Serving the Lord!
Dear Lord, I pray for those who have dedicated their lives to serving the Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Chapter twelve of First Samuel is identified as “Samuel’s Farewell Address.”
Samuel asks the people of Israel several questions. In 1 Samuel 12:1-5 (ESV) the answers to these questions will either affirm or undermine Samuel’s credibility.
“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. 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. 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[a] and I will restore it to you.’ They said, ‘You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.’ 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.’”
The people did not find Samuel guilty of any wrongful act. Therefore, Samuel was affirmed as honest before the people and before God.
Not everyone who asked the kinds of questions Samuel asked would be without fault.
God gives us grace and permission to confess our sins when we fall short. If we confess, we will be cleansed from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9).
If there is something you need to confess, confess now.
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