Rescued By God
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Introduction
Introduction
Today we are continuing our study in the book of 1 Samuel. Last week we saw Saul anointed as king over Israel. But he didn’t set up a palace, or throne. Instead he returned home, followed by some valiant men “Whose hearts God had touched” (10:26).
When we come to chapter 11, the scene changes. We are introduced to an Ammonite king named Nahash.
If you have your Bible, turn with me to 1 Samuel chapter 11, and we’ll begin reading with verse 1.
Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.”
Introducing Nahash
Introducing Nahash
Nahash was the Ammonite king.
His name means “serpent.”
He was a great enemy of Israel.
He marched out against Jabesh Gilead—“besieged” the city.
Extra-Biblical texts tell us that Nahash was ruthless. He had attacked the Gadites and Reubenites. When he conquered them, he would gouge out the men’s right eye.
Some 7,000 men (Gadites & Reubenites) had fled to Jabesh Gilead.
The men of Jabesh asked to make a treaty with him—knowing what their fate will be.
But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.”
Nahash will make a treaty with them—but the conditions will be the loss of the men’s right eye.
He wants this so that he (Nahash) can disgrace all of Israel. It would increase his greatness to force another 7,000 men to be subservient to him.
The Plot of Jabesh Gilead
The Plot of Jabesh Gilead
The men of Jabesh Gilead have a plan. They are going to appeal to the arrogance of Nahash. Look at verse 3.
The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you.”
They ask Nahash to give them seven days.
They want to send messengers throughout Israel asking for help!
If no one comes to rescue them in seven days, then Jabesh Gilead will surrender to him.
Now the obvious question is why would Nahash agree to this? I think it was because he really wanted to gouge out the right eye of Israel’s entire army! So he allows it to happen.
When we come to verse 4, the scene changes—it changes to Gibeah, Saul’s home town.
The Message Reaches Gibeah
The Message Reaches Gibeah
When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud.
The people hear the report.
They hear the terms, and they all wept.
They believe that there is nothing that they can do to help their brethren.
Now Saul wasn’t there when the messengers delivered their message. Look at verse 5.
Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with the people? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.
Saul returned from the fields—I don’t know about you, but this seems strange to me. Saul is king, but he’s out plowing fields with his oxen.
He was following behind his oxen.
Saul sees the commotion—all the people weeping—and asks what’s going on.
The messengers tell Saul the message.
Now Saul has a reaction to the message.
Saul’s Reaction
Saul’s Reaction
When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger. He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they turned out as one man.
When Saul heard what the messengers had to say, “the Spirit of God came upon him in power. . .”
But that was not all, because he also “burned with anger.”
He took a pair of oxen—maybe the oxen he was driving back from the field—and cut them into pieces.
Then he sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel—with a message.
The message was, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.”
God intervenes. We read, “Then the terror of the Lord [Yahweh] fell on the people.”I
And they turned out as one man—They all rallied around to follow Saul.
When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
Saul gathered the men at Bezek—the town is north of Jericho, but south of the Sea of Galilee.
Saul was able to gather 300,000 men of Israel, and 30,000 men of Judah. So Saul gathered 330,000 men to fight Nahash.
Saul has a message for the people of Jabesh Gilead. Look at verse 9.
They told the messengers who had come, “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be delivered.’ ” When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated.
Saul’s message for Jabesh Gilead is “By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be delivered.” Get ready, your going to be delivered!
When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard Saul’s message they were elated! They rejoiced gladly, were happy.
Jabesh Gilead’s Plan
Jabesh Gilead’s Plan
They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever seems good to you.”
The men of Jabesh Gilead tell the Ammonites that they will surrender the next day.
These men tell Nahash that his men can do to them whatever seems best.
Nahash believes he has won! Your going to see that his guard was down!
Saul and His Army is On the Move
Saul and His Army is On the Move
The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
Saul takes his men and divides them into three groups (divisions).
They attacked during the last watch. The Jews divided the night into three “watches.” The first watch was sunset to 10 p.m. The second watch was from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. And the last watch was from 2 a.m. to sunrise. So Saul and his men attacked between 2 a.m. and sunrise.
They slaughtered the Ammonites until the heat of the day.
The Ammonites who fled to survive were scattered so that no two of hem were left together.
Saul is now a bona fide hero to Israel and the people are ready to follow him.
Saul Is King!
Saul Is King!
The people then said to Samuel, “Who was it that asked, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring these men to us and we will put them to death.”
The people remember that there were some who did not want Saul to rule over them.
And now the people call for the death of these men.
They want to avenge their new king!
But Saul said, “No one shall be put to death today, for this day the Lord has rescued Israel.”
I love this verse! Saul acts kingly!
No Israelite is going to be put to death on a day when the Lord rescued Israel
Saul was kingly because he acknowledges that Yahweh supernaturally saved Israel.
Saul was also kingly because he does not allow for vengeance.
Reaffirmed As King
Reaffirmed As King
Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there reaffirm the kingship.”
Samuel leads the people to Gilgal.
The purpose, to reaffirm Saul as king over Israel!
So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.
So once again the confirm Saul as king in the presence of Yahweh.
The sacrifice fellowship offerings to Yahweh.
And together, Saul and all of Israel held a great celebration!
So What?
So What?
Some of you today need God to rescue you. You have sent out the messengers (so to speak) and your waiting to see who comes along side of you to rescue you.
Some of you, through the power of God’s Holy Spirit are going to empower to become God’s rescuer!
The Question is which one are you? Because sometimes I am in need of rescuing, and other times I am supernaturally empowered to be the rescuer!
Either way, I need to rejoice in what God is doing. Today can you rejoice in what God is doing in you; can you rejoice in what God is doing to you; and can you rejoice in what God is doing through you?