156 Samuel’s Farewell

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people, Look. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: Upon one the Lord has chosen. 00:00:07 Speaker 1: The crowd erupted into a cacophony of praise. Trumpets blared, and the voices of the people rose like a storm. Long live the King, they shouted, Long live King, Saul. 00:00:22 Speaker 3: Did you hear the messengers? 00:00:24 Speaker 4: Is Jabis truly under attack? 00:00:26 Speaker 3: Nay Hush and his host have come. The elders of Jabesh send messengers. 00:00:32 Speaker 5: But no one has answered. 00:00:35 Speaker 3: People of Israel tremble in their homes. 00:00:38 Speaker 1: Saul held Samuel's gaze. 00:00:41 Speaker 5: What are you looking at me? 00:00:42 Speaker 3: For this seems to be the job of Keith. 00:00:45 Speaker 1: Saul lifted his blade high and bellowed, his voice, rolling across the forest and into the camp beyond wight. 00:00:53 Speaker 6: You mighty men, and as well, why does one nay sit under God? 00:00:58 Speaker 1: The Israeli surged forward, their battle cries splitting the quiet. A cheer rose from the Israelite ranks, a deafening roar of triumph. They had fought with the fury of God, and they had prevailed. For now. Saul said nothing. He stood tall, letting the moment consume him. But deep within the seeds of pride had been planted and Samuel, watching from the corner of his eye, saw them again to take root. 00:01:38 Speaker 7: The person who sits in the seat of power is often a reflection of what a nation truly values. Shello, my friends, from here in the holy Land of Israel. I'm l extein with international Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People. Today's story, inspired by one Samuel twelve, is a sum Samuel gives a farewell speech, a dramatic final note for his time as the Judge of Israel. The Chosen People have asked for a king to replace God, and they're going to get what they want. But as we all know, sometimes God gives us exactly what we want in order to teach us how wrong our desires were. To begin with. Dive in with me and witness the Chosen People's heartache and their sorrow, but also see a sliver of light, the promise of something greater right there on the horizon. 00:02:38 Speaker 1: Israel had its king. Songs of triumph rang out across the land, echoing through hills and valleys as the people praised Soul for his victory over the Ammonites. In every village, stories were told of the Battle of how their new king had faced Nahash with unflinching currge and struck him down. Men, women and children alike sang of Saul, their hero, the savior of j Besh Gilead. The name of their king was on every tongue, lifted high with adoration. 00:03:15 Speaker 2: Saul, please killed hisself. Saul has killed his pats. 00:03:23 Speaker 1: But Samuel the prophet listened to the songs with a heavy heart. In the wares of the elders, where men sat marveling at Saul's strength and daring, Samuel sat in silence, his expression grave. Saul was there, too, seated among them, listening humbly as the elders heaped brays upon him. For a moment, Samuel allowed himself to wonder if perhaps Saul was the king Israel needed. 00:03:54 Speaker 2: Who among us has doubted Saul? Let them be put to death for their insolence. 00:04:00 Speaker 1: The room murmured in agreement, but Saul rose quickly, his hands raised to silence them. 00:04:07 Speaker 4: No, no, brothers, let no one be put to death this day. Today the Lord has worked salvation for his people that has rejoice in him and show mercy to one another. 00:04:19 Speaker 3: Ah, And He's a man of mercy and forgiveness to Now this is our chie. No one has better At the unite the tribes. 00:04:28 Speaker 1: The rooms stirred in agreement. Samuel's eyes narrowed, his fingers tightening around the staff in his hand. He studied the young king carefully. Perhaps there was hope for this man. Perhaps Saul could be more than the people's foolish demand for a king. Samuel stood slowly, rising to address the room. His presence, though bent with age, still carried the authority of decades spent. As the lord's. 00:05:01 Speaker 3: Well, I suppose it's settled, then, love the king you begs for his cheers grand and oh, I'm sure nothing could possibly go wrong. Let's coronate this young man before the Lord and the people. 00:05:18 Speaker 1: At guild, the elders murmured their approval, and preparations were made. The nation of Israel gathered once again, their joy unshaken, their songs rising anew as they journeyed to Gilgal. At Gilgal, the smell of roasted sacrifices filled the air as Samuel offered burnt offerings to the lord. Beside the altar, Saul stood surrounded by the tribes who brought peace offerings and gifts. To the Lord in thanksgiving. The people's cheers and songs were deafening. Their voices raise raised in unison. Long Live the King, Long Live the King. Saw beamed from ear to ear, drinking in their acceptance. But Samuel stood apart, watching the celebration with a sadness that gnawed at him. He could still hear the echoes of those sane voices raised to God. In years past, they used to sing of the Lord's deliverance. 00:06:29 Speaker 5: Now they sing of Saul. 00:06:32 Speaker 1: Samuel could feel it in his bones. Saul's reign would not bring the salvation they dreamed of. When the sacrifices were complete, Samuel climbed onto a stone platform, overlooking the crowd. He raised his hands, and the cheers and songs quieted until only the crackling of the altar fire remained. 00:06:54 Speaker 3: Behold, I have obeyed your voice. You are masse for a king, and here he stands before you. I am old now, but I have faithfully wop before you since I was young. 00:07:14 Speaker 1: His voice faltered, his throat tightening, his sorrow welled up within him. He gripped his staff, steadying himself. His gaze swept across the people, children and elders, warriors, and shepherds, the faces of a nation he had guided for so long. A single tear slid down his weathered cheek, though he made no move to wipe it away. He shook his head and snarled a bit, angry at the people for abandoning God as their king, hurt that they had rejected him in the process. 00:07:51 Speaker 2: Here I am arms. 00:07:53 Speaker 3: Out stretched before you. Testify against me before God. If you have qualms with how I've led you, Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded or cheated? Have I oppressed any of you? Have I taken a bribe or taxed you unjustly? Tell me and I shall make it right. 00:08:21 Speaker 1: The people shouted as one, their voices carrying up to the heavens. 00:08:27 Speaker 2: You've done no wrong to us, Samuel. You've been there and just you have honored us. 00:08:33 Speaker 1: Samuel drove his staff into the stone beneath him, the sharp crack reverberating across the assembly. 00:08:41 Speaker 3: So then the Lord is witness against you, his anointed king is witness this day that I have done you no wrong. I've only served you, loved you, and led you in the ways. 00:09:02 Speaker 5: Of the Lord. 00:09:05 Speaker 1: Samuel's voice grew harsher, his tone that of a father scolding his wayward children. 00:09:13 Speaker 3: The lord who appointed merciesen arran to bring your ancestors out of. 00:09:18 Speaker 2: Egypt his witness. 00:09:22 Speaker 3: The Lord who struck down the Egyptians and led you into this land, his witness. 00:09:33 Speaker 2: Your fathers cried. 00:09:34 Speaker 3: Out to him in their suffering, and he delivered them again and again, first from Egypt, then from the Morbides, Philistines, Themarachites. Shutters and warriors were said to save you, to fight for you, and to keep you safe. 00:09:54 Speaker 2: What still you forget him? 00:09:59 Speaker 1: The sky darkened as Samuel spoke, thick clouds rolling in from the west, shrouding the sun. The people shifted uneasily, glancing at the heavens. 00:10:16 Speaker 3: The Lord that's conquered kings and topple towers for you. Did you whine for a king like children when Nahash came. You did not call on the Lord to save you. No, you asked for a man, and here he is the king. You demand it. 00:10:42 Speaker 2: The Lord has given you what you wanted, But take heed. 00:10:47 Speaker 3: If you and your king obey him, oh he'll be well. But if you rebel, if your heart's grow proud and arrogant. If you forget the Lord again, did he stand. 00:11:03 Speaker 6: Against both you and your king? 00:11:08 Speaker 1: The wind howled and the sky turned black. The people began to murmur, fear flickering in their eyes. Saul did his best to remain right where he was, hiding the embarrassment welling up within him. This was supposed to be his coronation, but Samuel had turned it into a day of judgment. 00:11:29 Speaker 3: Stand and see what the Lord will do before your eyes. Thunder and rain your come to show you how greatly you have grieved the heart of God. 00:11:45 Speaker 2: Few whips as a groom who has lost his bread. 00:11:52 Speaker 1: Lightning split the sky, striking a cypress tree behind Samuel. The tree erupted into flames, branches crackling as the fire spread. A moment later, the heavens opened and rain poured down in torrents. Thunder roared, shaking the earth beneath their feet. The people cried out in terror, falling to their knees. 00:12:16 Speaker 3: Oh rain for us, Samuel, we we we have said, we have added to the sins of our fathers by asking for a king. 00:12:25 Speaker 1: Samuel sighed, the rain soaking his robes as he stood tall against a storm. 00:12:32 Speaker 5: Do not fear. 00:12:34 Speaker 3: The Lord will not forsake his people, for it pleases him to make you his own. 00:12:42 Speaker 5: But you must serve him with all your heart. Do not cling to work the stones that can neither satisfy nor shave furs for me. 00:12:59 Speaker 6: I will not by ceasing my prayers for you. I will still be here to guide you. Come so and offer sacrifices. 00:13:10 Speaker 5: On your behalf. 00:13:12 Speaker 2: But heed this warning. 00:13:14 Speaker 3: If wickedness rules your hearts, you and your king shall be swept away. For the Lord resists the prower, what gives grace. 00:13:27 Speaker 5: To the humble. 00:13:28 Speaker 1: The storm began to subside, the rain, quenching the fire and leaving the ground sodden. The people left in silence, their spirits subdued. Saul remained behind, standing at a distance. As he watched Samuel descend from the platform. For the first time, a seed of bitterness took root in Saul's heart. He wondered if Samuel had ever truly wanted him to be king, or if the old prophet was secretly praying for his failure. He smiled thinly as Samuel approached, masking his thoughts. Together, they left Gilgal to begin the work of establishing Saul's kingdom. But deep within soul, something had begun to shift. 00:14:24 Speaker 7: As the prophet Samuel stands before the Chosen people, he leaves them with a farewell address. And it doesn't sound very positive. Samuel says, you said to me, no, we want a king to rule over us, even though the Lord your God was your king. Not only is Samuel's farewell not very positive, it actually sounds downright critical, doesn't it. His words carry deep sorrow, a subtle rebuke hidden in plain sight. Samuel seems to reflect God's broken heart that Israel would even ask for such a thing. But here's the story. The Bible actually commanded the people of Israel to appoint the king to rule over them. Do you remember, back in Deuterotomy seventeen fifteen, we read be sure to appoint over you a king. So why did Samuel judge the people so harshly for doing the very thing that God asked them to do. The answer can be found in One Samuel eight seven. When the people first asked for a king, God told Samuel, listen to all that the people are saying to you. It's not you that they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As Samuel has suspected, the people's request for a king was very different from God's intention when he directed them to appoint a king. God's intention was that the king would be an extension of himself, carrying out his will and guiding the people on a path of justice and righteousness. When the people asked for a king, God saw us straight into their hearts. They didn't want an extension of God. They wanted a replacement for God. It's easy to judge the people of Israel for their choice, isn't it for choosing a mere mortal over the Almighty. Let's put ourselves in the shoes of the ancient Israelites. Why would they choose a man of flesh and blood over in omnipotent God. God is awesome and powerful, He is loving and kind, but the Chosen people could neither see him nor experience him with their other senses. Faced with physical threats, uncertainty, and fear, the people of Israel wanted tangible security, a leader that they could see, touch, and trust to stand before them and with them. Even a flawed human leader seemed more accessible and reliable, more real than a God who was unseen. But that was all an illusion. The Bible warns us over and over again not to put our faith in humans, but to trust in God alone. And we fall into this very same trap, don't we. We trust in people and power or institutions more than the unseen hand of the Almighty. We replace our reliance on the big g God with the little g government, and like Israel, we inevitably find ourselves disappointed. Samuel's message echoes clearly today. True security doesn't come from human leaders, no matter how strong or wise they appear. It comes only from the King of Kings, whose powers unmatched and whose love is unfailing. In times of uncertainty, turmoil, or fear, Let's resist the temptation to place our trust in the visible and the tangible. Let us fully place our trust in the invisible yet faithful God, the true King and Redeemer who never disappoints. Shalom, my friends from here in Israel, may you find security, peace and strength in Him alone. Amen. 00:18:07 Speaker 1: You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the prey dot Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made possible by our dedicated team of Creative Talents. Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein. Edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paulineer, Robin van Ettin, k Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.