1 Samuel 12:1–25

Israel was a chosen nation, specially loved by God and had a covenant relationship with Him. For a very long time, they were ruled and judged by God’s appointed judges until the time of Samuel. They asked for a king from Samuel (a judge) to rule over them like other nations (1 Samuel 8:5). Samuel hearkened to them and appointed a king over them according to God’s instructions.

In our Bible passage, Samuel had become very old, he called the children of Israel together to reprove them of their error in demanding a king. To reprove means “to correct”, or “to rebuke”. It is a way of making an offender realise his errors so that he can repent. Samuel was qualified to correct the children of Israel because:

• He was holy, faithful and transparent in character (1 Samuel 12:3).
• His hands were clean (Psalm 24:3,4).
• He did not defraud, oppress, nor use force to take anything from anybody (1 Samuel 12:3).
• The people had a good testimony of him (1 Samuel 12:4).
• He had a good and sound knowledge of the word of God. As he corrected the children of Israel, he constantly referred to the Scriptures as the basis of his correction.
• He was very prayerful and a great intercessor (1 Samuel 12:23).

God expects every boy and girl to follow the example of Samuel. In order to correct others, your life must be right before God and men.

1. RECALL OF GOD’S FAITHFUL ACTS:

1 Samuel 12:1–12; Exodus 3:9,10; Deuteronomy 8:1–10

As the children of Israel gathered together at Gilgal to anoint Saul as the first king, Samuel made it a solemn occasion. He reminded the people of God’s faithfulness right from the time of Jacob their ancestor; how God saved them from Egypt, fought their battles for them and gave them a land flowing with milk and honey.

Despite all that the Lord had done for them, the children of Israel often disobeyed God by rebelling against His commandments. They sometimes forsook God to serve idols. Whenever they disobeyed God, He would allow their enemies to overcome them. When they repented and called on God for mercy, He listened to them and delivered them from their enemies. Their lives were characterised by the attitude of rising and falling into sin. This is a bad habit that friends of Jesus must avoid. God doesn’t expect you to go back to sin once you have decided to give your life to Jesus. Israel continued in this unacceptable way, and this made Samuel to reprove (correct) them.

2. REPROOF FOR DISOBEDIENCE:

1 Samuel 12:13–18; Proverbs 3:11,12

Samuel being a judge and a faithful priest was in the position to correct the children of Israel. He made it clear to them that God’s blessing can only be received through obedience and not on the basis of just having a king.

5. What steps can a sinner take to show his readiness to obey God’s word?

Children are meant to be corrected when they do wrong. A child that is left to himself will bring shame to his parents (Proverbs 29:15). Do not harden your heart to the correction of your parents, teachers and pastors. God has appointed them to train you in the way of the Lord. You must humbly accept correction so that your life will be built up and you become godly. Correction moulds your life and puts you on the right path. It will also help you to do the right thing and be happy. Furthermore, it will deliver you from sin as you turn from your wrong doings to make Jesus your Saviour and Friend.

3. REPENTANCE AND SALVATION FOR THE OBEDIENT:

1 Samuel 12:19–25; Isaiah 1:18,19

Samuel did not just reprove the children of Israel, he told them to repent and turn from idol-worship and serve the living God. Although Saul had been appointed to be king, Samuel as the prophet of God continued to guide both the king and the people to walk in the way of the Lord. The people realised their error and then asked Samuel to pray on their behalf so that they can be saved.

God expects genuine repentance from children who receive corrections through His word. If you are still a sinner, you must accept correction and take the following steps:

(i) Realise that you are a sinner.
(ii) Repent of your evil ways and confess them to God (1 John 1:9).
(iii) Ask God for forgiveness and cleansing in the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7).
(iv) Invite Jesus to come into your heart and be your Saviour, Lord and Friend.
(v) Thank God for answering your prayers (Romans 10:13).
(vi) Daily read the word of God, pray and attend fellowship regularly (Hebrews 10:25).

God will help you to be obedient.

Questions

1. Who was Samuel?
Samuel was a judge and a faithful priest appointed by God. He was also a great intercessor who was holy, faithful, and transparent in character.

2. Who did Samuel reprove, and why?
Samuel reproved the children of Israel because they demanded a king to rule over them like other nations, which was an error and an act of disobedience against God.

3. To reprove means to correct. Yes/No?
Yes.

4. God showed His faithfulness to Israel by ______ and ______
God showed His faithfulness to Israel by saving them from Egypt and fighting their battles for them (and giving them a land flowing with milk and honey).

5. What steps can a sinner take to show his readiness to obey God’s word?
A sinner can take the following steps:
(i) Realise that you are a sinner.
(ii) Repent of your evil ways and confess them to God (1 John 1:9).
(iii) Ask God for forgiveness and cleansing in the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7).
(iv) Invite Jesus to come into your heart and be your Saviour, Lord and Friend.
(v) Thank God for answering your prayers (Romans 10:13).
(vi) Daily read the word of God, pray and attend fellowship regularly (Hebrews 10:25).

MEMORY VERSE:

“If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God” (1 Samuel 12:14).

LESSON:

Godly counsels and corrections will help a sinner to retrace his steps so as to escape destruction.

THOUGHT:

I will always take heed to corrections so as to live daily to please God.

ACTIVITY:

Scripture Hunt. The teacher should call out the following references one at a time and allow the children to search. The first person to locate the verse should stand, read out the passage and say the lesson that he or she learnt from it.
(i) Psalm 141:5
(ii) John 16:8
(iii) Proverbs 29:1
(iv) 2 Timothy 3:16
(v) Proverbs 3:11

HOMEWORK:

Pray for grace to always accept corrections and godly counsels.

CONGREGATIONAL SONG:

43 – TRUST AND OBEY

CHORUSES:

(1) Make me a good child like Samuel
(2) I want to be a good child all the time.
(3) I will never, never, go back to the world.

BIBLE WORD SEARCH

Find the meaning of these words. You can use your dictionary:

1. Reproof
2. Recall
3. Transparent
4. Intercessor
5. Meditation