"Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king.” 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.” And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king"
(1 Samuel 12:16-25)
I remember this verse from bible study nearly 3 years ago.
What caught my eye today was Samuel saying "do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the lord with all your heart."
So the first thing Samuel tells us is that the only appropriate reaction to our unfaithfulness is to strive towards faithfulness. The only reaction we have towards failure is to rise and try to follow God again.
Next he says "for the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for Himself"
This is the basis for our impudent "I have sinned but I now shall follow the Lord." We dare follow only because we know what he desires– to make us a people for Himself.
Finally, "moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and right way." This part gives me an idea of how I ought to react to the transgressions of others.
I think I find myself often provoked to anger... and in being so, forgetting to pray, forgetting to instruct, simply standing aside, folding my arms and scowling.
Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by refusing to pray and refusing to consider how and instruct them in the right way.
Chapter 10:9
When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart.
In the same manner, change my heart too.
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