Tuesday, January 28, 2014

A great storm

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
1 Samuel 12:16–25, “Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. So Samuel called unto 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 unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.”

Just to remind Israel of their tendency to abandon their contract with the Lord and the fact that they had asked for a king, Samuel promised to show them a great miracle. It was wheat harvest time and everyone knew that there would be no rain. Samuel promised them that the Lord would bring a great storm. This was to show Israel that the Lord is Almighty God and they were completely at His mercy even though He was willing to give them all the good things He could if they would obey Him. Before long the great storm came, unexpectedly, and everyone was suitable afraid. After all, it wasn’t that long since the Lord had helped them to defeat the Philistines with a great storm as well. They asked Samuel to pray that the Lord would be gentle and not destroy them. Samuel told them that they had nothing to fear as long as they remembered that they belonged to the Lord and would always obey Him. After all, the Lord is always consistent and will never break any contract that He has made.

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