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1 Samuel 12 – Praying through the Bible #89 – A Prayer of Non-judgmental Judgment
I confess, reading 1 Samuel 12 makes me uncomfortable. I wonder if my first reaction, a natural reaction, even a spiritual reaction, is not God’s reaction. It makes me question what I think is black and white; and makes me wonder if I am too easily judgmental.
Samuel is “retiring.” So he asks all of Israel for judgment against him (12.3), which is quite appropriate since he has been judging them since a youth (1 Samuel 7.17; 12:2): “Here I am. Bring charges against me before the LORD and His anointed” (12.3). Before all Israel, Samuel is judged innocent. The “anointed” is King Saul. After judgment Samuel recounts God’s righteousness and Israel’s sins (12.6-12). How we sinfully treat God is even more egregious when compared to how He righteously treats us.
Samuel presented himself to Israel, and now he demands Israel to present themselves for judgment (12.16). Earlier Samuel claimed God as a witness to his own blameless behavior (12.6); and now claims God as a witness to the people’s new sin. God approves Samuel’s judgment by bringing rain during the wheat harvest (May 15 – June 15) as requested. Harvest rain was unusual, even unheard of: “Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor is inappropriate for a fool” (Proverbs 26:1). When God answered Samuel’s prayer with thunder and rain, the people greatly feared (12.18).
Fear often brings confession. The people had acted like a fool in asking for a king (12.17). They plead, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants, so we won’t die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves” (12.19).
I judge this “confession” insincere. If truly sorry, their repentance would have included removing Saul saying, “Sorry, we were wrong.” Because they admitted their sin, but didn’t go far enough, their confession and repentance were insufficient, not sincere and phony. Do you agree with my judgment?
Apparently Samuel does not agree: “Don’t be afraid” (12.20). Then he points them to the present, and away from their failed past: “worship the LORD with all your heart” (12.20). Despite their sins, Samuel is always there for them in prayer: “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you” (12.23). He encourages them to remember what God has done for them in the past and warns against future failures (12.24-25). Samuel remains righteous towards them in attitude and actions regardless of their foolhardy behavior. He judges while not being judgmental.
As for me, I wonder how many times my reactions are not God’s? While right to judge sin; do we cross the line when judging repentance? Feeling uncomfortable?
Prayer Challenge: Pray for strength to judge sin, but to not be judgmental about repentance. Pray to never allow our feelings or their sins to keep us from praying.
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