1 Samuel 11:1-15 | Part 18
1 Samuel 11:1-15 CSB
Saul’s Deliverance of Jabesh-gilead
11 [DSS, LXX read About a month later, Nahash] the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”
2 Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I’ll make one with you on this condition: that I gouge out everyone’s right eye and humiliate all Israel.”
3 “Don’t do anything to us for seven days,” the elders of Jabesh said to him, “and let us send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If no one saves us, we will surrender to you.”
4 When the messengers came to Gibeah, Saul’s hometown, and told the terms to the people, all wept aloud. 5 Just then Saul was coming in from the field behind his oxen. “What’s the matter with the people? Why are they weeping?” Saul inquired, and they repeated to him the words of the men from Jabesh.
6 When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God suddenly came powerfully on him, and his anger burned furiously. 7 He took a team of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by messengers who said, “This is what will be done to the ox of anyone who doesn’t march behind Saul and Samuel.” As a result, the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they went out united.
8 Saul counted them at Bezek. There were three hundred thousand[b] Israelites and thirty thousand[c] men from Judah. 9 He told the messengers who had come, “Tell this to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’” So the messengers told the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.
10 Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do whatever you want to us.”
11 The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions. During the morning watch, they invaded the Ammonite camp and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. There were survivors, but they were so scattered that no two of them were left together.
Saul’s Confirmation as King
12 Afterward, the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not[d] reign over us? Give us those men so we can kill them!”
13 But Saul ordered, “No one will be executed this day, for today the Lord has provided deliverance in Israel.”
14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let’s go to Gilgal, so we can renew the kingship there.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there in the Lord’s presence they made Saul king. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings in the Lord’s presence, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
[RECAP]
How did we end chapter 10?
1 Samuel 10:26-27 CSB
And all the people shouted,[i] “Long live the king!”
25 Samuel proclaimed to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll, which he placed in the presence of the LORD. Then Samuel sent all the people home.
26 Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, and brave men whose hearts God had touched went with him. 27 But some wicked men said, “How can this guy save us?” They despised him and did not bring him a gift, but Saul said nothing.[j][k]
Samuel sends everyone home
Saul is back at home in Gibeah
[SERMON]
1 Samuel 11:1-15
Saul’s Deliverance of Jabesh-gilead
11 [DSS, LXX read About a month later, Nahash] the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead.
Ammonites are descendants of Abraham’s nephew Lot (Genesis 19:38)
1 [DSS, LXX read About a month later, Nahash] the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”
2 Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I’ll make one with you on this condition: that I gouge out everyone’s right eye and humiliate all Israel.”
Nahash’s purpose is to “humiliate all Israel.”
3 “Don’t do anything to us for seven days,” the elders of Jabesh said to him [Nahash], “and let us send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If no one saves us, we will surrender to you.”
Nahash doesn’t seem to mind waiting the extra 7 days
4 When the messengers came to Gibeah, Saul’s hometown, and told the terms to the people, all wept aloud.
The messengers go straight to Gibeah.
The elders only asked for 7 days from Nahash
Messengers arrive at Gibeah & deliver the news.
Everybody starts weeping
5 Just then Saul was coming in from the field behind his oxen. “What’s the matter with the people? Why are they weeping?” Saul inquired, and they repeated to him the words of the men from Jabesh.
What is the message they tell Saul?
6 When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God suddenly came powerfully on him, and his anger burned furiously.
Does this response sound like it matches Saul’s character?
This is righteous anger empowered by the Spirit of God
7 He [Saul] took a team of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by messengers who said, “This is what will be done to the ox of anyone who doesn’t march behind Saul and Samuel.”
Saul speaks up!
Saul actually does something!
He is leading!
Saul is acting like a judge-king
As a result, the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they went out united.
The terror of The LORD [Yahweh] fell upon the people
8 Saul counted them at Bezek. There were three hundred thousand[b] Israelites and thirty thousand[c] men from Judah.
9 He [Saul] told the messengers who had come, “Tell this to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’” So the messengers told the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.
So now the men of Jabesh are ready to join the fight as well
10 Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out [to you], and you can do whatever you want to us.”
Trickery
11 The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions. During the morning watch, they invaded the Ammonite camp and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. There were survivors, but they were so scattered that no two of them were left together.
3 divisions
The “morning watch” started at about 2AM
Saul’s Confirmation as King
12 Afterward, the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not[d] reign over us? Give us those men so we can kill them!”
The Israelites ask Samuel for the Ammonite survivors
But who responds???
13 But Saul ordered, “No one will be executed this day, for today the LORD has provided deliverance in Israel.”
Saul seems to overstep here.
He answers for Samuel.
Disrespectful?
Out of line?
He is finally leading though.
Saul gives all the credit to Yahweh for their victory
14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let’s go to Gilgal, so we can renew the kingship there.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there in the LORD’s presence they made Saul king. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings in the LORD’s presence, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
Saul is officially the king
The Spirit of God did this.
God delivered on His promises.
This is the story of God.
This is the gospel.
Jesus is better than Saul.
Jesus is better than David.
Jesus says:
Matthew 11:28-30 CSB
28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke [teaching] upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke [teaching] is easy and my burden is light.”
Let us run to Him always.
Let us run to Him for rest.
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