FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL

Study continued

For the TEXT of the following Study please see previous Post

CHAPTER 14

As 1 Samuel continues we see the gradual decline of King Saul that began in chapter 13. Ironically as Saul through disobedience declines his son Jonathan is upheld as a great warrior and man of faith. This continues all throughout chapter 14 and climaxes in chapter 15. Jonathan would indeed would  have made a great king.

Verse 1

Jonathan is armed only with trust in God and courage as he goes off to the Philistines. He is vulnerable. He is only armed by the support of his armour bearer.

Verse 2 -3

Saul remains in Gibeah, on the defensive. He rests comfortably under the fruit tree in secure Gibeah. His army is only now consisting of 600 men. Hey King Saul – don’t just rest .

Once again King Saul rests when he should act and he acts when he should rest.

Saul is accompanied by of all people – Ahijah, a member of the Jewish Priest Eli’s family. Remember how in disobedience Eli’s family was cut off from the priestly lineage. They had taken the Ark of the Covenant from the Tabernacle to parade it and then was captured in the battle with the Philistines. Jewish Priest ELI ->  Phinehas -> Ichabod ( meaning ‘ the glory of God has departed from Israel ’) -> Ahitub his brother -> Ahijah.  What should we expect – here is King Saul , ever more rejected mingling with Ahijah of the rejected priestly family.

Verse 4 – 8

Jonathan and the armour bearer seek a sign and direction from God. They hide in the rocky crevices between Bozez ( meaning ‘ shining ‘ ) and Seneh ( meaning ‘ thorn ‘ ) Jonathan steps forward with courage before the Philistines confident that the Lord can save with either few or many ( verse 6 )  

Verses 9 – 10

The sign from God shall be - the response of the Philistines

If they say - Wait 'till we come - this means that they are courageous

If they say - Come up to us - this means they are cowards                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Verse 11 - 15

The two bravely step forward, they are not in disguise for the Philistines know they are Hebrew warriors. At first the Philistines think these are deserters for there were many Hebrew deserters.  The Philistines say – Come up to us. Jonathan knows by this sign that they are cowards and it is a sign from God to attack.  God even sends an earthquake to frighten the Philistines.

Verse 16 – 19

Saul and his 600 man army sees what is happening across the valley. King Saul does not know who it is from his camps and thus does a roll call, discovering that it is Jonathan and his armour bearer. When King Saul sees the Philistines fleeing he calls for the Ark of God.

Verse 20 – 23

God even causes the Philistines to fight one another – what an awesome humorous God. Even the Israelite deserters switch back to fight with King Saul and Jonathan. The Hebrew soldiers even come out from the caves of Mount Ephraim. And indeed THE LORD SAVED ISRAEL THAT DAY  ( Verse 23 ) – it was not King Saul or Jonathan but God’s victory.

Verse 24 – 30

Saul then proclaims that no one is to eat – this is a solemn vow. What ! Soldiers need strength. Jonathan was not present when the King proclaimed this vow.  This vow was tested when the people saw honey on the ground. No-one ate of it. But Jonathan did not hear the vow and he ate and his eyes were enlightened, that is filled with the grace of God. Jonathan tells the people that his father Saul caused trouble with this bad decision and oath. This oath was not from God but one that King Saul invented. That if they ate the honey they would be even stronger and defeat even more.

Verse 31- 36

This is why now the people are tempted. They continue to win but grow faint and hungry, so hungry that they eat of animals with blood – this is forbidden from God.

Verse 37 – 45

King Saul now asks God for guidance and God does not answer. King Saul assumes it is because someone in camp has defiled HIS oath ( without even thinking that it was the eating of impure animals, those forbidden from God  ). King Saul says that this person must die.  By casting lots ( the Thummim from the breastplate of the Jewish Priest ) it comes down to Jonathan. He is to die.  Here King Saul confuses HIS LAWS with GOD’S LAWS. Ironically Jonathan was the one who DID fulfill God’s Will.  Jonathan in the glory of God won the battle; Jonathan did not hear the oath; Jonathan is innocent. The people let him go free.

Verse 46 – 48

King Saul now extends his kingdom – he wins wars against the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, the kings of Zobah, Philistines, and Amalikites.

Verse 49

The Family of King Saul and his wife Ahino-am, daughter of Ahima-az                                          

Sons - Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua;                                                                                                                          

Daughters were these: the name of the first-born was Merab, and the name of the younger Michal

To me the last verses says it all – “ when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself. “ 

King Saul thought the victory would be with man – instead it is with God.

QUESTIONS

1.       Why did King Saul simply rest under the tree? What do you think in this moment of time went through his head ?  Do you know of a similar example ?

2.       Jonathan went out before a great force. With such a father as King Saul how do you think that Jonathan gained so much trust in the Lord ?

3.       Jonathan is in this moment so vulnerable to the Philistines.  And yet we see what did actually happen . Can you give a parallel example of vulnerability before a grave power ?

4.       What do you now think of King Saul ?

FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL

CHAPTER 14

TEXT FOR STUDY

One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on yonder side." But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibe-ah under the pomegranate tree which is at Migron; the people who were with him were about six hundred men, 3 and Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4 In the pass, * by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side; the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba. 6 And Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us; for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few." 7 And his armor-bearer said to him, "Do all that your mind inclines to; * behold, I am with you, as is your mind so is mine." * 8 Then said Jonathan, "Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, Wait until we come to you,' then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. 10 But if they say, Come up to us,' then we will go up; for the LORD has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us." 11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, "Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hid themselves." 12 And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing." And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Come up after me; for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel." 13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him; 14 and that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, was of about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre* of land. 15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison and even the raiders trembled; the earth quaked; and it became a very great panic. 16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibe-ah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude was surging hither and thither. * 17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Number and see who has gone from us." And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18 And Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring hither the ark of God." For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel. 19 And while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more; and Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand." 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle; and behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21 Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with* the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hid themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle. 23 So the LORD delivered Israel that day; and the battle passed beyond Beth-aven. 24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul laid an oath on the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the people tasted food. 25 And all the people* came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; so he put forth the tip of the staff that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes became bright. 28 Then one of the people said, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man who eats food this day.'" And the people were faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land; see how my eyes have become bright, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found; for now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great." 31 They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint; 32 the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, "Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD, by eating with the blood." And he said, "You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here. *" 34 And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, Let every man bring his ox or his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.'" So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night, and slew them there. 35 And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD. 36 Then Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and despoil them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them." And they said, "Do whatever seems good to you." But the priest said, "Let us draw near hither to God." 37 And Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Wilt thou give them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, "Come hither, all you leaders of the people; and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 39 For as the LORD lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, "You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you." 41 Therefore Saul said, "O LORD God of Israel, why hast thou not answered thy servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O LORD, God of Israel, give Urim; but if this guilt is in thy people Israel, * give Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42 Then Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan." And Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand; here I am, I will die." 44 And Saul said, "God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan." 45 Then the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has wrought this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has wrought with God this day." So the people ransomed Jonathan, that he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place. 47 When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines; wherever he turned he put them to the worse. 48 And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them. 49* Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the first-born was Merab, and the name of the younger Michal; 50 and the name of Saul's wife was Ahino-am the daughter of Ahima-az. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle; 51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. 52 There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.

FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL

Study Continued

For the TEXT of the following study please see previous posting

CHAPTER 13

In this chapter we see the beginning of the fall of King Saul.                                                                     

As best stated by Joyce Baldwin about the situation Saul faced as he began to reign.

"In relation to Samuel ( the Prophet) , it is obvious that Saul ( the King)had a problem.

On the one hand he owed his appointment to Samuel, but on the other hand he was taking over Samuel's position as Israel's leader. Samuel spoke frequently of the wickedness of the people

in requesting a king, apparently implying that he, Saul, should not really be in office. Yet Saul had not sought to be king, and would have preferred, at least at first, to have been left in obscurity, 

but he had not been offered any option. Too many signs had been given that he was the person   

of God's appointment, and prayers for deliverance from the Ammonites had been marvellously answered. He was king by divine anointing, by God's overruling of the sacred lot, and by united popular demand. He had caught the imagination of the people, who wanted a hero, and against all odds he was expected to pass muster. Had he realized it, Saul could have gained much by the presence of a seasoned prophet like Samuel alongside him, ready to give guidance, instruction and, if necessary, rebuke. Above all, Samuel was an intercessor who knew the Lord's mind, and saw prayer answered. Samuel would indicate the right way, and all Saul had to do was follow. He could have leant hard on Samuel and he would have found reassurance. In the event, this was exactly what Saul could not bring himself to do."

Verse 1

Saul was . . . *years old when he began to reign; and he reigned . . . and two* years over Israel

In the Bible there appears to be a ‘ blank ‘ where the age and reign of King Saul is noted. Many writers have tried to ‘ fill in the blanks’. Acts 13:21 tells us that King Saul reigned about 40 years. If he died on Mt Gilboa ( See chapter 31 ) at 70 or 80 years old that means that he was 30 or 40 when he began his reign.

Verse 2 – 4 

We are introduced to King Saul’s son Jonathan.

“ Jonathan” means – “ A gift of God.”                                      

This is the first mention of Jonathan, a key player in the Bible and in the battles that would ensue.

Gibeah or Geba ( meaning “Hill”; about four miles north of Jerusalem ) was Saul's hometown and his capital. Michmash was about five miles northeast of Jerusalem. Both where within the tribe of Benjamin, Saul himself being of that tribe. Evidently Saul wanted  to clear the area around Gibeah,     and the central Benjamin plateau on which it stood, of Philistines, to make this population center more secure.

Thus King Saul takes 2,000 men at Michmash while Jonathan is given 1,000 at Gibeah.

Jonathan fights the  Philistines and wins. Ironically it is King Saul who calls and receives the glory.

Verse 5 – 7

In response the Philistines gathered their forces at Michmash – a huge army of chariots and troops. This was so frightening to the Hebrew People that they hid themselves away – even in tombs and in cisterns ! Even after the initial battle of King Saul and now Jonathan’s victory the people remained without faith and in fear.

Verse 8 – 13

The Prophet Samuel tells King Saul and his army to wait. Samuel will arrive in seven days – seven being the ‘complete’ number. He, Samuel is to offer sacrifice for the battle. King Saul , with few troops to begin with and now many deserting him panics and is impatient. HE, King Saul goes ahead and offers the sacrifice. This was a violation of the Law. Saul decides not only to play the role of King but now of Priest ! He is so proud of this that King Saul goes out to meet Samuel so that ‘ he ( Samuel ) may salute him ( Saul ) -   Imagine !  Contrast this to David's submission to Nathan the prophet in 2 Samuel 12:1-15.

Saul could have offered prayers and yet went beyond himself in offering the sacrifice.

When Samuel challenges Saul the king is not longer proud of this moment but seeks an ‘ excuse’ - he says in verse 11  -  "When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said,        Now the Philistines will come down upon me at Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favour of the LORD'; so I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering." This sounds like the echo of Adam and Eve who when found out by God offered every excuse – except admitting it .

Verse 14

God through Samuel then makes his pronouncement against King Saul – 
" But now your kingdom shall not continue; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart."     This was to be David ( “David” translated means “Beloved” )

This may seem a harsh judgement but Saul was to be the first King the People of Israel.

This was a serious responsibility. King Saul had failed in this seriousness.

Verse 15

Disheartened we see the results. King Saul goes from Gilgal to Gibe-ah of Benjamin; his army once numbering 3,000 is now 600; his army was to be without any weapons at all – only Jonathan and Saul carried weapons; Israel was without smiths to fashion any spears or swords; the enemy,
the Philistines roamed about freely.

And so now what would be the results ?

The Hebrew People and King Saul ( and Jonathan who would increasingly lead the charge ) now fully disarmed would HAVE TO rely on God. The results ? Chapter 14 . 

QUESTIONS
Feel free to add your thoughts in Comments section

1.       King Saul clearly oversteps his role and God-given responsibilities. Why did he do this ? Can you think of modern examples whereby God-given roles are overstepped ?

2.       King Saul has full excuses for why he did what he did. Why did he not just take responsibility for his actions ? Can you think of a situation where someone DID take humble ownership of their faults ?

3.       The Hebrew People ‘lose’ every earthly defence. Yet – you can imagine what will happen – God alone will triumph. Can you think of a situation where a person, nation or community group or faith community was divested of ‘ self ‘ and had to rely on God ?

Text

1 Samuel

Chapter 13

1 Saul was . . . *years old when he began to reign; and he reigned . . . and two* years over Israel. 2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel; two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibe-ah of Benjamin; the rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent. 3 Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines which was at Geba; and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear." 4 And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become odious to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal. 5 And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude; they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in straits (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, 7 or crossed the fords of the Jordan* to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, "Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings." And he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and salute him. 11 Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, Now the Philistines will come down upon me at Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favor of the LORD'; so I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering." 13 And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you; for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for ever. 14* But now your kingdom shall not continue; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart; and the LORD has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you." 15 And Samuel arose, and went up from Gilgal to Gibe-ah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men. 16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17 And raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies; one company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual, 18 another company turned toward Beth-horon, and another company turned toward the border that looks down upon the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. 19 Now there was no smith to be found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears"; 20 but every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle; * 21 and the charge was a pim for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads. * 22 So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them. 23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL

Study Continued

For the TEXT of the following study please see previous posting

CHAPTER 12

Verse 1 - 5

Chapter 12 is the proclamation of Samuel at this important moment in the history of the Hebrew People. Saul is chosen as king and has ‘ proven ‘ himself for the first time in the arena of war.                                Saul is their King. And yet here Samuel reminds the People of their true king – the Lord God.

Since the day of his birth and his dedication by his mother Hannah and father Elkanah he has faithfully served the Lord. He was presented to the Jewish Priest Eli and since then has favoured God. He has always served the People of God well. Perhaps Samuel felt a deep sense of personal rejection. He was without fault and yet the Hebrew People rejected him and wanted another , a King not a Judge. It was also a reminder that he was blameless and thus if any disaster fell upon the People it would be their fault not his.

Samuel is to be the last of the Judges of Israel. How wonderful that the last Judge is to be one who is so devoted to God. This is Samuel’s final address as Judge.

As one author states:

"With this address Samuel laid down his office as judge, but without

therefore ceasing as prophet to represent the people before God, and to

maintain the rights of God in relation to the king."

Verse 6 – 10

Samuel then reminds the People of the great foundational events of their faith – the Passover from Egypt. Samuel purposely recalls Pharaoh, another king whose heart was hard against God and His People. This must not happen with King Saul. The Lord God was the one who also conquered the many other pagan kings of the region. Once again Samuel gives warning of what kingship is all about. That God alone, as ‘ proven ‘ here is the King of kings.  

Verse 10 -11

Samuel reminds the People that God then sent Judges – among them --

Jerubbaal ( also known as Gideon – see Judges 6 – After 40 years of peace following the great Judge Deborah the Hebrew People turned to pagan worship and morals. Gideon was sent to deliver them. With only 300 men he slew the Midianites and the Amalekites in the Valley of Jezreel. During his 40 year reign peace prevailed. The People wished to make him king to which he refused. He had 70 sons – one of which is Abimelech ( meaning ‘ my father is king’) Perhaps this is why Samuel reminds them of Gideon – he refused to be made king.

Bedan or Barak ( Bedan translated as ‘Son of Dan’ – that is Samson, the great Judge. Manoah was Samson’s father of the tribe of Dan)  or other translations of the Bible render the name as Barak – the commander with the Judge Deborah

Jephthanh  ( Faithful Judge who slew the Ephraimites and Ammonites. Then peace prevailed. )

and Samuel, the present great judge.

For list of Judges see http://www.bible-history.com/resource/r_judge.htm

Verse 12 - 13

Samuel reminds the People of this recent battle – how King Saul won his first offensive against the evil king Nahash ( translated as “Serpent” and the Ammonites, from the preceding chapter ) God was victorious.

Verse 14 -15

Samuel gives the People a clear commandment – if you do not rebel against the command of the Lord  all WILL go well. Although the People preferred a King and God allowed it – here then is the rule – to continue to serve God.  

Verse 16 – 18

To ‘ prove ‘ this point Samuel then calls upon God to give a sign. In the midst of the dry season he calls down rain and thunder and it happens. The People are forewarned.

Verse 19 - 21

The People cry out. Samuel tells them that they have their king – they have made their choice - and yet they are still called to worship and obey and follow the one and only true king – the Lord. 

Verse 22

To me this is the heart of the chapter -- For the LORD will not cast away His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for Himself. The reason that God stays by His People – in spite of their choice of an earthly king is that He still wishes and invests in the People so that His Name may be glorified. This is the heart of the COVENANT that He made with His People. Perhaps in spite of or because they do have an earthly king God must now make His Name known and glorified now by other means.

Verse 23 -  25

Samuel promises that he shall remain with the Hebrew People and continue to teach them. That the King and People may serve God with all their hearts. If not – then they and King shall be consumed. What will happen ?

QUESTIONS

1.       Samuel has to remind the Hebrew People of the foundational events within their lives. When did you have to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness in this world or within your life ?

2.       What were the foundational events in your Faith Life ? Like the great ones mentioned by Samuel who were the foundational people in your faith life ?

3.       Imagine how rejected Samuel must have felt. He was faithful but the People wanted a king. How do you think Samuel felt ? Have you had any similar experience of rejection as Samuel ? How did you handle it ?

Text

1 Samuel

Chapter 12

1 And Samuel said to all Israel, "Behold, I have hearkened to your voice in all that you have said to me, and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walks before you; and I am old and gray, and behold, my sons are with you; and I have walked before you from my youth until this day. 3 Here I am; testify against me* before the LORD and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose ass have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you." 4 They said, "You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand." 5 And he said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they said, "He is witness." 6 And Samuel said to the people, "The LORD is witness, * who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7 Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before the LORD concerning all the saving deeds of the LORD which he performed for you and for your fathers. 8 When Jacob went into Egypt and the Egyptians oppressed them, * then your fathers cried to the LORD and the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place. 9 But they forgot the LORD their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Jabin king 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 to the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.' 11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal and Barak,* and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety. 12 And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the LORD your God was your king. 13 And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the LORD has set a king over you. 14 If you will fear the LORD and serve him and hearken to his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well; 15 but if you will not hearken to the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king. * 16 Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king." 18 So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19 And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king." 20 And Samuel said to the people, "Fear not; you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; 21 and do not turn aside after* vain things which cannot profit or save, for they are vain. 22 For the LORD will not cast away his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. 23 Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king."

FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL

Study Continued

For the TEXT of the following study please see previous posting

CHAPTER 11

Verse 1

The chapter opens with Nahash the Ammonite going up and besieging Jabesh-gilead;                           

"Nashash" means "serpent" and this should give us a hint who is behind the aggression of Nashash and the Ammonites. Remember from Judges 19 the men of Israel went to war against the people of Gibeah because of they had turned into a community of Sodomites, and had attacked and killed the Levite priest's wife, and the daughter of the old man that the Levite was staying with. All the tribes of Israel were called to war against Gibeah. When they were all gathered together at Mizpeh, it was known that no one from Jabesh-gilead was there to answer the call to go to war. So the other 11 tribes killed the entire tribe of Benjamin, except six hundred men. This almost wiped out the tribe. The problem was solved when they determined that the men of Israel would use the dance of the feast at Shiloh that was held each year as a method of allowing the six hundred men of Benjamin to continue their tribe. The plan was to have the men hide in the bushes, select a wife and steal her away, then rush her back to their land. A priest would be there to marry them instantly, and thus a new family unit would be established so that children would be born and the tribe would have an inheritance.

Saul was a child that came from one of these marriages, and the city of Jabesh-gilead were the descendants of part of those six hundred men. The Ammonites were coming against the town of Jabesh, and before the men of that town would give into the Ammonites, they sent word out to the rest of Israel for help. Remember that the tribe of Benjamin was the smallest of all the tribes because of that war, and the rest of Israel did not want that tribe to be done away

Jabesh Gilead ( or Jabesh in Gilead ) is a town on the east side of the Jordan River, on the top of one of the green hills of Gilead. Jabesh means ‘dry’.

The Ammonites were the offspring of Lot, the nephew of Abraham. The Ammonites had been previously defeated by Jephthah ( See Judges 11:12-33). Nahash evidently sought revenge for Jephthah's victory over his nation The Ammonites heard the plea from the people of Jabesh and their desire to make an a treaty with them. But first they wanted to hear the terms of agreement.

Verse 2

The condition that Nahash put before the men of Jabesh was that he and the Ammonites wanted to enter into Jabesh, and put out the right eye of all the men in the town. The right eye is the eye used by the swordsman and the archers in their marksmanship, and to do this would destroy the town from ever defending themselves. In battle the shield covered the left eye, and thus the loss of the right eye made the man incapacitated for fighting.
God is trying to give us a lesson here, in letting us know the mess that we can get ourselves into when we try to negotiate with the "serpent", old Nahash [the devil], and his type. The Israelites of Jabesh-gilead are pulling away from God, and turning to a man to save them. The first thing that these people of the serpent will try to do is to disarm us, and make us ineffective to fight the battles that God expects of us. Nahash wants to gouge of all of the right eyes of all Israel, and he wants to start with these men of Jabesh.

Verse 3

The Israelites of Jabesh ask for seven days to see if their fellow countrymen will come and save them. How ironic that this time, unlike Book of Judges, the tribe of Benjamin now has to call on the other tribes for help and protection. Still seven days is not alot of time to seek an answer in what to do.

The Ammonites permit this. It is a sign of the self-confidence of the Ammonites and their belief that no one would come to the rescue of Jabesh.  

Verse 4 – 6

When it is reported to the others what is happening a great cry goes up. Yet this is not the time for weeping, for the enemy is at the gate of the city, it is time for action. The people again forgot that God had promised to protect them. Gibeah was that small community that was wiped out some two hundred years prior for their inactions against sin, and this was the community that was reformed after the first community was destroyed. This is also Saul's birthplace, and the place where his family lives.
When Saul hears of it all the Spirit falls upon him and he is filled with anger. A tremendous showing of righteous indignation. For the sake of the Lord something must be done ( and for the sake of Saul’s birthtown )  – stop your crying and wailing. In a very clear sign Saul cuts a yoke of oxen and sends pieces of them to all the tribes – if you do not act as one and save the people of Jabesh the same will happen to you.  This also invoked Book of Judges 19: 29 – 30 where the Levite cut up and sent parts of his mistresses body to all the tribes of Israel. Again this occurred in Jabesh, the same town. A clear parallel.
Side note – here we find Saul still minding the animals. Why did the king continue to work in this way ? Perhaps he was waiting for further direction from Samuel and from God. Certainly it shows Saul humility.

Verse 7 - 9

The Hebrew army very quickly assembles ( I guess they got the message ! ) at Bezek. Bezek means ‘lightning’ - certainly in reference to how quickly they gathered for war. It is 16 miles on the west side of the Jordan river. The army is formed into fighting divisions - the men of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand
This is the start of the separation between the house of Israel and the house of Judah. The mention of Israel refers to all the tribes except for Judah, and Benjamin, while when Judah is mentioned it is referring to only Judah and Benjamin.

Verse 10

The leaders of Jabesh send their answer to the Amorites – they tell the Ammonite leaders that they would meet them the next day. This ofcourse is a "covert activity". The leaders of Jabesh are leading the Ammonites on to believe that they are going to get their treaty, and that the Israelites will yield to their every wish. However, the time of the agreement must be set for tomorrow. This buys the time that was needed for the army of Israel to get to the battlefield. They are lying to Nahash to save their right eyes.

Verse 11

Saul's army arrived at Jabesh sometime between 3:00 a.m. and 6 a.m., just before the sun came up,           and Saul's army went right into battle. They slew the Ammonites while they were least expecting trouble, for they thought they had won the battle. As seen in verse 12 Samuel was with them. He had brought God’s blessings to save the tribe in Jabesh. King Saul’s first victory.

Verse 12 - 13

The people remembered the men who refused to pay tribute to Saul on his coronation day. They called for them to be put to death. For now it had been ‘proven’ that Saul was to be their king. For after this battle and the complete scattering of the Ammonites, the rest of the Israelites thought that Saul would be a very good king. However, it still doesn't change the fact that God wanted to be our king.  To give credit to Saul he states in verse 13 that it was God that gave them victory.

Verse 14 – 15

Saul then calls the Hebrew People to go to Gilgal to renew the covenant there. The name "Gilgal" means wheel, and Gilgal was the hub of the center of activity. Gilgal is near Jericho and was the Israelites' first camp after they entered the Promised Land, and the place where they first renewed the covenant in the land (Book of Joshua 4—5). For this reason, that site would have stimulated the people's remembrance of God's faithfulness to them and His plans for them as a united nation They all went down to Gilgal, with the victory of the battle fresh in their minds. At Gilgal the elders would anoint Saul as king before all the people of Israel. The people are keeping God in the forefront and trying to do it all God's way. This was the first victory that Israel would have with a king in the lead. Following the battle Saul and all the people gave God all the glory, they made their peace offerings before the Lord, and Samuel was ahead of the celebration. The time that began with weeping because of the forgetting of the trust in God is now replaced with joy !

But would it and he last ?

QUESTIONS

1. Saul had to ' prove' himself before being accepted as king. In his times victory at war was a clear way of doing so. Why did they not fully accept him as king from the beginning ? Why did they need ' proof' of his temporal and spiritual leadship ?  Do we seek ' proves ' from others before accepting them as ' chosen ones ' temporally or spiritually ? 

2. Saul went back to minding the herds. Reminds me of the apostles returning back to fishing in Galilee after Easter Sunday. Why did Saul / why did the apostles do this? Is this reflected in any way in your life ?

3. Is there any chance for Saul to succeed as king ?  Do you think that he will remain rooted in his initial call as king ? Without knowing the rest of the Old Testament what would be your guess ? How can you remain faithful to your initial call ?

1 Samuel Chapter 10

Verse 24 – 27

And Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? There is none like him among all the people." And all the people shouted, "Long live the king!" 25 Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship; and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the LORD. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. 26 Saul also went to his home at Gibe-ah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some worthless fellows said, "How can this man save us?" And they despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his peace

1 Samuel Chapter 11

1 Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you." 2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus put disgrace upon all Israel." 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you." 4 When the messengers came to Gibe-ah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people; and all the people wept aloud. 5 Now Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen; and Saul said, "What ails the people, that they are weeping?" So they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. 7 He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, "Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!" Then the dread of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. 8 When he mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9 And they said to the messengers who had come, "Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance.'" When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you." 11 And on the morrow Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and cut down the Ammonites until the heat of the day; and those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. 12 Then the people said to Samuel, "Who is it that said, Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, that we may put them to death." 13 But Saul said, "Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has wrought deliverance in Israel." 14 Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom." 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL

Study Continued

For the TEXT of the following study please see previous posting

CHAPTER 10

Verse 1

Samuel anoints Saul with oil. Up to this point only the Jewish Priests and the Tabernacle were anointed with oil. This is the way that Samuel anointed Saul to be the first king of Israel. In the Hebrew text "mashach, maw-shakh'; a prime root; to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint, to consecrate." Samuel's purpose was to "consecrate" Saul into a sacred office, and that office was that Saul would be king. Remember prior to this the duty of the judge fell on the shoulders of the high priest, the religious leader of Israel, and now the priesthood and the duties of Judge are separated into two different offices. The kiss of Samuel to Saul is this recognition.

Verse 2 – 8

There are three prophecies now foretold by Samuel: 1. Saul will meet two men by the tomb of Rachel who will tell him that his father is looking for him. This was a SIGN that king Saul could control the people that were entrusted to him.   2. Next, near the oak of Tabor three men will greet him - one with three sacrificial lambs, another with three breads and another with a wine skin. This was a SIGN that the People would offer sacrifices for Saul   3.  At Gibe-ath-elohim, Saul will meet a band of prophets and God’s Spirit will fall upon him and he will prophesy. This was a SIGN that Saul would indeed be endowed as king with God’s Spirit ( see David’s homage paid to Saul always )
These three prophecies will prove to Saul and to the people that Saul is to be king.  They also served to prove to Saul that Samuel was indeed a Judge and Prophet.
Saul is told to go to at the land of Benjamin Rachel's sepulchre is the place where Benjamin was born, for Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. Remember that Saul was a Benjamite, and at the time of Benjamin's birth, Rachel named Benjamin, "son of my sorrow" at her death, however Jacob renamed him "Son of my right hand
Samuel had a school of prophets at Gibe-ath-elohim ( Translated as ‘Hill of God’) . This may be the town of Gibeon. Those that finished their training were called "masters". The head of the school is called the "father" as is spoken of in verse twelve of this chapter. These schools of study for the prophets were also found at Beth-el, Jericho, and Gilgal, as recorded in    2 Kings 2:3, 4; 4:38. To be declare a prophet doesn't necessarily mean that you tell the future, but it also mean that you have an understanding of those words spoken by the prophets. To prophesy means that you are a teacher of the Words and things of God.

Verse 9
I think that this is the key phrase. For although God was displeased that the People wanted a king He chose Saul. It would be at this point that God changed Saul’s heart. Up to now ( see previous posts ) Saul is not much of a kingly person – materially or spiritually. God now changes this.

Verse 12
Even the people are confused of how Saul began to prophesy. They ask who is his ‘father’ – that is who is his teacher for certainly his biological father Kish did not do this for Saul. It was God’s grace and Spirit. This was an external sign that Saul was now of God.  

Verse 16
Saul himself does not tell his uncle how he came to be. Perhaps Saul was a simpleton or that he was amazed and dumbfounded of what had just happened. Or he was humbled by it all.

Verse 17 – 18

Samuel declares Saul king.

Saul's rise to kingship over Israel took place in three distinct stages:

          He was (1) anointed by Samuel (9:1—10:16),

                      (2) chosen by lot (10:17 -27),

               and (3) confirmed by public acclamation (11:1-15).

Samuel gathers all the People of Israel at Mizpah (A place in Gilead, so named by Laban, who overtook Jacob at this spot ( See Genesis 31:49) on his return to Palestine from Padan-aram, the Plain of Aram Here Jacob and Laban set up their memorial cairn of stones. It is the same as Ramath-mizpeh- see Joshua 13:26 )
The first thing that Samuel does is to remind the People of Israel of the great events of the Exodus. In this way he is reminding them that GOD alone is KING. That He has and continues to do great things. Why do we need an earthly king ?

Verse 20 – 25
The rather curious presentation of Saul as the first king of Israel.
Samuel selected the tribe of Benjamin by the use of the Urim and Thumim."Was taken" in the Hebrew text, meant that it was selected by lot. The Urim and Thimmim were two precious stones that were placed in the breastplate of judgement that was worn by the High Priest. When there was a question that needed God's help in selection, these stones or lots were drawn out of their bag, and cast to give instructions of Gods judgement on the matter. The words, "Urim and Thimmim" mean "lights and perfection", and then cast to the ground, the judgements would be such as yes and no, gilt or innocent. In the making of a selection, the High Priest was the only one that decided whether the stones would be taken from the bag and used for a decision.  The Israelites even used these stones to determine who gets what land, and how the land would be divided [by lot], and it was from these stones that our lots of today are determined. Samuel used the Urim and Thimmim to decide which tribe, which family of that tribe and the man from that family that would be the king that God selected. For the lots, or stones fell as God would have the choice be made. The tribe was Benjamin, the family was Matri, the son of Matri was Kish, and the son of Kish was Saul.

Verse 21
Saul is declared king – and yet he is nowhere to be found ! Even after the anointing with oil, the three-fold prophecy and the sending of the Spirit into the heart of Saul he still hid himself on the day of his ‘corination‘. Was he overwhelmed or afraid or humble ? Perhaps he was wisely reluctant.

Verse 24
All the People of Israel shout a very familiar proclamation – Long live the king!  Now they have an earthly king like all others. How sad.

Verse 25
The first thing that Samuel did after the king was selected, was to write the manner or the constitution of the government that would exist under their king. The king would rule by the guidelines of God's laws that were stated in that constitution, and it was presented before God and to the people. The people now had a king, and a constitution that they would be governed by. Then Samuel sent the people back home.

Verse 26

Samuel is given a small band of men to protect him. Right away we know there will be harsh times for King Saul. King Saul went to his home at Gibe-ah. The ancient tell (archaeological mound) of Gibeah now stands three miles north of the old city of Jerusalem, the buildings of which are clearly visible from Gibeah. It is now a northern "suburb" of Jerusalem.

Verse 27
There will be harsh times indeed starting right here – beginning with the “children of Belia”. Belia is one of the four crown princes of Hell. That is why they did not give Saul gifts. They shall attack and be amongst Saul’s reign. Let us see Saul’s kingship.......

QUESTIONS

1. Did they need a king ?  Do we need a king ?

2. The Kingship of Saul was marked thus far with unity ( he settled the issue of the lost donkeys ),  sacrifice ( the offerings for him ) and the spirit of God ( his prophecy ).  Can you name some leaders that exhibit one or more of these ? And you ?

3. King Saul was given prophetic visions. Can you name some prophets of our times ?