1 Samuel 11:12 Afterward, the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Give us those men so we can kill them!” 1 Samuel 11:13 But Saul ordered, “No one will be executed this day, for today Yahveh has provided deliverance in Israel.” 1 Samuel 11:14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let’s go to Gilgal, so we can renew the kingship there.” 1 Samuel 11:15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there in Yahveh’s presence they made Saul king. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings in Yahveh’s presence, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
The people had learned that God can use Saul to lead them to victory, so they are suddenly for him, and against those who doubted his leadership. In fact, they are so against the doubters that they want to kill them. At this point, Saul appropriately deals with this situation by telling them not to take vengeance on the doubters because “today Yahveh has provided deliverance in Israel.” He diverts the honor from himself by attributing his success to God. As such, his choice provides an example for those in leadership. We should be careful about claiming all the responsibility when things go well. If we succeed, we should be ready to let God get the glory for that success. There will be times when we fail in leadership, and the same people who rashly want to kill our enemies will just as easily turn their anger on us.
If we succeed, it is God who is exalting us. If we fail, it is God who is humbling us. Either way, his sovereignty prevails.
Photo by Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto on Pexels.com
the terror of Yahveh
1 Samuel 11:1-11 (JDV)
1 Samuel 11:1 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.” 1 Samuel 11:2 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.” 1 Samuel 11:3 “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.” 1 Samuel 11:4 When the messengers came to Gibeah, Saul’s hometown, and told the terms to the people, all wept aloud. 1 Samuel 11:5 Notice, 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. 1 Samuel 11:6 When Saul heard these words, the Breath of God suddenly came powerfully on him, and his anger burned furiously. 1 Samuel 11:7 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 Yahveh fell on the people, and they went out united. 1 Samuel 11:8 Saul counted them at Bezek. There were three hundred thousand Israelites and thirty thousand men from Judah. 1 Samuel 11:9 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. 1 Samuel 11:10 Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do whatever you want to us.” 1 Samuel 11:11 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.
the terror of Yahveh
Some leaders lead by their charm, others their wits, and others their wisdom. Saul was apparently determined to lead by fear at this juncture. Was it a wise choice. Were the people so disunited that it took a threat to unite them? Maybe, but such tactics can only work for so long.
Note also that Saul wanted the people to march out behind him and Samuel — not Yahveh himself. Yes, the terror of Yahveh fell on the people. But it is the love of Yahveh that should have motivated them.
1 Samuel 10:17 Samuel summoned the people to Yahveh at Mizpah 1 Samuel 10:18 and said to the Israelites, “This is what Yahveh, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ 1 Samuel 10:19 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions. You said to him, ‘You must set a king over us.’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before Yahveh by your tribes and clans.” 1 Samuel 10:20 Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. 1 Samuel 10:21 Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the Matri clan was selected. Finally, Saul, son of Kish was selected. But when they searched for him, they could not find him. 1 Samuel 10:22 They again inquired of Yahveh, “Has the man come here yet?” Yahveh replied, “Notice, he is hidden among the equipment.” 1 Samuel 10:23 They ran and got him from there. When he stood among the people, he stood a head taller than anyone else. 1 Samuel 10:24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one Yahveh has chosen? There is no one like him among the entire population.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!” 1 Samuel 10:25 Samuel proclaimed to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll, which he placed in the presence of Yahveh. Then Samuel sent all the people home. 1 Samuel 10:26 Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, and efficient men whose hearts God had touched went with him. 1 Samuel 10:27 But some wicked men said, “How can this save us?” They despised him and did not bring him a gift, but Saul said nothing.
ignoring criticism
Here is the second instance in which Saul should have spoken up, but he said nothing instead. He had been proclaimed king, and some wicked men immediately began questioning his right to be what he was. There are times when addressing one’s critics just adds to their criticism. Was Saul right to pass this by? Or, was the historian who recorded these words showing a weakness that — if unaddressed — would eventually lead to his downfall?
It takes wisdom to deal with criticism appropriately. Choosing to ignore it was not a wise move for this young king.
1 Samuel 10:9 When Saul turned around to leave Samuel, God changed his heart, and all the signs came that day. 1 Samuel 10:10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Breath of God came powerfully on him, and he prophesied along with them. 1 Samuel 10:11 Everyone who knew him previously noticed and saw him prophesy with the prophets asked each other, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” 1 Samuel 10:12 Then a man who was from there asked, “And who is their father?” As a result, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” became a popular saying. 1 Samuel 10:13 Then Saul finished prophesying and went to the high place. 1 Samuel 10:14 Saul’s uncle asked him and his boy, “Where did you go?” “To look for the donkeys,” Saul answered. “When we saw they weren’t there, we went to Samuel.” 1 Samuel 10:15 “Tell me,” Saul’s uncle asked, “what did Samuel say to you?” 1 Samuel 10:16 Saul told him, “He assured us the donkeys had been found.” However, Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the kingdom.
what we don’t say
As far as obedience goes, Saul was doing the right thing. He was taking the next step, not getting ahead of himself. But as far as faith goes, he was beginning to fail. He was hiding what had been revealed to him by Samuel.
This generation of believers are being condemned because of what we don’t say. God has revealed truth in his word, and we are acting like Saul — evading the issue when confronted with actual questions about what we believe. We will suffer much from this reluctance to share our faith.
1 Samuel 10:1 Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it out on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t Yahveh anointed you ruler over his inheritance? 1 Samuel 10:2 Today when you leave me, you’ll find two men at Rachel’s Grave at Zelzah in the territory of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you went looking for have been found, and now notice that your father has stopped being concerned about the donkeys and is worried about you, asking: What should I do about my son? ‘ 1 Samuel 10:3 “You will proceed from there until you come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one bringing three goats, one bringing three loaves of bread, and one bringing a clay jar of wine. 1 Samuel 10:4 They will ask about you and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them. 1 Samuel 10:5 “After that, you will come to Gibeah of God where there are Philistine garrisons. When you arrive at the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place prophesying. They will be preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres. 1 Samuel 10:6 The Breath of Yahveh will come powerfully on you, you will prophesy with them, and you will be transformed. 1 Samuel 10:7 When these signs have happened to you, do whatever your circumstances require because God is with you. 1 Samuel 10:8 Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. Notice, I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”
the next step
God’s Spirit provided three clarifying signs for Saul. They did not answer all his questions, but they did provide proof that God had chosen him to be king. All Saul had to do was walk in the signs. He did not have to know all the answers. He only needed to know the next step.
When we struggle to “know God’s will for our lives” we are often tempted to ask questions beyond the next step. God is not obligated to answer those questions. In fact, giving us too much information would ruin his purpose for us, which is to walk by faith.
1 Samuel 9:1 There was an efficient mighty man of Benjamin named Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite. 1 Samuel 9:2 He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man. There was no one more impressive among the Israelites than he. He stood a head taller than anyone else. 1 Samuel 9:3 One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the boys with you and go Notice for the donkeys.” 1 Samuel 9:4 Saul and his servant went through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the region of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them. They went through the region of Shaalim — nothing. Then they went through the Benjaminite region but still didn’t find them. 1 Samuel 9:5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to the boy who was with him, “Come on, let’s go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.” 1 Samuel 9:6 “Notice,” the servant said, “there’s a man of God in this city who is highly respected; everything he says is sure to come true. Let’s go there now. Maybe he’ll tell us which way we should go.” 1 Samuel 9:7 “Suppose we do go,” Saul said to his boy, “what do we take the man? The food from our packs is gone, and there’s no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?” 1 Samuel 9:8 The boy answered Saul: “Notice, I have a little silver. I’ll give it to the man of God, and he will tell us which way we should go.” 1 Samuel 9:9 Formerly in Israel, a man who was going to inquire of God would say, “Come, let’s go to the seer,” for the prophet of today was formerly called the seer. 1 Samuel 9:10 “Good,” Saul replied to his boy. “Come on, let’s go.” So, they went to the city where the man of God was. 1 Samuel 9:11 As they were climbing the hill to the city, they found some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?” 1 Samuel 9:12 The women answered, “Notice, he is ahead of you. Hurry, he just now entered the city, because there’s a sacrifice for the people at the high place today. 1 Samuel 9:13 As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes to the high place to eat. The people won’t eat until he comes because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests can eat. Go up immediately — you can find him now.” 1 Samuel 9:14 So they went up toward the city. Saul and his servant were entering the city when they noticed Samuel coming toward them on his way to the high place. 1 Samuel 9:15 Now the day before Saul’s arrival, Yahveh had informed Samuel, 1 Samuel 9:16 “At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel. He will save them from the Philistines because I have seen the affliction of my people, for their cry has come to me.” 1 Samuel 9:17 When Samuel saw Saul, Yahveh told him, “Notice the man I told you about; he will govern my people.” 1 Samuel 9:18 Saul approached Samuel in the city gate and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?” 1 Samuel 9:19 “I am the seer,” Samuel answered. “Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. When I send you off in the morning, I’ll tell you everything that’s in your heart. 1 Samuel 9:20 As for the donkeys that wandered away from you three days ago, don’t worry about them because they’ve been found. And who does all Israel desire but you and all your father’s family?” 1 Samuel 9:21 Saul responded, “Am I not a Benjaminite from the smallest of Israel’s tribes and isn’t my clan the least important of all the clans of the Benjaminite tribe? So why have you said something like this to me?” 1 Samuel 9:22 Samuel took Saul and his boy, brought them to the banquet hall, and gave them a place at the head of the thirty or so men who had been invited. 1 Samuel 9:23 Then Samuel said to the cook, “Get the portion of meat that I gave you and told you to set aside.” 1 Samuel 9:24 The cook picked up the thigh and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Notice that the reserved piece is set before you. Eat it because it was saved for you for this solemn event at the time I said, ‘I’ve invited the people.'” So, Saul ate with Samuel that day. 1 Samuel 9:25 Afterward, they went down from the high place to the city, and Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof. 1 Samuel 9:26 They got up early, and just before dawn, Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up, and I’ll send you on your way!” Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside. 1 Samuel 9:27 As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the boy to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I’ll reveal the word of God to you.” So, the boy went on.
looking for donkeys
Saul and his servant were simply looking for lost donkeys. But God had a plan, and he found much more than he expected. We should always be ready for the next surprise. Something is happening above our pay grade.
1 Samuel 8:4 So all the elders of Israel gathered and went to Samuel at Ramah. 1 Samuel 8:5 They said to him, “Notice, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” 1 Samuel 8:6 When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel saw their demand as wrong, so he prayed to Yahveh. 1 Samuel 8:7 But Yahveh told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected me as their king. 1 Samuel 8:8 They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to me, since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning me and worshiping other gods. 1 Samuel 8:9 Listen to them, but solemnly warn them and tell them about the customary rights of the king who will reign over them.” 1 Samuel 8:10 Samuel told all Yahveh’s words to the people who were asking him for a king. 1 Samuel 8:11 He said, “These are the rights of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and put them to his use in his chariots, on his horses, or running in front of his chariots. 1 Samuel 8:12 He can appoint them for his use as commanders of thousands or commanders of fifties, to plow his ground and reap his harvest, or to make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots. 1 Samuel 8:13 He can take your daughters to become perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 1 Samuel 8:14 He can take your best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 1 Samuel 8:15 He can take a tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give them to his officials and servants. 1 Samuel 8:16 He can take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys and use them for his work. 1 Samuel 8:17 He can take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves can become his servants. 1 Samuel 8:18 When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you’ve chosen for yourselves, but Yahveh won’t answer you on that day.” 1 Samuel 8:19 The people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us. 1 Samuel 8:20 Then we’ll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles.” 1 Samuel 8:21 Samuel listened to all the people’s words and then repeated them to Yahveh. 1 Samuel 8:22 “Listen to them,” Yahveh told Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Each of you, go back to your city.”
give and take
Today’s text is an example of “Be careful what you ask for” because the Israelites wanted so much to be like everyone else that they were asking for a king who would take more than he could give. Many times when we don’t get what we pray for, it is because God knows what would happen if we did get it. But sometimes he grants us our request, showing us what is in our hearts.
The people were tired of how God was working out his will among them. They wanted a king, and they demanded that Samuel appoint one. The LORD told Samuel to relent and give them a king, and also to warn them of the price they would have to pay.
When we think we are entitled to something, we resent the fact that we do not have it. We become the judge, and the whole world – and God himself becomes the accused. We rarely take into account what it would cost us if we had what we demanded.
LORD, forgive us for feeling entitled. Protect us from putting what we feel we deserve ahead of what you demand of us. You are on the throne, and we are not.
1 Samuel 7:7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers went up toward Israel. When the Israelites heard about it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 7:8 The Israelites said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying out to Yahveh our God for us so that he will save us from the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 7:9 Then Samuel took a young lamb and offered it as an ascending offering to Yahveh. He cried out to Yahveh on behalf of Israel, and Yahveh answered him. 1 Samuel 7:10 Samuel was offering the burnt offering as the Philistines approached to fight against Israel. Yahveh thundered loudly against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel. 1 Samuel 7:11 Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and chased the Philistines striking them down all the way to a place below Beth-car. 1 Samuel 7:12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, explaining, “Yahveh has helped to this point.” 1 Samuel 7:13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israel’s territory again. Yahveh’s hand was against the Philistines all of Samuel’s life. 1 Samuel 7:14 The cities from Ekron to Gath, which they had taken from Israel, were restored; Israel even rescued their surrounding territories from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites. 1 Samuel 7:15 Samuel judged Israel throughout his life. 1 Samuel 7:16 Every year he would go on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah and would judge Israel at all these locations. 1 Samuel 7:17 Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, he judged Israel there, and he built an altar to Yahveh there. 1 Samuel 8:1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 1 Samuel 8:2 His firstborn son’s name was Joel and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba. 1 Samuel 8:3 However, his sons did not walk in his ways — they turned toward dishonest profit, took bribes, and perverted justice.
make your life count
Samuel could not control all that happened during his lifetime, nor could he control the choices his own sons made. But he could choose to make his life count for God, and that is what he did. You and I have the same choice. Make your life count!
1 Samuel 7:1 So the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of Yahveh and took it to Abinadab’s house on the hill. They consecrated his son Eleazar to take care of it. 1 Samuel 7:2 Time went by until twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel longed for Yahveh. 1 Samuel 7:3 Samuel told them, “If you are returning to Yahveh with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, dedicate yourselves to Yahveh, and worship only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 7:4 So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths and only worshiped Yahveh. 1 Samuel 7:5 Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to Yahveh for you.” 1 Samuel 7:6 When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in Yahveh’s presence. They fasted that day, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against Yahveh.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.
revive us again
Notice the three elements of this period of revival and peace in Israel:
A man – Samuel, the circuit-riding judge. He stood for the LORD and helped his people stay close to him. A movement – the Israelites forsook their idols and worshipped God alone. A monument – the Ebenezer stone reminded everyone that loyalty to the LORD was working, and was worth it. LORD, restore us as you did the Israelites under Samuel. Show us all the idols keeping us from serving you alone, and give us the courage and wisdom to forsake them.
1 Samuel 6:1 When the ark of Yahveh had been in Philistine field for seven months, 1 Samuel 6:2 the Philistines summoned the priests and the diviners and said, “What should we do with the ark of Yahveh? Tell us how we can send it back to its place.” 1 Samuel 6:3 They replied, “If you send the ark of Israel’s God away, do not send it empty. Send back a mistake offering to him, and you will be healed. Then the reason his hand hasn’t been removed from you will be revealed.” 1 Samuel 6:4 They asked, “What mistake offering should we send back to him?” And they answered, “Five gold tumors and five gold mice corresponding to the number of Philistine rulers, since there was one plague for both you and your rulers. 1 Samuel 6:5 Make images of your tumors and of your mice that are destroying the land. Give glory to Israel’s God, and perhaps he will stop oppressing you, your gods, and your land. 1 Samuel 6:6 Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs? When he afflicted them, didn’t they send Israel away, and Israel left? 1 Samuel 6:7 “Now then, prepare one new cart and two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart but take their calves away and pen them up. 1 Samuel 6:8 Take the ark of Yahveh, place it on the cart, and put the gold objects that you’re sending him as a mistake offering in a box beside the ark. Send it off and let it go its way. 1 Samuel 6:9 Then watch: If it goes up the road to its homeland toward Beth-shemesh, it is Yahveh who has made this terrible trouble for us. However, if it doesn’t, we will know that it was not his hand that punished us — it was just something that happened to us by chance.” 1 Samuel 6:10 The men did this: They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and confined their calves in the pen. 1 Samuel 6:11 Then they put the ark of Yahveh on the cart, along with the box containing the gold mice and the images of their tumors. 1 Samuel 6:12 The cows went straight up the road to Beth-shemesh. They stayed on that one highway, mooing as they went; they never strayed to the right or to the left. The Philistine rulers were walking behind them to the territory of Beth-shemesh. 1 Samuel 6:13 The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed to see it. 1 Samuel 6:14 The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large boulder. The people of the city chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to Yahveh. 1 Samuel 6:15 The Levites removed the ark of Yahveh, along with the box containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large boulder. That day the people of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to Yahveh. 1 Samuel 6:16 When the five Philistine rulers observed this, they returned to Ekron that same day. 1 Samuel 6:17 As a mistake offering to Yahveh, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. 1 Samuel 6:18 The number of gold mice also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities of the five rulers, the fortified cities, and the outlying villages. The large boulder on which the ark of Yahveh was placed is still in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh today. 1 Samuel 6:19 God struck down the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of Yahveh. He struck down seventy persons. The people mourned because Yahveh struck them with a great slaughter. 1 Samuel 6:20 The people of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who is able to stand in the presence of Yahveh this holy God? To whom should the ark go from here?” 1 Samuel 6:21 They sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of Yahveh. Come down and get it.”
still a hot potato
The Philistines returned the ark of the covenant to the land of Israel, but it was still a hot potato. Seventy Israelites died because they looked into the ark. It would take a long time before the consequences of their failure would be removed from Israel.
Evangelical Christianity will have to learn that lesson as well. We have been guilty of treating God’s word and his presence as a minor thing. We are experiencing Ichabod, and it will take some time and effort for us to get back right with him. He gave us life by grace, but we took his grace for granted. We should prepare ourselves for a season of recommitment and waiting on Him.
Devotions 