1 Samuel 12:20

20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “Even though you have committed all this evil, do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.

1 Samuel 12:20 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 12:20

And Samuel said unto the people, fear not
Being destroyed by the tempest:

ye have done all this wickedness;
in asking a king; that is, though they were guilty of so heinous a sin, yet there were grace and mercy with God, and they should not despair of it, so be it that they did not depart from him, but cordially served him; the Targum is,

``ye have been the cause of all this evil;''

the storm of thunder and rain; and though they had, he would not have them despond or indulge slavish fear;

yet turn not aside from following the Lord;
the worship of the Lord, as the Targum; provided they did not depart from the Lord, and forsake his worship, word, and ordinances, they need not fear utter ruin and destruction, though they had been guilty of this sin:

but serve the Lord with all your heart;
if their service of God was kept up, and was hearty and sincere, they might still expect things would go well with them.

1 Samuel 12:20 In-Context

18 So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

19 They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”

20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “Even though you have committed all this evil, do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.

21 Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty.

22 Indeed, for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own.