1 Samuel 12:21
And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
It's easy to read "empty things" and think of idols, but the verse points out the real problem: they are empty because they cannot profit or deliver. Our pursuit of anything that doesn't ultimately point us to God is just chasing after a mirage that will leave us thirsty.
{ "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "c. 1070 BC", "title": "End of the Judges Period", "description": "Israel's tribal system had become fragmented, leading to widespread lawlessness and a loss of national unity. This era's instability highlighted the need for a strong, centralized leadership.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1050 BC", "title": "Saul Anointed King", "description": "Prophet Samuel, guided by God, anoints Saul as Israel's first king, marking a significant shift from the decentralized rule of the judges to a monarchy.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1025 BC", "title": "David Anointed King", "description": "While Saul is still king, God chooses David, a young shepherd, to be the next king. This foreshadows future conflict and transition.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1015 BC", "title": "Samuel's Farewell Address", "description": "The prophet Samuel, nearing the end of his life, delivers a powerful address to the Israelites, recounting God's faithfulness and warning them against rejecting Him as their king.", "isCurrentContext": true }, { "date": "c. 1015 BC", "title": "Israel Demands a King", "description": "Earlier in the narrative (1 Samuel 8), the elders demanded a king like the surrounding nations, a move Samuel warned was a rejection of God's direct rule.", "isCurrentContext": false } ], "summaryInsight": "Samuel's warning against 'empty things' (idols) was intensely practical for ancient Israelites. Unlike the true God who delivered them from Egypt and enemies, these idols offered no real help, only leading the people into deeper spiritual and political trouble." }
We often think of idols as statues in ancient temples. But what if 'empty things' are a lot closer to home?
In 1 Samuel 12:21, Samuel warns Israel against turning to 'empty things.' This isn't just about foreign gods; it's about anything that claims ultimate importance but ultimately fails to deliver.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about 1 Samuel 12:21 is available in the Sola app.
What Makes Something 'Empty'?
These 'empty things' are like a mirage in the desert – they look real and promising from a distance, but they offer no sustenance when you reach them. They are distractions from the true source of life and salvation.
Samuel's warning comes at a critical moment. What does it teach us about where true security lies?
Samuel is speaking right after Israel has demanded a king, a decision that looks like progress but is actually a step away from trusting God's leadership. He reminds them that their true protection and provision have always come from God.
God vs. The Empty Things
Turning to 'empty things' is a rejection of God's active, powerful, and faithful presence in our lives. It’s choosing self-reliance or reliance on lesser powers over the Almighty.
Understand the original words
tohu · Hebrew Noun
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word refers to something vanity, non-existence, or worthless, often used to describe idols that have no power or reality. It suggests a lack of substance and ultimate futility.
This warning from Samuel comes at a critical juncture: Israel has a king, but the king and the people are still grappling with their identity and allegiance. Samuel reminds them that true deliverance and prosperity come only from the Lord, not from the hollow promises of idols, especially as they face political instability.
c. 1050 BC
Saul Anointed King
Following years of oppression by surrounding nations, the Israelites demand a king. Samuel reluctantly anoints Saul, the son of Kish, as their first king, marking a significant shift from the era of the Judges.
c. 1020 BC
Saul's Disobedience and Rejection
Saul disobeys God's direct commands through Samuel on multiple occasions, including offering sacrifices and sparing King Agag. This leads to God rejecting him as king over Israel.
c. 1020-1010 BC
David Anointed as Future King
While Saul is still king, Samuel is sent by God to anoint David, the youngest son of Jesse, as the future king of Israel. This begins a period of tension and rivalry.
c. 1010 BC
Saul Seeks Guidance from a Medium
Desperate and facing defeat by the Philistines, Saul defies God's prohibition against sorcery by seeking counsel from the witch of Endor. This act further demonstrates his turning away from the Lord.
c. 1010 BC— this verse
Samuel's Farewell Address
The prophet Samuel delivers a powerful farewell speech to Israel, recounting God's faithfulness, admonishing them for demanding a king, and warning them against turning to false gods.
c. 1010 BC
Death of Samuel
Shortly after his farewell address, the revered prophet Samuel dies. His death leaves a spiritual void, especially as the nation navigates the transition from Saul to David.
This passage also powerfully critiques turning to idols, calling them 'worthless' and highlighting how they've abandoned the living God, the 'fountain of living waters.'
Isaiah 44:9-20It describes in detail the futility of idols, showing how the very materials used to make them are insufficient, reinforcing the idea that they are 'empty' and cannot help.
Psalm 115:4-8This psalm explicitly states that idols are man-made, have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see, and that those who make and trust in them will become like them – empty and powerless.
Matthew 6:24Jesus speaks about the impossibility of serving two masters, God and wealth, equating devotion to material things or worldly pursuits with serving something that ultimately cannot satisfy or save, similar to the 'empty things' here.
It's easy to read "empty things" and think of idols, but the verse points out the real problem: they are empty because they cannot profit or deliver. Our pursuit of anything that doesn't ultimately point us to God is just chasing after a mirage that will leave us thirsty.
{ "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "c. 1070 BC", "title": "End of the Judges Period", "description": "Israel's tribal system had become fragmented, leading to widespread lawlessness and a loss of national unity. This era's instability highlighted the need for a strong, centralized leadership.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1050 BC", "title": "Saul Anointed King", "description": "Prophet Samuel, guided by God, anoints Saul as Israel's first king, marking a significant shift from the decentralized rule of the judges to a monarchy.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1025 BC", "title": "David Anointed King", "description": "While Saul is still king, God chooses David, a young shepherd, to be the next king. This foreshadows future conflict and transition.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1015 BC", "title": "Samuel's Farewell Address", "description": "The prophet Samuel, nearing the end of his life, delivers a powerful address to the Israelites, recounting God's faithfulness and warning them against rejecting Him as their king.", "isCurrentContext": true }, { "date": "c. 1015 BC", "title": "Israel Demands a King", "description": "Earlier in the narrative (1 Samuel 8), the elders demanded a king like the surrounding nations, a move Samuel warned was a rejection of God's direct rule.", "isCurrentContext": false } ], "summaryInsight": "Samuel's warning against 'empty things' (idols) was intensely practical for ancient Israelites. Unlike the true God who delivered them from Egypt and enemies, these idols offered no real help, only leading the people into deeper spiritual and political trouble." }
{ "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "c. 1070 BC", "title": "End of the Judges Period", "description": "Israel's tribal system had become fragmented, leading to widespread lawlessness and a loss of national unity. This era's instability highlighted the need for a strong, centralized leadership.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1050 BC", "title": "Saul Anointed King", "description": "Prophet Samuel, guided by God, anoints Saul as Israel's first king, marking a significant shift from the decentralized rule of the judges to a monarchy.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1025 BC", "title": "David Anointed King", "description": "While Saul is still king, God chooses David, a young shepherd, to be the next king. This foreshadows future conflict and transition.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1015 BC", "title": "Samuel's Farewell Address", "description": "The prophet Samuel, nearing the end of his life, delivers a powerful address to the Israelites, recounting God's faithfulness and warning them against rejecting Him as their king.", "isCurrentContext": true }, { "date": "c. 1015 BC", "title": "Israel Demands a King", "description": "Earlier in the narrative (1 Samuel 8), the elders demanded a king like the surrounding nations, a move Samuel warned was a rejection of God's direct rule.", "isCurrentContext": false } ], "summaryInsight": "Samuel's warning against 'empty things' (idols) was intensely practical for ancient Israelites. Unlike the true God who delivered them from Egypt and enemies, these idols offered no real help, only leading the people into deeper spiritual and political trouble." }
"And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty." — It's easy to read "empty things" and think of idols, but the verse points out the real problem: they are empty because they cannot profit or deliver. Our pursuit of anything that doesn't ultimate…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
