Unit 10 / Session 2 Saul, the Delivering King

INTRODUCTION:

Big Picture Question: Why does sin separate us from God? Because God is holy, sin has broken our relationship with God.

Key Passage: Isaiah 6:5 “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

Can we think of a time in Scripture where God used an unlikely or unexpected person or thing to bring about his will?

Look with me at 1 Samuel 10:27 “But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.”

Last week, we saw that the first king of Israel, when he was being proclaimed to the people, hid in fear. Even then, the people proclaimed their loyalty to him as their king… at least most of the people did.

Today, in 1 Samuel 11, we’re going to learn that God brings victory through His chosen leaders, who are called to express God’s character in their leadership.

In our passage, King Saul united his people to secure a victory over their enemy, and then he extended mercy to those who had opposed him.

We’re going to be discussing this idea of mercy a lot today. Can anyone give a definition of mercy? (the compassionate treatment of those in need, especially when it is within one's power to punish or harm them, withholding punishment that is deserved because of sin) How has God shown you undeserved mercy and grace?

POINT #1: GOD’S CHOSEN KING UNITES HIS PEOPLE IN THE FACE OF AN ENEMY (1 Samuel 11:1-7)

1 Samuel 11:1–7 KJV 1900

1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. 2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. 3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days’ respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee. 4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept. 5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

Ammonites — A people descended from the incestuous union of Lot and his younger daughter (Genesis 19:30-38). Conflict between the Israelites and the Ammonites stretched from the time of the Judges through the reign of King David.

Jabesh-gilead / Gibeah — There is significant history behind Jabesh-gilead’s request for help being answered by Gibeah. As Judges 19-21 records, a great wickedness occurred in Gibeah, which included a neglect of hospitality, homosexuality, gang rape of a visitor’s concubine, and her murder by a number of Benjaminite men in the city. In response, the visitor, a Levite, cut up the body of his dead concubine and sent pieces of her corpse throughout the tribes of Israel, another bloody call to arms. This resulted in a war: all the other tribes against the tribe of Benjamin, who refused to punish the wicked men in Gibeah and instead sought to defend them. In the end, only six hundred Benjaminite males survived. Then it was discovered that no one from Jabesh-gilead had answered the call to war, so the people of that city also were killed, with the exception of four hundred virgins who would become wives for the remaining Benjaminites so the tribe could survive. Saul was a descendant from the remnants of these two wicked cities.

The city of Jabesh-gilead had a negative history for refusing to obey a call to arms. But now they required rescue by the tribes of Israel. Their history made them undeserving, and so too does ours.

Jabesh-gilead is an apt illustration of the state of sinners before coming to faith in Christ for forgiveness and salvation. Not only were we rebels, but we had failed to heed the call to submit to God’s Word.

And such was our state in our sin — who is willing to fight for those who hate and despise them? But thanks be to God, He is willing and even desires to come to the saving aid of sinners.

(Titus 3:3–7 “3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”)

Only in admitting how truly undeserving we are of salvation can we come to experience and appreciate God’s amazing grace.

“There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.” — Richard Sibbes

Can you think of cities in our country that have a distinct identity? (Las Vegas, Nashville, New York City, Miami)

*Imagine someone righteous and chosen by God who comes from the strip on Las Vegas that would lead our country to follow God and pursue righteousness. It’s seems highly unlikely and almost impossible.

This would have been the same thought towards Saul and Gibeah. A cowering, fearful man from a city with a wicked history. How could God use such a man from such a place?

It pleased God to raise up Saul, an unlikely savior from an unlikely city, to rescue His people.

It’s important to remember that no matter the heritage or history of a person, God still sits on the throne over the universe, and He can use whomever He chooses to accomplish His purposes. This highlights His absolute sovereignty over all creation.

Does it seem that God continually uses those whom the world would label unfit, in order to accomplish his purposes? Why do you think that God does this?

1 Corinthians 1:21 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

Does anyone want to testify of how God has used something unlikely in their life to accomplish his will? or maybe answered a prayer in a way you thought was unexpected?

The city of Jabesh-gilead may not have deserved Israel’s help, but the Lord describes Himself as compassionate and gracious, a God willing to and desiring to save the undeserving (Exodus 34:6). So through the Spirit of God, Saul would demonstrate the Lord’s grace and justice at Jabesh-gilead.

POINT #2: GOD’S CHOSEN KING SECURES VICTORY OVER AN ENEMY (1 Samuel 11:8-11)

1 Samuel 11:8–10 KJV 1900

8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.

Saul wasted no time gathering his forces and sending a comforting word to the people of Jabesh-gilead that they soon would be delivered.

1 Samuel 11:11 KJV 1900

11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

Just as Saul promised, Israel attacked during the morning watch and routed the Ammonites. The defeat was so thorough that though there were survivors, they were so scattered as to be completely isolated from one another. In other words, the battle was a total victory for Israel. Therefore, the people had no doubt that Saul was indeed their king like those of the other nations. He had gone out before them and fought their battle with success.

1 Samuel 8:20 “That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”

Saul won the victory, but the details surrounding Saul and Gibeah reveal the sovereignty of God to accomplish His purposes.

Whether by many or by few, the righteous or the wicked, God will accomplish His plan for His glory. Saul may have been the instrument of Israel’s deliverance, but he was not the source.

How can the sovereignty of God bring peace and security to believers as we live our lives?

Think back with me of the reputation of Gibeah and their wicked history. One commentator writes this:

But now, in 1 Samuel 11, this place of wickedness and destruction has become the source of salvation and deliverance. Who would have ever thought that anything good could come out of Gibeah? How God brings light out of darkness! That is the difference the Spirit makes. — Dale Ralph Davis

Remember, Saul was not to credit for the victory. But rather, what God’s Spirit did through Saul.

Through the work of the Holy Spirit, grace had been shown to an undeserving city and a victory had been secured for God’s people over their enemy. This experience left an impression on Saul, who in turn showed mercy to those who had opposed him.

POINT #3: GOD’S CHOSEN KING EXTENDS MERCY AFTER VICTORY (1 Samuel 11:12-15)

1 Samuel 11:12–13 KJV 1900

12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. 13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel.

In spite of the wickedness of cities and critics, God saved sinners.

This truth highlights for us an essential doctrine.

Essential Doctrine #57: Aspects of the Atonement: Christ’s substitutionary death on our behalf stands at the center of His atoning work. Without this work, there is no gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3). While this substitutionary aspect is central to the atonement, His death also supremely demonstrates God’s love for sinners (John 15:13; 1 John 4:10). It shows us how seriously God takes sin. It satisfies every requirement for God to be able to forgive the failures of humanity. And it puts Christ’s cosmic victory over sin, Satan, and death on display through His resurrection (Colossians 2:15). Every aspect of the atonement should inspire gratitude, praise, and a desire for obedience because it is only through Christ that we are reconciled.

God saved those in Jabesh-gilead, which led Saul to reflect that same mercy and grace as he spoke up for the protection of those who had positioned themselves against him. Likewise, those who have received salvation from sin by faith in Jesus should be eager to extend mercy and forgiveness to others.

Do you remember the parable of the unforgiving servant? (Matthew 18:23-35) What’s the lesson here? Those who have been forgiven much should in turn forgive others. Here’s the question, do you recognize that you’ve been forgiven much?

The mercy and forgiveness that we have (and still) received from God should propel us to extend mercy, grace, and forgiveness to others.

How does extending mercy to others help point people to God, and specifically Jesus Christ? (a natural human tendency is to hold a grudge against those who offend us; extending mercy reflects the God who is merciful; God has shown His desire to extend mercy to sinners most clearly in the salvation purchased by Jesus Christ)

1 Samuel 11:14–15 KJV 1900

14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. 15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

Saul was finally installed as king over Israel, but the context of this ceremony made it clear that the Lord alone is sovereign over all.

Saul was worthy of honor for his position as the anointed king and for his leadership in defending Jabesh-gilead. But the Lord alone is worthy of all devotion and praise, for He is the Creator and Sustainer of everything.

Everything exists to point people to God’s glory so that He receives the praise that He alone deserves. So the Lord, through His Spirit, saved an undeserving city with an unlikely savior unto the praise of His glory.

Many years later, God again would save an undeserving people — sinners like you and me — with an unlikely Savior. This time, God Himself, in the person of God the Son, would come as a human being and take the punishment for their sins — our sins — on His own shoulders. And the result would be Jesus’s exaltation, our submission to Him as our eternal King, and glory to God the Father.

Philippians 2:9–11 KJV 1900

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

What will it look like for Jesus Christ to be sovereign in our lives? (we will seek His will over ours; we will strive to be holy as Jesus is holy; we will make His glory the priority of our lives; we will follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, whom He has sent to be with us)

Look with me at the Voices from Church History quote:

For a town, or city, after a long siege, to receive a king, is not to believe him to be their special friend, though such he may be, and in the end they may see it; but to lay down their arms, throw open their gates, and come under his government. These remarks are easily applied; and it is no less easy to perceive that every sinner has not only a warrant thus to receive Christ, but that it is his great sin if he receive him not. — Andrew Fuller

APPLICATION

HEAD:

Like Jabesh-gilead, our past, and even our present, highlights our unworthiness to receive help. But the God who is rich in mercy makes us alive with Christ by faith, even though we were dead in our sins — our salvation is all by God’s grace.

What will submission to the kingship of Christ look like in your life?

HEART:

Imagine you were one of the wicked men Saul spared following the victory over the Ammonites. Though you had openly denounced the anointed king, he chose to show mercy rather than seek revenge. How would you feel? The reality is that we all have been or are in this very situation: Because of our sinful nature, we are born as children under wrath (Ephesians 2:3). But because God is kind, loving, and merciful, He extends salvation to us (Titus 3:4-5). As undeserving as we are, if we have repented of our sin and trusted in Christ, then we are recipients of mercy. In a sense, walking in communion with God and growing in Christ’s likeness is about daily feeling the weight and glory of this incredible gift.

What are some ways you will reflect upon and worship God for His amazing mercy and grace given to you by faith in Jesus Christ?

HANDS:

What steps will you take to forgive others because of your salvation in Christ? To seek forgiveness from others?