This passage describes Samuel's last speech to the people of Israel as their leader, as he steps down from his place of highest authority for Saul. Samuel's extreme humility really surprises me in this passage. When the people asked for a king, they were rejecting both God and Samuel (which is why God tells Samuel that they weren't just rejecting Samuel, but God as well). Even so, there must be some sort of hurt that Samuel experienced. Despite this hurt, Samuel displays a genuine love for God's people, pleading with them to turn back to God.
Samuel puts the will of God and the good of the people above his own will and desires, putting aside his pride and allowing another to be raised up above him, even if it wasn't what God had wanted. Samuel doesn't show any bitterness, but exhorts the people one last time to follow God and obey his commands. The following are things that Samuel does that is a reflection of his humility.
Samuel examines himself for sin and wrongdoings.
While it may seem that Samuel is being self-righteous in the beginning of the passage, Samuel is affirming that God has been working through him as the leader of the nation, it wasn't because of his sin that the people wanted a king. It's a super ballsy offer for anyone in the entire nation of Israel to accuse him of a wrongdoing, an offer that he can only make if he's spend time in the past examining himself. A posture of humility comes from a conviction of our own sinfulness, which comes from a lifestyle of reflection, confession, and repentance. While we might not be able to relate to Samuel's blamelessness, we can be convicted by Christ's blamelessness, that Christ never led us astray or oppressed us in any way, but that it is our own sin that has ruined things. Humility comes with a deep understanding of the sinfulness of our own hearts.
Samuel maintains an attitude of gratitude and praise.
Samuel remembers all of God's past deliverances of his people, as he recounts "all the righteous acts performed by the LORD for you and your fathers." God has rescued his people whenever they called out to him, and God provided secure lives for his people. Samuel, while admonishing the people, describes the holiness, power, and mercy of God. Humility comes with a deep understanding of the person of God.
Samuel continues loving.
It would have been so easy for Samuel to be bitter about having to step down from leadership when he didn't do anything wrong. It would have been so easy for him to curse at the people under his breath and to give up and walk away. Samuel was wronged in his situation, but he maintains his love for God's people, warning them and teaching them the will of God. He even called upon God to give them rain for their harvest! Most importantly, Samuel continued to pray for the people who sinned against him.
Samuel shows a lot of humility as he steps down from a place of authority because of others' sin, and we can learn a lot from his humility.
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