LOOK | WHAT DOES IT SAY?
THINK | WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Samuel, the best of the Judges, is also a fallen man. The commentators Fix and Vannoy see in 1 Samuel 12:1-7 that Samuel, himself, has his own weaknesses which he is blind to as well. The human narrative in the historical books continues to tell us a story of sin, through which God is making clear how much greater his redemption story is. As for Fix and Vannoy's comments on the character of Samuel:
Samuel demands the people attest by oath that he has been faithful to serve Israel in administering God’s rule justly (1 Sam 12:1–3). Although they happily affirm Samuel’s faithfulness in leadership (12:5–6), there are hints here that Samuel has his own weaknesses and failures. For instance, he references his own sons (12:2) despite their dissolute behavior (8:1–5). He also seems to describe himself in royal, kingly terms as having “walked about before” Israel as the king would now do (12:2; cf. comments on 1Sam 8:6–9 above), further suggesting that he may have wanted the role of king for himself. His taking Israel’s request for a king personally may be implied in the fact that although he mentions Saul a few times, he never does it by name but only as “his (the Lord’s) anointed” (12:3, 5). Furthermore, Samuel couches this whole covenant renewal ceremony in the language of a civil case between him and Israel (“take your stand, so that I may enter into judgment with you before the Lord”; 12:6–7 NRSV). Samuel’s wounded ego may still be on display here, as he puts himself right into the list of some of the most major judges—Gideon or Jerubaal (Judg 6–8), Barak (Judg 4–5), and Jephthah (Judg 11–12)—specifically mentioning those who led Israel in mighty victories in battle (1Sam 12:11)... Samuel’s wounded pride may be further seen in his presentation of Saul as king: “Behold the king you have chosen, whom you asked for” (12:13, emphasis added). Finally, Samuel’s irritation seems to color his conveyance of the stipulations of the covenant. Ordinarily one can expect the promise of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedient breaking of the covenant (e.g., Deut 28). But Samuel stops short of communicating the blessings, though most translations supply the missing apodosis of conditional blessings with something like “[then] it will be well with you” (12:14; ESV).11 Instead, he seems to omit the promises, and jumps right to the “bad news” of promised curses for disobedience (12:15). [SEAN: I did not see this at first, so I checked the Hebrew. In the ESV, the words "it will be well" are added. Samuel literally just does not finish the thought, but jumps straight to curses for disobedience.]
In this sense, the book of 1-2 Samuel continues on the tradition of the book of Genesis, where every likely candidate for the role of Promised Deliverer (first hinted at in Genesis 3:15) is shown to come up short. By their failings, each possible candidate for Promised Deliverer illustrates the need for a future Deliverer who will be greater than each of them. Throughout the books of 1-2 Samuel, the four figures who illustrate the need for Jesus to be greater will be the fallen characters of Eli, Samuel, Saul (and Jonathan), and David. In their own way, each of them will point us to our need for Jesus.
Jonathan, a man after God's own heart. Contrasted with Saul, Jonathan seems to be the person whose decision-making and character we are supposed to follow. Where Saul puts off the battle and hides in a cave, Jonathan goes forward and expects God to act. Where Saul places a rash vow on the people that nearly ends in disaster, Jonathan can immediately see the fallacy of such an action. Saul is easily turned away from doing what God requires; meanwhile Jonathan is willing to follow the Lord even if it results in his own death (1 Samuel 14:43). The one way that Jonathan falls short, where David will not, is in his disobedience of Saul. Though Jonathan is in the right, and though his father is foolish, Jonathan goes out on his own and he speaks against his father to the people. David will also have to contend with Saul, but in each case he will refuse to take action against him. In this way David will be shown to be a greater Jonathan, doing everything that Jonathan did but even better. Jesus is also a greater Jonathan, as in Jesus' earthly ministry he perfectly obeyed and submitted to the voice of the Father. Aside from this, though, Jonathan's actions and wisdom and godliness are examplary, and are worth imitating.
DO | HOW DO WE RESPOND?
How can we respond in our worship, attitude, and actions? IN OUR WORSHIP AND ATTITUDES, we can look on our own guilt and shame and not be overwhelmed by them. We have no need to suppress the truth of our failure to do as we should, because we know that Jesus has won a victory over those failings in our place. Though they are real failings and must be addressed for our sake and the sake of those around us, they do not define our identity. Instead they point us to the one who is greater than our failings; who is Jesus Christ, the greater Samuel, the greater Saul, the greater Jonathan, the greater David, and the greater version of you and me. He wins where we lose, and his victory is given to us.
PRAY | HOW DOES THIS BRING US TO GOD?
Whether in response to anything pointed out here, or to something else in your Bible reading time, take a few moments before you close up your Bible to pray in response to God. If you need a format for prayer, both the ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication), CALL (Confess, Ask, Love, Listen), and PRAY (Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield) methods are helpful ways to stay consistent.
-Sean
-Sean
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