Discipleship Against FearSample

As his ministry came to an end, Samuel addressed the people of Israel. After affirming his trustworthiness with the people (12:1-5), Samuel then bears witness to all the “righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers” (12:7-9). Despite God’s faithfulness, Israel asked Samuel for a king when the Ammonites came against them (12:12).

The request for a king was a contested matter because “the Lord your God was your king” (12:12; cf. 8:4-9). God and Samuel grant the people’s request and anoint Saul as king over Israel (12:13; 10:1-27). While Saul has some early success (11:1-11), Samuel wishes to make clear that having a king does not change the underlying dynamics of Israel’s life with God. Israel must still fear the Lord (12:14).

Samuel seems to be reminding Israel that Saul is not the key to Israel’s safety and security. No Israelite king would be. God is Israel’s “life and length of days” that would allow Israel to “dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them” (Deut 30:20). As such, Samuel proclaims: “If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well” (1 Sam 12:14). Conversely, if Israel rebels and refuses to obey the Lord, “the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king (12:15).

Like Israel, we may have intervening authorities over us. Yet, while political leaders restrain evil, our security is found in our fear of the Lord and in our willingness to live according to his wisdom. We cannot be distracted by our leaders, money, jobs, or capabilities because such things do not govern our lives or determine our actions. Instead, as believers in Christ, we are to “fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart” (12:24). We are to remember that obeying God is always our best strategy even when doing so may appear to be foolish because God is able to do more than we are able to ask or think.