INTRODUCTION: The Israelites were determined to have a king like all the nations and God had granted their request. However, in this chapter, Samuel establishes guidelines whereby they may still be able to serve the Lord and continue to receive His blessings. This chapter gives great hope to those who have some sin or failure in their past. God works with us where we are, and not only where we should have been.

1. A WORD OF WITNESS (1 Samuel 12:1-5 [1] And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. [2] And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. [3] Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. [4] And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand. [5] And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
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1. The Witness of His Faithfulness (1 Samuel 12:1-2 [1] And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. [2] And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
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1. Before all Israel (1 Samuel 12:1And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.
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2. Unto old age (1 Samuel 12:2And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
   See All...a; Proverbs 16:31The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
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3. From childhood (1 Samuel 12:2And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
   See All...b; Proverbs 20:11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
   See All...; 2 Timothy 3:15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
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2. The Witness of His Walk (1 Samuel 12:3-4 [3] Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. [4] And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.
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1. The witnesses (1 Samuel 12:3Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
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1. Before the people
2. Before the Lord (see Romans 1:9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
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3. Before “his anointed”; NOTE: “his anointed” is Saul the king (1 Samuel 10:1Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
   See All...; 2 Samuel 1:14And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?
   See All...).
2. The claim of the prophet (1 Samuel 12:3Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
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1. No theft
2. No fraud; DEFINITION - defraud: to take away property, rights, etc., by fraud or cheat (Leviticus 19:13Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
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3. No oppression
4. No bribe
5. Note: The prophet asks five questions. Five is a number associated with death and judgment.
3. The consent of the people (1 Samuel 12:4And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.
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3. The Witness of His Testimony (1 Samuel 12:5And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
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1. By the Lord
2. Against the people
3. By the king – “his anointed”
4. The agreement of the people
2. A WORD OF WARNING (1 Samuel 12:6-19 [6] And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. [7] Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers. [8] When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place. [9] And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. [10] And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee. [11] And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe. [12] And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king. [13] Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. [14] If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: [15] But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers. [16] Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. [17] Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. [18] So Samuel called unto 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 unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
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1. Concerning a Righteous God (1 Samuel 12:6-7 [6] And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. [7] Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.
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1. A God who promotes (1 Samuel 12:6And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
   See All...a; Psalm 75:6For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
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2. A God who preserves (1 Samuel 12:6And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
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3. A God who performs (1 Samuel 12:7Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.
   See All...; Psalm 46:10Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
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2. Concerning a Forgetful People (1 Samuel 12:8-11 [8] When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place. [9] And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. [10] And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee. [11] And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
   See All...; cp. Judges 2:7-19 [7] And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel. [8] And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. [9] And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. [10] And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. [11] And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: [12] And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. [13] And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. [14] And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. [15] Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed. [16] Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. [17] And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so. [18] And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. [19] And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
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1. They were blessed (1 Samuel 12:8When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.
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2. They forgot (1 Samuel 12:9And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
   See All...a; Psalm 106:13They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
   See All..., 21).
3. They were sold (1 Samuel 12:9And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
   See All...b).
4. They cried unto the Lord (1 Samuel 12:10And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
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1. They confessed their sins.
1. We have sinned.
2. We have forsaken the Lord.
3. We have served Baalim and Ashtaroth.
2. They prayed for deliverance.
3. They promised to serve God.
5. They were delivered (1 Samuel 12:11And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
   See All...a).
6. They were secure in the land (1 Samuel 12:11And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
   See All...b).
7. Note: This is a common cycle. Look at Psalm 107 for several instances of the same pattern. Two constant themes exist throughout the history of mankind: the failure of man, and the faithfulness of God.
3. Concerning a Holy Responsibility (1 Samuel 12:12-15 [12] And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king. [13] Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. [14] If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: [15] But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
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1. Responsible for their decision (1 Samuel 12:12-13 [12] And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king. [13] Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.
   See All...); NOTE: After the Lord had delivered them in so many things, they ran to be like the world when the latest problem arose. Believers do the same today.
1. Trusting in man (1 Samuel 12:12And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.
   See All...a)
2. Replacing God with a human king (1 Samuel 12:12And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.
   See All...b; Judges 8:23And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
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3. Receiving their request (1 Samuel 12:13Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.
   See All...); NOTE: If we want something bad enough, the Lord may give it to us even though it may not be His will.
2. Responsible to their God (1 Samuel 12:14-15 [14] If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: [15] But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
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1. The blessing of obedience (1 Samuel 12:14If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:
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1. Fear the Lord.
2. Serve Him.
3. Obey His voice.
4. Rebel not.
5. Continue following the Lord.
2. The curse of rebellion – God’s hand against you (1 Samuel 12:15But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
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4. Concerning a Mighty God (1 Samuel 12:16-19 [16] Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. [17] Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. [18] So Samuel called unto 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 unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
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1. Rain in wheat harvest – usually a very dry time (1 Samuel 12:16-17 [16] Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. [17] Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.
   See All...; Proverbs 26:1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
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2. The people feared (1 Samuel 12:18So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
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1. The Lord
2. Samuel
3. The people sought the prayers of Samuel (1 Samuel 12:19And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
   See All...).
3. A WORD OF WISDOM (1 Samuel 12:20-25 [20] And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; [21] And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. [22] For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. [23] Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: [24] Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. [25] But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
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1. The Wisdom of Obedience (1 Samuel 12:20-21 [20] And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; [21] And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
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1. Serve the Lord (1 Samuel 12:20And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
   See All...).
1. Without fear (Exodus 20:20And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
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2. Continue to follow Him.
3. With all your heart (Deuteronomy 10:12And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
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2. Turn not aside (1 Samuel 12:21And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
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1. To leave the Lord
2. To seek vain things (Colossians 2:8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
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2. The Wisdom of Faith (1 Samuel 12:22For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
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1. In the presence of God (Hebrews 13:5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
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2. In the protection of God (Hebrews 13:6So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
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1. His pleasure
2. His people
3. The Wisdom of Prayer (1 Samuel 12:23Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
   See All...a)
1. Without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17Pray without ceasing.
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2. For others (1 Timothy 2:1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
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4. The Wisdom of Training (1 Samuel 12:23Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
   See All...b-25; 2 Timothy 2:2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
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1. The teacher (1 Samuel 12:23Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
   See All...b; 1 Timothy 3:2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
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2. The lesson (1 Samuel 12:24Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
   See All...a; Psalm 143:10Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
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1. Fear the Lord.
2. Serve Him in truth.
3. Serve Him with all your heart.
3. The purpose (1 Samuel 12:24Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
   See All...b; Psalm 143:5-6 [5] I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. [6] I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
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4. The risk (1 Samuel 12:25But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
   See All...; cp. Isaiah 1:18-20 [18] Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. [19] If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: [20] But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
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CONCLUSION: Have you missed God’s will in the past? It is not too late to please Him. You can still continue in His way and He will still bless. But you must dedicate to follow Him now and give Him all your heart.