שמואל א, פרק י״ב, פסוק כ״ד

A nation's prosperity and a prophet's guidance rely entirely on a foundation of reverence for God. Samuel makes it clear to the Israelites that while he is fully prepared to continue praying on their behalf and teaching them the proper path, their relationship with God and their receipt of His protection come with a strict requirement. His prayers and instruction will only be effective if the people genuinely fear God and serve Him sincerely. Without their own reverence for God, the prophet's prayers for them will bear no fruit [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד].

Furthermore, Samuel warns them that if they stray from God's path, the new king they so desperately requested will be unable to save them. A human monarchy is entirely useless without a commitment to serving the Creator. If the people choose to sin, both they and their king will perish together [רלב״ג].

To inspire the Israelites to commit to this service, Samuel urges them to reflect deeply on God's actions toward them. The primary approach among commentators is that this refers to recognizing the immense good God has done for the Israelites [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Specifically, this highlights His extraordinary kindness in forgiving them for the severe offense of demanding a human king in the first place [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג].

However, another perspective suggests that reflecting on God's actions is not meant solely to recall His kindness, but also to recognize His awe-inspiring power. According to this view, Samuel reminds the people of the frightening miracle they had just witnessed during his rebuke—the highly unusual thunder and rain that fell during the dry wheat harvest. This event was meant to prove that they must truly fear God, as He constantly watches their actions and holds the power to treat them exactly as He pleases, whether for good or for bad, depending entirely on the choices they make [רד״ק].