1 Samuel 12:18

So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

So Samuel {H8050} called {H7121} unto the LORD {H3068}; and the LORD {H3068} sent {H5414} thunder {H6963} and rain {H4306} that day {H3117}: and all the people {H5971} greatly {H3966} feared {H3372} the LORD {H3068} and Samuel {H8050}.

Sh'mu'elADONAI's viewpoint is the thing you have done in asking for a king."called to ADONAI, and ADONAI sent thunder and rain that day. Then all the people became very much afraid of ADONAI and Sh'mu'el.

So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

So Samuel called unto Jehovah; and Jehovah sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared Jehovah and Samuel.

Commentary

1 Samuel 12:18 records a pivotal moment in Israel's history, where God dramatically confirms the words of His prophet Samuel and brings the people to a profound realization of their sin. This verse is part of Samuel's farewell address to the nation, delivered after they had insisted on having a human king, rejecting God's direct rule over them.

Context

In the preceding verses of 1 Samuel chapter 12, Samuel recounts God's faithfulness to Israel throughout their history, contrasting it with their persistent rebellion. He challenges the people to acknowledge their great sin in demanding a king, a request he had warned them about earlier (1 Samuel 8:7). To prove his words and God's displeasure, Samuel calls for a miraculous sign: thunder and rain during the wheat harvest. This was highly unusual and unnatural for the dry season in ancient Israel, making it an undeniable act of divine power.

Key Themes

  • Divine Confirmation and Judgment: The immediate sending of thunder and rain by the LORD was a direct, irrefutable sign from God. It confirmed Samuel's prophetic authority and underscored the gravity of Israel's sin in rejecting God as their king. This act served as both a warning and a display of God's sovereignty over creation.
  • The Fear of the LORD: The people's reaction, "greatly feared the LORD and Samuel," signifies more than mere terror. The Hebrew word for "feared" (yare, ירא) implies a profound reverence, awe, and respect that leads to submission and obedience. Witnessing God's power firsthand, they were convicted of their wrongdoing and recognized God's holiness and Samuel's role as His true prophet. This echoes the biblical principle that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
  • Repentance and Recognition of Sin: Faced with this undeniable divine intervention, the people were forced to confront their sin. Their fear led to a desire for repentance, as seen in the following verses where they plead for Samuel to pray for them.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "greatly feared" emphasizes the depth of the people's reaction. The Hebrew verb yare (ירא) is rich in meaning, encompassing a spectrum from terror to reverential awe. In this context, it describes a transformative fear that leads to a proper understanding of God's majesty and a turning away from disobedience.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God is actively involved in human affairs. He can use natural phenomena, and indeed any means, to communicate His will, confirm His word through His servants, and call people to repentance. For believers today, it highlights the importance of:

  • Recognizing God's Signs: Being attentive to how God speaks and acts in our lives and the world around us.
  • Fostering a Healthy Fear of the LORD: Cultivating a deep reverence and respect for God's power, holiness, and authority, which leads to obedience and trust (Psalm 111:10).
  • Responding to Conviction: When God reveals our sin, whether through His Word, circumstances, or the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the appropriate response is repentance and turning back to Him.
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Cross-References

  • Exodus 14:31 (5 votes)

    And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

  • Ezra 10:9 (3 votes)

    Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It [was] the ninth month, on the twentieth [day] of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of [this] matter, and for the great rain.

  • Psalms 106:12 (2 votes)

    Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.

  • Psalms 106:13 (2 votes)

    ΒΆ They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

  • Revelation 11:5 (2 votes)

    And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

  • Revelation 11:6 (2 votes)

    These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

  • Exodus 9:23 (2 votes)

    And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.