2020-2-26

1 Samuel 11:1-15

In the previous chapter, Saul is anointed and proclaimed king of Israel by Samuel in front of the people of Israel at Mizpah. Saul is the man that the LORD, the true King of Israel, has chosen from the tribe of Benjamin to be the leader of His people because they have rejected Him as their king and have desired a man instead. Samuel, God’s prophet and priest, speaks and works on behalf of God to bring this about. However, there are those who still refuse to acknowledge Saul as king and have their doubts about him. In verse 27 of chapter 10, they question, “How can this man save us?” and they “despised him” as their ruler.

In this chapter, Saul’s validity to rule and his role as the “deliverer” of the nation Israel is secured through the defeat of the Ammonites. By defeating Israel’s enemies and persecutors, he solidifies his anointed status and reinforces that he is truly chosen by God to lead this people.

The establishment of Saul’s reign is reinforced by the many parallels to the book of Judges, the time before Saul’s reign when God chose certain men to judge or deliver His people from various oppressors. As their King, God saved his people from their slavery and oppression in Egypt and freed them so that they might worship him freely. Those he appoints are given the same task – to deliver His people so that they may remain a nation free to worship the LORD. When Saul hears about the oppression of the city of Jabesh-gilead by Nahash the Ammonite, the “Spirit of God rushed upon” him just as it did for the judges Samson (Judg 14:6), Gideon (6:34), and Jephthah (11:29). The power of God is granted to these men to deliver His people. Then, to incite the nation of Israel to follow him to battle the Ammonites, he cuts up a yoke of oxen and sends them throughout the tribes of Israel, pronouncing a curse upon those who refuse to join him as one nation. This episode is directly parallel to Judges 19 and 20 when a Levite did the same to his concubine to incite Israel to revenge against the tribe of Benjamin for their wickedness. Saul is reinforcing through his actions that he is the rightful king of Israel, chosen by God.

With the kingdom of Israel united under the leadership of Saul, the Ammonites are defeated and Jabesh-gilead is saved. Twice, the author uses the word “salvation” to note what has transpired. Saul says to them before the battle that they will receive “salvation” tomorrow by noon (v. 9) and then again after the battle when Saul proclaims, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel” (v.13). This is the pattern of God’s work in the nation of Israel. In their sin, they are delivered over to their captors and oppressors, but the LORD will always work salvation and deliverance for His people because He is faithful and His mercy is great. The role of the leaders and kings of Israel is to acknowledge that the LORD is the true king and they are stewards of His people. In so doing, they receive the power to deliver on behalf of God himself. But when they put themselves above the God who put them on the throne, they will suffer the consequences of their sin.

Application: Saul began his rule in the power of God and God gave him victory and authority. But his pride and his desire for his own glory caused him to lose the kingdom and be rejected by God. No matter the course of our lives, what we end up doing, where we live, what are children accomplish, what jobs we have, etc., the most important question is will we walk with God until the end? Will we seek His glory over our own each day of our lives? Will we turn our eyes to Him, no matter the struggles and difficulties or even the successes and glories that come our way? The Christian life is a daily walk, and each day we must ask ourselves if we will choose to follow Him today.

—Jessica Sun