Samuel’s Speech

1 Samuel 12

            My Bible labels this Samuel’s farewell speech, but that’s not right. Samuel is not going anywhere for a while. Who would keep an eye on Saul if he went away? Frankly, who would keep on an eye on the people. Samuel seems to resent losing the ruling office. Samuel identifies himself with the judges, but it’s his role as prophet where he makes his greatest impact. With Samuel, as with Moses, the ruling office is combined with the preaching office, and even in some ways the priestly office. (Moses didn’t make sacrifices as Samuel does, but he often stood before the Lord on behalf of the people.) I have mentioned this combination of offices before, but it really is remarkable, and it makes Samuel, as Moses, a major type of Jesus, in whom these three offices of prophet, priest, and king fully and perfectly cohere. The separation of the offices here in 1 Samuel is because the holders of these offices are all imperfect humans and the three serve as a check on the others. The prophets often correct the kings; we’ll read of several times when the kings call the priests to reform. Only in Jesus, the perfect Son of God, do all these offices work together.