Daily Devotionals
Devotional: February 26th
1 Samuel 12:1-15
Samuel brings the people together a third time. He assembles them at Gilgal in order to renew the kingdom there. And at the same time he divests himself of his office of judge which he has discharged faithfully, as the people bear witness. We can compare his words with Paul’s to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 (vv. 26, 27, 33-35). They are not intended to glorify the person who speaks but to place before the hearers their responsibilities. And for the third time too, Samuel makes Israel feel the loss they have incurred in asking for a king. He emphasizes their ingratitude and lack of trust in the LORD.
Vv. 14 and 15 show us that this is another time of testing for the people. Without the law and under the law, in the wilderness and in the land, with and without judges (or priests), always and everywhere the people have fallen short, forsaking the LORD in order to return to their lusts and their idols. It is as if God said to them now: "You want a king? All right, let us see whether you will do better with a king." And because He is so gracious, He allows them this new trial.
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