samuel 12:14–15

🕰️ 38:54–39:39

• Conditional blessing: “If you fear the Lord and serve Him…then all will be well.”

• Shows obedience, not monarchy, determines Israel’s success.

9️⃣ 2 Timothy 4:3

🕰️ 40:42–41:55

• “People will not put up with sound doctrine…will gather teachers to suit their own desires.”

• Parallels Israel’s rejection of God for a king with modern rejection of truth for comfort.

🔟 Proverbs 26:1

🕰️ 42:43–43:28

• “Snow in summer or rain in harvest” used to explain how the thunderstorm Samuel called was a miraculous sign, since rain was unnatural during harvest.

1️⃣1️⃣ 1 Samuel 12:16–18

🕰️ 41:55–44:00

• Samuel calls on God; thunder and rain come instantly, confirming Samuel’s words.

• Reinforces God’s authority behind Samuel’s message.

1️⃣2️⃣ 1 Samuel 12:19–22

🕰️ 44:32–51:00

• Israel confesses their sin; Samuel assures them God will not abandon them for His name’s sake.

• Encourages repentance and highlights God’s mercy.

1️⃣3️⃣ 1 Samuel 12:23–24

🕰️ 53:30–57:58

• Samuel vows to continue praying and teaching Israel.

• Concludes with a call to “fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully…consider what great things He has done.”

Word Study

1️⃣ Fear (of the Lord)

• Language & Source: Hebrew (Old Testament)

• Hebrew Word: יָרֵא (yare’)

• Strong’s Number: H3372

• Pronunciation: yaw-RAY

📘 Definitions:

• Simple: To fear, revere, or stand in awe.

• Extended: Expresses a profound respect and reverence that recognizes God’s power, majesty, and authority; not terror, but an attitude of humble worship.

🔄 Synonyms / Antonyms:

• Synonyms: kabad (H3513, “honor”), chared (H2729, “tremble”).

• Antonyms: bazah (H959, “despise”), qashah (H7185, “harden”).

📖 Key Bible Uses:

• Proverbs 9:10 — “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

• Deuteronomy 10:12 — “What does the Lord your God require of you but to fear the Lord your God…”

• Psalm 111:10 — “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…”

✨ Reflection:

Samuel charges Israel in 1 Samuel 12:24 to “fear the Lord” as the foundation for faithfulness. This word anchors the sermon’s theme: reverence for God is the starting point of obedience, dependence, and relationship, calling us to view God with holy awe rather than casual indifference.

2️⃣ Serve

• Language & Source: Hebrew (Old Testament)

• Hebrew Word: עָבַד (avad)

• Strong’s Number: H5647

• Pronunciation: ah-VAHD

📘 Definitions:

• Simple: To work or serve.

• Extended: Implies worshipful service, devotion, or labor done under authority; reflects both external acts (service) and inward devotion.

🔄 Synonyms / Antonyms:

• Synonyms: sharath (H8334, “minister”), abad (H5647, alternate form).

• Antonyms: marad (H4775, “rebel”), azab (H5800, “forsake”).

📖 Key Bible Uses:

• Joshua 24:15 — “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

• Exodus 23:25 — “You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water…”

• Deuteronomy 13:4 — “You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him…”

✨ Reflection:

In 1 Samuel 12:24, “serve Him faithfully with all your heart” is a call to total devotion. Samuel’s emphasis on serving connects obedience with active, wholehearted participation in God’s purposes, underscoring that faith is not passive but requires continual commitment.

3️⃣ Remember

• Language & Source: Hebrew (Old Testament)

• Hebrew Word: זָכַר (zakar)

• Strong’s Number: H2142

• Pronunciation: zah-KAHR

📘 Definitions:

• Simple: To remember or recall.

• Extended: To call to mind with purpose; in Scripture, it often implies not just mental recollection but acting in response to what is remembered.

🔄 Synonyms / Antonyms:

• Synonyms: shamar (H8104, “keep”), yada (H3045, “know”).

• Antonyms: shakach (H7911, “forget”), nashah (H5382, “neglect”).

📖 Key Bible Uses:

• Deuteronomy 8:2 — “You shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you…”

• Psalm 77:11 — “I will remember the deeds of the Lord…”

• Ecclesiastes 12:1 — “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth…”

✨ Reflection:

Throughout Samuel’s speech (1 Samuel 12:6–12), remembering God’s past faithfulness is a key refrain. Samuel warns Israel not to fall into spiritual amnesia. This word invites believers to rehearse and act upon God’s deeds, reinforcing trust, gratitude, and faith in present circumstances.

Reflection Questions

1️⃣ When Samuel challenged Israel to judge his life, he showed transparency and integrity (1 Samuel 12:3-4). How does your life reflect your faith to those around you? Are there areas you need to surrender or change?

2️⃣ Samuel recounted God’s repeated faithfulness despite Israel’s forgetfulness (1 Samuel 12:6-11). What moments of God’s provision or deliverance in your life do you need to remember today?

3️⃣ In what ways do you see fear—healthy reverence or unhealthy worry—shaping your relationship with God right now? How can you grow in a holy fear of the Lord?

4️⃣ Samuel warned Israel about trusting in human strength over God (1 Samuel 12:12-13). Where are you tempted to rely on your own plans instead of God’s guidance?

5️⃣ The sermon emphasized serving God wholeheartedly (1 Samuel 12:24). What would wholehearted service look like in your daily routines, relationships, or church involvement?

6️⃣ Thunder and rain during harvest confirmed God’s word (1 Samuel 12:16-18). How does God confirm His truth in your life today? Are you attentive to His signs or voice?

7️⃣ Israel’s repentance shows the power of acknowledging sin (1 Samuel 12:19-20). Is there an area in your life needing confession and a fresh start with God?

8️⃣ Samuel’s commitment to pray for Israel reminds us of intercession (1 Samuel 12:23). Who is God calling you to pray for persistently?

9️⃣ Reflect on the statement “Fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully” (1 Samuel 12:24). What distractions or “worthless things” (v. 21) do you need to let go of to do this?

🔟 How does remembering God’s faithfulness give you courage to trust Him with your present struggles or fears?