“Samuel said to the people, ‘Stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you… When Jacob went into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them, then your fathers cried out… and the Lord… brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. But they forgot the Lord their God… And they cried out, “We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals…” And the Lord… delivered you out of the hand of your enemies.., and you lived in safety. 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. Behold the king whom you have chosen… If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel.., and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. But if you will not obey.., but rebel.., then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king. Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes… 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.
“And all the people said to Samuel, ‘Pray.., that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.’ And Samuel said, ‘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. Do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver… 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… Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.” 1 Samuel 12:6-9a,10a,11b-16,18-22,24
Samuel in his old age was reflective and loving toward his people. As many spiritual leaders (and parents), he knew well what the fickle Israelites needed as reminders before his ministry was complete. They were a people who swung from devotion to the Lord to the latest enticement, prone to idolatry and subject to peer pressure of other nations. Stand still, God’s dearly beloved. Consider your gracious Lord, His faithfulness, and your proclivity to turn away from Him. Stand still and watch Him, submit to and love Him.
In the hustle of life activities and pressures, standing still can be difficult and rare. But intentional stillness affords the brain time to ponder and remember the personal care and might of God, and to determine our course of commitment.
Will we speed through life thoughtlessly on wings of false urgencies and excuses? How might our pace and measure of gratitude change if we regularly stood still and beheld the Lord in wonder, thankfulness, and wholehearted resolve?
Lord, help me stand in devotion that matches Your unwavering devotion to me, and honor You as You deserve.
As the rain and snow 