1 SAMUEL 11

1 ¶ Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

• Nahash, meaning “snake,” was king of the Ammonites, the descendants of Lot (cf. Gen. 19:36–38) who lived E of the Jordan. Jabesh Gilead. A town east of the Jordan River, about 22 mi. S of the Sea of Galilee, in the tribal territory of Manasseh (cf. Judg. 21:8–14).
• Why did the Ammonites attack Jabesh? “Probably to revenge and to recover their former great loss by Jephthah, Jdg_11:33. Jabesh-gilead was beyond Jordan, and near the Ammonites, who dwelt in part of Arabia.” (Poole)

·       Make a covenant with us. The inhabitants of Jabesh are willing to come to an agreement with Nahash, and submit on reasonable conditions. This shows their entire defencelessness against the enemy, and characterizes Israel’s weakness in consequence of the lack of firm and permanent union among its parts.  Langes Commentary

·       No man can serve 2 masters.The people of God are willing to enter into a covenant with and serve this foreign king because they has made the decision to not serve Jehovah.

·      Where was their trust in God? Yes, they were in what seemed to be in an impossible place, but that is where the power of God can shine the brightest. “Instead of humbling themselves before God and confessing the sins that had brought them into trouble, they put God altogether aside, and basely offered to become the servants of the Ammonites. Balike

2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, on this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel (bring disgrace on all Israel).

• Put out all your right eyes. This barbarous mutilation was a common punishment of usurpers in the ancient Near East which would disable the warriors’ depth-perception and peripheral vision, rendering them useless in battle.
• Half-blinding the men of this city would bring reproach on all Israel by making Israel look weak and unable to prevent such an atrocity.

As I said in verse 1, the name Nahash means snake, which is of course one of the symbols of Satan. Listen to these insights made by David Guzik:

• Satan attacks us, but cannot do anything against us without our agreement. He asks for, and requires our surrender.
• Satan wants us to serve him, and will attempt to intimidate us into giving in to him.
• Satan wants to humiliate us, and exalt himself over us. Through humiliating one saint, Satan wants to bring reproach on all God’s people.
• Satan wants to take away our ability to effectively fight against him.
• Satan wants to blind us, and if he cannot blind us completely, he will blind us partially.
• Resist the devil and he will flee!!

3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

·      Nahash grants the desired seven days, in which they are to send messengers into every part of Israel; in this time he thought to finish his preparations for the conquest of the city

4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

• Gibeah was the location of Saul’s home and the first capital city of the monarchy.

5 ¶ And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field (he was ploughing with oxen in the field); and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

• I like how Saul went back to the field to work on his fathers farm. Keep in mind that Samuel has told him that he was going to be the king. He knew that the LORD would make that known in the right way at the right time. He didn’t have to promote himself, or scheme on his own behalf. The LORD would do it.

6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

• The Spirit of God awakened Saul's indignation and inspired him with wisdom, courage, and all needful qualities to collect an army and lead them forth to victory. Would you once again take note of the fact that The Spirit of The Lord did not come to entertain him or to thrill him. It came to equip him for service, so that he could do something for the LORD.
• This is one of the many examples of righteous anger in Scripture. The Bible says to be angry and sin not (Eph 4.26).  Saul’s anger is not out of a personal sense of hurt or offense, but out of a righteous concern for the cause of the LORD among His people. Much like when Jesus turned the table of the moneychangers over when He cleansed the temple.

7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

• Saul takes symbolic action by cutting up 2 of his fathers oxen, sending the dismembered pieces throughout Israel, & declaring that he would do likewise to the oxen of any cowardly fellow countrymen.

8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

• An academic note here. Many commentators rightly point out that this distinction made between Israel and Judah before the kingdom was divided indicates the book was written after 931 b.c. when the kingdom had been divided.

9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

• The news that military help from Israel and Judah was on the way for the people of Jabeshgilead made them glad. Beloved, knowing that someone was coming to save them made them glad….knowing that we have a Savior in Jesus is meant to be a cause of great joy tonight beloved.

10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.

·      According to 1Sam11:3, this message of the Jabeshites to the Ammonites must have led the latter to believe that they wished to treat of terms of surrender. It was a stratagem which made the Ammonites all the more confident. Thus, the wiles of the enemy would be foiled by the Spirit of God working in and through His people.

11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

• The morning-watch was between two o'clock and sunrise. As the sun began to peak over the hills of Bashan, Saul who had divided his forces into 3 groups, launched his surprise attack.
• As the fighting went on for five or six hours, until the heat of the day, the Ammonites must at first have made some resistance; but when all three divisions of Saul's army had come up, they were so utterly routed that "no two of them were left together." Pulpit Commentary

12 ¶ And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.

• I believe this is a reference to the children of Belial back in 1 Sam 10.27 who said, “How shall this man reign over us?” And they despised him.
• Satan, having failed in the attack through Nahash, was now trying to attack Israel - even in victory - by dividing the nation against each other. Satan will attack us anyway he can, and often use times of victory to attack. David Guzik

13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

• Saul’s reply to this request to catch the men that opposed him and put them to death was excellently commented on by FBN: True courage and real greatness are manifested in forgiving personal injuries, not in avenging them.
• It is worth noting that Saul rightly gives the credit for the victory to The Lord. The victory over the foe is to him nothing but a saving act of God Himself. He regards himself as simply the instrument of God.Such is true of every and any victory that you and I obtain in life.

14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew (reaffirm) the kingdom there (publicly proclaim Saul as king).

• Do you or I need to reaffirm the kingship of Jesus Christ in our lives?

15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

• They made Saul king. This is not to be interpreted as a second anointing of Saul, but of his formal, public confirmation in the kingdom by the unanimous voice of the nation, whereas the first election of him at Mizpah had met with opposition.
• Before Jehovah. This formal proclamation of Saul as king was attended by sacrfices and peace offerings that wereconducted by Samuel and the high priest. The difference between Saul's election at Mizpah and the confirmation of it at Gilgal is much the same as when our president accepts the outcome of the election and then is publically inaugurated at a later time.

1 SAMUEL 12

The fact that Saul led the army in a great victory would tempt the nation to put their faith in their new king. Samuel wanted them to know their future success rested in trusting Jehovah alone. That biblical truth is always worth remembering beloved. Have faith in God, are the words of Jesus.

1 ¶ And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.

2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.

• Samuel was dedicated to serving The Lord from the age of 2 until he was old and grey-haired. He is not retiring, he realizes that his days are coming to a close, and he does not want his shadow to be hanging over Saul.
• My sons are among you. The implication is that if they have injured any of you, the law is now open against them; any of you may accuse them, your king can punish them, I do not intercede for them.
• The king walketh before you. The metaphor is taken from the position of the shepherd in the East, where he goes before his flock to guide and guard them. On this account the word shepherd or pastor is used in the Bible of the temporal ruler (Jer 2:8; Jer 23:4, etc.), and not, as with us, of the spiritual guide.
• Beloved, let us remember that our glorious King, The Lord Jesus is our Shepherd Who is walking before us tonight.

3 Behold, here I am: witness against me (as if he were in a court setting) before the LORD, and before his anointed (king Saul): whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.

• Samuel was a man of integrity. He isn’t boasting about how great he is before the people, Samuel wants the nation to know that by the grace of God, he has passed a good legacy of leadership to the new king Saul.
• He did not cheat them or oppress them. Israel knew Samuel had been a good, godly leader. He had not led them for what he could get from them, but for what he could give to them.

5 And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

6 ¶ And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.

8 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

9 And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

10 And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

• In verses 9 and 10 we are reminded of what we learned in our previous studies.Once they were in the land, the people of God began to compromise their faith & joined in worshipping the false gods of their neighbors; so God had to discipline them. It is important for us to see that God chastening His people was as much a righteous act as was His delivering them out of Egypt.

11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel (all judges), and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

• Who was Bedan? We have no mention of him in the book of Judges. Perhaps he was a deliverer known in their history, but no recorded in the book of Judges. Or, Bedan may be a variant spelling or name for Barak. The Septuagint, an ancient translation of the Old Testament, translates the name as Barak. Other ancient translations have Samson, and some commentators believe Jair is intended. But really doesn’t matter!

12 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.

• According to the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus, Nahash was campaigning over a large area. It was that Ammonite threat that seemingly provoked Israel to demand a human king (8:1–20). This is the clearest indictment of Israel for choosing a mere man to fight for her instead of the Lord God.

13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.

14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:

15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.

• "To follow Jehovah" implies willing and active service as his attendants, going with him where he will, and being ever ready to obey his voice.
• Israel was to stand in awe of the Lord and submit to Him. Deut 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
• Both the people and the king were given the same command. The standard was the same, obedience to God’s commands. Verse 14 and 15 echoes the promises of Deut. 28, there would be blessings for obeying and curses for disobeying the commands of the Lord.

16 ¶ Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.

17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.

18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

• The Lord sent thunder and rain; an uncommon thing, as it ordinarily never rained in Palestine during the season of wheat-harvest. This storm deeply impressed the minds of the people. Though not in itself miraculous, the circumstances made it so.
• This appeal to God to send thunder and rain is another example of how the effectual, fervent prayers of a righteous man avails much. Samuel is known in the Bible as a mighty man of prayer (Psa 99:6, Jer 15:1).

19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.

20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;

21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

• Even thought the nation has committed a very serious sin in asking God for a king, Samuel declares to them that God would help them if they feared & obeyed Him and stopped going after vain things that cannot profit them or deliver them out of their despair.
• The Hebrew word for vain here literally means emptiness or void.

22 For the LORD will not forsake His people for His great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

• Please note that Samuel would be faithful to pray for them & teach them the Word of God. Samuel could have felt hurt that the people rejected him and the LORD as leaders over the nation. He might have been bitter against the people, and refused to pray for them. But for him, the issue was not starting to pray for them, but not ceasing to pray for them.
• Charles Spurgeon wrote: “Perhaps you will never preach, but you may pray. If you cannot climb the pulpit you may bow before the mercy-seat, and be quite as great a blessing.”

24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

• What a verse to ponder tonight beloved. Fear Him, Serve Him. Consider Him. Thank Him. All of our service, all of our obedience, all of our love for God should be put in this context. We do it because of the great things He has done for us.

25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed (swept away), both ye and your king.

• Adam Clarke writes these words:Never was a people more fully warned, and never did a people profit less by the warning.

Let me close by asking you a question tonight that I already know the answer to. Have you ever made a wrong decision in your life as a Christian? Have you ever made a fleshly decision in your life as a Christian? So did Israel. Yes, Israel should have never sought a human king. But now they had one, and Samuel simply calls them to serve the LORD where they are at now. We need to know that one wrong turn doesn’t wreck our lives before God! Instead of agonizing over the past, get right with God today. Fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and God will bring good even out of yesterday’s wrong turn.

We can’t do anything about yesterday beloved, and none of us are guaranteed that we will even have a tomorrow. At the present moment, all we can do is not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. Satan would love for us to live in the past or in fear or doubt of the future. Satan wants us to do anything but serve the LORD with all we have right now!