1 Samuel 11

LEADING THROUGH A CRISIS

CONTEXT

1. Nahash the Ammonite went up
a. They were descendants of Lot
b. They had been squashed before, but were back for more

2. And besieged Jabesh Gilead
a. Sent no one to destroy Gibeah
b. Were destroyed by Israel as a result

3. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, ‘make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.’
a. They were probably small in number
b. They were probably very weak

4. 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.
a. The left eyes were covered by the shield in battle, so taking out the right eye would make them incapable of warring, but still able to work as captives.

5. 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.’
a. Reasons why Jabesh allowed this:
i. Israel was disorganized and he didn’t think they’d find anyone
ii. He probably didn’t even know they had a king at this point
iii. Perhaps he knew that Israel itself had destroyed Jabesh Gilead
iv. He wanted to win without fighting

6. When the messengers came tot Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud.
a. They realized the Jabesh Gilead was just the beginning
b. They were more willing to shed tears than blood

THE LEADERSHIP OF SAUL

1. Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, ‘what is wrong with the people? Why are they weeping?’ Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.
a. He was still working, not sitting on a throne all day
b. He wanted to know what was going on in the midst of his people

2. When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger.
a. He had zeal for his people’s honor and dignity
b. His anger was probably aimed at the Ammonites and Israelites:
i. The Ammonites wanted to make Israel disgraced
ii. The Israelites were giving up

3. 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 turned out as one man.
a. He acted with authority, made his position clear
b. He didn’t threaten their lives like (Judges 21:5), just their oxen
c. Clear-cut authoritative leadership sometimes brings unity

4. When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 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 delivered.' " When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. They said to the Ammonites, "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever seems good to you." 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.
a. He used wise tactics
i. He knew the numbers of his army
ii. He implanted hope
iii. He separated his men into three divisions
iv. He used a surprise attack

5. The people then said to Samuel, "Who was it that asked, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring these men to us and we will put them to death." But Saul said, "No one shall be put to death today, for this day the LORD has rescued Israel."
a. He showed mercy on his detractors, even when it would have been easy to destroy them

6. Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and there reaffirm the kingship." So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD . There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the LORD , and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.
a. He turned the focus back to God and celebrating His victory