“And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD but serve the LORD with all your heart; And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.”
(1 Samuel 12:20-21)
In 1 Samuel 12 we witness a sobering scene. The people of Israel are demanding that God give them a human king like all their neighboring nations. And Samuel, Israel’s prophet and judge, is warning them that this is a grievous error on their part. For in so doing, they are rejecting the Lord who made it clear from the outset that He was to be their God, their Deliverer, and that they would be His special, set-apart people (Exodus 6:7).
Samuel reminds them here that their request was not political in nature; it was rebellion. “You said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king” (1 Samuel 12:12). The weight of their disobedience is publicly affirmed when Samuel prays and God responds with thunder and rain. The people tremble. They know they have sinned.
But what follows is one of the most gracious turns in all of Scripture. As the people stand before Samuel in fear, gripped by the realization of their sin, Samuel speaks words of hope. He acknowledges their guilt without minimizing it: “Ye have done all this wickedness.” Yet he immediately encourages them not to despair, “Fear not: … turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.” For he knew that God responds to real guilt with real grace.
Samuel also warns them against turning aside to “vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.” The message remains the same for God’s people today—idols and empty pursuits of the world offer nothing in exchange for forsaking the Lord. Only He is worthy of our hearts. Only He can forgive. Only He can deliver.
Samuel’s assurance of God’s mercy is based in the character of God. “For the Lord will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you His people” (v. 22). This is covenantal love—unearned, unshakable, and anchored in God’s own pleasure and promise.
This passage is full of hope for every believer who has stumbled. It encourages every heart that fears it has strayed too far. God’s mercy is not exhausted. His love is not withdrawn. When we repent and return, we are met by a faithful God who cannot deny Himself.[1]
Contemplation:
- Recognition and Repentance. When I reflect on Israel’s reaction in this passage, I’m reminded of how often, in my own disobedience, I feel that same overwhelming wave of guilt and fear. And then I remember, like this passage affirms, that recognition of my sin is the first step to healing. Repentance is an essential prerequisite for restoration.
- God’s Unchanging Nature. One of the most beautiful aspects of God’s love is its consistency. Despite our wavering faith and frequent missteps, God’s promises remain true. I am comforted in the knowledge that no matter how far away I drift, the Lord’s arms are always open, ready to welcome me back.
- The Danger of Despair. Samuel’s words highlight the peril of letting despair take root. When faced with our wrongdoings, it’s so easy to succumb to hopelessness. But to completely lose hope is to turn away from God, the only source of true hope, to the world’s temporary, insufficient fixes. In my moments of doubt, I want to be reminded of this truth which urges me to stay faithful.
- The Power of God’s Name. The reference to God’s name in this passage solidifies His promise, His reputation, and His commitment to His people. And when I think of God’s name, I’m reminded of the countless times He’s come through for His people. This undergirds my faith in His eternal love and the promises He’s made to His elect.
Prayer (Supplication):
Lord my God, I come before You today in full knowledge of my frailty, asking You to strengthen my heart and anchor my soul in Your unchanging promises. I confess that I, too, have gone after vain things—empty pursuits that cannot profit or deliver. Like Israel of old, I often prefer my own ways over Your rule, and in doing so, I sin against You. So I come before You now not in self-righteousness, but in humble trust in Your mercy.
Lord, it pleased You once to call me, to make me Yours for the sake of Your great name. Preserve me now by that same eternal pleasure. When I falter, lift me. When I fear that I have failed You beyond repair, remind me that Your covenant is not broken by my weakness. Let me not be paralyzed by shame, but stirred to repentance and renewed obedience.
Keep me from turning aside, Father. Guard me from the deceits of despair and the distractions of the world. I plead with You—turn my heart continually back to You. When I wander, bring me home. When I grow cold, kindle in me again the flame of devotion. Let not the guilt of past sins silence the call of Your Spirit. Teach me to serve You with all my heart.
Lord, I need strength to walk faithfully. Grant me grace to love You more deeply and to believe Your promises more firmly. Keep me from chasing after vain pursuits. Instead, let my eyes remain fixed on You, the only God who cannot lie and the only King whose rule is perfect.
I ask also for others—for brothers and sisters who feel they’ve gone too far to return. Open their eyes to the truth of Your compassion. Let them hear again the words of Samuel: “Fear not.” Let them know that Your mercy is not withdrawn, that the way back is not blocked. Use me, if You will, to point them to that mercy.
Finally, preserve Your church, O Lord. Keep her faithful to Your truth, steadfast in Your promises, and humble under Your hand. Let us not be a people chasing after what cannot save, but a people who cling to Your Word and proclaim Your name.
I ask these things not because I am worthy, but because You are good, and Your mercy endures forever.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for 1 Samuel 12:20-21:
Isa. 44:9; Jer. 16:19; 1 Cor. 8:4; Deut. 11:16.
[1] John Preston, Sermons: Samuel’s Support of Sorrowful Sinners, (London: Eliot’s Court Press and R. Young for Leonard Greene of Cambridge, and are to be sold by James Boler, at the sign of the Marigold in Paul’s Churchyard, London, 1630), 113.
