Blind Squirrels and Broken Clocks

Have you heard the adage that “even a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut” or “a broke clock is right 2x a day??

Samuel has repeatedly told the Israelites that having an earthly king is not a wise move and we have been given indications of Saul’s shortcomings.

Remember that the events of Saul and David’s reigns were not written as they were happening (e.g. a journal, diary or newspaper), but rather as a memoir or historical record.

Just as “Monday Morning Quarterbacks” who have the advantage of knowing the final score report games VERY different than the pre-game predictions, The Historian looking back on Saul’s reign has given plenty of hints about how things will result.

But in Today’s lesson we see Saul as a blind squirrel or a broken clock.

Transition: In today’s story he gets more right than wrong.

The Narrative

A Bully’sThreat (11:1-5)

Nahash led the Kingdom Northeast of the Promised Land, Jabesh-Gilead was a village on the border.

Nahash was not satisfied with a servants, he wanted to maim the Israelites so they would be humiliated and incapable of war.

Have we already seen in the Bible story where an eye was gouged out so that one nation could mock the God of Israel? [Samson]

3. The elders wisely bought time for a response rather than sudden panic.

A Spiritual Response (11:6-8)

1. Depending upon your faith background, the idea of a “spiritual” response may look very different.

Some of us come from a tradition where the working of God was normally predictable and orderly. Some of us come from a tradition where the working of God was exuberant and unpredictable. Some of us come from a tradition where the working of God was rare but undeniably powerful.

2. How can I call the dicing and distributing of an oxen as a “spiritual response”?

3. It was a direct and immediate response following the rushing of the Spirit of God upon Saul that resulted in increased praise to God!

4. Saul’s response was a call for the people to get involved in the work of God without the messaging or manipulation of man.

Obedience Rewarded (11:9-11)

In response to Saul’s recruiting, 330 troops gathered a few miles West of Jabesh Gilead. News of the assembled warriors and God’s promised victory was taken by messenger to the men of Jabesh who played a little gamesmanship with the Ammonites.

The Jabeshites scheduled their “surrender” for the next day. The bully thought his bluff was feared. The overconfidence of the Ammonites was the same thing that defeated the Benjaminites earlier.

When the Jabeshites showed up Saul had learned from the defeat his tribe had experienced in Judges 20.

Israel had tried a full frontal assault 2 days in a row and gotten beaten badly both days (losing 22,000 men on day 1 and 18,000 men on day 2). On day 3 the Israelites divided. They sent a group to the left flank and a group to the right flank and then sent in bait of 30 men. When the lazy Benjamites sauntered out to deal with the 30, They were overcome by those hiding on the right and when they began to run in the other direction they encountered those who were hiding on the left so that Benjamin lost 25,000 men on that 3rd day.

4. The King had learned from History so he divides his warriors into 3 companies (11:11). The cocky Ammonites were surprised and totally routed in ½ a day when they were attacked on 3 sides.

Allegiance Renewed (11:12-15)

The allegiance that had been recognized by some in 10:26 now becomes recognized by all the tribes who had responded to the recruiting call.

The warriors want to flex against the naysayers from 10:27, but Samuel wisely moves the attention toward the victory that had come from the hand of their Great God.

Transition: Rather than let the tail wag the dog, When given an opportunity to lead the people to victory, Saul, in this setting, immediately obeyed and God worked. Let’s go back and noticed some of the highpoints from the overview.

Observations

Things Go Well when we “stay in our lane” (v.11)

Sacrifices (honor) to God

Victory, Peace & Joy to His people (v.15b)

Saul neither discarded his responsibility by being willing to write of those along the edges of the border, nor did he exaggerate his role in the victory.

Some of us have seen the movie Jesus Revolution that chronicles some of the Jesus movement in California in the late 60’s and 70’s. The story circles around 2 preachers and one who would become an apprentice. One of the preachers, Lonnie Frisbee, demonstrated exaggeration of his role in the work that God was doing. Much like Samson in the book of Judges, as long as Samson was faithful to God, he was blessed, but when Samson got overconfident, he suffered terribly. Frisbee experienced God working through the movement, but when overstating his role, his brokenness began to show.

4. God gives us opportunity to partner with Him, but when we slip out of the passenger seat into the driver’s seat we can expect problems! If there ever comes a time when you are tempted to think “Jesus take the wheel”, First step is to repent from thinking your or I was ever driving!

Doubters deserve grace, not discipline (v.13)

Human emotion can prompt overreaction! (v.12)

An understanding of grace (the Lord did this!) gives room for transformation.

Thomas is never shamed for his insistence upon proof of the resurrection.

Past victories increase future support (v.14)

Each year on Memorial Day I remind myself of the Normandy Invasion. It was on that day that the whole fate of the free world turned. WW2 wasn’t over, but that victory emboldened the allied forces to continue to move until victory was finalized.

Whenever a team reverses the trend from losing seasons to winning seasons each victory gives more confidence that another victory is possible.

Saul was unproven, but this victory prompted the Israelites to consider that God could work through Saul to bring a favorable outcome.

Transition: Later in this narrative we will see the upward spiral of victory enter into a sudden freefall. But for now the Blind squirrel was given a nut from God. What can we learn from this demonstration of God’s grace?

Applications

Delay can be your ally!

The elders of Jabesh asked for a week. Saul gave the Ammonites a day’s warning.

One of my favorite features of Outlook as an email client is the ability to “send later” because I have the uncanny tendency to be overly harsh when I respond immediately. Now Facebook for Business allows Becky and I to schedule the posts that go on the church page so that we can be intentional The latest operating system on my phone permits me to “unsend” text messages if they have not been read.

Frank Sinatra recorded a song with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in 1940 that was remade by Elvis and recorded in 1972, then released as a movie in 1997. What was the title of this song? Fools Rush In.

2. Delay was used by Moses, Gideon and others as a temptation to disobedience. But Jesus’ delays (as in John 11 when Lazarus was sick) increase God’s glory!

The Spirit worked different before Pentecost

Rushed upon was a temporary prompting

Many of us hold tightly to John 14:6, but do we fully grasp John 14:16?

John 14:16 ESV:2016

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

3. Before Pentecost the people of God waited for the Spirit to anoint and empower. Since Pentecost we don’t need to delay until empowered, we need to live AS WE ARE EMPOWERED and act in faithful obedience.

Instead of waiting to be prompted to speak for Christ, a transformed Spirit-filled life means we have the ability to speak in a winsome way UNLESS the Spirit prompts us to restrain.

4. It is the Spirit’s job to convict, it is our privilege to readily offer good news to those whom He convicts.

Instant obedience creates a dual blessing

Offering the Gospel of Grace doesn’t equate with being offensive or obnoxious.

We must be QUICK to obey, but equally Cautious of fleshly words and attitudes.

Our urgent obedience yields bi-directional benefits!

a. God is glorified

b. His people are blessed

Conclusion:

Instant obedience always beats lavish gifts!

Yes, Saul and Samuel offered peace offerings, but the offerings followed their faith and obedience!

Later (in about 3 weeks) we learn definitively that offerings are no substitute for obedience.

1 Samuel 15:22 ESV:2016

22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

There will be times in our lives when we do not understand. There will be times when our experience is painful. But when I learned earlier this week that Ashley was going to lead us in It is Well, I asked her to reprise that song as a response so that we can testify together, “through it all my eyes are on You and through it all it is well with me”.

Our obedience should not be as rare as true time on a broken clock; May our faith and urgent obedience remain steady when life hurts!

Song of Response .................................................................. “It is Well”