Saul’s Leadership Tested

Time after time invaders had occupied areas of israel, and each time, when they finally sought the Lord, they had driven them out.  Shortly after Saul was crowned as king, the Ammonites invaded Jabesh Gilead.  Rather than calling for the new king to aid them, the people of Jabesh Gilead initially tried to appease them, in I Samuel 11:1, offering to surrender.  “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.”

 

Viewing the attempts to appease them as a sign of weakness, the Ammonites decided to capitalize on their weakness, demanding that the Israel submit to them completely, even allowing them to poke out one of each man’s eyes as a sign of their cowardice, as described in I Samuel 11:2.  “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.”  Hesitant to allow them to put their eyes out, the People asked to be allowed to try to get help in fighting them, promising to surrender without a fight if no one came to their aid within a week, in I Samuel 11:3.  “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.”

 

With no central government, the Ammonites were sure they couldn’t raise a significant force and would surrender without even fighting, so they agreed and messengers were sent out asking for help.  Some of the messengers went to Saul’s hometown.   Saul was out taking care of his livestock and did not learn of the request for aid until he returned, in I Samuel 11:4-5. “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.  And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.”

 

The people were concerned about the people of Jebesh Gilead having their eyes put out, but no one felt any responsibility to prevent it until Saul came home and heard about the request.  When he heard what was going on, the Spirit of the Lord came on Saul and he realized their responsibility to protect their own people, and was angry that they were not doing anything about it, as I Samuel 11:6-7 describes.  “And the spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.  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.”

 

Unfortunately, as James 1:20 warns, “…the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”  Instead of trusting God to draw the people and give him the victory, Saul effectively threatened to put anyone who didn’t help him out of business by destroying their farming equipment, and as Romans 14:23 warns, “…whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” In the future his lack of faith would become a serious problem. As an immediate result, he had a huge army and was successful in defeating the ammonites as I Samuel 11:8-11 describes.  “And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.  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 showed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.  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.  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.”

 

It was the first test of his administration, and the people were impressed, calling for the execution of those who had opposed Saul’s coronation, in I Samuel 11:12-13.  “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.  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 was humble enough to realize the victory came from the Lord and forbid the execution of those who opposed him.