This verse powerfully illustrates the Lord’s willingness to respond forcefully when His people turn from Him.
In this passage, the prophet Samuel addresses the people of Israel during a gathering in the land of Gilgal, an ancient site located northwest of the Dead Sea, in what is modern-day Jordan. Near the conclusion of his speech, he earnestly intercedes for the Lord to manifest His power. The verse reads, “So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.” (v.18) Samuel’s summons to God results in a dramatic thunderstorm—a demonstration of divine authority that underscores both Samuel’s role as God’s spokesperson and the importance of Israel’s obedience to the Lord. This event takes place during the 11th century BC, at a time when Samuel, who served as the last judge of Israel, sought to guide the nation back to faithful worship of God.
The people’s response—fear of the Lord and respect for Samuel—reveals a sobering realization of God’s sovereignty. The sudden thunder and rain, unusual for the season, emphasize how the Lord rules over nature itself (see Job 37:3-6). This supernatural occurrence arises just after the people have insisted on having a king like other nations (1 Samuel 8:5). Through this sign, God shows He is displeased with their reliance on a human king rather than steadfast trust in Him. Although the people already received Saul as their king, Samuel’s prayerful call and God’s powerful response illustrate that the ultimate authority and power still belong to the Lord. For believers today, this episode echoes forward to the New Testament where Jesus’ divine power over wind and waves further displays God’s supremacy (Mark 4:41).
Moreover, Samuel’s role in interceding for Israel mirrors the mediating work that Jesus Christ ultimately fulfills. Samuel’s leadership and closeness with God were essential to warn the people of their need for repentance. This foreshadows the perfect mediatorship of Jesus, who bridges humanity and God with perfect love and mercy (1 Timothy 2:5). The gathering in Gilgal thus stands as a reminder of God’s unchanging plan: He wishes His people to follow truth, obey His covenant, and place complete trust in Him rather than in human strength or earthly structures.
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1 Samuel 12:18 meaning
In this passage, the prophet Samuel addresses the people of Israel during a gathering in the land of Gilgal, an ancient site located northwest of the Dead Sea, in what is modern-day Jordan. Near the conclusion of his speech, he earnestly intercedes for the Lord to manifest His power. The verse reads, “So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.” (v.18) Samuel’s summons to God results in a dramatic thunderstorm—a demonstration of divine authority that underscores both Samuel’s role as God’s spokesperson and the importance of Israel’s obedience to the Lord. This event takes place during the 11th century BC, at a time when Samuel, who served as the last judge of Israel, sought to guide the nation back to faithful worship of God.
The people’s response—fear of the Lord and respect for Samuel—reveals a sobering realization of God’s sovereignty. The sudden thunder and rain, unusual for the season, emphasize how the Lord rules over nature itself (see Job 37:3-6). This supernatural occurrence arises just after the people have insisted on having a king like other nations (1 Samuel 8:5). Through this sign, God shows He is displeased with their reliance on a human king rather than steadfast trust in Him. Although the people already received Saul as their king, Samuel’s prayerful call and God’s powerful response illustrate that the ultimate authority and power still belong to the Lord. For believers today, this episode echoes forward to the New Testament where Jesus’ divine power over wind and waves further displays God’s supremacy (Mark 4:41).
Moreover, Samuel’s role in interceding for Israel mirrors the mediating work that Jesus Christ ultimately fulfills. Samuel’s leadership and closeness with God were essential to warn the people of their need for repentance. This foreshadows the perfect mediatorship of Jesus, who bridges humanity and God with perfect love and mercy (1 Timothy 2:5). The gathering in Gilgal thus stands as a reminder of God’s unchanging plan: He wishes His people to follow truth, obey His covenant, and place complete trust in Him rather than in human strength or earthly structures.