Give Us a King!

The Serpent Revisited.

1 Samuel 11

  ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says Yahweh of Armies.

Zechariah 4:6

Isn’t it incredible how God has ordered Saul’s steps for his life? You never know what God has planned for you to do. He may surprise you.

But it isn’t as if Saul had a less than extraordinary beginning. After all, he was born into the blessing of being one of God’s chosen people.

In these stories it can be too easy to miss seemingly small or insignificant facts. But none of God’s story is insignificant.

You and I have been blessed to know and learn about God. Some of us have given all of our hearts and lives to Him. Others have rejected Him, just as so many of the Hebrew people had done.

These people that God had rescued, blessed, and loved turned away from Him. They demanded an earthly king so that they could have salvation through him, not through Yahweh. They wanted to be like every other nation around them. (Deuteronomy 17:14-20)

But we know there is no salvation apart from God, and His Son, Jesus.

“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

As we open today’s study, we see the people being brutalized by a king of the Ammonites. His name is Nahash (his name means “Serpent”).

This vicious man is known in history as being a military strategist and we see that in this chapter.

One of his tactics against his enemies is to gouge out the right eye of the fighting men.

This evil strategy was intended to demoralize the armies of Israel, and to make it physically impossible for them to have unobstructed view of the battlefield.

So, the people of Israel begged Nahash to accept their surrender.

Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make it with you, that all your right eyes be gouged out. I will make this dishonor all Israel.”

1 Samuel 11:2

The people asked the wicked king for seven days to find a savior.

“…Give us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.”  

1 Samuel 11:3

As you might imagine, the terror-stricken people thought that all hope was lost. But the God that they had rejected already had declared victory and salvation for His people.

Now, you may be wondering where Saul was at the beginning of this perilous time. After all, he had been accepted as the new king of Israel. Only a few people had rejected him.

We know from last week that Saul had gone back to his home. Take a look.

  Saul also went to his house in Gibeah; and the army went with him, whose hearts God had touched.

1 Samuel 10:26

But now, Saul is coming out of his field and hears the distress of the people.He asked them what the trouble was with them.

When the people told him everything, Saul became angry. And as any good leader would, he used his anger to unify and calm the people.

Look at the unusual way Saul mobilized the people.

He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, then sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever doesn’t come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” The dread of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out as one man.  

1 Samuel 11:7

Now, notice the last sentence of that verse.

The dread of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out as one man.  

The Spirit of God fell upon the Saul and guided the people to acknowledge his kingly authority. And the promise of deliverance was given to the people on that day.

They said to the messengers who came, “Tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be rescued.’” The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.  

1 Samuel 11:9

And the next day Saul and the army of Israel struck the Ammonites and were victorious. And Saul made a declaration:

“…today Yahweh has rescued Israel.”

2 Samuel 11:13

After all of this, how could Saul do anything but submit to God forever? But we will see in coming chapters, how far Saul falls away from God.

Yet, we must not judge this man. How many times in our own walk with God have we forgotten His faithful provision and care? How often do we place everything else before Him? Do we wake up with words of thanksgiving and adoration for our Savior? Do we read His Word before our day begins? How often do we speak His name in our world?

But the big question for every believer is this. Do you trust Him as Savior?

Well, for this moment, Saul does trust God. He fully submits to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. In this moment, Saul remembers to glorify God before the people of Israel.

Then Samuel said to the people, “Come! Let’s go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.”  

All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal.

There they offered sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

2 Samuel 11:14 & 15

Share the Good News in your world!

Isaiah 52:7

World English Bible  (WEB)

by  Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.

Statement of Faith

Baptist Faith and Message 2000