Saul Proves Himself Series

Do you know anyone looking for a job? What if you saw this help wanted sign.

Wanted: to hire a person for a cushy job with high pay, no experience necessary.

That may be some peoples view of what it would be like to be king. It might look like a cushy job with high pay. Saul is Israel’s first king, and he finds out at the beginning that this will not be a cushy job. It is going to be very tough.

Saul begins his monarchy with a bang. He is off to a great start. We see the positive traits Saul has to be a good king. Saul has the physical outward traits that Israel could look to. He was handsome tall being head and shoulders above everyone else. He had some excellent leadership qualities.

This particular study of the life of Saul shows Saul at his best. A humble and decisive leader who is willing to give God the glory.

After Saul has been anointed king and given kingship publicly, we find him out with his father’s fields. He comes back to discover a national crisis. The people are weeping because of an Ammonites have made a harsh threat.

Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.” 2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.” 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you.” 4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud. 5 Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.

The Israelite city of Jabesh Gilead has been besieged by the Ammonite enemy and they need help. The Israelite city is being forced to surrender and the terms are unthinkable. They have 7 days to agree to the terms of surrender under disgraceful conditions. All the men would have their right eye gouged out under the surrender terms.

They wait 7 days and put out a plea for someone to rescue them. This was the Ammonite way of disgracing not only Jabesh Gilead, but all of Israel. When no one came to their rescue it would only add to their shame.

The Ammonites felt that Israel was too weak and too loosely organized for anyone to rescue Jabesh Gilead. They fought with their shield in their left hand. The people of Jabesh if they only had one eye would be able to serve the Ammonites but they would not be fit for war.

How would Jabesh Gilead escape this disgrace? The answer is King Saul would rescue them when the Spirit of God comes powerfully upon him.

Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said. 6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. 7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out together as one. 8 When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand. 9 They told the messengers who had come, “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.’” When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. 10 They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.” 11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. (1 Samuel 11:5-11)

During the Judges period Israel was loosely organized. The monarchy is brand new and this is King Saul’s first test. Could Saul pull Israel together and rescue Jabesh Gilead. The Ammonites sure did not think it could be done. This would take a turnaround that would put a sports coach in the hall of fame. This is much more than a sporting event or a brilliant general making a strategic battle plan, this is the Spirit of God working powerfully upon King Saul. This is God’s battle.