a. Now therefore, stand and see this great thing which the LORD will do: Samuel will pray and ask God to send a sign to confirm His word. This is a concession to the wicked hearts of the people because Samuel knew only a sign from God would impress them.
b. 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: Why would Samuel and the LORD wait until now for such a dramatic sign? Why not do it when Israel first asked for a king, so they would have known their sin and take back their request for a king?
· Because God had a purpose in allowing the “people’s king,” Saul, to come first.
· Because if it had happened in the first days of Saul’s reign, the people would have cast him off just as quickly and just as wrongly as they asked for him. Now, that his reign has been confirmed by the victory of 1 Samuel 11 and accepted by the people, they can be more directly confronted with their sin.
· Because Samuel might have been accused of reproving the people out of a personal sense of hurt. By waiting until now, everyone knew that Samuel wasn’t saying, “Get rid of Saul so I can lead the nation again.”
· Because now, Israel rejoiced greatly (1 Samuel 11:15). They were perhaps a little too excited about their new king, and Samuel wants them to have a more spiritual perspective.
c. The LORD sent thunder and rain that day: Thunder and rain were unusual during the wheat harvest. This was a remarkable sign from God.
i. Because it was the wheat harvest, the sign displayed not only God’s power but also His judgment. Heavy rain during the harvest could destroy all their crops. The sign was a warning. “In that part of the world not only is ‘rain in harvest... not fitting’ (Prov. 26:1), it is so totally unexpected that it could easily be interpreted as a sign of divine displeasure.” (Youngblood)
d. The people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel: The result was good, but it showed something weak and carnal in the hearts of the people. Didn’t they know God was this powerful before? Perhaps their knowledge was only intellectual knowledge. They could have known the power and majesty and sovereignty of God in their hearts before this, and then it would have been unnecessary to bring a sign before the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
e. I will call to the LORD, and He will send thunder…. So Samuel called to the LORD: This is an impressive example of power in prayer. Samuel is known in the Bible as a mighty man of prayer (Psalm 99:6, Jeremiah 15:1). (Guzik)
Power in Prayer
How many of us are negligent in this area of our faith to give thanks and supplications to the Most High, Jesus Christ?
Blessings
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