Saul has been appointed  King 

 It is the End of an era.
The period of the Judges has come to an end. 

Samuel’s formal role is concluding.

Today we find Samuel functioning as guide for the people of Israel, He has served faithfully in this role, leading the people, showing the good and the right way 

Now that a King has been appointed, Samuel’s job responsibilities change.

Our text today serves somewhat as a farewell speech. 

Now Samuel is not finished in the story as God still uses Him, we’ll see Him continue to speak as a messenger of God.

 

With this Speech, Samuel stops and asks Israel to take a moment and consider a few things, 

His own actions as Judge,
Israel’s actions as God’s chosen people and
God’s actions as King.
Why?
He does this so they will stop and think carefully about how they will walk.  He desires that they learn and live by the good and the right way.
This is a phrase Samuel himself uses at the end of the chapter in vs 23. 

And as we look out our text today, this phrase “the good and the right way” serves as a helpful framework to look at our text. 

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“God desires that we learn and live the good and the right way.”

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In our text today we see 3 specific purposes that this text plays in helping us understand the good and the right way 

The 1st purpose is found in
1.The Example of the good and the right way. 

Here is Samuel putting himself on trial before God in front of Israel, putting before them his actions over the course of his life.
“Look what I have done”  Not in a prideful way but in a judicial sense. 

Something that would probably be nerve wracking for any of us, but Samuel has been faithful to God and now as his formal role as Judge comes to an end, he wants to remind the people of his life. 

He points to his Faithful service:

It was Israel’s impatient and discontent that lead them to demand a King. 

He reminds them of the current kingship. 

He points to his  Innocent Service: 

vs. 3 Contrast: What other judges may have done (taken, stealing, cheating, bribed) 

Key word taken: The innocence they had known with Samuel will no longer be the norm with Kings.  “Taken” will be part of life under a King. 

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This passage goes to show that Israel had a faithful leader, he modeled the good and the right way, he followed the Lord, he interceded for Israel. 

Israel has had a good example of the good and the right way.

They had a good leader…..But they rejected both him and ultimately God in demanding a king. 

The 2nd purpose of this text is to show the
2. Foundation of the Good and the right way. 

As Samuel put himself on trial before God, he now turns the focus towards Israel’s past actions. Samuel was found innocent before the people but now it’s Israel’s turn. 

What stands out though in the midst of Israel’s failures is God’s character. 

A. God’s Character Considered 

Samuel takes time to help Israel consider what great things God has done for them. 

And he does this by looking back at some of the key moments in their story as a nation. 

In each one we see God’s Character on display   

    Samuel very intentionally emphasizes God’s role in their past to remind them who it is they are called to serve. 

Vs. 6: He sets the tone of the speech consider what God has done. 

The first words focus on God’s active role in their history: “It is the Lord who raised up Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt.

7 Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers:  

8: Cry for help 

8: God responds (Power displayed)

The pinnacle of God’s redemptive act was the Exodus. God’s undeniable deliverance and Covenant keeping love on display 

This redemption was central to their identity as a nation. If you go through the Old testament you’ll find over 100 reminders of God’s redemption through the exodus.

9: Forget God (Neglect God’s covenant with them)

9: Consequences

10: Repentance

11: Deliverance 

12: Forget God

13: Summarize Current scene: forgot the Lord their God. They rejected Him as King. "and take note, The Lord has set a king over you"

14: Renewal of Allegiance  

“if you fear the Lord, serve him, obey His voice”

15: Reminder of Covenant obligations

“If you do not obey….rebel…hand of the Lord will be against you”

B. God’s power Displayed 

16-17, 18-19. After looking backward’s at what God has done, Samuel knows their past will not be enough to help them see how serious Samuel’s words are 

so he brings in a demonstration of God’s power, with an undeniable display of God’s power.  

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16: “stand and see”
This is the same language used by Moses before he parted the waters.
Letting them know what God is about to do is significant. 

17 “Is today not the wheat harvest?”

The context: vs 17. Wheat Harvest Season, The spring rains have long been gone. So Samuel, desiring for the people to see God’s power and grasp Who He is and what they have done in rejecting God as their King. He tells them He is going to cry out to God to send rain and thunder as a display of God’s awesome and undeniable power, with the purpose of conviction. 

this thunder and rain is to remind them who God is.
The same God that just a few chapters earlier powerfully delivered Israel when they submitted to Him as king. 

The same God that delivered Israel from the hand of Pharaoh. 

THIS is the same God

The God they have forgotten, the God they have neglected, the God they have rejected. 

Purpose: Conviction, awareness of their sin 

vs. 17: that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking a king for yourselves.””

 

It’s helpful to stop and review what Israel knew of their relationship with God. 

God had made it clear that if they walked contrary to God, away from the good and the right way, there were clear consequences they would expect. 

Just a few of those included punishment seen in creation. 

Levi 26 and Deut 28 record the severe consequences that were to be expected if they walked contrary to God and events like Samuel just told them were to be expected.

 

vs 18. The lord sent rain and thunder

For the Israelites, this was such a rare event, it was unmistakable that it was the hand of God at work.

but The people trembled not just because of the power they just witnessed but because of the power yet to be displayed. They rightfully deserved God’s wrath for rejecting Him as their king.

They knew this display of power in nature was just the beginning of what God would do to them if they continued to harden their hearts

God loved His people too much to let them wander away, to reject him as their king and act like nothing happened. 

Israel thought their choice to demand a king was reasonable but the consequences of rejecting God far outweighed the benefits. 

 

God, in his kindness, displays his power not to punish them but to bring them to repentance. to give them a chance to turn back to God. to trust in Him.  

C. God’s Voice Feared 

in response to seeing God more clearly, they rightly responded with a proper fear of God and repentance  of their sin.  (vs 18)

They recognized their sin (asking a king) and understood the consequences. 

Even against the backdrop of their failures, God’s character still shines, fully on display. And as Samuel’s speech unfolds we’ll come to see why he asked them to stand still and consider God. 

This is the foundation for the good and the right way. Samuel reminds Israel of the God they are called to serve and worship. He has made himself known. He has revealed himself. And he is worthy to be trusted. 

He is faithful, sovereign, powerful, 

He is loving, He is patient  

this is the foundation of following God, walking in the good and the right way. Having an awareness of who God is and what He has done for us. 

 

Samuel is intentional about helping Israel understand the consequences of their choices but also the Character of their God. 

 He wants to remind them of how amazing and powerful God truly is. 

Which brings us to our third purpose of this text which is to teach
3. The Essentials of the Good and the Right way

God has just displayed his power in an amazing way, rain and thunder directly from God. 

But Samuel is not done with his speech. he does not leave Israel trembling in their sin. 

Because God does not leave us to deal with our own sin.

Instead Samuel shows them God’s character and show’s them the response God desires. 

As the people stand in awe and fear of what just happened, 

Samuel reminds them of God’s Character and the right response 

A. God desires a relationship 

He first shows that

1. Comforts them with God’s Mercy 

he tells them“Do not fear” 

   in light of their failure God is not giving up on them. 

Israel knows they’ve sinned, they know the punishment they should expect for all the wickedness they have done. 

Their sins were many but God’s mercy was so much more 

Samuel urges them to not run away from God, to not reject the covenant relationship God desires to have with them.

2. Calls them to undivided allegiance 

“do not turn aside” this has been the pattern of Israel but they are still given another opportunity because of God’s mercy 

    serve the Lord with all your heart”

But then he says it a second time, and shows the result of not following the Lord 

3. Warns them of Sin’s false promises 

Samuel now contrasts the two choices people face. 

Serve the Lord or go after empty things. 

Do not turn aside: “for then you would go after empty things” Pointless, empty. 

Here Samuel lays out the essence of idolatry. Emptiness 

 

What he says he is significant when we step back and look our lives. 

What are you pursuing with your life? With your free time? 

Every idol we pursue, whatever the world offers us is empty. It offers so much yet it can never deliver. this is sin. But we desperately cling to our idols trying to be satisfied, And as Samuel warns, these are empty things.

The void could not be more extreme when you compare it to what Christ offers. 

4. Reminds them of God’s covenant keeping love 

This kind of love is different than the world’s love: Because of it, God will not forsake his people.
Samuel reminds them that this relationship did not start with them, it was God, their faithfulness to God is the intended response to God’s love. 

His people 

His glory 

His pleasure 

His choosing

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The whole basis of the good and the right way is the Covenant God made with them. 

God chose the nation of Israel, not because they were deserving but out of his own choosing. For “His great name’s sake” 

This is the foundation of the covenant. 

Out of this relationship, Israel is called to Give God their undivided allegiance. 

 

B. God demands a response

In light of God’s Character, how will the people respond? 

1. Samuel’s Response 

    Personal (vs 23): Samuel’s role as priest (Pray), Prophet (teach)

        Teach the Good and the right way.

2. Israel’s Response.
The essentials of the good and the right way. 

This whole chapter could be boiled down to the last 2 verses. 

Undivided Allegiance Renewed 

“fear the Lord”: Give him the right reverence and awe in your life. 

“Serve/worship Him in truth/faithfully (with all your heart)”

This is undivided allegiance. 

Demanding a king is not worshipping God with all their heart. 

This is the 3x Samuel calls them to serve or worship God. 

 

Then Samuel roots their allegiance in God’s Character. the foundation

    For consider what Great things He has done for you.
This is what Samuel did in vs 6-15. 

Samuel modeled this for them and now calls them to practice this. 

God’s actions are endless and Samuel says what fuels their faithfulness and allegiance to God is intentionally looking back and noticing God’s faithfulness all along. 

This step is so significant for believers today. 

Whether Battling with sin and temptation, or tempted to put our trust in someone other than God, you need to remember what God has done for you because he deserves your whole heart. He alone is King. 

Samuel teaches us there is much to learn by looking back and noticing God’s faithfulness. God wants us to draw from the past to fuel our faithfulness in the present. Maybe things aren’t going so well now, maybe you’re discouraged. Don’t give up. Don’t put your trust in someone else. 

After all, when you look back, you can see the greatest display of God’s faithfulness and power in the gospel. 

We don’t need a miracle of nature to change our mind , we have the gospel that wonderfully displays God’s power. 

There we see His full power on display to raise someone from the dead.

there we see the cross and realize that our sin deserves the punishment of death. God is Holy and he must punish sin. 

And there we see He loved us so much he sent his only son into the world to live a perfect life and take our place on the cross.
This display of power was meant to create a response. For us to see our sin for what it is, the sin that nailed Christ to the cross, in response we cry out in repentance and belief

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This act is what the Puritan author John Flavel calls looking at “Performances of providence”

step back and see your life as part of the larger story of what one pastor called “God’s great plot”. This is an intentional choice to see all of your life not merely as random events but unfolding before you as part of God’s perfect and providential plan.

John Flavel, “It is the duty of saints…to reflect upon the performances of providence for them in all the states and through all the stages of their lives”

This practice takes time. But what you find will amaze you as you grow in your aware    ness of Gods’ good hand every step of the way.
one way to remember this concept is to use the imagery that one Puritan author used.

In practice: God’s blessings, provision, deliverance, the great events, relationships, jobs, your family, your parents,
Today is mother’s day, a day where you can take time to look back and see God’s hand of protection, guidance, 

holidays like this are designed for us to look back and reflect on what he have. 

as we look back on our life, this process should help us grow in our awe and appreciation of God. 

If we went around this room, stories 

tell me how you heard about the good news of Jesus Christ, 

tell me how God has provided for you in the last year 

tell me how God rescued you from the chains of sin. 

It would be amazing, we may need the ushers to pass around boxes of tissues

Why? Because when we stop to consider all that God has done for us we come to grow even more in our awe of how Great and awesome and powerful our God is.

Our service and worship of God flows from our enjoyment of God. This enjoyment is fueled by looking back and seeing and recognizing all the ways he has been at work. 

Stopping to consider and marvel. 

This is so essential in our culture today because it prevents you from 

viewing your life through the lens of an atheist.
as A collection of mere chances and coincidences.
Instead, as believers we view life through the lens of an almighty, all powerful God who is carefully orchestrating the events of your life to bring you where you are today. 
 

God uniquely made you, sovereignly ordained the events of history to bring about your existence, and loved you in endless ways and yet you could chose to lead your own life, chose your own path, and try to live life relying on something other than God.

if you want to see how that turns out, keep reading in the 1 Samuel, you don’t have to go far before you see tragic consequences from rejecting God’s ways. 

Rejecting to follow God in the good and the right way is A path that leads to grave consequences

and that’s where Samuel’s speech ends. 

Warning: The consequences for rejecting the good and the right way 

“you will be swept away”

Here at the end of his speech, Samuel once more reminds them that the Covenant relationship they are in with God brings responsibility. If they fail to uphold their role, there will be consequences. So Samuel, reminds as he did in vs 15 what happens if “they still do wickedly”, if they turn from the good and the right way. 

The consequence is “You will be swept away” 

 

With this Samuel’s speech comes to an end. Israel is given a fresh opportunity to renew their undivided allegiance to God.
This opportunity is nothing more than an amazing display of God’s grace, his mercy, his forgiveness and his covenant keeping love. 

God is not giving up on Israel, even though they gave up on Him! 

God is graciously inviting them once again to fear Him and serve Him with all their heart, to give their Undivided allegiance. 

Yes, their will be challenges and temptations, yes there will be more attacks from powerful looking enemies. 

But God, who has never failed Israel, will continue to protect them IF they remain faithful. 

The choice is up to them. Will they follow the good and the right way modeled and taught Samuel? Will they renew their allegiance or will they turn and put their trust in their own way? 

For us today as it was for Israel, there is a warning here. 

don’t throw it all away for the short lived enjoyment of sin, the ability to do things your own way. 

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Samuel and all of Scripture warns, sin always brings consequences. 

and in Chapter 13, Saul will find this out the hard way. 

Samuel’s influence is going to change going forward, but before his role finishes he wants the people of Israel to be reminded of their sinful hearts and to be reminded of their patient and merciful and gracious and covenant keeping God.  

This speech serves as a wake up call, a time to “stand still” to stop and think. to reflect on who God is and all he has done. 

A time to own your sin, God I have messed up. Maybe that’s what you need today. A wake up call. you’re trapped in sin, battling an addiction that won’t give up. you know it’s wrong but you love your sin more than the savior. 

Let today be a wake up call, there most likely wont be any rain or thunder but let God’s word serve as a wake up call. Today you recognize need to take drastic action, make serious changes with your internet usage, maybe your friends you hang out with, maybe your schedule. 

Wherever you are today, you can own sin, acknowledge before God that you have sinned. He already saw your sin, but you can take responsibility for your sin.  

and instead of bracing for God’s wrath, because of Jesus Christ you can experience God’s mercy and his grace. 

you can take your sin to God and ask him to forgive you. 

As you stop and consider what God has done your awareness and awe of God will grow, and this fuels your fear and your love for God which fuels your desire to serve him with all your heart. 

To walk in the good and the right way. 

avoiding the dangerous path, reminded of the consequences of sin that stand on the other side of temporary pleasure. 

QUESTION: Does God have your whole heart? Your undivided allegiance? 

God has not left us alone. 
God has given us His word. Reminds us God’s Character and promises. It unfolds the mysteries of the gospel. Commit to keep learning God’s word, learning what God wants for you.

God has given us each other. We need each other. walking in the good and the right way is not always easy. 

But thankfully we aren’t called to do this alone. We are actually commanded to do this together. So lean in to the church. Find a brother or sister in Christ who can encourage you and who you can encourage in your walk. 

Find a time where together you can consider and talk about the great things God has done in your life. 

He has given us the Holy Spirit. we are not alone. 

 He enables us to live a life of fearing God and worshiping Him. A life of walking in the Good and the Right way.