I couldn’t help but be struck by the contrast between what I read in 1 Samuel 12 and my Hearing God devotional. From Hearing God: Christ’s Faith as Our Faith – He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:39-40. (Jesus himself lived by faith in God and his kingdom. His followers did not have this faith within themselves. They regarded it only as his faith, not theirs. Even after they came to have faith in him, they did not share his faith).

In our chapter this morning, Samuel is saying goodbye to the people as their judge since they have asked for and received a king. He reminds them of the times God has saved them. He calls on the Lord and God sends thunder and rain. v. 18. And what do the people say to Samuel after seeing this rain and thunder? The people all said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.” v. 19. Pray to the Lord your God? Has God become just another idol, another god, as the nations around them? Have they forgotten God is their God and He is the One who leads them? Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil, yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.” v. 20-25.

We are such fickle beings. Can we see the correlation? Can we read about what happened so many thousands of years ago and yet know those lives lived were lessons for us today? We are created by a loving Creator who has never left us. God’s love and faithfulness have stood the test of time. He speaks to us today as surely as He did so long ago. Quiet! Be still and know that I Am God. (Psalm 46:10). Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? (Mark 4:40). I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6). Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. (Matthew 4:17). The time has come, the kingdom of God has come near: Repent and believe the good news! (Mark 1:15).

Have there been times when you knew God has been with you protecting you? Maybe then you didn’t realize it, but looking back you knew it was Him intervening in your life. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news. He loves you. He loves His children that He has made. How can He not? He is love. Everything He does He does for you and me. He is pleased to make us His own.