Samuel Speaks at Saul's Coronation
Chapter 12 records Samuel's speech at the coronation of Saul. With the
coronation of Saul as King of Israel, Samuel addressed the people. The
following were the 6 points of his message:
- I have done as you asked; I have given you a king.
- I have never defrauded you or stolen from you.
- Now stand quietly before the Lord and I will remind you of all the
good things that the Lord has done for you. (Samuel took them back
through history from Egypt to the present day)
- Now if you and your king fear and worship the Lord, He will prosper
you.
- If you disobey, He will bring judgment upon you.
- Now I will show you a sign. You know that it does not normally rain
this time of the year but to show you the wickedness of asking for
an earthly king, God will send rain. Well it rained, it thundered,
it lightened, and the people were afraid that they were going to
die. They cried out to Samuel, and Samuel calmed their fears. "The
Lord will not abandon His people, for that would dishonor His great
name." "As for me, I will not sin against the Lord by not praying
for you."
Then he gave then these instructions:
- Think of the past and learn from it.
- Sincerely worship the Lord.
- Rest assured that if you sin you and your king will be destroyed.
NOTE: Some differences are recorded by various resource books concerning the
reigns of the first three kings of Israel. The following lists three such
resources:
| HARPER'S BIBLE DICTIONARY | THE CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF KINGS | THE BIBLE TIME LINE by THOMAS ROBINSON
|
|---|
| Saul | 1020-1000
(20 years) | 1043-1011
(32 years) | 1025-1004
(21 years)
|
| David | 1000-961
(39 years) | 1011-971
(40 years) | 1004-965
(40 years)
|
| Solomon | 961-922
(39 years) | 971-931
(40 years) | 965-926
(40 years)
|
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