Samuel received the order honorably as he was discharged from his duty. But not before he gave fair warning to the people, even asking the Lord for a sign to bring thunder & rain during a time when that was not the norm.
When this came to pass, the people of Israel were frightened and insisted Samuel pray to HIS God that they would not die.
Samuel responds in verse 20 saying, “Don’t be afraid. You have
certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with
all your heart, don’t turn your back on Him.”
Encouragement AND confrontation of sin.
Samuel was asked by the people to pray for them because they were terrified. My commentary says, ”Many who will not have Christ reign over them, would yet be glad to have Him intercede for them.”
Wow.
And I love his... Samuel had acted and was still behaving as a faithful watchman. And in doing so, he gave them warning, at the same time he delivered to them his very soul. Samuel was asked to PRAY for them, however he promised more to them. Verse 23 tells us that he promised to TEACH them.
Ahh... just like Jesus.
And shouldn’t that, too, be our goal and focus? To tell the truth in love while encouraging one another... spurring them to holiness?
Samuel assures them that there is another way to escape evils. While reminding them of their painful condition, he challenges them to a new way of living. He reminds them that while their way seems to make better sense now, the Lord has already called Israel to be His own possession. He would have the final say.
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good worlds.” (Heb 10:24)
Our goal, like that of Samuel, should always be to spur other on to holiness.
Encouragement AND confrontation of sin.
Samuel was asked by the people to pray for them because they were terrified. My commentary says, ”Many who will not have Christ reign over them, would yet be glad to have Him intercede for them.”
Wow.
And I love his... Samuel had acted and was still behaving as a faithful watchman. And in doing so, he gave them warning, at the same time he delivered to them his very soul. Samuel was asked to PRAY for them, however he promised more to them. Verse 23 tells us that he promised to TEACH them.
Ahh... just like Jesus.
And shouldn’t that, too, be our goal and focus? To tell the truth in love while encouraging one another... spurring them to holiness?
Samuel assures them that there is another way to escape evils. While reminding them of their painful condition, he challenges them to a new way of living. He reminds them that while their way seems to make better sense now, the Lord has already called Israel to be His own possession. He would have the final say.
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good worlds.” (Heb 10:24)
Our goal, like that of Samuel, should always be to spur other on to holiness.
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