1 Samuel #11: an exposition of 1 Samuel 11:1-15. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, February 12, 2012.
Intro:
Things are not always as they seem. Often we discover there is more to the story than first appears. Israel wanted a king. A king like the nations around them. On the one hand that seemed a logical request. They needed a leader. Someone to give guidance and direction. Israel wanted to keep up with the times, after all this was not the “Dark Ages” it was the 11th century B.C. for heaven’s sake! Monarchy was “in” and they didn’t want to be left out. Of course what they failed to see was that they already had a king. Yahweh, their covenant God, was their Sovereign and He provided guidance and leadership through various ones whom He inspired. What they considered to be the reasonable advancement of an enlightened people was, in fact, an act of rebellion. Yet God gave them a king and continued to remain faithful to His covenant in spite of their rejection. The interesting thing is that Saul was first anointed in a private ceremony and then he told no one! Later he is publicly drawn out and identified in dramatic fashion by the casting of lots. The crowd affirmed God’s choice by shouting, “Long live the king!” After some instructions about the kings’ duties they all went home – including Saul. Saul has a job but no job description. He is a king but has no court, no palace, no army, no government so what did he do? He went home and resumed his work as a dirt farmer. That’s where we pick up the story again in 1 Samuel chapter 11.
Text: 1 Samuel 11:1-15
We affirm that the Bible is true.
It is the Word of God – God-breathed, inspired.
The stories and history revealed are true and accurate.
Yet we must remember the intent of the Scripture is to reveal God to us.
God is making himself know through Scripture.
When we come to narrative passages we must not simply read the story. We must not settle for a history lesson and about political dealings of the ancient middle east. We must ask, “What is God revealing? What is it He wants us to learn about ourselves and most importantly about Him and our relationship with Him?
From that perspective…
Thesis: Saul’s deliverance of the people, in his first act as king, reminds us of the real power behind Israel’s king and the need for a God-centered worldview.
It is easy to affirm the doctrine of the sovereignty of God. After all that’s part of what it means to be God isn’t it? He is all powerful, all knowing and everywhere present. He created everything that exists and holds it all together by the power of His might. He is intimately involved in His creation, intervening in the lives and circumstances of His people. Isn’t that the basis of our praying? We do believe prayer is more than a mental exercise right? It’s more than a means of self awareness and a means of salving our conscience. We pray because God hears and responds. It actually affects what goes on in real time and space.
But how often do you actively, purposefully view and understand what is happening around us as the work of God?
Consider what has happened in the last few chapters of 1 Samuel:
Some donkey’s got lost – God was at work.
A man sent his son to look for those donkeys – God was at work.
The search party “happened” to come across the man of God – God was at work.
Saul is privately anointed king and tells no one – God was at work.
Saul is singled out by the casting of lots – God was at work.
He went home and resumed farming – God was at work.
Now, a vicious Ammonite king is threatening Israel – and God is at work!
Some background:
The Philistines are to the west of Israel along the Mediterranean coast, the Ammonites (descendants of Lot and another of Israel’s chief enemies) are to the East and both are pressing in on and threatening Israel.
Chapter 11 is focused on the Ammonite threat as they are led by Nashan (the Serpent) who is determined to crush and humiliate Israel. Among the Dead Sea scrolls there are copies of 1 Samuel that have an extra verse between 10:27 and 11:1:
Now Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been grievously oppressing the Gadites and the Reubenites. He would gouge out the right eye of each of them and would not grant Israel a deliverer. No one was left of the Israelites across the Jordan whose right eye Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had not gouged out. But there were seven thousand men who had escaped from the Ammonites and had entered Jabesh-gilead.
Imagine village after village filled with one-eyed men a vivid reminder of the power and cruelty of the Ammonite king. It was a reign of terror and that’s were our story begins in 11:1.
There are 3 things I want to point out.
- The response of the people to the threats of Nahash exposes the frailty of superficial faith and nominal commitment. (11:1-4)
- The Spirit’s enabling of Saul and the Spirit’s uniting the people demonstrate’s the presence of Israel’s true Savior. (11:5-11)
- God’s deliverance demands repentance and renewal. (11:12-15)