Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn away from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart. Don’t turn away to go after vain things which can’t profit or deliver, for they are vain. For Yahweh will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people for himself. Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you. But if you keep doing evil, you will be consumed, both you and your king.”
Parallel Translations
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Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn away from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart.
Don’t turn away to go after vain things which can’t profit or deliver, for they are vain.
For Yahweh will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people for himself.
Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.
But if you keep doing evil, you will be consumed, both you and your king.”
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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.
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.
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
Show all 3 translations
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And Samuel said unto the people: 'Fear not; ye have indeed done all this evil; 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.
For the LORD will not forsake His people for His great name's sake; because it hath pleased the LORD to make you a people unto Himself.
Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things He hath done for you.
But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be swept away, both ye and your king.'
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (96)
- Deuteronomy 10:21 (v24) He is your praise, and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.
- Colossians 1:9 (v23) For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the…
- Romans 1:9 (v23) For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers,
- 2 Timothy 1:3 (v23) I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day
- Proverbs 1:7 (v24) The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Show all 95 cross-references
- 1 Thessalonians 3:10 (v23) night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
- Psalms 126:2-3 (v24) Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “Yahweh has done great things for…
- Isaiah 5:12 (v24) The harp, lyre, tambourine, and flute, with wine, are at their feasts; but they don’t respect the work of Yahweh, neither have they…
- Hebrews 12:29 (v24) for our God is a consuming fire.
- 1 Kings 8:36 (v23) then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should…
- Psalms 111:10 (v24) The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
- Ecclesiastes 12:13 (v24) This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
- Deuteronomy 14:2 (v22) For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God, and Yahweh has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on…
- Acts 12:5 (v23) Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.
- Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (v22) Yahweh didn’t set his love on you nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples;…
- Psalms 34:11 (v23) Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
- Psalms 106:8 (v22) Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power known.
- Philippians 1:6 (v22) being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
- Exodus 12:13 (v24) The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will be on you…
- 1 Kings 6:13 (v22) I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.”
- Psalms 119:80 (v24) Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be disappointed.
- Jeremiah 6:16 (v23) Yahweh says, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for…
- Jeremiah 14:21 (v22) Do not abhor us, for your name’s sake. Do not disgrace the throne of your glory. Remember, and don’t break your covenant with us.
- Romans 11:29 (v22) For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
- Joshua 7:9 (v22) For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. What…
- Joshua 24:20 (v25) If you forsake Yahweh, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after he has done you good.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:27 (v23) then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants of your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should…
- Job 28:28 (v24) To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’ ”
- Psalms 94:14 (v22) For Yahweh won’t reject his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
- Habakkuk 2:18 (v21) “What value does the engraved image have, that its maker has engraved it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he who fashions…
- Colossians 1:28 (v23) We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;
- Deuteronomy 11:16 (vv20–21) Be careful, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn away to serve other gods and worship them;
- Proverbs 4:11 (v23) I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
- Ecclesiastes 12:10 (v23) The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
- Isaiah 43:25 (v22) I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
- Jeremiah 10:15 (v21) They are vanity, a work of delusion. In the time of their visitation they will perish.
- Jeremiah 16:19 (v21) Yahweh, my strength, and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the nations will come to you from the ends of the earth,…
- Lamentations 3:31-32 (v22) For the Lord will not cast off forever. For though he causes grief, yet he will have compassion according to the multitude of his loving…
- Ezekiel 20:9 (v22) But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made…
- Ezekiel 20:14 (v22) But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.
- Acts 20:20 (v23) how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house,
- Romans 12:1 (v24) Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your…
- Ephesians 1:12 (v22) to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ.
- 1 Samuel 31:1-5 (v25) Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa. The…
- Jeremiah 14:22 (v21) Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? Or can the sky give showers? Aren’t you he, Yahweh our God? Therefore…
- Hosea 10:3 (v25) Surely now they will say, “We have no king; for we don’t fear Yahweh; and the king, what can he do for us?”
- Matthew 11:26 (v22) Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.
- John 1:47 (v24) Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
- 1 Peter 2:9 (v22) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of…
- Exodus 32:12 (v22) Why should the Egyptians talk, saying, ‘He brought them out for evil, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the surface…
- Deuteronomy 28:36 (v25) Yahweh will bring you, and your king whom you will set over yourselves, to a nation that you have not known, you nor your fathers. There…
- Joshua 23:6 (v20) “Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you not turn away from it to the…
- 2 Chronicles 15:2 (v22) and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin! Yahweh is with you, while you are with him; and if…
- Psalms 101:3 (v20) I will set no vile thing before my eyes. I hate the deeds of faithless men. They will not cling to me.
- Psalms 125:5 (v20) But as for those who turn away to their crooked ways, Yahweh will lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be on Israel.
- Isaiah 3:11 (v25) Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them; for the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him.
- Isaiah 44:9-10 (v21) Everyone who makes a carved image is vain. The things that they delight in will not profit. Their own witnesses don’t see, nor know, that…
- Isaiah 45:20 (v21) “Assemble yourselves and come. Draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations. Those have no knowledge who carry the wood of…
- Isaiah 46:7 (v21) They bear it on their shoulder. They carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands there. It cannot move from its place. Yes, one may…
- Jeremiah 2:13 (v21) “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken…
- Jeremiah 33:24-26 (v22) “Don’t consider what this people has spoken, saying, ‘Has Yahweh cast off the two families which he chose?’ Thus they despise my people,…
- Jonah 2:8 (v21) Those who regard lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
- 1 Corinthians 4:7 (v22) For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not…
- 1 Corinthians 8:4 (v21) Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other…
- Exodus 19:5-6 (v22) Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all…
- Exodus 20:19-20 (v20) They said to Moses, “Speak with us yourself, and we will listen; but don’t let God speak with us, lest we die.” Moses said to the people,…
- Numbers 14:13-19 (v22) Moses said to Yahweh, “Then the Egyptians will hear it; for you brought up this people in your might from among them. They will tell it to…
- Deuteronomy 9:5 (v22) Not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart do you go in to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations…
- Deuteronomy 31:17 (v22) Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be…
- Deuteronomy 31:29 (v20) For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn away from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will…
- Deuteronomy 32:15-44 (v25) But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have grown fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then he abandoned God who made him, and…
- Deuteronomy 32:21 (v21) They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God. They have provoked me to anger with their vanities. I will move them to jealousy…
- Deuteronomy 32:26-27 (v22) I said that I would scatter them afar. I would make their memory to cease from among men; were it not that I feared the provocation of the…
- 2 Kings 21:14 (v22) I will cast off the remnant of my inheritance, and deliver them into the hands of their enemies. They will become a prey and a plunder to…
- 1 Chronicles 28:9 (v22) You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all…
- Psalms 115:4-8 (v21) Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they don’t speak. They have eyes, but they don’t see. They…
- Isaiah 37:35 (v22) ‘For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.’ ”
- Isaiah 41:17 (v22) The poor and needy seek water, and there is none. Their tongue fails for thirst. I, Yahweh, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will…
- Isaiah 41:23-24 (v21) Declare the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and…
- Isaiah 41:29 (v21) Behold, all of their deeds are vanity and nothing. Their molten images are wind and confusion.
- Isaiah 42:16 (v22) I will bring the blind by a way that they don’t know. I will lead them in paths that they don’t know. I will make darkness light before…
- Isaiah 48:11 (v22) For my own sake, for my own sake, I will do it; for how would my name be profaned? I will not give my glory to another.
- Jeremiah 2:5 (v21) Yahweh says, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity,…
- Jeremiah 3:1 (v20) “They say, ‘If a man puts away his wife, and she goes from him, and becomes another man’s, should he return to her again?’ Wouldn’t that…
- Jeremiah 10:8 (v21) But they are together brutish and foolish, instructed by idols! It is just wood.
- Jeremiah 14:7 (v22) Though our iniquities testify against us, work for your name’s sake, Yahweh; for our rebellions are many. We have sinned against you.
- Lamentations 5:20 (v22) Why do you forget us forever, and forsake us for so long a time?
- Malachi 1:2 (v22) “I have loved you,” says Yahweh. Yet you say, “How have you loved us?” “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” says Yahweh, “Yet I loved Jacob;
- John 15:16 (v22) You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that…
- Romans 9:13-18 (v22) Even as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be! For…
- Ephesians 1:6 (v22) to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved,
- 1 Peter 3:16 (v20) having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in…
- Ezra 9:13-14 (v24) “After all that has come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, since you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities…
- Psalms 40:4 (v20) Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn away to lies.
- Hebrews 13:5 (v22) Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any…
95 distinct cross-references across this passage (96 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv20, 22, 24 He showeth that there is no sin so great,…
He showeth that there is no sin so great, but it shall be forgiven, if the sinner turn again to God.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv20–25 1Sa 12:20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear…
1Sa 12:20 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;
Ver. 20. Fear not,] i.e., Despair not, cast not away your confidence: they that go down into this pit cannot hope for God’s truth. {Isa 38:18} It is a kind of taking away the Almighty, to limit his boundless mercy; despair is a high point of atheism.
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Yet turn not aside.] As the devil, that old manslayer, would have it, tempting you first to presume, and then to despair: "whom resist steadfast in the faith."
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv20–24 Fear not, to wit, with a servile and desponding…
Fear not, to wit, with a servile and desponding fear, as if there were no hope left for you.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv20–25 And Samuel said unto the people, fear not,.... Being…
And Samuel said unto the people, fear not,.... Being destroyed by the tempest:
ye have done all this wickedness; in asking a king; that is, though they were guilty of so heinous a sin, yet there were grace and mercy with God, and they should not despair of it, so be it that they did not depart from him, but cordially served him; the Targum is,"ye have been the cause of all this evil;''the storm of thunder and rain; and though they had, he would not have them despond or indulge slavish fear:
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yet turn not aside from following the Lord; the worship of the Lord, as the Targum; provided they did not depart from the Lord, and forsake his worship, word, and ordinances, they need not fear utter ruin and destruction, though they had been guilty of this sin:
but serve the Lord with all your heart; if their service of God was kept up, and was hearty and sincere, they might still expect things would go well with them.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv20, 21, 22, 24 Fear not - With a desponding fear, as if…
Fear not - With a desponding fear, as if there were no hope left for you.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv20–25 Verse 20. Ye have done all this wickedness] That…
Verse 20. Ye have done all this wickedness] That is, although ye have done all this wickedness: what was past God would pass by, provided they would be obedient in future.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv22, 24 1Sa 12:22. His name’s sake — That is, for…
1Sa 12:22. His name’s sake — That is, for his own honour, which would suffer much among men, if he should not preserve and deliver his people in imminent dangers. And this reason God allegeth, to take them off from all conceit of their own merit; and to assure them, that if they did truly repent of all their sins, and serve God with all their hearts, yet even in that case their salvation would not be due to their merits, but the effect of God’s free mercy. To make you his people — Out of his own free grace, without any desert of yours, and therefore he will not forsake you, except you thrust him away.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv20, 21, 22, 23, 25 Following, as that would imply despair. To come boldly…
Following, as that would imply despair. To come boldly before him would argue presumption. Therefore, St. Mary Magdalene keeps at the feet of Jesus Christ. (Worthington)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv20, 22, 23, 25 20. Fear not — Do not yield yourselves to…
20. Fear not — Do not yield yourselves to inordinate terror, for even after all your rebellions, if now ye serve him with all your heart, he will be found plenteous in mercy.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv21, 22, 24 21. for then should ye go after vain things]…
21. for then should ye go after vain things] The word “for” necessitates the insertion of a verb to complete the sentence. But it is expressed in none of the ancient versions, and the sense gains by its omission. Translate: “And ye shall not turn aside after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver.” “Vain things” are false gods and idols, Heb. tôhû, literally emptiness. The same word is applied to them in Isa_41:29 (E. V. confusion), and to idol-makers in Isa_44:9. Cp. 1Co_8:4.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv20–23 (20) Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness.—A…
(20) Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness.—A very great and precious evangelical truth is contained in these comforting words of the great and good seer. They show how deeply this eminent servant of the Most High had entered into the Eternal thought. No sin or course of sin was too great to be repented of. Afar off these true ministers of the Lord saw, though, perhaps, “in a glass’ darkly,” the Lamb of God, whose blood cleanseth from all sin. Isaiah often pressed home the same truth to the sinning Israel of his own day in such terms as, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow;” and Samuel’s words—bidding the people, in spite of the guilty past, yet press on, following the Lord and serving Him with all the heart—were taken up by Samuel’s prophet-successors, and repeated in coming ages again and again in such moving exhortations as, “O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God” (Hos_14:1). They were re-echoed by men like Paul, who, with stirring loving words, bade their hearers, forgetting all the things that were behind, their past guilt and failure, press on still fearlessly for the real prize of life.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv20–24 Ye have done all this wickedness. The ye is…
Ye have done all this wickedness. The ye is emphatic, and to give its force we should translate, "Ye have indeed done all this evil." From following Jehovah. See on ver. 15.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv20–25 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not.
1Sa_12:20-22
And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not.
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Danger or despondency
It is, I believe, no very unusual thing, however unwilling we may be to avow it, for persons to give way to a kind of despair, when they are called on to repent of their sins. They say to themselves, It is too late now: it is no use pretending to keep the commandments, after so many years of transgression. And what is very remarkable, men change all at once into this method of excusing themselves, from one the very contrary to it, in which they have spent all their lives. We know too well, most of us, by experience, how common a thing it is to break Gods plain commandments, and yet to keep ones conscience tolerably quiet, with the hope of repenting one day or another. At last we get ashamed and tired of dreaming of amendment, and promising it vainly to ourselves; we know by experience what the end will be if we again resolve and put off our resolutions: our consciences also have insensibly become hardened, and have lost all horror of sin as it is in itself: and in this state of mind it is no hard matter for the Evil Spirit to pervert our minds in a way exactly opposite to the former. Hitherto we have gone on, quieting ourselves every day with the notion that we might and would repent tomorrow; but now He keeps whispering to our disordered spirits, What if it should be too late for you to repent at all? Against such a snare as this it would seem that Samuel is guarding the children of Israel. They were to beware of that sullen fear which would make it impossible for them to repent; they were not to doubt that, wicked as they had been, and irremediable as their wickedness might be in some respects, still their best and only true wisdom lay in following the Lord for the future with all their heart. The great wickedness which the Israelites had done was this, that having been especially chosen and set apart by Almighty God to be His own people, and having so gone on for many years, receiving from Him peculiar and distinguishing favours, they were dissatisfied with their own condition, and rather wished themselves, as said the Prophet Ezekiel, like the Heathen, the families of the countries, if not directly to serve wood and stone, yet to take liberties of one sort and another, very inconsistent with the pure and holy character of a people redeemed and marked as they were to be Gods own. This was their sin; most dangerous to themselves, and most affronting to the Almighty: so that we need not wonder at the severity of Samuels reproof, nor at the awful warning which God sent them from Heaven. It was a voice from above, most mercifully sent, to warn them what would come of it if they went on in the way which they had begun, and how much worse and more ungodly the temper in which they were acting than they had themselves imagined. Too often have we taken a perverse pleasure in slighting and undervaluing our own privileges. Surely in this way we have most of us too much to answer for, and our Lord might most justly and reasonably cast us off. But He has not done so; therefore, in any case we must not cast ourselves away. We may not, we must not, go in any kind of sin, under pretence of its being too late to cure ourselves of that ill habit at least.
1. To be a little more particular. The cases in which people are most apt to give themselves up are generally such as these following. First, when after having gone on religiously and blamelessly for many years, perhaps through the whole of youth and early manhood, the Devil prevails against any man, and he gives way to temptation, slight or strong, and knowingly commits any kind of deadly sin. The same Evil Spirit, who has so far had his own way with him, will presently try to make him think the case desperate. Thus, at first, through a feeling of despair, and afterwards through a sense of thorough incurable bad habit, men knowingly throw away their only remaining chance of repentance, and with it, of course, their only remaining chance of salvation. One of the sins in which this sad and fatal process may be seen most distinctly is the inordinate love of strong drink. And if it is so in drunkenness, much more in those sins, which in mans sentence as well as Gods bring an irrecoverable stain on those who are guilty of them: such as unchastity, falsehood, dishonesty. One might well imagine that the Prophet Jeremiah was thinking on these two sorts of deadly sin--the unchaste and the deceitful--when he wrote that most fearful of all sentences, Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye do good who are accustomed to do evil; as much as to say, With men this is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. On the other hand, it is well for all, even the worst, to be sure there is hope so far, as that no one holy desire or good purpose, no one prayer or sigh of sincere repentance through Faith in Christ Jesus our Lord, can ever fall to the ground useless and vain. Hitherto I have spoken of great and notorious sins; practices which naturally startle the consciences of all men, such as unchastity, drunkenness, dishonesty: and I have shown what danger we are in of becoming hardened in these by a kind of despair, as if, having been long bad, we must of course go on and be worse.
2. A word must now be added on another way of going wrong, somewhat in the same kind, that is, by mere lightness of temper and shallowness of principle: when men, for instance, continue in the custom of profane swearing, or of dissolute wanton talk, or of backbiting and slandering, or of lying in common conversation. These persons are in one thing unlike the sinful Jewish people as described in Samuel; they are far from acknowledging that in their way of going on they are adding a great evil to their former sins: they look upon their ill words, as I just now said, one by one, not as making up a sum of mischief; they do not consider that such sinful habits are, as it were, a smothered, inward fire, gradually consuming the whole body.
3. There is another class who are especially apt to encourage themselves in sinning again by the very remembrance which ought most to daunt and humble them;--the remembrance that they have sinned much and often before:--I mean those who sin mostly in the way of omission; the habitual scorner of the Church and Sacraments of God. They say to themselves and sometimes to others, It, is so very hard to recollect what for so many years we have allowed to slip out of our minds; and they fancy to themselves in some indistinct way that a little act of kindness or of devotion will go further, and tell for more, in their case, than in the case of one to whom such acts are familiar; making the great unpleasantness of the duty, which is an effect of their own sinful neglect, an excuse for their imperfect performance of it. Now the example of the Israelites and the Prophet in the text shows how all these and other like cases are to be treated. They must be spoken to very plainly, as Samuel spoke to those Jews: though full of all kindness towards them, he neither spared them at first, in reproving them plainly for their apostasy. It is true, he said, you have indeed done all this great wickedness; I cannot, I must not flatter you; your case is very bad; you have need to humble yourselves deeply before your God; but this one thing you must do; you must turn your attention earnestly from the Past to the Future; you must live in fear and trembling and watchfulness, that you add no more to your sad and heavy account: Ye have done all this great wickedness, yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. This one sentence of the grave and mild Prophet may convey to us the meaning of the whole Scripture of God. Your past sins, He tells you, are at least as bad as you imagine them: but they are done, and you cannot undo them; very likely you may forever have to bear the mark and stain of them; yet despair not; the worst consequence may yet, by Gods mercy, be averted; only lay hold in earnest of that Cross by which hitherto you have held so slightly: fear always, but not with such slavish, ungodly fear, as shall hinder you from doing your very best; preserve a holy obstinacy in following Christ for the future. (Plain sermons by contributors to the Tracts for the Times. )
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v24 (See Scofield "Psa 19:9").
fear
(See Scofield "Psa 19:9").
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv22, 24 For the sake of his great name
For the sake of his great name
Here "name" refers to the reputation of Yahweh. AT: "So that people will continue to honor and respect Yahweh" (See: Metonymy)
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far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh by ceasing to pray for you
The people are filled with fear because of the rain and thunder that Yahweh sent when Samuel prayed. Some people may believe Samuel would use his prayers to harm them. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
translationWords
name
Yahweh
reject
people group
people of God
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv21, 22, 23, 25 12:21 worthless . . . totally useless: Israel was…
12:21 worthless . . . totally useless: Israel was slow to learn this lesson (e.g., Isa 40:18-26; 44:9-20).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.