1 Samuel 12:18-19
So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It’s easy to focus on the dramatic thunder and rain, but notice that the people feared both the LORD and Samuel. This shows how God's power worked through Samuel, elevating him in the people's eyes to a position of profound respect, almost as God's direct representative in that moment.
Just before this, the Israelites demanded a king, rejecting God's rule through Samuel. Now, at the coronation of Saul, Samuel is calling them to account, highlighting their sin in asking for a king and showing them that their actions have consequences. This thunder and rain serves as a dramatic sign from God, confirming Samuel's words and instilling a healthy fear of both God and His prophet in the people.
Have you ever felt so desperate you just cried out to God? Samuel did, and the results were powerful enough to shake an entire nation.
Samuel's Bold Appeal
Samuel, an aging prophet, is facing a critical moment. The Israelites have rejected God's leadership in favor of a king, a decision that grieves Samuel deeply. In this passage, Samuel calls upon the LORD not for himself, but to demonstrate God's power and faithfulness to a people who are doubting Him. It’s a bold prayer, a public plea for God to intervene.
God's Immediate Response
And God answers! Not with a whisper, but with thunder and rain – a dramatic display of His sovereignty over creation. This wasn't just a weather event; it was a divine sign. It showed the people that the God they were trying to sideline was still in control, and that His prophet spoke with His authority.
The people feared, but was it a paralyzing terror or something more? Understanding their fear is key to seeing God's purpose.
Awe in the Face of God
The people's fear wasn't just simple fright. It was a deep-seated awe, a recognition of God's immense power and holiness. They had just demanded a king, effectively pushing God aside. When God responds with such undeniable might, they are confronted with their folly and the awesome reality of who God is.
Reverence for God and His Messenger
This fear extended to Samuel too. It wasn't that they were afraid of Samuel in a sinister way, but they revered him because they saw God working through him. They understood that he was God's chosen spokesman. This kind of fear, rooted in reverence and respect, is the beginning of true wisdom and a healthy relationship with God.
Understand the original words
chatt'ath · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the state of having violated God’s moral standard, whether through acts of commission or omission. It is a rebellion against God that results in separation from Him and divine judgment.
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
A profound moral corruption or character flaw that is contrary to God's nature. It encompasses both the act of wrongdoing and the inherent character that produces such acts.
yare' · Hebrew Verb
An attitude of reverence, awe, and submission before the holiness and power of God. It is the appropriate response of a creature to the Creator, often involving a recognition of God's authority and judgment.
palal · Hebrew Verb
This event occurs during a pivotal moment when Israel is transitioning from a system of judges to monarchy, and the people are grappling with their choice of king and their relationship with God.
c. 1070 BC
Saul Anointed King
Samuel, Israel's last judge, anoints Saul as the first king of Israel, marking a significant shift in governance.
c. 1050 BC
Saul's Disobedience
Saul disobeys God's commands, particularly by failing to completely destroy the Amalekites and by offering a sacrifice he was not authorized to make.
c. 1050 BC
Samuel Rebukes Saul
Samuel confronts Saul with his disobedience, declaring that God has rejected him as king over Israel. This sets the stage for a new king.
c. 1050 BC— this verse
Samuel's Farewell Address
Samuel delivers a powerful speech to all Israel, recounting God's faithfulness and their history of rebellion, and warning them against choosing a sinful path.
c. 1050 BC
This passage describes God sending thunder and hail, similar to the thunder Samuel called forth, demonstrating God's powerful response to human requests and His ability to control the weather.
1 Kings 18:36-38Elijah calls on the Lord, and fire comes down from heaven, showing a pattern of prophets calling on God who then powerfully intervenes, and the people respond with awe and fear.
Leviticus 10:2-3This shows a different, tragic outcome when God's presence is not treated with the utmost seriousness, highlighting the profound respect and fear due to the Lord that the people in 1 Samuel 12 were experiencing.
Joshua 24:14Joshua exhorts the people to 'fear the LORD and serve him with all integrity,' echoing the sentiment of the people's great fear of the Lord after Samuel's demonstration of divine power.
It’s easy to focus on the dramatic thunder and rain, but notice that the people feared both the LORD and Samuel. This shows how God's power worked through Samuel, elevating him in the people's eyes to a position of profound respect, almost as God's direct representative in that moment.
Just before this, the Israelites demanded a king, rejecting God's rule through Samuel. Now, at the coronation of Saul, Samuel is calling them to account, highlighting their sin in asking for a king and showing them that their actions have consequences. This thunder and rain serves as a dramatic sign from God, confirming Samuel's words and instilling a healthy fear of both God and His prophet in the people.
Just before this, the Israelites demanded a king, rejecting God's rule through Samuel. Now, at the coronation of Saul, Samuel is calling them to account, highlighting their sin in asking for a king and showing them that their actions have consequences. This thunder and rain serves as a dramatic sign from God, confirming Samuel's words and instilling a healthy fear of both God and His prophet in the people.
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To appeal to God through words, expressing dependency, petition, or intercession. It is the primary means by which God’s people align their will with His and seek His intervention.
The Sign of Thunder and Rain
In response to the people's fear and plea, Samuel calls on the Lord, who sends thunder and rain during the harvest season, a clear sign of divine judgment and power.
c. 1050 BC
David Anointed King
While Saul is still king, Samuel secretly anoints David, the youngest son of Jesse, as the future king of Israel.
"So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die, for w…" — It’s easy to focus on the dramatic thunder and rain, but notice that the people feared both the LORD and Samuel. This shows how God's power worked through Samuel, elevating him in the people's eyes…
