1Samuel 12:19 - Prayer Tents



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1Samuel 12
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“Don’t Chase After Ghost-Gods”

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.H8050H559H3478H8085H6963H559H4427H4428 2See 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.H4428H1980H6440H2204H7867H1121H1980H6440H5271H3117 3Look 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."H6030H3068H4899H7794H3947H2543H3947H6231H7533H3027H3724H5956H5869H7725 4"Oh no," they said, "never. You've never done any of that—never abused us, never lined your own pockets."H559H6231H7533H3947H3972H376H3027 5"That settles it then," said Samuel. "GOD is witness, and his anointed is witness that you find nothing against me—no faults, no complaints."H559H3068H5707H4899H5707H3117H4672H3972H3027H559H5707 6And 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.H8050H559H5971H3068H6213H4872H175H5927H1H5927H776H4714 7Take 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.H3320H8199H6440H3068H6666H3068H6213H1 8When 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.H3290H935H4714H1H2199H3068H3068H7971H4872H175H3318H1H4714H3427H4725 9"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.H7911H3068H430H4376H3027H5516H8269H6635H2674H3027H6430H3027H4428H4124H3898 10"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.'H2199H3068H559H2398H5800H3068H5647H1168H6252H5337H3027H341H5647 11"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.H3068H7971H3378H917H3316H8050H5337H3027H341H5439H3427H983 12"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!H7200H5176H4428H1121H5983H935H559H4428H4427H3068H430H4428 13"So here's the king you wanted, the king you asked for. GOD has let you have your own way, given you a king.H4428H977H7592H3068H5414H4428 14If 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.H3372H3068H5647H8085H6963H4784H6310H3068H4428H4427H310H3068H430 15But 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.H8085H6963H3068H4784H6310H3068H3027H3068H1 16"Pay attention! Watch this wonder that GOD is going to perform before you now!H1571H3320H7200H1419H1697H3068H6213H5869 17It'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."H2406H7105H3117H7121H3068H5414H6963H4306H3045H7200H7451H7227H6213H5869H3068H7592H4428 18Samuel 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.H8050H7121H3068H3068H5414H6963H4306H3117H5971H3966H3372H3068H8050 19Then 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!"H5971H559H8050H6419H5650H3068H430H4191H3254H2403H7451H7592H4428 20Samuel 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!H8050H559H5971H3372H6213H7451H5493H310H3068H5647H3068H3824 21Don't chase after ghost-gods.H5493H310H8414H3276H5337H8414 22There'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.H3068H5203H5971H1419H8034H2974H3068H6213H5971 23"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.H595H2486H2398H3068H2308H6419H3384H2896H3477H1870 24But I beg of you, fear GOD and worship him honestly and heartily. You've seen how greatly he has worked among you!H3372H3068H5647H571H3824H7200H1431 25Be 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. More details.
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