1 Samuel 12:24

24 Therefore dread ye the Lord, and serve ye him in truth, and of all your heart; for ye saw those great things, that he hath done to you; (And so fear ye the Lord/And so revere ye the Lord, and serve ye him in truth, and with all your heart; for ye have seen all the great things which he hath done for you;)

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1 Samuel 12:24 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 12:24

Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your
heart
Fear him not with a servile fear, which is before dehorted from, but with a filial fear, a reverential affection for God; and includes the whole of religious worship, internal and external; explained further by serving him according to the truth of his word, and in a cordial, sincere, and affectionate manner; and if this was wanting in them, he suggests that his prayers and instructions would be of little avail, and not to be depended on:

for consider how great things he hath done for you;
in bringing them out of Egypt: settling them in the land of Canaan; giving them his laws, statutes, commands, and ordinances; sending prophets unto them, and raising up judges for them, and bestowing all good things on them, in nature, providence, and grace; though some restrain this to the great thing he had done that day, to convince them of their sin, and by which they were returned to the Lord, namely, the violent storm of thunder; which wonderful instance of the power of God, and token of his displeasure against them, they were to lay up in their minds, and not forget, that it might be a means of preserving them from sin for the future.

1 Samuel 12:24 In-Context

22 And then the Lord shall not forsake his people for his great name; for the Lord hath sworn to make you a people to himself. (And then the Lord shall not forsake his people for the sake of his great name; for the Lord hath sworn to make you his own people.)
23 And this sin be far from me against the Lord, that I cease to pray for you; and I shall teach you a rightful way and a good. (And let this sin against the Lord be far from me, that I would ever cease to pray for you; yea, indeed, I shall teach you the good and the right way.)
24 Therefore dread ye the Lord, and serve ye him in truth, and of all your heart; for ye saw those great things, that he hath done to you; (And so fear ye the Lord/And so revere ye the Lord, and serve ye him in truth, and with all your heart; for ye have seen all the great things which he hath done for you;)
25 that if ye continue in malice, both ye and your king shall perish (al)together. (but if ye continue in malice, or in wickedness, both ye and your king shall altogether perish.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.