1 Samuel 12

Samuel gathers the people for a final address as he steps down from his role as judge. He reviews his long, righteous service and challenges the people to accuse him if he has ever defrauded, oppressed, or taken a bribe. He then sternly rebukes them for their sin of demanding a king, rejecting God as their ruler. To confirm the seriousness of their sin, Samuel calls upon the Lord, who sends a miraculous thunderstorm and heavy rain during the wheat harvest. Samuel reassures the terrified people that if they serve the Lord faithfully, God will not abandon them.