撒母耳記上12章1-25節
撒母耳記上12章1-25節: 講義(朱國鈞長老)
撒母耳年老的临别赠言
破冰 ﹕
• 想一想在你所接触过的人中，有没有令你十分敬佩的榜样？如果有，这人有哪些特征让你到如今
还十分敬佩他呢？
• 你聽過別人为自己的一生作美好的见证吗？听过一生都生活在让神居首位的见证吗？你觉得别人
会不会为你作相当积极的见证？
• 你认为你所不喜欢的人，一定不会对你有任何好处吗？怎么知道？你怎么知道神不会使用他来改
变你？
• 你觉得自己是不是无论顺境逆境都不会离弃神的那种人？经过考验吗？在什么情况下，信心曾经
摇动过？
分段
• 撒母耳当众的自我检讨 (撒上12:1-5)
• 以色列人经常叛逆神的历史 (撒上12:6-12)
• 现在要听从神不再悖逆祂 (撒上12:13-18)
• 求神指引善道正路尽心事奉 (撒上12:19-25)
观察、解释、应用 ﹕
撒母耳当众的自我检讨
1 撒母耳对以色列众人说： “看哪，我已听了你们对我所说一切的话，为你们立了一个王。2 现在，看哪，有这王行走在你们前面。我已年老发白，看哪，我的儿子都在你们这里。我从幼年直到今日都行走在你们前面。3我在这里，你们要在耶和华和他的受膏者面前为我作证，我夺过谁的牛，抢过谁的驴，欺负过谁，虐待过谁，从谁手里收过贿赂而蒙蔽自己的眼目呢？若有，我必偿还。”4众人说： “你未曾欺负我们，虐待我们，也未曾从任何人手里收过任何东西。”5撒母耳对他们说： “你们在我手里没有找着什么，有耶和华在你们中间作证，也有他的受膏者今日作证。” 他们说： “愿耶和华作证。”
以色列众人要立王，虽然这不是神所喜欢的，因为神才是他们真正的主宰，也是撒母耳所不愿意的，但神还是让他们按立扫罗成为他们的王。这时候撒母耳已经年纪老迈而想退休，不再带领以色列人了。这段经文是撒母耳的临别赠言。他的两个儿子：约珥与亚比亚仍旧在以色列人中作士师(参撒上8:1-3)，却不是好的士师才造成以色列人要立王。撒母耳本身却有美好的榜样、生命的见证，从小到老一直作以色列人又忠心又良善的领袖，牧养、带领、治理他们。
他的良善忠心有许多与他有 关联的人都可以为他作见证的，包括他牧养治理的以色列民、他所按立的扫罗王，以及神自己。生命的见证可从多方面看出来：物资方面的侵占、吞吃、破坏；待人处事方面的欺负人、藐视人、虐待人、对人不客气等等他一项都没有做而是干干净净的 。撒母耳从以色列人、扫罗王、及耶和华神都得到美好的印证，显出他当士师的忠信正直、并万事以神为本。
思考： 撒母耳是一个美好的属灵领袖。他不但有自己生命的见证，也从神得到多方面的确认。你认为一个美好的属灵领袖该有哪些印证？谁是你心目中美好的属灵领袖？如果自己是负责同工，你从别人是不是有美好的评证？有没有在祷告时，求问神对你的评估？撒母耳就是碰到难处也不退缩，愿意看神怎
么引领，你碰到难处时，愿意怎么处理？
应用： 请自我检讨是不是神的事工已经进行得十分完美？或还有许多值得警惕改善的地方？请为自己积极参与的事工找到接班人，时机成熟时可顺利接班多多祷告。
以色列人经常叛逆神的历史
6撒母耳对百姓说： “从前立摩西和亚伦，又领你们祖先出埃及地的是耶和华。7现在你们要站住，让我在耶和华面前，以耶和华向你们和你们祖先所行一切公义的事来和你们争辩。8从前雅各到了埃及，后来你们的祖先呼求耶和华，耶和华就差遣摩西和亚伦领你们的祖先出埃及，来到这地方居住。9他们却忘记耶和华－他们的神，他就把他们交给夏琐将军西西拉的手中，以及非利士人和摩押王的手中。于是这些人常来攻击他们。10他们呼求耶和华说：‘我们离弃了耶和华去事奉诸巴力和亚斯她录，我们有罪了。现在求你救我们脱离仇敌的手，我们必事奉你。11耶和华就差遣耶路巴力、比但、耶弗他、撒母耳救你们脱离四围仇敌的手，你们才安然居住。12你们见亚扪人的王拿辖来攻击你们，就对我说：‘不，要有一个王治理我们。’其实耶和华－你们的神是你们的王。
耶和华神从先祖摩西时代已经开始继续不断的引领以色列民，但他们的先祖就一直叛逆不顺服神的带领，而去事奉偶像、假神。每次遇到危急，就要伤亡的时候才向耶和华呼求求救！那么多的士师拯救他们脱离当时所遇见的危难都是神在他们过去历史中美好的作为。
耶路巴力就是士师基甸(参士6-8章)战胜米甸人；比但应该是巴拉击败了迦南人；耶弗他制服亚扪人(参士11-12章)。
思考： 自己信主已经多少年了？回想一下，什么时候比较把神的恩典当成十分平凡、不值得纪念的事件？什么时候比较重视并珍惜呢？什么时候会呼求神？什么时候比较远离神？什么时候神的公义会彰显出来？有没有彻底悔改认罪祷告的经历？过后有什么特别感受？什么时候觉得祷告伙伴的支持加添自己的灵力？有没有把自己的主权完全交给神、让神局首位？什么时候又让自己居首位了呢？从心里真正接受主耶稣基督是主宰吗？万王之王、万主之主？
应用： 请检讨神在你生活起居中的地位，计划怎么能够把神的地位在生活中提高而建立与神更亲密不可分割的生活关系。
现在要听从神不再悖逆祂
13现在，看哪，这就是你们所选的、你们所求的王。看哪，耶和华已经为你们立王了。14你们若敬畏耶和华，事奉他，听从他的话，不违背耶和华的命令，你们和治理你们的王也都跟从耶和华－你们的神就好了。15 倘若不听从耶和华的话，违背他的命令，耶和华的手必攻击你们，像从前攻击你们祖先一样。16现在你们要站住，看耶和华在你们眼前要行的一件大事。17这不是割麦子的时候吗？我求告耶和华，他必打雷降雨，让你们知道并且看出，你们为自己求立王的事在耶和华眼前是犯大罪了。”18于是撒母耳求告耶和华，耶和华就在这日打雷降雨，众百姓就非常惧怕耶和华和撒母耳。
是的，他们想要立王神就按立了扫罗作他们的王。也就是说神有时还是会成就祂自己并不喜悦的事。但撒母耳警告他们最重要的还是对神要存敬畏的心，要敬拜神、好好地事奉独一的真神、完完全全地顺服於神的命令典章之下，去切切实实的讨神的喜悦。不但自己去行，也愿意有同样心志的政府官员作讨神喜悦的事情。如果不去做，那么神的惩罚还是会像以前一样非常的严厉。
撒母耳为了证实自己这些劝告的严肃性，他让神行了一件神迹奇事，就是在夏天割麦子不应该会打雷下雨的季节却打雷降大雨了！这个神迹奇事的的确确证实他们为自己求王这件事在耶和华眼前是犯了严重的大罪了！
思考： 自己是不是也曾要过明明知道神并不喜悦的东西或要求？自己有没有检讨是怎么敬拜事奉主的？个人灵修时间有多少？祷告有多深入？有没有家庭崇拜？有的话，是怎么进行的？包括些什么项目？内容？自己有没有求神特别彰显一个印证去证明是神旨意的经验？
应用： 请想想自己怎么参加主日的崇拜？真正把心预备好了吗？还是迟到早退？如果有进步的余地，请计划时间表而开始进行。如果到现在还没有参与任何一项事奉的事工，请仔细思考一下神给了你什么恩赐，计划怎么能够开始使用你的恩赐。
求神指引善道正路尽心事奉
19众百姓对撒母耳说： “请你为仆人向耶和华－你的神祷告，免得我们死亡，因为我们求立王的事，正是罪上加罪了。”20撒母耳对百姓说： “不要惧怕！你们虽然行了这恶，却不要偏离耶和华，只要尽心事奉他。21不可偏离去随从那没有益处、不能救人的虚无的神明，因为它们是虚无的。22耶和华必因他大名的缘故不撇弃他的子民，因为耶和华喜悦你们作他的子民。23至于我，我如果停止为你们祷告，就得罪耶和华了，我绝不会这样做。我必以善道正路指教你们。24但你们要敬畏耶和华，诚诚实实地尽心事奉他，因你们要留意，他向你们所行的事何等大。25你们若不断作恶，你们和你们的王必一同灭亡。”
众百姓这时候才知道事态的严重，才真正地悔改。他们以奴仆的身份求撒母耳为他们向神祈求祷告。求神赦免他们这个立王的大罪。神却大有恩慈，藉着撒母耳告诉祂的百姓要他们不必惧怕，还是要好好地敬拜神，尽全力的事奉祂。那么神就会为自己名的缘故不撇弃他们，因为神实在爱他们这些神自己的选民、喜悦他们作神的子民、为他们做大事。
反过来说，如果他们偏离耶和华、还是去拜偶像、各种各样虚无的假神，继续不断的作恶，那么他们就活不下去了。
撒母耳自己的责任就是每天继续不断地为他们祷告，教导他们警醒走在神为他们安排的正路当中，不偏左也不偏右。让他们从心里愿意敬畏耶和华、诚诚实实尽心尽力地事奉神、作讨神喜悦的儿女。
思考： 自己是不是有仆人心志？怎么知道？好好经常迫切的祷告吗？参不参加教会星期三晚上的祷告会？是不是经常先好好地认罪，然后才称颂、祈求、赞美我们的三一真神？有没有常常为别人的需要代祷？有没有几个经常在一起彼此代祷的祷告伙伴？有为教会的牧长们祷告吗？有没有经常求神开你事奉的道路？无论得时不得时都会事奉吗？自己心中有没有偶像？譬如地位、财富、名气？身为基督徒，你认为什么是恶？
应用： 请思考除恶向善有些什么是你认为对你现在十分重要的？如果有恶必须切除，请计划时间表去进行；如果有神提醒的好事，如传福音、宣教、教学，也请计划时间表去进行。
吕振中译本
1撒母耳对以色列众人说∶「看哪，关于你们向我所说的，我都听你们的话了∶我设立了一个王来管理你们。
2看哪，现在有这一位王在你们面前往来了；我，我年老发白了；看吧，我的儿子都和你们在一起；我，我自幼年到今日、都在你们面前往来。
3看哪，我在这里；你们尽管当着永恒主和他所膏立者面前、作证控诉我∶我取过谁的牛？取过谁的驴？我欺压过谁，虐待过谁，压制过谁？我从谁手里取过赎金，以致蒙蔽眼睛？作证控诉我吧，我要偿还。」
4众人说∶「你未曾欺压过我们，未曾压制过我们，也未曾从任何人手里取过什么。」
5撒母耳对他们说∶「你们在我手里没有找着什么；有永恒主在你们中间作证，也有他所膏立者今天作证。」他们说∶「有他作证。」
6撒母耳对人民说∶「作证的是永恒主，那遣派摩西亚伦、又将你们列祖从埃及地领上来的永恒主。
7现在你们要站住，我好将永恒主向你们和你们列祖所显的义气、都在永恒主面前跟你们辩诉清楚。
8从前雅各到了埃及，埃及人苦害他们；后来你们列祖向永恒主哀呼，永恒主就差遣摩西亚伦领你们列祖从埃及出来，又使他们在这地方居住。
9他们却忘了永恒主他们的上帝，上帝就把他们交付于夏琐的军长西西拉手里，和非利士人跟摩押王手里；于是这些人常来攻打他们。
10他们就向永恒主哀呼，说∶「我们有罪了，因为我们离弃了永恒主，去服事众巴力和亚斯他录，现在求你援救我们脱离仇敌的手，我们就事奉你。』
11永恒主就差遣耶路巴力、巴拉 (传统比但)、耶弗他、撒母耳来援救你们脱离四围仇敌的手，你们才得以安然居住。
12你们见亚扪人的王拿辖来攻打你们，你们就对我说∶不，总要有一个王来管理我们；其实永恒主你们的上帝乃是你们的王。
13看哪，现在你们所拣选所求要的王在这里呢；看哪，永恒主已经立了一个王来管理你们。
14你们若敬畏永恒主，事奉他，听他的声音，不违背他所吩咐的，并且不但你们、连那管理你们的王、也都跟从着永恒主你们的上帝，那就好了。
15倘若你们不听永恒主的声音，又违背他所吩咐的，那么永恒主的手就要攻击你们和你们的列祖了。
16现在你们要站住，看永恒主在你们眼前所要行的这一件大事。
17今日不是收割麦子的时候么？我要呼求永恒主打雷下雨，那么你们就可以知道，可以看出∶你们所行的坏事──那求立王的事──在永恒主看来、是多么大的坏事。」
18于是撒母耳呼求永恒主，永恒主就在那一天打雷下雨；众民便非常敬畏永恒主和撒母耳。
19众民对撒母耳说∶「请为仆人们祷告永恒主你的上帝，免得我们死亡，因为求立王的事、正是在我们的一切罪上加了一件坏事。」
20撒母耳对人民说∶「不要惧怕；你们固然行了这一切坏事了，只是不可偏离永恒主，总要尽心事奉他；
21不可偏向无益而不能援救的虚空神，因为他们是虚空的。
22永恒主为了他至大之名的缘故、必不丢弃他的人民，因为永恒主喜欢使你们做属他的子民。
23至于我呢，我绝不停止为你们祷告、而犯罪得罪永恒主；我总要将好而对的道路指教你们。
24你们只要敬畏永恒主，忠诚尽心地事奉他，看明他在你们中间所行何等大的事。
25倘若你们固执作坏事，那么连你们带你们的王就都会被扫灭了。」
ESV
1And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you.
2 And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day.
3 Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me1 and I will restore it to you.”
4 They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.”
5 And he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.”
6 And Samuel said to the people, “The Lord is witness,2 who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
7 Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers.
8 When Jacob went into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them,3 then your fathers cried out to the Lord and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place.
9 But they forgot the Lord their God. And he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor,4 band into the hand of the Philistines, cand into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against them.
10 And they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, that we may serve you.’
11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal hand Barak5 and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety.
12 And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king.
13 And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the Lord has set a king over you.
14 If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well.
15 But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king.
16 Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes.
17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great,which you have done in the sight of the Lord,in asking for yourselves a king.”
18 So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
19 And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.”
20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.
21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.
22 For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself.
23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, fand I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.
25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”
MSG
1Samuel addressed all Israel: "I've listened to everything you've said to me, listened carefully to every word, and I've given you a king.
2See for yourself: Your king among you, leading you! But now look at me: I'm old and gray, and my sons are still here. I've led you faithfully from my youth until this very day.
3Look at me! Do you have any complaints to bring before God and his anointed? Have I ever stolen so much as an ox or a donkey? Have I ever taken advantage of you or exploited you? Have I ever taken a bribe or played fast and loose with the law? Bring your complaint and I'll make it right."
4"Oh no," they said, "never. You've never done any of that - never abused us, never lined your own pockets."
5"That settles it then," said Samuel. "God is witness, and his anointed is witness that you find nothing against me - no faults, no complaints."
6And the people said, "He is witness."
7Take your stand before him now as I review your case before God in the light of all the righteous ways in which God has worked with you and your ancestors.
8When Jacob's sons entered Egypt, the Egyptians made life hard for them and they cried for help to God. God sent Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them here in this place.
9"They soon forgot their God, so he sold them off to Sisera, commander of Hazor's army, later to a hard life under the Philistines, and still later to the king of Moab. They had to fight for their lives.
10"Then they cried for help to God. They confessed, 'We've sinned! We've gone off and left God and worshiped the fertility gods and goddesses of Canaan. Oh, deliver us from the brutalities of our enemies and we'll worship you alone.'
11"So God sent Jerub-Baal (Gideon), Bedan (Barak), Jephthah, and Samuel. He saved you from that hard life surrounded by enemies, and you lived in peace.
12"But when you saw Nahash, king of the Ammonites, preparing to attack you, you said to me, 'No more of this. We want a king to lead us.' And God was already your king!
13"So here's the king you wanted, the king you asked for. God has let you have your own way, given you a king.
14If you fear God, worship and obey him, and don't rebel against what he tells you. If both you and your king follow God, no problem. God will be sure to save you.
15But if you don't obey him and rebel against what he tells you, king or no king, you will fare no better than your fathers.
16"Pay attention! Watch this wonder that God is going to perform before you now!
17It's summer, as you well know, and the rainy season is over. But I'm going to pray to God. He'll send thunder and rain, a sign to convince you of the greatwrong you have done to God by asking for a king."
18Samuel prayed to God, and God sent thunder and rain that same day. The people were greatly afraid and in awe of God and of Samuel.
19Then all the people begged Samuel, "Pray to your God for us, your servants. Pray that we won't die! On top of all our other sins, we've piled on one more - asking for a king!"
20Samuel said to them, "Don't be fearful. It's true that you have done something very wrong. All the same, don't turn your back on God. Worship and serve him heart and soul!
21Don't chase after ghost-gods.
22There's nothing to them. They can't help you.They're nothing but ghost-gods! God, simply because of who he is, is not going to walk off and leave his people. God took delight in making you into his very own people.
23"And neither will I walk off and leave you. That would be a sin against God! I'm staying right here at my post praying for you and teaching you the good and right way to live.
24But I beg of you, fear God and worship him honestly and heartily. You've seen how greatly he has worked among you!
25Be warned: If you live badly, both you and your king will be thrown out."