1 SAMUEL 11 - LOOKING FOR A SAVIOR

1 Samuel 11

 Saul had become the new King of Israel, but the people had not recognized him for his role yet. Saul was still in the field working with oxen when a report came that Nahash the Ammonite had besieged Jabesh-Gilead (v. 5). The men of Jabesh were entrapped with fear of Nahash, and so they sought to make a peace treaty with him (v. 1). Nahash, which means serpent, is a picture of Satan in the Old Testament.

Nahash said that if they wanted to make a treaty with him, he would gladly do it, but that he would gouge out the right eye of all of the men (v. 2). The half blind men would be useless in war, and Nahash would hold dominance over them. Satan will gladly make deals with those who are trapped in fear. His desire is to blind the people of God to bring disgrace upon them and to take them out of the fight.

The men of Jabesh were given one week to look for someone to save them. If no savior was found, they would give themselves up to Nahash (v. 3). Messengers travelled throughout all the regions of Israel looking for a savior. When the messengers arrived in Gibeah they found Saul and told him all that was going on (v. 4-5).

When Saul heard the report, the Holy Spirit rushed upon him and a righteous anger was kindled within him (v. 6). Saul very dramatically called the people to fight. He took a yoke of oxen and cut them into pieces and sent the slaughtered body parts to all the tribes of Israel. The message sent was: if you don’t come out and fight, you’re going to end up like this ox. That message brought a proper fear to the people, the fear of the Lord (v. 7).

Saul gathered up 330,000 men of war and they sent messengers back to Jabesh-Gilead that on the next day, before the heat of the sun, they would have salvation (v. 8-10). Saul arrived the next morning and strategically and victoriously struck down the Ammonites (v. 11). Saul was recognized for his role as king that day. He had already been anointed as king by Samuel, but the people now saw him as their king. All the people went to Gilgal and renewed a kingdom covenant, and they were glad to have Saul as their king (v. 12-15). 

King Saul, pictures Jesus in this story.  

·      Saul, like Jesus, was found when people sought a Savior (v. 3).

·      Saul, like Jesus, turned the people’s fear of man into the fear of the Lord (v. 5, 7).

·      Saul, like Jesus, had the Spirit rush upon him for authority and power (v. 6).

·      Saul, like Jesus, thwarted the enemy’s treaty (v. 2, 11).

·      Saul, like Jesus, was king even when people didn’t recognize it (v. 12).

·      Saul, like Jesus, showed mercy to those who previously denied his kingship (v. 13).

·      Saul, like Jesus, rejoiced when those people recognized him as king (v. 15).

·      Saul, like Jesus, reigned with a renewed kingdom covenant (v. 15).

Jesus is the King of Kings, and he delivers from the Enemy those who are looking for a Savior.