Samuel asks the people to tell him if he had been dishonest or unfair. They all admit that he had been true and honest.
V.6-12 The past history. They had turned against the Lord, and had been tested by powerful enemies. And yet when they cried to the Lord, they were delivered! What mercy!
V.13-15 Though they had rebelled and rejected the Lord as their king, yet the Lord promises, through Samuel, that He will bless them and their king, Saul, if they will follow the Lord. This was surely forgiving and gracious, for it shows how much God loved those people, and wanted to bless them.
V.16-19 The people admit that they had sinned in asking for a king.
V.22 Unfaithful people, faithful Lord and faithful Samuel.
V.23 Our book opened with Hannah’s unceasing prayer (1 Sam. 1:1212And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth. (1 Samuel 1:12)) and here the one she had prayed for is unceasing in prayer for the people. Don’t give up praying for others, in particular. Samuel promised that he would never stop praying for them and then he warns them once again not to turn aside from the truth of God.