Amen
Amen, okay
We're continuing this evening with the book of 1st Samuel in chapter number 11 tonight
And let me just give you a little bit of a review before we get into chapter 11
Of course in chapter 10 we have Saul's selection. He's been selected by God to be the king the first king of
Israel and of course, he's anointed by Samuel and we see his humility. We see the fact that he's very reserved
We see that God is basically
Exalting Saul and in a sense he's approved in the eyes of God to be Israel's leader
Whereas in chapter 11, we're gonna see that now he's gonna be approved in the eyes of the people in the eyes of God
He was approved in chapter 10 based upon what God saw in his heart, right? We see that Saul was humble
We see that he was reserved. We see that even though he was head and shoulders above everyone else
He did have a spirit of meekness
Which is what God wanted in order to lead his people whereas in chapter 11, we're gonna see Saul's first victory
We're gonna see a war that he gets involved in and really it's gonna put
Or kind of give him some credentials so to speak some reputation
Basically approve him in the eyes of the people that he is legitimately a leader that is chosen by God
so this is so this particular chapter in 11 is
Highlighting his first battle his first war his first
Victory and I'm gonna break up this chapter into four parts that we're gonna go over this evening
Part number one will be the conflict that arises part two will be a captain that steps up part three will be the conflict
Or should I say the combat that ensues and lastly the crown that is established
This is just highlighting from the time that a conflict arises all the way to the point where Saul legitimately is established as the king of
Israel and so look at verse number one
We're gonna look at first and foremost a conflict arising from verses one through three
we're gonna look at an adversary that threatens Israel says then nayash the Ammonite came up and
Encamped against Jabesh Gilead and all the men of Jabesh shut into nayash make a covenant with us and we will serve thee
So if you were to look at a map of Israel
Basically, what you have is obviously Saul is in Benjamin. That's where he's from
He's in Gibeon and north of that is where you have Jabesh Gilead
Jabesh Gilead is that region of Israel that really borders the Ammonites
Okay, so obviously this is basically easy pickings for the Ammonites
They want to start a war with Jabesh Gilead and ultimately all of Israel because they're trying to conquer the entire land
So, you know Jabesh Gilead is low-hanging fruit. Obviously the men who dwell here are very passive
They're not even trying to put up a fight
You know, they're just like hey make a covenant we can make uh, you know
There's peace between us and we will serve you so they don't want to fight as they would say today
They don't want any smoke. Okay, you know, they don't want to fight. They don't want to they don't want any trouble
All they want is peace
And so obviously what the Ammonites are trying to do is is conquer Jabesh Gilead more specific
Of course because Jabesh Gilead is in the region of Gad and if they were to conquer that portion of land
It kind of gives them an entryway to the other tribes so they can ultimately just conquer all of Israel
So, you know the men of Jabesh Gilead they say make a covenant with us and we will serve thee now
Obviously, this is not a good attitude to have right this passive type of attitude where a battle comes to you
And they're just kind of like throwing up their hands and say well, we don't want to fight
We just want peace
And in fact, if you just make a covenant with us you make an agreement with us we will serve you
This is not what God wanted his people to be like understand just these passive people
Who just allows anybody to come and conquer their land anybody to just come and destroy them and make them serve them
That's not what God intended for the nation of Israel
And may I say that's not what God intends for any believer even in the New Testament, right?
God doesn't want us to take a fight lying down and just kind of give up our rights and give up our spiritual
Inheritance and just say well, you know the world has won and you know
The sodomites won Hollywood is one the culture is one. No, we're gonna fight to the bitter end and
even if we are bordering the Ammonites even if there are just a
You know a couple feet away from us or whatever may be
It doesn't matter, you know, they can make whatever threats that they want. They can say whatever they want
If if if God has selected for us to be here
We're gonna fight to the bitter end and this is the attitude of the men of Jabesh Gilead should have had
Okay, but instead I want to make a covenant, you know a lot of Christians today
They're just trying to make a covenant with the world
And just say well if we just make the church our church like the world and make it worldly
And just kind of appeal to the unsaved and the natural man and appeal to the world
You know, we can have peace with everyone
They want to have this kind of political type of a church
Where they talk out of both sides of their mouth and they're they're appealing to the Republicans as well as to the Democrats as well
As to the libertarians they want to appeal to every doctrine
Right to the one say they'll always say but also the ones who believe that maybe you can lose your salvation
And also the ones who believe you you have to repent of your sins to be saved all this nonsense
They're trying to make a covenant folks. We have a covenant with God
Okay, and we have a responsibility as God as God's people to serve the Lord not serve some foreign godless nation
You know these these unsaved wicked people who by the way are implacable apparently, right?
Because they're like, you know, we'll make a covenant with you and they're like, all right, here's the condition
Let me pluck out your right eyes to be a testimony against everyone else
That doesn't sound good
Well, you know this is what happens when you try to negotiate with wicked people
This is what happens when you try to negotiate with sons of Belial
You're not gonna get good anything good out of it
So you might as well just fight to the bitter end man and and and you know say, you know
You can drop dead Ammonites. You guys are late. You guys are lame. You're wicked
We're not gonna submit to your authority and I'll keep my right eye. Thank you. Okay
So we see that this conflict arises with Nash the Ammonite
It's these this adversary that threatens them and of course
Jabesh Gilead does not have a strong leader
That's why they're trying to placate the Ammonites here and he gives them this so we see that an adversary is threatening them
And then we look at it and we're gonna look at an awful condition which I've already mentioned verse 2
It says nayash the Ammonite verse 2 answer them on this condition. Well, I make a covenant with you
Then I may thrust out all your right eyes and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel
He's like as long as I get to maim you and gouge out your right eye so I can make you an example
To the rest of Israel. This is what would lead me to believe that they're not just interested in taking over GAD
Right
Because it's not just like, you know, if it was only GAD that they wanted to say you guys serve us then
You know, we'll tax you guys we were lower you but they weren't content with that
They said no
We want to gouge out all your eyes so that your gouged out eyes and your maimed face
Can basically be a testimony to the rest of Israel that if they don't submit to us, this is what's gonna happen to them
right because obviously they want to take over everyone else and
So this this should show us here that from a spiritual perspective we never want to give the enemy any ground
Right never want to give them any ground or compromise in any way
Why because at the end of the day?
They're gonna try to take out your right eye
Spiritually speaking and it's only so they can instill fear in other Christians so so that they won't stand up for themselves
folks, this is what's important that when we fight spiritual battles whether in your personal life or
Corporately as a church, you don't just kind of capitulate to the desires of the enemy
Okay, you give them help. Amen and you know you say well, can we just find like common ground?
There is no there's no concord with Christ and Belial my friends
There's no fellowship with light and darkness, you know, the temple of God has no fellowship with with an idol
And so we should never look for common ground with this world. We're nothing like this world
We're Christians. Amen. We're not of this world. I know that phrase has been thrown around on bumper stickers everywhere
You know and it's been burned out by liberal Christians who are worldly
But you know the truth still stands
We're not of this world
And so we're not we shouldn't give any ground to the enemy
Because all they're gonna do is try to destroy you so that you can be a testimony against all of the Christians
That's why when we have we ever have another spiritual battle like we've had in times past
We need to make sure that we fight with everything
Every fiber in our spiritual being because we want to be a testimony to other Christians
That you should stand up for right and that God will protect you and he's with you and fear not
You know be thou courageous be thou strong and of good courage for the Lord is with thee
Okay, you know a Christian who just capitulates and just surrenders to the enemy
weakens other Christians
And
So way to go Jabesh Gilead
these lame Israelites
Who just didn't want to put up a fight?
You know and now it's worse for them. So this is an awful condition to be in. It's like my right eye. Why am I right?
all of our right eyes
So conflict arises we have an adversary threatening them we have this awful condition and
Then we have an appeal for help in verse number three says in the elders of Jabesh
Said unto him give us seven days respite in other words. Just give us some time to think about this
Especially what they're saying like to consider this awful condition that we're in here. Okay
Seven days respite that we may send messengers into all the coast of Israel
And then if there be no man to save us we will come out to thee
What about you elders?
Is there not a man among you who's willing to stand in the get you know stand in the gap make up the hedge?
So they're just kind of like, you know, give us seven days
We're gonna see if anybody else is willing to stand up to you guys. And if not, they will submit to you
This is another horrible attitude to have
Well, this is kind of natural for Christians to do too, right?
I'll stand up for right if other churches are standing for right, you know
I'll I'll do that which is right if other Christians are doing it. Whereas what God is looking for is just for one man
Just to stand up for right which will end up inspiring many others to stand up for right as well
And at the end of the day, even if we don't inspire anybody we should just stand up for right cuz it's right to do
Right, you know stand up for right for principle sake because of the fact that it's right to do
You know
But it reality reality is and biblically when a man of God or a church a family
Does that which is right in the eyes of the Lord and emboldens other Christians to take the same stance?
Okay, whereas these guys are like well
Let's see if anybody else is bold enough to like help us out here. And if not, then we'll just submit to you. Okay?
So this lame appeal is given this is a big problem now
Obviously when you look at the grand scheme of this particular story with Saul being selected as the king being anointed
We see what's taking place here. Okay
There's a reason why God is allowing this battle or this war these people to try to come and conquer
Israel Jabesh Gilead
The reason for it is really to prove Saul
Okay, because God believes in Saul. He knows who he is in his heart
He knows he's a man who loves him. He's a man who's humble
He's a man who's strong but God wants to prove it to the Israelites that he is fit for the job
Now this is great because of the fact that obviously this is not God's primary will
That's primary. Will was not for them to have an earthly king. This is kind of like a plan B so to speak
Okay, the plan B is we'll have an earthly king, but you know, we want to have a great earthly king
And so therefore he's gonna allow
You know this conflict to arise in order to really approve King Saul
and one thing that we can learn from this and I want to get ahead of myself here is that
trials tribulations
battles spiritual warfare
God allows those those things in our lives to prove us
Right to see what we're really made of
So when God has selected you to be in this church, so to speak or or you know serve him
So to speak when he's created you in Christ Jesus unto good works
He allows these trials to come into your life in order to prove you my friend
To see if you are who you think you are or who he says you are
Understand so it's important that when you face a trial you don't just tuck your tail and run
You don't tuck your tail and run to the world or one run to some vice or some sinful habit or out of the will
Of God you have to face the Ammonites head-on
Because God is the one who's placing you in that situation to begin with to see if you got what it takes
you understand and
So, you know, it's the whole teabag illustration where you don't really know the contents of what's inside of a teabag
I'm sorry to use such a wicked illustration
Just kidding hike such a weak illustration, but you know, sometimes it's the weak things of this world. I'm just kidding
All the tea drinkers are just really mad
Well, it's not my fault and I'm just kidding, you know, it's like, you know the contents of a teabag
Contents of a teabag, you don't really know what's in the contents of a teabag until what until it's in hot water
You really see what it's made of when it's placed into hot water
Well you my friend unfortunately, no no illustration is perfect is like that teabag
We don't really know what's really in you
Spiritually speaking until you're placed into that hot water and we see you how you operate under pressure under fire in
Tribulation in trial when your face up to go up against the Ammonites. Let's see how you really act during that time
You failed Jabesh Gilead you failed elders of Jabesh
So this is the conflict that arises but then what happens a captain steps up. Hey, man
Verse number four
It says then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul
And told the tidings and the ears of the people and all the people lifted up their voices and wept now
Let me just point something out here. Okay, whoever these messengers are idiots
They don't know how to deliver a message
You just go to all the people. They're gonna kill always be that one
Because you know that the Israelites literally are like sheep and
Any little bad news that gets into the ears of just regular people it's gonna freak everyone out
Go to the leader and the leader comes forth and bears the bad news so to speak, right?
You don't come to people and just kind of tell them that the sky is falling
You don't come and just bring evil tidings to everyone because you're gonna cause the hearts of the people to tremble
What's needed is a strong leader
to
Hear the news, right?
You hear the news you hear the evil tidings and that leader that
Captain is to convey that message to God's people in a way that emboldens them and gives them the courage needed to face it head-on
Okay
Because they have not people could just freak out
You know, they could just freak out and they don't know what to do and they start running around like a chicken with its head
Okay, they start lifting up their voices and weeping
So a captain steps up the affliction of the tidings comes upon them which is what we just read in verse 4 and
Then we see the anger of Saul is kindled
I like this it says in verse number 5 and behold Saul
Came after the herd out of the field and said what a little people that they weep
And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh the reason he stands ailing you think of a oh something that's making them
Like an ailment is like a sickness. He's like what's the sickness that's upon this people?
that's calling them to weep and wail because you know fear is like a sickness and
You know sicknesses can be contagious right? Don't we all know that well contagious, right?
Well, you know what fear is also contagious my friends
That's
What's important then when we go through a spiritual battle as a church or you know
There's a spiritual battle in the church or whatever may be, you know
You better watch how you convey if you are afraid you can do one of two things if you're afraid number one go home
or number two
Keeps the mouth shut
Close your mouth
Say whoa
Yeah, because you can cause a lot of harm with your words you can discourage people you can cause you can instill fear in people
Well, I just don't know what's gonna happen. I just got to express all my fears
I just got to tell everyone. Well, you know then get with the ladies then
Express your fears to the ladies if that's what you want to do, but if you're a man
You better make sure that you control your fears
And look fear is obviously a natural
Response and natural reaction to things especially where we see evil tidings to me. It's natural and anybody who says they're not afraid
They're they're not only afraid but they're also a liar
Because everyone is fearful at one point
Okay is what you do or how you respond to that fear?
It's making sure that you act in spite of the fear
understand and
So saws like why what's up with these people?
They're just kind of like they're wailing verse 6 and the Spirit of God came upon Saul
when he heard those tidings and
He he also wanted to make a covenant of peace with the people
Is that what it says?
Probably in the NIV or something
Probably one of these lame Bibles the Spirit of God would come upon Saul. He just prances over to the Ammonites
And tries to make a peace treaty with them or something right not here. It says his anger is
Kindled greatly
Kindled is the term used often to describe when something is on fire
Kindle wood is basically it's just like the fires is consuming the wood
Well, what's taking place here? Is that the fire of Saul's anger is being kindled within him
Now look folks this this verse is not written this way by the Holy Ghost on accident
There's a reason he said first
That the Spirit of God came upon him and his spirit was kindled or that he was angry. Excuse me
It's it's not giving you a dichotomy of his flesh and his spirit or something
And the Spirit of God comes upon him and then he's in the flesh and he's angry or something like that
No, his anger is a byproduct of being filled with spirit
Now this isn't a very this is very important to know it's very important to learn
It's very important to understand because we live in such a passive
Such a feeble such an offended, you know
culture of Christianity
Or things such as anger
things such as judgment is seen in a negative light in the eyes of
Christians or just like if you're angry, you're just like a fleshly mean Christian or something like that
And they'll often say things like well, you know
You're just not you're not producing the fruit of the Spirit anger is not of the fruit of the Spirit
Okay, because I've you know, they talk about Galatians 5
Love joy, peace long-suffering gentleness meekness, you know, these are great things
But just because anger is not listed on there doesn't mean it's not a manifestation of the Spirit because here's another one boldness
Boldness is a manifestation of the Spirit and you don't see boldness in Galatians 5 now, do you?
It's because it's not only subject to those particular fruits
There's other manifestations of the Spirit my friends that when the Spirit of God comes upon you you can be emboldened
You can have courage and yes, you can have anger you say how is anger a?
Manifestation of the Spirit well because of the fact that God is angry with the wicked every day my friend. It's an attribute of God and
People need to learn Christians in particular
Because who cares what unsafe people think?
or
Christians that think that they're saved
We're talking about Christians who believe the Bible Christians who are saved can fall into this trap where oh, you know
If you're angry, you're just not right with God
Well, then you're just gonna have to you know, just remove Ephesians chapter 4 then where it says be angry and sin not
Because apparently you can actually be angry and still extract the sin out of that specific or separate that from sin
You can actually be upset and angry and
Still be right with God and in fact
it's a byproduct of being right with God because he that loved the Lord hate evil and
I would even go as far as to say is that God is angry with his people when they when they're not angry at injustices
abominations
Sinfulness iniquity things of that nature
You said why would he be angry at that because it shows that God's people have become apathetic towards righteousness
That's why
They become apathetic towards justice towards righteousness towards the things of God and it obviously shows that they don't really know true judgment
Anger is a very much a natural attribute
It's a spiritual attribute to have that we should have now obviously, you know
There is an anger they can cross the line and become sinful
You know the Bible tells us in James chapter 1 that the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God
Obviously that's referring to a man who has so much anger or wrath built up in him that he actually
becomes a violent person
violence is never a
Is never right for a Christian to do and obviously I would separate being a violent person from being a person who defends the innocent
Okay, because sometimes people mix those two up as well
We're talking about violating someone just being a short-fused type of a person someone who's not slow to anger slow to wrath, etc
But here's the thing folks is that God wants us to be angry for the regarding evil things
You know if you are here in 2022 and you're not angered by the abortions by the sodomy
By the abominations of our land something wrong with you
What's wrong with your heart?
If you're not angered by false doctrine if you're not angered by false prophets, you know, there's something wrong there
It should upset you that things are so contrary to God and his word and Christians are just blatantly
blindly following these things and just allowing themselves to go with the current of the culture the current of
Doctrine and just accepting everything under the Sun and not fighting against it
God wants us to be angry over these things and be passionate and be upset and weep and wail over the
Injustices of the land and I'm not talking about the injustice of who's the president either
Yeah, I'm angry over the injustice of all the ballots and all the the lying. I don't care about that stuff. Who cares
I'm not even angry about that. That doesn't upset me. I don't lose any sleep over that
Why not because there's actual things that are wicked and sinful
That I'm angry about I guarantee you God doesn't even care about those things I
Can almost 99% guarantee that God does not care about that at all
You know, I know I know your God
the patriotic God
The one who's in heaven wrapped in red white and blue. I
Know he really cares about those things, but let's be honest. He doesn't
Okay, I don't you don't see that in the Bible
He's upset at sin wickedness
perversion
Perversion of doctrine
He's upset of people sending others to hell
These are the things that upset God and these are the things that should anger us, you know
Why I saw why is his anger kindled because the people because of the fact that the Ammonites have the audacity to come and just
Try to conquer and just destroy God's people
You know, he might be a little angry at the elders of Jabesh kill you too. I
Would be too
Now here's the thing Saul notice this Saul's not like well, here's my chance
Here's my chance to show who I really am before God's people somebody's doing
Just naturally because of who he is
Because of his convictions because the Spirit of God is upon him. This is his natural or should I say his supernatural response?
He's not lying. Well, this is definitely gonna give me my stamp of approval to be the king of Israel
Careless about that what he cares about is justice my friends
And there's a reason why God sent his spirit to come upon Saul because he's the man for the job
and
So we see the conflict that arises the adversary threatens an awful condition is put forth this lame appeal is made for help and
Then a captain steps up referring to Saul the affliction of the tidings comes to the people
His anger is kindled and then we're gonna see the acute response. Look at verse number seven
So his anger is king. He's upset. Okay, so the first seven he took a yoke of oxen and hew 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 into his oxen and
the fear of the Lord for love all the people yeah, you think and
They came out with one consent
What does it show it shows that Saul meant business?
He's angry. He was like give me the bring those two yoke of oxen right now
And I just want you to slice them all up now I was thinking about this on the way to church today is
That Israel has this thing with hewing animals and sending forth sending their body parts forth as like or just hewing things period
And sending them forth as messages to like all of Israel like in Judges 19
He's like chop up the body and just send you know, send it all to it's like honey. We got another package. Oh
Is it a head
Yes, but not from a person this time is just a yoke of oxen, oh great cool
It's kind of weird instead of just like, you know writing a letter he's like I got a better way
You don't have to write anything. Just chop up just chop up some oxen and they'll get the they'll get the message
So this isn't a cute response this is a very extreme thing to do is it not
Now what does this convey to God's people what does it convey to us that Saul means business it?
Conveys strong leadership
Okay, because what Israel does not need is some peacemaker at this time
Well, let's go ahead and just send ambassadors and peacemakers
And let's just see if we could just get along with the Ammonites. God is not interested in you
Assimilating yourself to the Ammonites
He wants to maintain a pure religion my friends he's not interested in Christianity becoming amalgamated with Islam
Right, it's not interested in making it a Judeo-Christian religion either
Well, you know, I know that they hate our Lord Jesus Christ and they crucified him in times past and they spit on the ground
Every time they hear the name of Jesus
You know, I know they say all men are of evil against Jesus Christ, but you know, what let's we should we're supposed to be a Judeo-Christian society
There's nothing Judeo-Christian in the Bible my friends
Judaism is not even in the world the word is not even
And anything associated with Judaism that's in the Bible is completely rejected in the eyes of God
In fact folks
In fact folks the synagogue
In the bible is not referred to a synagogue of God, I know it's it could rhyme a little bit synagogue of God
But you know read revelation two and three he calls it a synagogue of satan
and someone recently told me they're like, oh
Bruce me. He is not saved and he revelation two is actually talking about him because he thinks he's a jew and i'm like
Whoa
My friend, excuse me
Folks anybody who believes on Christ by the way, moses wanted you to the Lord today, right?
Or did you bear false witness? This is a true story
This is a true saying and worthy of all expectation. Okay, the Lord brought this this this trial
into moses's life
To see if he could respond correct and you know, he won him to the Lord. He even had a star of David on him
But he believed on Jesus Christ
And he got saved
You know, that's a miraculous thing man and praise the Lord
I think what's more miraculous is that moses is the one who like was selected to do it
Man, the Lord works in mysterious ways my friends
The Lord works in mysterious ways
But look I don't we don't call this a synagogue
So obviously it's referring to people who claim to go to a synagogue who call themselves jews or not
But they are the synagogue of satan
I'm getting off topic here. What i'm saying is god's not interested in amalgamating judaism and christianity
He's not interested in getting the orthodox church in here or catholicism in here
Or blending the beliefs of other religions hinduism buddhism
Into christianity he wanted to keep it completely pure
He's not interested in recruiting false gods to put on the shelf with the one true god
He doesn't want day gone to be sitting on the same platform as the Lord
He wants all those gods to be destroyed to be brought to not to be
Uh destroyed to be put into the flames to be crushed into pieces. He has no desire
to amalgamate the two
Okay, and so saul understands that he's not trying to bring peace tidings or make peace with them
What does he want what does god want to do just destroy them
Now obviously in the new testament, this is we don't have the authority to do these things. Okay?
To physically go out and destroy but we don't we can spiritually destroy it though
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through god through the pulling down of strongholds
Casting down imaginations and every high theme that exalted itself against against the knowledge of god
And bring into captivity every thought through the obedience of christ. We often use that
To talk about our own imaginations, but really what it's talking about is just going out preaching the gospel or using doctrine
To cast down the strongholds that satan has placed in this world through false religion
false beliefs
Anything that would exalt itself against the knowledge of god and basically you said what is that every religion in this world?
Is a religion that exalts itself against the knowledge of god
What we're to do is cast those things down and bring into captivity every thought of the individual the recipients that we're talking to
To the obedience of christ. So when we go out and preach christ and him crucify
We're not like but you can still be a catholic if you want
All right
You can still be a catholic or you can still be an orthodox
You can still be a hindu and a buddhist and you can still believe these things if you want. No
The bible says that we're to cast those down and bring their thoughts into captivity to the obedience of christ
I haven't preached in a week. So i'm like we're excited about preaching tonight. I miss preaching
So his anger is kindled and he chops up these animals
By the way, you know peter would have they're like they'd be like what?
Is god mad that he did he use these animals in pieces
That he's just wasted, you know, the liver king would be upset here
Because it's not being used notes to tell they're being used as care packages
Which shows us that god is even more extreme than some of these notes to tell people
Sometimes he just kills animals doesn't do anything with it
Some people are like no well
You got to use everything from the eyeballs and eat the brains and the everything you use the skulls as weapons
sometimes god's like just
Just use them as mail
Use them as men
So the fear of the lord came upon all the people and they came out with one consent
It says in verse number seven
What does that mean is like I I think we should all join this fight here. I agree
Anybody with me say hi. Hi, you know
Everyone was just on board with this particular message. What did you get? I got a leg
You know, what did you get I I got you know a hip or something or I got the breasts or something, okay
I think he means I think he means business then, right?
So the afflictions of the tidings come and look the reason he has to take such extreme measures
Is because apparently the israelites took extreme measures to panic
So the more extreme the panicking becomes the more extreme the measures
To go forth and actually fight should become as well
Okay, so he's blown off his top because he's getting crazy. He has this acute response here
Verse eight says and when he numbered them in bizek the children of israel were three
100 000 and the men of judah 30 000. So he has a good amount of people to to to fight with he says
And they said unto the messengers that came
Thus shall you say into the men of jaybesch gilead tomorrow by that time by the time the sun be hot
Ye shall have help and the messengers came and showed it unto the men of jaybesch and they were glad
Therefore the men of jaybesch said tomorrow we will come out unto you and he shall do with us as all that seemeth good
unto you
I really like the way saul is dealing with this here because his response is not only extreme. It's immediate
He's not wasting any time
He's like well, let's let's just pray about this
Maybe we should maybe we should wait off about a week or so. Let everyone cool down a little bit
Everyone's head's kind of hot right now. We need to cool down and relax. Everyone's kind of upset right now
He's like no we're going tomorrow
We're not going to wait for them to come to us. We'll just go to them
This is great leadership and it's unfortunate because saws, you know
The his beginning days are so awesome
He's such an awesome leader when he's obviously in the spirit
He's an awesome leader. He's assertive the man has vision
The man can lead the man is is is filled with the spirit
But then the crazy thing is is that when he begins to fall off when he goes awry
He actually becomes the contrast
The exact contrast of what we see in the beginning stages here and I don't want to spoil that
But we see that he's very much assertive
He is not wasting any time
And you know, this is a great quality to have as well as christians is that we obey immediately
You know
The the verse is fleeing me right now
I can't remember the verse ready to will ready to perform that which
Sorry, I can't remember it what is it
No, that's the pen of a ready writer
You're close but very far though. That's psalms. I'm thinking like in second corinthians. It'll come to me after the service
Anyways, let's keep reading here. So we see the acute response
And then we see the affirmation of his assistance in verse 9 and 10. He's like we're going to come to you
And they're willing to submit to his authority. They're saying look whatever seemeth good to you
Will do you're going to lead us and let's go to battle
So that is the captain who steps up. We saw the conflict that arises
the captain that steps up and then a combat ensues verse number 11
It says and it was so on the morrow that saw put the people in three companies
And they came into the midst midst of the host in the morning watch and slew the ammonites into 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
So we see here that
He cannot he not only talks to talk
But he's able to walk the walk as well
You know because you know, it's one thing to say you're going to do all these things
It's one thing to say, you know to hue the the animals who are just helpless
You know and and say we're going to do this. It's another thing to get up in the morning actually do it
And so the principle that we can learn here is the fact that god is far more interested or impressed with action
than just words
Words are great
words can convey a message
But god is interested that we add works to our faith, right?
You know, we were to be a people who actually put these things into action put them into work and actually go to battle
And combat the enemy and fight with them
And he does he goes there and he destroys the ammonites. So the the combat ensues and the ammonites are destroyed even to the point
Where two of them couldn't even be found together. They were just so scattered and so destroyed
It was just a complete victory. Okay, and then lastly we're going to see a crown is established
A crown is established look at verse 12
We're going to see the aim to kill the usurpers
Verse 12 says and the people said unto samuel
Who who is he that said shall saul reign over us?
Bring the men that we may put them to death
Now, what is he talking about? Well, if you go to chapter 10
Chapter 10 the latter end of chapter 10 verse 26. It says and saul also went home to gibbia
And there went with him a band of men whose hearts got a touch
And the children of bilio said how shall this man save us and they despised him and brought him no presence
But he held his peace. So these guys were just kind of like they didn't really like saul
They didn't weren't really for his leadership
They didn't want him reigning over over them and obviously the bible explicitly tells us that they're sons of bilio
So why are they saying this? Well, because sons of bilio also known in the new testament as reprobates despise governments
And i'm not talking about like to despise
You know
Governments as we think it to be government just simply means rulers
any kind of leader of any position
Whether it's a spiritual leader
Just it's just a general statement for those who govern people you understand
And so reprobates hate authority and so when there's an authority coming they're just like who's this guy? I don't know who he is
I'm, not gonna bring him any presence
well
you know
Now he just completely just destroyed the ammonites
Everyone's for saul and somebody you know an instigator within israel
They're like, hey, where are those you almost picture them that they're probably like right there
You know, he's just like where's those guys that were saying like shall saul reign over us or something. We should kill those guys, huh?
And they're probably sweating bullets or sweating shekels or whatever I don't know sweating arrows
sweating stones
Because it's talking about them
So they have this aim to kill the usurpers now, here's the thing is that they should have just done that
And obviously, you know
You say why well because it's part of the law to destroy sons of belia
Okay
But you got to take into account that at this particular time in the history of israel
They have strayed quite some from the laws of god
We have to think because you know first samuel and even the book of judges
It's right after joshua it's right after juderonomy and exodus
That god's people should already know these things but there's a lot of time to pass this in between these particular events
I mean enough time where god's people are not even familiar with just basic rules and basic laws
So they're allowing I mean, obviously the sons of belia are among them
Whereas, you know under the mosaic law under moses rule should I say?
They weren't even allowed to live at all. I mean those those were the good old days
Those are the good old days where they died two or three witnesses
These are the days when the earth would just clave open and just swallow up
Nadab and abihu and all these wicked people not native and abihu
korodathan and abiro
You know, these are the good old days where just people were put to death for being witches and and sodomites
And for trying to get people to to serve other false gods like the sons of belial
But now we're in a time
where the sons of belial
Have spiritual leadership
Because remember prior to this what we have eli
And his sons who were sons of belium
So it's kind of showing you how?
Far removed israel had become from what god originally intended when they were in the wilderness
So it shows you know, they're better off kind of like, you know in the wilderness
Then when they actually reach the promise land, it's very sad actually
Because the promised land is what god intended for them. The promised land is what god wanted for them
It was his will it was his plan to prosper
It's like god wanted to give them all these blessings, but they just don't even know how to handle it
And the good principle that we can learn there is you better know how to handle blessings my friends
Handle blessings well
Because blessings does not destroy an individual but it can often show you who you really are
When everything goes good
Understand because it's going good for israel. I mean they're getting a king they have lands
Everything's already the the the lots have been distributed already
Children of israel have this they're even getting a kings which is the earthly king, which is what they wanted
But man, they have these sons of belial here who are obviously creating trouble
In israel for the king so saw should have just been like yeah, who were those guys?
you know and put him to death, but
Obviously saw is caught up in the moment right now, right? He's caught up in the moment. He just had a victory
Prior to this he's anointed king. So he's just like no one's gonna die. You know, this is a time of celebration
And so they don't do that. So these these
These prophets so to speak I guess you could call them
They're the ones who said shall saw reign over us or they're repeating what these other men said
Bring the men that we put him to death verse 13
And saul said there shall not a man be put to death this day for today the lord hath wrought salvation in israel
He's like at the time of celebration
No one should die
Then said samuel to the people
Come and let us go to gilgal and renew the kingdom there and all the people went to gilgal
And there they made saul king before the lord in gilgal
And there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the lord and there saul and all the men of israel rejoiced greatly
So we see a crown is established the aim to kill the usurpers and lastly israel affirms saul
As king now, what can we learn from this particular chapter?
Uh specifically and in the chapter of of saul's life
Which shows us that you know, as I mentioned in the beginning
That when god is is, you know, he's planned out our life
He's planned out our successes, but in order for us to reach these successes these achievements. He's also planned out trials
tribulations battles for us to face
And let me just say this saul did not go out looking for a battle
Right
He didn't go out looking for a trial. He didn't go out looking for a tribulation. He didn't go out looking for the ammonites
He wasn't looking for an opportunity to exalt himself
Right
You say what was he looking to do?
Stay humble
The conflict my friend came to him
The conflict the ammonites came to him and this is a lesson for us all
That you don't have to by the way, like when I said it's a stark contrast to what he was in the future
He's going to force himself
To offer sacrifices
Here he's not forcing anything
Here he's just kind of like serving god. And when the spirit of god comes upon him, he's angered. What is it? He's a prepared person
for a prepared place
God's not looking for self-willed people is what i'm saying. You know, he's looking for he's looking for
people who are dying to self
People who are just serving the lord
People who are just filled with the spirit
And if you're in the right place at the right time and you're reading your bible, you're praying
You're just serving god. You're just enjoying the christian life
The trials will come my friend
I remember when I first got saved
You know my father-in-law or someone in our church they preached about job
And I was so impressed with job and i'm like man. I want to be like a job one day
And I remember someone coming up to me and I told that to someone they said don't pray that
Don't ever do that
And they're basically telling me like don't seek after the trials
because at the end of the day if if
Even a quarter even a dime even ten percent of what happened to job would happen to me
I would have just been wiped off the face of the earth
Oh, babe in christ even one percent of what happened to job. What's I mean even less than that?
I would have been just like
I would have been done
Right, but it's because I have the desire and the ambition to be someone and be something for god
And I just wanted to face the world head on but the truth is I wasn't ready for that
You understand what would I learn is that you just need to
Strengthen yourself in the lord
Read the bible be faithful learn virtue
Learn character learn discipline learn how to develop your love for the lord
Right learn how to develop a a deep love for for the bible
Learn how to develop deep love for the doctrines of god's word
Learn how to love to to to know the lord
You understand learn how to have the right priorities in the sense of you know that as god told abraham
I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward
Learn those things and then the trials and everything else will come
later on
Because god brings those things as you're ready for them
Understand and obviously saul was ready
Saul was ready my friends. He didn't have to go out looking for conflict. Conflict just came to him
And we don't have to go out looking for conflict. I definitely don't have to go out looking for conflict
All I have to do is just preach the bible
Right, you don't have to go out looking for conflict. You just go to go out and win souls to christ
You just have to have a godly family you just have to submit to your husband
You just have to love your wife
You know, you just have to be a good employee you just have to serve god and the conflict will come
And obviously i'm speaking to people who who want a little bit of trials in their life
They might think to themselves, you know, I just I just I feel like I need to get into a battle
I feel like I need to fight for the lord. Okay. Well just serve the lord
And and it will come
Because you are not a good measure of how much you can handle
You have no idea how much you can handle
Either one you may
overestimate yourself
And think you can handle more than you think
Or two you underestimate yourself and not understand that you could actually handle more than you can think
So that decision is not up to you that decision is up to the lord
Your responsibility is to make sure that you're walking with god and being strong in the lord and the power of his might
Saul is on a good road here
And it's almost sad that we know what's already going to happen
Because I wish it would just continue like this. It would just be great
It didn't david came in and just saw grows old and he just you know teaches david and david just takes over after him
But obviously things don't have a happy ending. They don't live happily ever after
Saul kills himself spoiler alert
Okay
But let's pretend we don't know that as of now
and
Rejoice in his first victory here and learn from this and look, you know
Obviously this story is here for a reason because all of us to a certain extent can be like this
But this should be an example to us that how things can just go south really fast for us
If we do not learn from saul's example, amen
Let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer father
We thank you so much for saul's example
In the beginning, you know when he was right with you lord, and he loved you and he was filled with the spirit great leader
It was a blessing
And exerted great qualities of a leader as well. I pray that god you'd be with us as your people that we would
um
Mimic lord and emulate those those attributes and those characteristics in our personal life
Help us to be assertive lord
Help us to be captains help us to instill courage and not fear in the hearts of your people
I pray that lord you would continue to to keep us humble lord when we think ourselves to be something
Or more than what we ought to think lord and I pray father god that you continue to bless our church bless this weekend
That many souls would be saved lord
that many of god's people would be fed and
Take us home safely as well. We love you. We thank you. Pray these things in jesus name. Amen
Thank you
There is a fountain