1Samuel 12 - Prayer Tents

Samuel’s Farewell Address

12Then Samuel addressed all Israel: "I have done as you asked and given you a king.H8050H559H3478H8085H6963H559H4427H4428 2Your king is now your leader. I stand here before you—an old, gray-haired man—and my sons serve you. I have served as your leader from the time I was a boy to this very day.H4428H1980H6440H2204H7867H1121H1980H6440H5271H3117 3Now testify against me in the presence of the LORD and before his anointed one. Whose ox or donkey have I stolen? Have I ever cheated any of you? Have I ever oppressed you? Have I ever taken a bribe and perverted justice? Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong."H6030H3068H4899H7794H3947H2543H3947H6231H7533H3027H3724H5956H5869H7725 4"No," they replied, "you have never cheated or oppressed us, and you have never taken even a single bribe."H559H6231H7533H3947H3972H376H3027 5"The LORD and his anointed one are my witnesses today," Samuel declared, "that my hands are clean." "Yes, he is a witness," they replied.H559H3068H5707H4899H5707H3117H4672H3972H3027H559H5707 6"It was the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron," Samuel continued. "He brought your ancestors out of the land of Egypt.H8050H559H5971H3068H6213H4872H175H5927H1H5927H776H4714 7Now stand here quietly before the LORD as I remind you of all the great things the LORD has done for you and your ancestors.H3320H8199H6440H3068H6666H3068H6213H1 8"When the Israelites were in Egypt and cried out to the LORD, he sent Moses and Aaron to rescue them from Egypt and to bring them into this land.H3290H935H4714H1H2199H3068H3068H7971H4872H175H3318H1H4714H3427H4725 9But the people soon forgot about the LORD their God, so he handed them over to Sisera, the commander of Hazor's army, and also to the Philistines and to the king of Moab, who fought against them.H7911H3068H430H4376H3027H5516H8269H6635H2674H3027H6430H3027H4428H4124H3898 10"Then they cried to the LORD again and confessed, 'We have sinned by turning away from the LORD and worshiping the images of Baal and Ashtoreth. But we will worship you and you alone if you will rescue us from our enemies.'H2199H3068H559H2398H5800H3068H5647H1168H6252H5337H3027H341H5647 11Then the LORD sent Gideon, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel to save you, and you lived in safety.H3068H7971H3378H917H3316H8050H5337H3027H341H5439H3427H983 12"But when you were afraid of Nahash, the king of Ammon, you came to me and said that you wanted a king to reign over you, even though the LORD your God was already your king.H7200H5176H4428H1121H5983H935H559H4428H4427H3068H430H4428 13All right, here is the king you have chosen. You asked for him, and the LORD has granted your request.H4428H977H7592H3068H5414H4428 14"Now if you fear and worship the LORD and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the LORD's commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the LORD as your God.H3372H3068H5647H8085H6963H4784H6310H3068H4428H4427H310H3068H430 15But if you rebel against the LORD's commands and refuse to listen to him, then his hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors.H8085H6963H3068H4784H6310H3068H3027H3068H1 16"Now stand here and see the great thing the LORD is about to do.H1571H3320H7200H1419H1697H3068H6213H5869 17You know that it does not rain at this time of the year during the wheat harvest. I will ask the LORD to send thunder and rain today. Then you will realize how wicked you have been in asking the LORD for a king!"H2406H7105H3117H7121H3068H5414H6963H4306H3045H7200H7451H7227H6213H5869H3068H7592H4428 18So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people were terrified of the LORD and of Samuel.H8050H7121H3068H3068H5414H6963H4306H3117H5971H3966H3372H3068H8050 19"Pray to the LORD your God for us, or we will die!" they all said to Samuel. "For now we have added to our sins by asking for a king."H5971H559H8050H6419H5650H3068H430H4191H3254H2403H7451H7592H4428 20"Don't be afraid," Samuel reassured them. "You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the LORD with all your heart, and don't turn your back on him.H8050H559H5971H3372H6213H7451H5493H310H3068H5647H3068H3824 21Don't go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless!H5493H310H8414H3276H5337H8414 22The LORD will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the LORD to make you his very own people.H3068H5203H5971H1419H8034H2974H3068H6213H5971 23"As for me, I will certainly not sin against the LORD by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right.H595H2486H2398H3068H2308H6419H3384H2896H3477H1870 24But be sure to fear the LORD and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.H3372H3068H5647H571H3824H7200H1431 25But if you continue to sin, you and your king will be swept away."H7489H7489H5595H4428