1Samuel 12
12Samuel addressed all Israel: "I've listened to everything you've said to me, listened carefully to every word, and I've given you a king.H8050H559H3478H8085H6963H559H4427H44282See for yourself: Your king among you, leading you! But now look at me: I'm old and gray, and my sons are still here. I've led you faithfully from my youth until this very day.H4428H1980H6440H2204H7867H1121H1980H6440H5271H31173Look at me! Do you have any complaints to bring before GOD and his anointed? Have I ever stolen so much as an ox or a donkey? Have I ever taken advantage of you or exploited you? Have I ever taken a bribe or played fast and loose with the law? Bring your complaint and I'll make it right."H6030H3068H4899H7794H3947H2543H3947H6231H7533H3027H3724H5956H5869H77254"Oh no," they said, "never. You've never done any of that—never abused us, never lined your own pockets."H559H6231H7533H3947H3972H376H30275"That settles it then," said Samuel. "GOD is witness, and his anointed is witness that you find nothing against me—no faults, no complaints."H559H3068H5707H4899H5707H3117H4672H3972H3027H559H57076And the people said, "He is witness." Samuel continued, "This is the GOD who made Moses and Aaron your leaders and brought your ancestors out of Egypt.H8050H559H5971H3068H6213H4872H175H5927H1H5927H776H47147Take your stand before him now as I review your case before GOD in the light of all the righteous ways in which GOD has worked with you and your ancestors.H3320H8199H6440H3068H6666H3068H6213H18When Jacob's sons entered Egypt, the Egyptians made life hard for them and they cried for help to GOD. GOD sent Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them here in this place.H3290H935H4714H1H2199H3068H3068H7971H4872H175H3318H1H4714H3427H47259"They soon forgot their GOD, so he sold them off to Sisera, commander of Hazor's army, later to a hard life under the Philistines, and still later to the king of Moab. They had to fight for their lives.H7911H3068H430H4376H3027H5516H8269H6635H2674H3027H6430H3027H4428H4124H389810"Then they cried for help to GOD. They confessed, 'We've sinned! We've gone off and left GOD and worshiped the fertility gods and goddesses of Canaan. Oh, deliver us from the brutalities of our enemies and we'll worship you alone.'H2199H3068H559H2398H5800H3068H5647H1168H6252H5337H3027H341H564711"So GOD sent Jerub-Baal (Gideon), Bedan (Barak), Jephthah, and Samuel. He saved you from that hard life surrounded by enemies, and you lived in peace.H3068H7971H3378H917H3316H8050H5337H3027H341H5439H3427H98312"But when you saw Nahash, king of the Ammonites, preparing to attack you, you said to me, 'No more of this. We want a king to lead us.' And GOD was already your king!H7200H5176H4428H1121H5983H935H559H4428H4427H3068H430H442813"So here's the king you wanted, the king you asked for. GOD has let you have your own way, given you a king.H4428H977H7592H3068H5414H442814If you fear GOD, worship and obey him, and don't rebel against what he tells you. If both you and your king follow GOD, no problem. GOD will be sure to save you.H3372H3068H5647H8085H6963H4784H6310H3068H4428H4427H310H3068H43015But if you don't obey him and rebel against what he tells you, king or no king, you will fare no better than your fathers.H8085H6963H3068H4784H6310H3068H3027H3068H116"Pay attention! Watch this wonder that GOD is going to perform before you now!H1571H3320H7200H1419H1697H3068H6213H586917It's summer, as you well know, and the rainy season is over. But I'm going to pray to GOD. He'll send thunder and rain, a sign to convince you of the great wrong you have done to GOD by asking for a king."H2406H7105H3117H7121H3068H5414H6963H4306H3045H7200H7451H7227H6213H5869H3068H7592H442818Samuel prayed to GOD, and GOD sent thunder and rain that same day. The people were greatly afraid and in awe of GOD and of Samuel.H8050H7121H3068H3068H5414H6963H4306H3117H5971H3966H3372H3068H805019Then all the people begged Samuel, "Pray to your GOD for us, your servants. Pray that we won't die! On top of all our other sins, we've piled on one more—asking for a king!"H5971H559H8050H6419H5650H3068H430H4191H3254H2403H7451H7592H442820Samuel said to them, "Don't be fearful. It's true that you have done something very wrong. All the same, don't turn your back on GOD. Worship and serve him heart and soul!H8050H559H5971H3372H6213H7451H5493H310H3068H5647H3068H382421Don't chase after ghost-gods.H5493H310H8414H3276H5337H841422There's nothing to them. They can't help you. They're nothing but ghost-gods! GOD, simply because of who he is, is not going to walk off and leave his people. GOD took delight in making you into his very own people.H3068H5203H5971H1419H8034H2974H3068H6213H597123"And neither will I walk off and leave you. That would be a sin against GOD! I'm staying right here at my post praying for you and teaching you the good and right way to live.H595H2486H2398H3068H2308H6419H3384H2896H3477H187024But I beg of you, fear GOD and worship him honestly and heartily. You've seen how greatly he has worked among you!H3372H3068H5647H571H3824H7200H143125Be warned: If you live badly, both you and your king will be thrown out."H7489H7489H5595H4428
The Message (MSG). All Scripture quotations are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.
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