1 Samuel 12

Please read the whole chapter and feel free to post a reply even before you read my thoughts. If you don't have a Bible with you, you can follow this link to the passage: 1 Samuel 12

It is a little difficult for me to accept Samuel's approach to Israel at the beginning of this chapter. It seems like he is setting himself up as righteous and bragging about how good he has been. "Have I cheated you?" "Have I oppressed you?" It feels like the mistake we so often make in our dealings with friends, especially those who do not know Christ. We set ourselves up and away from them, in the seat of judgment.

But of course that is not exactly what Samuel is doing. As the chapter goes on, I realized that his words have little to do with himself, other than to clear the air for what's coming. It's just as likely that Samuel, like king David did later, could have openly confessed his wrongs first, so that the people could and would look to their own behavior. This is what it means to take the plank out of our own eye.

Samuel clears the air between he and the people, so that the real focus on the relationship between the people and God can be assessed. This is where Samuel can be an example for us. It is highly unlikely that we can point to no fault of our own, but in speaking with the non-Christian friend we can confess our lowly position. We can clear the air about our relationship and dependence on God, and show that we care as much about their relationship with Him. The word of judgment is no less, but now it is a word from God rather than only from us. And in this way forgiveness and a new like is also offered.