Sermon Tone Analysis

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?”

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.

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

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:

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:

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.