1 Samuel 12

Is there any charge that we can rightly bring against Jesus?

Of course not. He is the one Mediator between God and man. He has not defrauded or abused us. On the contrary He has generously won for us eternal life at the cost of His own blood. His righteousness is perfect. He has made a way for us to have full peace with God.

Samuel, the man of God who anointed Saul, was able to testify publicly to his own righteousness as God's messenger. We thank God for faithful servants like Him. But even Samuel needed a Savior. No one in Israel could bring an accusation against Samuel, but this great man could never have had access to heaven and heaven's God without the blood of the sinless Lamb, Jesus Christ.

Israel had an obvious sin problem. Samuel interceded to the Lord for the nation. But who would intercede for Samuel? Who would plead for Job, for Moses, and for all of God's people? Jesus, the perfect Mediator, makes intercession for us.

God granted a king to the people at their insistence. This man of Benjamin, Saul, had gathered the nation by the Spirit of God and they had defeated the Ammonites. Today they liked the king God gave them. Would they always follow him as the Lord's anointed? Would he always follow the Word of the Lord?

If the nation and her king would follow the Lord, all would be well. But what can Israel and the world do when even the best leaders fail us, and when even the most righteous nations are full of sin? Where is the holiness that God requires? Can it be found anywhere under the sun?

The wickedness of Israel was great. God confirmed that fact with frightening signs. But now we have a sign of peace given to all who call upon the Name of the Lord. The body and blood of Christ are presented to us spiritually when we gather to worship God through His Son. These emblems of His life and death speak a word that is far more comforting than the message of the thundering holiness of the eternal Judge.

If God is now for us in Jesus Christ, who can be against us? The very Man who will judge the living and the dead is the One who has loved us and given Himself for us.

Let us serve the Lord our God with full hearts, knowing that He gives power to the faint. We receive His grace, and find the Rock of our Salvation to be a sturdy foundation in a troubled world.

Our nation cannot save us. Even the most holy servant in the church would make a very deficient messiah. But we do not need another king. The Lord reigns, and we are His beloved people.