Deliverance
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Who do you turn for leadership?
What do you expect from your leaders?
As we’re reading through 1 Samuel, we’ve seen several different leaders in Israel:
We met Eli - the priest in the temple at Shiloh. His sons Phineas and Hophni didn’t exactly turn out to be great examples of his leadership.
On the other hand, we met Samuel, a young man dedicated at an early age to serve the Lord. And he seemed to have a good connection with God, though sadly, his sons did not follow in his way either.
When the people of Israel proclaimed that they wanted a king like the nations they were surrounded by, God told Samuel to not take it personally; it was not Samuel they were rejecting as their leader, it was God himself. God assured Samuel that Israel would have a king.
And we’ve seen the king that God chose for them - a king that was everything you and I might choose as leader too. Saul stood head and shoulders above anyone, and was very handsome. In fact we learned he was more handsome than anyone in Israel!
However, when he was finally selected and about to be anointed as king they cannot find him. When they do they find him hiding in the baggage. Still, he is anointed as king over Israel, and the people happy.
But some asked, “How can this man save us?”
Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.” The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days’ respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.” When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people, and all the people wept aloud.
Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have salvation.’ ” When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.” Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.” So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
Let’s Pray
When we read the word Messiah, or Savior, there is one that we think of and that’s Jesus. But we need to remember that this is the pre-incarnation time in the Bible. We’re in the Old Testament and Jesus’ ministry on earth has not yet happened.
What we do get is some of the reason why Jesus did not fit the image of the Messiah that the people were expecting. When the people of Israel began asking for a king, it was clear that their understanding of a king was someone to provide deliverance for the people.
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.”
The NIV Application Commentary: 1 & 2 Samuel Bridging Contexts
Without doubt the expectation, or at least the desperate hope, on the part of the people of Israel is that the king will provide military deliverance from their enemies.
“This is not outside Yahweh’s plan for the king as well, though it will become clear later that he has a larger picture for the nature and function of the king.” (B. T. Arnold).
In our passage this morning, as we recognize that there are threats all around Israel at the time. The Ammonites see the people of Jabesh-gilead, as weak. The people of Jabesh, seem to agree with them offering to make a treaty with Nahash. But Nahash is not quite as amenable. He says he’ll make a treaty with them, but he will gouge out all of their right eyes.
Why their right eyes? How would they be a disgrace on all Israel?
The right eye was important for military service. Most aimed using their right eye, and the shield typically hindered part of the vision from the left eye in battle. Basically Nahash is asking them to be submissive to him.
As our passage tells us when news of this reaches Saul he’s angry. But read the verse closely, look at v. 6
And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.
In response he takes a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by messengers calling the people up, letting them know what will happen if they don’t stand up now and fight with Saul. In all 330,000 men respond according to our text. They go to Jabesh, and Saul puts them into three companies. And they defeat the Ammonites.
The people celebrate. In so doing they want to put to death anyone who doubted Saul which some might say was the only logical thing to do since he was hiding in the baggage.
Saul on the other hand says, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.” And they reaffirm him as king.
Our Battles - Our deliverance.
I asked you earlier who do you turn to for leadership? and What do you expect from your leaders.
Israel expected a military deliver. They knew that battles were around. You and I too fight battles every day. Paul wrote the Ephesians reminding them of exactly that:
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Israel expected a physical savior. They still did not have an understanding fo who it is that their Messiah would be. We live after Christ. In a very real way we should understand that Jesus, the Messiah is our savior in all situations. That he marches out before us, and leads us if we are paying attention. To continue with Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
As we go into the season of Lent, it’s a great season to be reflecting on who we are, who we put our faith in, and how we’re doing as far as putting on the armor of God. In the coming weeks we will be looking specifically at the Lord’s Prayer, and I hope you’ll join us and invite others to be here as well.
It’s not any earthly king that can fight our battles for us, our eyes must remained fixed on our Savior who goes with us and walks by our side, who hems us in behind and before. Jesus is not only the King of the Jews, He is our LORD.