1 samuel 11 and 12

Read 1 Samuel 11 and 12 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions for today’s chapters are:

1 Sam 11:1-10 {s} The Ammonites come against Jabesh Gilead + Saul gathers Israel together to save them
1 Sam 11:11-15 {p} Saul delivered Israel from the Ammonites + Israel confirmed his kingship
1 Sam 12:1-5 {p} Samuel obtains Israel’s witness before the LORD, that he is innocent of their wrongdoing
1 Sam 12:6-17 {s} Samuel’s warning to Israel not to forsake the LORD or His commandments
1 Sam 12:18-25 {p} Israel’s dismay, but Samuel encourages them to cling to the LORD with all their heart

The LORD reveals something amazing concerning Shavuot, which is this Sunday, upon consideration of the chiastic structure formed by the final strong theme of chapter 12:

1 Sam 12:6-25 {s+p} chiastic structure:

1a) 1 Sam 12:6-11, The LORD’s righteous acts toward Israel + He delivered them so that they dwelt in safety:

1) 1 Sam 12:6-10, Samuel recounted all the righteous acts of the LORD which He did to their fathers;
2) 1 Sam 12:11, The LORD sent judges + delivered you from your enemies so that you dwelt in safety;

1b) 1 Sam 12:12-15, Here is your king/ fear the LORD + serve Him, otherwise He will be against you:

1) 1 Sam 12:12-13, You rejected the LORD as King + here is your king whom you desired;
2) 1 Sam 12:14a, If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice;
3) 1 Sam 12:14b-15, Do not rebel against Him and you will continue, but if not, then He will be against you;

1c) 1 Sam 12:16-17a, The LORD will send rain on the wheat harvest;

central axis) 1 Sam 12:17b {s} That you may perceive your wickedness in asking a king for yourselves;

2c) 1 Sam 12:18, The LORD sent rain that day + all the people greatly feared the LORD + Samuel;

2b) 1 Sam 12:19-24a, We have sinned in the matter of the king / Do not fear but serve Him + He will not forsake you:

1a) 1 Sam 12:19-21, Pray for us / Do not fear + but serve Him with all your heart:

1) 1 Sam 12:19, Pray for us, for we have added to our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves;
2) 1 Sam 12:20a, Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear;”
3) 1 Sam 12:20b-21, But do not turn aside from the LORD but serve Him with all your heart;

1a) 1 Sam 12:20b, You have done all this wickedness;
1b) 1 Sam 12:20c, Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD;
central axis) 1 Sam 12:20d, But serve the LORD with all your heart;
2b) 1 Sam 12:21a, And do not turn aside;
2a) 1 Sam 12:21b, For then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing;

central axis) 1 Sam 12:22, “For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people;”

2a) 1 Sam 12:23-24b, I will pray for you, only fear the LORD + serve Him with all your heart:

1) 1 Sam 12:23, I will not cease praying for you; but will teach you the good and right way;
2) 1 Sam 12:24a, Only fear the LORD;
3) 1 Sam 12:24b, And serve Him in truth with all your heart;

2a) 1 Sam 12:24c-15 {p} Consider the great things the LORD has done + if you do wickedly, you will be swept away:

1) 1 Sam 12:24c, For consider what great things He has done for you;
2) 1 Sam 12:25 {p} “But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

God sent rain at the wheat harvest (He sent the Holy Spirit at Shavuot or Pentecost) and the people perceived that their wickedness was great, and feared the LORD. Their eyes were opened to their sins, and their hearts were turned, and they feared the LORD. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, who convicts of sin and righteousness, and turns hearts toward Him.

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” Joh 16:7-9

Jesus even plainly confirms that when the Holy Spirit is come at Shavuot, the wheat harvest, He will convict the people of their sin, so that it is the ruler of this world who is judged, not the people who have repented. For all those who turn, mercy triumphs over judgment! Have a beautiful Shavuot! ♥