1 Samuel 11-12 Saul Leads Israel into Battle

Intro:

Kenyan Rod

When a boy in some Kenyan tribes gets close to 13 they are give a rod made out of acacia wood

The expectation is that they are to go out and kill a lion with the rod

If they are successful they are considered a man

This opens them to being a soldier in the army, marriage, and leadership in the tribe

There are all kinds of coming of age rituals and traditions that have been passed down through the ages

We see the beginning of one tonight

When the Elders begged Samuel for a king part of their plea was someone who could lead them in war against the Philistines

We see just that as Saul gathers Israel to fight against the Ammonites

Read 1 Samuel 11:1-4

I. vs. 1-4 Disgrace on All Israel

What leads Saul into battle is the attack on the people of Jabesh Gilead

Jabesh Gilead may sound familiar

It was a city near the Jordan river in the northern part of the country

They were the only people who didn’t go to war against Benjamin when the Levite’s concubine was killed

In Judges 21, after the tribe of Benjamin was nearly destroyed, the people of Israel sought brides for them.

They remembered that no one from Jabesh-Gilead had attacked Benjamin and sent an army to destroy the town and capture the women.

They returned with 400 young virgins as brides for the tribe of Benjamin.

No Nahash the Ammonite is attacking the city

Jabesh wanted to make a treaty with Nahash

Ammon and Israel had continually fought over the area east of the Jordan River

Based upon fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls, a restoration of 1 Samuel 10:27b gives evidence that Nahash had also threatened the Israelite tribes of Gad and Reuben

The Bible describes them as a Transjordanian people related to the Israelites through Abraham’s nephew, Lot.

Genesis 19:36–38 ESV

Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

When you don’t begin well, you rarely end well.

From the period of the exodus and following, the Ammonites were perennial enemies of Israel until their conquest by Saul’s successor, David

Nahash wanted to bring disgrace upon all of Israel

The practice of blinding one’s enemies is found with the Philistines against Samson

The Jewish historian Josephus states that the right eye was gouged out in this case, which made the soldier unable to fight, since the shield was held over the left eye.

However, in the context of 1 Samuel 11 the purpose of the gouging out of the eyes appears to have been reproach.

The Elders of Jabesh asked for 7 days to see if Israel would come to their defense

If no one saved them then they would would give themselves up to Nahash

The messengers get to Saul and the people start weeping

II. vs. 5-15 Led by the Spirit

Saul had heard the message yet, but walked up and saw everyone weeping

As soon as he hears the message the Spirit of God comes upon him

It stokes a holy anger inside and Saul rises to the occasion

It was time for Saul to act and God was with him.

The Spirit of God came upon Saul, but it did not come to entertain him or to thrill him.

It came to equip him for service so that he could do something for the LORD.

This is always God’s pattern. He doesn’t want us to seek the Spirit selfishly, but to be empowered and used by Him to touch others.

This was good and Spirit-led anger within Saul.

The Bible says we can be angry, and do not sin (Ephesians 4:26), but most of our anger is selfish.

Saul’s anger was not out of a personal sense of hurt or offense, but out of a righteous concern for the cause of the LORD among His people.

Saul gets angry and cuts the oxen into 12 pieces and sends them to the tribes

As their king, he tells them if they don’t come the same will happen to them as did this Ox

This shows the authority and ability of the new king

When the Spirit of the Lord was attached to any activity in Judges, it was usually to the calling up of an army.

In a tribal society with no centralized government it was difficult to get other tribes to support one of their number that might be facing problems.

The measure of a leader in such situations was his ability to compel others to follow though he had no office of command over them.

In Israel this was a mark of the power of Yahweh, for it was he alone who had the authority to call out the armies of the tribes.

Yahweh was the only central authority.

It was therefore a clear indication of the Lord’s authority at work in someone when they exercised authority that was only Yahweh’s by calling out the armies.

vs 7 The dread of the lord fell on the people

Israel’s response to the kings first order?

They came out as one man

300K from Israel and 30K from Judah

The gathered at Bezek, which was 14 miles west of Jabesh-Gilead

They send messengers to Jabesh and tell them by tomorrow afternoon they will have salvation

vs. 10 The people of Jabesh then deceive Nahash by telling him they would surrender tomorrow

vs. 11 Saul conquers ammonites

Saul marches the army through the night and arrives in the morning watch

The morning watch was between 3-6 AM

It was a surprise attack which allowed Israel to defeat Nahash by noon

The combo of God and Saul led Israel to vicotry

This was the ultimate coronation of Saul

He can have the anointing and the ceremony, but can he perform?

vs. 12-15 Coronation

Immediately there is a call put out for all the doubters

Remember that were those who questioned if Saul could be king

Some wanted them PUT TO DEATH

Saul shows amazing grace by saying no one would be put to death

The Lord has worked salvation in Israel

Samuel then suggests they go to Gilgal to renew the kingdom

This is a unifying moment

After Joshua passed away everyone did what was right in their own eyes

Each tribe became it’s own entity and governed themselves

That was never what God intended and now Samuel is issuing a call to renew the unity if the country

When they get there they make Saul the king

Even though Saul has been designated by two different processes as the one who will be king, it is only now, after he has proven himself in military affairs (remember, the people wanted a king who would lead their armies into battle), that he will actually be crowned

III. vs. 1-18 Samuel’s Resignation as Judge

vs. 1-5 The Lord is My Witness

Samuel speaks to the people and tells them he has obeyed their voice

He has made a king over Israel

Notice how Samuel doesn’t include one thing about God in there

This was the people’s desire and all on them

He did what they asked and now he is retiring as the judge of Israel

He is old and gray

He has led them since his youth

During that time he hasn’t defrauded anyone

He verifies that with them and declares that God is his witness

vs. 6-12 Deliverance

Multiple times God has delivered Israel out of the hands of oppressors

Samuel warns Israel that they will end up in the same place if they don’t change their ways

A king will not deliver them

vs. 13-14 Fear the Lord

If you will fear the Lord

Fearing the Lord isn’t being afraid

It is knowing He is sovereign and acting reverently towards him

When you do what is right in your own eyes you do not fear the Lord

vs. 15-18 Rain During the Harvest

IV. vs. 19-25 Don’t Turn After Empty Things