Samuel’s Farewell: A Call to Faithfulness
May 7, 2025
Dr. Bradford Reaves
Crossway Christian Fellowship
1 Samuel 12
Introduction: God’s Faithful Plan Through Flawed People
When we read 1 Samuel 12, we’re not just witnessing a prophet’s retirement speech—we’re watching a baton pass in the unfolding story of God’s redemptive plan. Samuel, the faithful prophet, stands before a nation that has just rejected God as their King and demanded a human one instead. Yet even in their failure, God doesn’t abandon them. He raises up Saul, He continues to speak through Samuel, and He keeps leading His people because God’s plan never stops. From the wilderness wanderings to the walls of Jericho, from Saul to David to the exile and return every chapter whispers the same truth: God has a plan, and the plan always leads us back to Jesus.
• He had a plan for Israel, even in their stubbornness.
• He had a plan for Saul, even in his eventual failure.
• He had a plan for Samuel, even as he stepped back.
• And He had a plan for you, even then.
Israel is standing at a historic hinge point. They’ve rejected the invisible Kingship of God and demanded something they can see, touch, and rally behind. It’s not just a change in leadership—it’s a change in their trust structure. They’re shifting their hope from God to man, and even though God permits it, He warns them through Samuel: This road only works if you continue to fear the Lord and follow Him.
So what’s going on with Israel spiritually? They are facing a new season—the king they asked for has arrived. But this moment exposes their deeper fear: they didn’t really believe God would protect or lead them. They wanted to take control.
The people had misplaced expectations—they wanted the form of security, not the source of it. And yet, even in their failure, God remains gracious, present, and faithful. We all go through seasons where our familiar structures shift—a job ends, a pastor retires, a child leaves home, a loved one dies, a dream fails, or a crisis exposes our fears. In those moments, we’re tempted to grasp for human solutions or take control ourselves. But 1 Samuel 12 reminds us: Don’t place your hope in the visible—place your faith in God’s plans and draw your hope from Him.
• When your future feels uncertain—remember, God’s plan hasn’t changed.
• When your leaders fall short—remember, Jesus never will.
• When your life shifts seasons—God doesn’t shift. His faithfulness holds steady.
• And so the call isn’t to hold tighter to man, but to anchor deeper in Christ.
This moment in Scripture reminds us that seasons change, people disappoint, and even spiritual giants step aside—but God never steps down. The true King is still coming. So when life feels uncertain, when transitions rattle your faith, when leaders fail or circumstances shift—remember what God has done, and remain faithful to Him who never fails.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Now that we’ve seen how God remains faithful through every season, even when leadership changes or life feels uncertain… we have to ask: what kind of people will we be in the midst of it all? Before Samuel steps away, he doesn’t just pass the baton—he holds up a mirror. He invites Israel to examine his life. And in doing so, he invites us to do the same.
I. Integrity in the In-Between: Faithfulness Is a Choice (1 Samuel 12:1–5)
1 And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. 3 Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.” 4 They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.” 5 And he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.” (1 Samuel 12:1–5)
Samuel begins his farewell not with fanfare, but with a personal audit. “Here I am; testify against me… Whose ox have I taken?” (v. 3) And the people confirm: “You have not defrauded or oppressed us.” (v. 4) This wasn’t just a clean track record—it was the fruit of a lifetime of choosing faithfulness, even when it was unpopular, painful, or lonely.
Israel was at a crossroads:
• Their past: revival under Samuel’s leadership.
• Their present: a new king who looked the part.
• Their future: uncertain.
And in that fragile moment, they might have looked at Saul and thought, “Well, finally, we’re going to be like the other nations. Look at this guy—tall, handsome, royal.” But Samuel, even as he steps back, refuses to let their eyes stay on Saul. He turns their attention not to human leadership, but to God’s faithfulness. “The Lord is witness… it is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of Egypt.” (v. 6) Samuel’s life had integrity because he never made himself the point. He lived in such a way that, even in transition, he pointed people back to God.
Real faithfulness isn’t built in spotlight moments. It’s forged over decades of daily obedience, quiet trust, and unshakable reverence for God. There were times when Samuel’s faithfulness made no worldly sense. Times it brought him heartache. Times he stood alone. And yet, he remained faithful—not because it was easy, but because God was worthy.
We’ve all had moments—days, seasons—when we weren’t living the way we should. Where faithfulness wasn’t our first instinct. But here’s the good news: you can start fresh right now.” Temptation isn’t always about doing something obviously sinful. Sometimes, temptation is just compromise, drift, settling for partial obedience. Sometimes it’s choosing comfort over conviction, silence over truth, or busyness over spiritual depth. But Samuel’s life teaches us that faithfulness is not about perfection—it’s about direction. It’s about waking up every day and saying: “God, I choose to be Yours—even when it’s hard.”
So here’s the invitation: Would you make that declaration tonight? What areas in people’s lives that challenges their integrity with God the most? What makes it difficult to remain faithful in that area? How can people more readily chose integrity instead of following the world?
II. God’s Faithfulness Through History (1 Samuel 12:6–11)
6 And Samuel said to the people, “The Lord is witness, who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7 Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers. 8 When Jacob went into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them, then your fathers cried out to the Lord and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. 9 But they forgot the Lord their God. And he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against them. 10 And they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, that we may serve you.’ 11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal and Barak and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety.
Samuel doesn’t launch into correction or vision casting right away—he roots Israel in remembrance. (1 Samuel 12:6–11)
Verse 6-8: He begins with the Exodus—God raising up Moses and Aaron to bring His people out of slavery. Verses 9-11: He recounts the cycle of Judges—how Israel would forget the Lord, fall into oppression, cry out, and God would raise up a deliverer.
Samuel isn’t just giving them a history lesson—he’s drawing a line between past grace and their present responsibility. He’s saying: “Look what God has done. Look how He’s remained faithful. Don’t forget that now, just
because things are changing.” This was a covenantal pattern in Israel’s history that whenever God brought His people into a new season, they were called to look back:
• Before entering the Promised Land (Deut. 8)
• At the Jordan River (Joshua 4 – 12 stones)
• At the renewal of the covenant (Joshua 24)
And now, before a king takes the throne, Samuel calls them to remember again. Revival and obedience are often sparked by remembering.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, (Psalm 103:2) When we forget what God has done, we stop trusting what He can do. This is why testimonies, spiritual markers, and Ebenezers matter. Take time regularly to reflect on God’s track record in your life. It strengthens your faith in present trials. What are 3 moments in your life where God clearly showed His faithfulness?
• When did God provide when you thought there was no way?
• When did He speak through His Word exactly when you needed it?
• When did He bring someone into your life at just the right time?
• When did He forgive you when you thought you’d gone too far?
• When did He carry you through something you didn’t think you’d survive?
III. The Sin of Replacing Trust in God (1 Samuel 12:12–15)
12 And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king. 13 And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the Lord has set a king over you. 14 If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. 15 But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king. (1 Samuel 12:12–15)
In verse 12, Samuel identifies the heart of the issue: “You said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king.” The people weren’t just requesting a king—they were replacing God with a human substitute. It wasn’t just political—it was spiritual disloyalty. They wanted something visible, powerful-looking—something safer than faith.
Samuel warns them clearly: “If you will fear the Lord and serve Him… it will be well. But if you rebel… the hand of the Lord will be against you.” (v. 14–15) This is a covenant choice—blessing through faith, or trouble through rebellion.
We often seek human solutions to spiritual problems. More money, more control, more protection—when what we really need is more surrender. God allows us to choose—but choices come with consequences. Even when we insist on our way, God is still willing to bless us if we walk in obedience. What area in your life are you tempted to replace God’s leadership with your own plan?
IV. God’s Conviction and Mercy (1 Samuel 12:16–23)
16 Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes. 17 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.” 18 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. 19 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.” 20 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. 21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22 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. 23 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. (1 Samuel 12:16–23)
Samuel calls for a miraculous sign—thunder and rain during harvest (v. 17)—to show how serious their sin was. It hits the people hard. They cry out in fear and guilt (v. 19). But then comes one of the most gracious turns in the entire Old Testament: “Do not be afraid. You have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord…” (v. 20) And then: “For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake.” (v. 22)
Conviction is a gift when it leads to repentance. Romans 2:4 – “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.” Even when we’ve blown it, God says, “Come home.” Samuel doesn’t sugarcoat sin, but he doesn’t leave them in shame either. He commits to pray and instruct them (v. 23), showing the heart of a shepherd.
V. Final Exhortation: Fear the Lord and Serve Him Faithfully (1 Samuel 12:24–25)
24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.” (1 Samuel 12:24–25)
Samuel closes his farewell with a charge, not just a conclusion: “Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart.” (v. 24)
And then a final warning: “But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away…” (v. 25)
The fear of the Lord isn’t terror—it’s awe, surrender, and deep loyalty. Faithful service flows out of a heart that remembers grace. Samuel doesn’t say “serve Him perfectly”—he says serve Him faithfully. That means with consistency, humility, and devotion—even when it’s hard.
Samuel’s voice echoes through generations—not because he ruled with force, but because he walked in faithfulness. As he steps back, he calls the people forward—to choose obedience, to remember God’s faithfulness, and to walk in awe and gratitude. What will your spiritual legacy be? Are you building a life that calls others to greater faithfulness?
