he would have

Posted on March 21, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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he would have

1 Samuel 13:13-23 (JDV)

1 Samuel 13:13 Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the command Yahveh your God gave you. It was at this time that Yahveh would have permanently established your reign over Israel,
1 Samuel 13:14 but now your reign will not endure. Yahveh has found a man after his own heart, and Yahveh has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what Yahveh commanded.”
1 Samuel 13:15 Then Samuel went from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were with him, about six hundred men.
1 Samuel 13:16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, and the Philistines were camped at Michmash.
1 Samuel 13:17 Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three divisions. One division headed toward the Ophrah road leading to the land of Shual.
1 Samuel 13:18 The next division headed toward the Beth-horon Road, and the last division headed down the border road that Notices out over the Zeboim Valley toward the wilderness.
1 Samuel 13:19 No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears.”
1 Samuel 13:20 So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plows, mattocks, axes, and sickles.
1 Samuel 13:21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel for plows and mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on a cattle prod.
1 Samuel 13:22 So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.
1 Samuel 13:23 Now a Philistine garrison took control of the pass at Michmash.

he would have

Samuel tells Saul the bad news of his failure of the test. He also tells him what God would have done if Saul had been faithful. He would have given Saul a permanent reign. Saul had been so anxious to preserve his temporary success that he wound up giving away his chance at a permanent reign.

You and I are tested in this way as well. If we want to hold on to our temporary successes in this world, we will miss out on the promises of God for the next. The permanent reign is the reign that really matters. The permanent (eternal) life is the one that will really matter. When we meet our Savior as he judges the sheep and the goats, if he tells us to depart from him because he never knew us, it will not matter how successful we were in this life.

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test completed — test failed

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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test completed — test failed

1 Samuel 13:8-12 (JDV)

1 Samuel 13:8 He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him.
1 Samuel 13:9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” Then he offered the burnt offering.
1 Samuel 13:10 Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, notice Samuel arrived. So, Saul went out to greet him,
1 Samuel 13:11 and Samuel asked, “What have you done?” Saul answered, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn’t come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash,
1 Samuel 13:12 I thought, ‘The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven’t sought Yahveh’s favor.’ So, I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.”

test completed — test failed

Saul’s test was completed, and he had failed the test. If he had patiently waited for Samuel to arrive, he may have lost more men, but he would not have lost the blessing of God. His fear of the Philistines was greater than his fear of God. He was anxious to do something, so he winded up doing the wrong thing. The offerings were the wrong thing for Saul to do because he had not been ordained as priest. For Saul to take the offerings into his own hands was to put more trust in the ritual than in the God who commanded it. All Saul had to “do” was wait on the Lord for his deliverance. His failure to wait was a failure of his leadership.

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hiding at Gilgal

Posted on March 19, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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hiding at Gilgal

1 Samuel 13:1-7 (JDV)

1 Samuel 13:1 Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years over Israel.
1 Samuel 13:2 He chose three thousand men from Israel for himself: two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in Bethel’s hill country, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away, each to his own tent.
1 Samuel 13:3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So, Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land saying, “Hebrews, listen!”
1 Samuel 13:4 And all Israel heard the news, “Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison, and Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines.” Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
1 Samuel 13:5 The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
1 Samuel 13:6 The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, in thickets, among boulders, and in holes and cisterns.
1 Samuel 13:7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear.

hiding at Gilgal

Saul and his men were waiting at Gilgal for Samuel to arrive, but they were growing desperate. Jonathan’s men attacked the garrison at Geba, so they knew that the Philistines were enraged and would attack at any time. So they hid and waited. But some had already begun to desert their posts and cross the Jordon, seeking safety. The promises that the people had made to fear God and follow him exclusively seemed as empty words in their minds compared to the fear of the Philistines that was now gripping them. This desperate situation would prove Saul’s leadership. Would he compromise? Would he go beyond what Samuel had requested of him? Stay tuned. Tomorrow we will see.

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Samuel’s bargain

Posted on March 18, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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Samuel’s bargain

1 Samuel 12:19-25 (JDV)

1 Samuel 12:19 They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to Yahveh your God for your servants so we won’t die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves.”
1 Samuel 12:20 Samuel replied, “Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following Yahveh. Instead, worship Yahveh with all your heart.
1 Samuel 12:21 Don’t turn away to follow trivial things that can’t profit or rescue you; they are trivial.
1 Samuel 12:22 Yahveh will not abandon his people, because of his great name and because he has determined to make you his own people.
1 Samuel 12:23 “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against Yahveh by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way.
1 Samuel 12:24 Above all, fear Yahveh and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for you.
1 Samuel 12:25 However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”

Samuel’s bargain

Samuel bargained with the people in today’s text. He commanded them to stay true to God despite their past failures and to fear and follow him faithfully without getting caught up with trivial pursuits. For his part of the bargain, Samuel promised to pray for them consistently which is what they asked for. But he also promised to teach them the good and right way to follow God. The word of God and prayer are the leader’s tools.

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the right sign

Posted on March 17, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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the right sign

1 Samuel 12:1-18 (JDV)

1 Samuel 12:1 And Samuel said to all Israel, “I have noticed and listened to your voice – to everything you said to me and established a king over you.
1 Samuel 12:2 Now you notice that the king is leading you. As for me, I’m old and gray, and notice my sons are here with you. I have led you from my youth until now.
1 Samuel 12:3 Here I am. Bring charges against me before Yahveh and his anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I wronged or mistreated? From whom have I accepted a bribe to overlook something? I will return it to you.”
1 Samuel 12:4 “You haven’t wronged us, you haven’t mistreated us, and you haven’t taken anything from anyone,” they responded.
1 Samuel 12:5 He said to them, “Yahveh is a witness against you, and his anointed is a witness today that you haven’t found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they said.
1 Samuel 12:6 Then Samuel said to the people, “Yahveh, who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt, is a witness.
1 Samuel 12:7 Now present yourselves, so I may confront you before Yahveh about all the righteous acts he has done for you and your ancestors.
1 Samuel 12:8 “When Jacob went to Egypt, your ancestors cried out to Yahveh, and he sent them Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.
1 Samuel 12:9 But they forgot Yahveh their God, as a result he handed them over to Sisera commander of the army of Hazor, to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab. These enemies fought against them.
1 Samuel 12:10 Then they cried out to Yahveh and said, ‘We have sinned, because we abandoned Yahveh and worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now rescue us from the power of our enemies, and we will serve you.’
1 Samuel 12:11 So Yahveh sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel. He rescued you from the power of the enemies around you, and you lived securely.
1 Samuel 12:12 But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was coming against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king reign over us’ — even though Yahveh your God is your king.
1 Samuel 12:13 “Now here is the king you’ve chosen, the one you requested. Notice, this is the king Yahveh has placed over you.
1 Samuel 12:14 If you fear Yahveh, worship and obey him, and if you don’t rebel against Yahveh’s command, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow Yahveh your God.
1 Samuel 12:15 However, if you disobey Yahveh and rebel against his command, Yahveh’s hand will be against you as it was against your ancestors.
1 Samuel 12:16 “Now, therefore, present yourselves and see this great thing that Yahveh will do before your eyes.
1 Samuel 12:17 Isn’t the wheat harvest today? I will call on Yahveh, and he will send thunder and rain so that you will recognize what an immense evil you committed in Yahveh’s sight by requesting a king for yourselves.”
1 Samuel 12:18 Samuel called on Yahveh, and on that day, Yahveh sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared Yahveh and Samuel.

the right sign

In yesterday’s text, the people had recognized that Saul could lead them to victory over their enemies, so they wanted to kill those who initially doubted Saul. They wanted the slaughter of the doubters to be the sign that Saul should be feared. But God led Saul to say no to that request. In today’s text, we find out why. The sign that God wanted to show the thunder and rain that Samuel predicted. That sign showed who was really to be feared.

As leaders, we need to be cautious about the signals we allow. Some ideas should be negated by us because they could give the impression that we are the reason for God’s blessing. God’s grace is always why he acts.

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his sovereignty prevails

Posted on March 16, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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his sovereignty prevails

1 Samuel 11:12-15 (JDV)

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.

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the terror of Yahveh

Posted on March 15, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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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.

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ignoring criticism

Posted on March 14, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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ignoring criticism

1 Samuel 10:17-27 (JDV)

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.

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what we don’t say

Posted on March 13, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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what we don’t say

1 Samuel 10:9-16 (JDV)

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.

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the next step

Posted on March 12, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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the next step

1 Samuel 10:1-8 (JDV)

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.

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