1st Samuel 11. RELIEF AND RENEWAL Those Israelites who settled on the east side of Jordan because they liked it there and it was a good place to raise cattle, found that they were near to the enemy. The Ammonites knew they were easily susceptible to those who lived next to them because there was no separation between them. The Jordan River separated them from their brethren, not the enemy, which was God's original intention. Nahash (serpent), the leader of the Ammonites knew Israel was still not organized under the leadership of king Saul. He probably believed he could conquer the people of Jabesh Gilead without any opposition. When the people of God are divided because of self-interest, they are easy prey to those who put pressure on them to be like those around. Those on "the other side of Jordan," the world side of the cross, look at things through earthly eyes.
To come to terms with that which is easily conformed to the world, is to act on our own without the Lord. The people of Jabesh didn't call on the Lord to deliver them when they were threatened and given an ultimatum. They turned in desperation to those brethren from who they were separated to come an deliver them. From time to time we are asked to "cross-pollinate" with those who follow a more worldly view of "church truth." We need to be assured of the fact that what we do where we are has divine approval. Man's approval is not the criteria for coming together to "present a united front."
The terms of surrender were high to those of Jabesh Gilead. The "right eye" of discernment would be taken away and they would be dependent on their enemy for guidance. The Ammonites would rather have a quick surrender that to have to lay a long siege against the city. Satan has tactics he has used that can affect God's people so quickly that they have lost the battle before they even realize they are in a war. However, if that doesn't work, our enemy will lay a long siege against the truth by sending some darts of doubt and unbelief that raise questions which can be taken more than one way. Or he will sow the seeds of discontent and discouragement and wait until it brings a harvest of division. It may be on the very ground of victories we won in the past that Satan will seek to defeat us again.
Whatever way you look at it sin is a hard master. If we are unfaithful to our Lord and we seek to conform to the world, we will lose to sin. The bondage of sin is strong and freedom in Christ to walk with the Lord and not with the world, is worth fighting a battle for. We must take our stand against sin. However, the people of Israel were so far away from God, they never turned to Him at all. Either they had forgotten the ways of God with them before, or they had no desire to submit to Him. So, they turned to the brethren on the other side of Jordan for deliverance.
The loud cries of fear in the voices of the people of Gibeah alerted Saul when he came from the fields that something serious was wrong. The first act of leadership in which he was engaged was motivated by anger. Israel's new human deliverer did not resort to prayer for guidance from God, but in anger threatened the whole nation if they did not come to follow him. The bloody pieces of meat gave testimony to the fact they were now under his authority. Anger is a powerful emotion. When it is directed against sin and mistreatment of others it is not wrong. The Holy Spirit used Saul’s anger to bring justice and freedom when Israel was threatened. We must be careful how we allow anger to be used lest it use us. By divine sovereignty the Holy Spirit gave direction even though Saul did not act in faith like divinely chosen leaders of Israel before him. He had only external power and extreme anger with which to urge the people to follow him. Saul, a carnal man, acted in the flesh in contrast to prayer and faith. Yet in grace the Holy Spirit used him to lead in delivering God's people.
We may win victories through our own schemes simply because of God's mercy, but "without faith it is impossible to please Him." God in sovereign mercy and grace, may intervene and bring about a good result, but the bent of one's life will soon become obvious. Saul's intercession on behalf of those who had previously opposed him was commendable, but this soon was to be seen as an exception, not the rule of his nature. His plan of a three-sided attack at dawn succeeded and that victory established his kingship in the minds of the people. Saul at least acknowledged the fact that the Lord had given the victory.
Saul had been anointed at Ramah and had been publicly chosen at Mizpah. When he led the defeat of the Ammonites, his kingship was confirmed. The Israelites offered sacrifices after the victory but this attitude did not last. At Gilgal, the first place Israel stopped when they entered the promised land, was an appropriate place for them to gather to recognize Saul as "king before the Lord." The three places where he was chosen each have a certain significance, but it was at Gilgal (a rolling away) where human will, bowed to the will of God. Peace offerings were sacrificed there "before the Lord," and the joy of fellowship became real.
330,000 men made an intimidating army and established a reputation under Saul's leadership. Of that there was no question. The danger was they could have rested in their own perceived strength if it wasn't for Samuel, the man of God, calling the people to remember that it was the Lord's doing that brought victory. Saul had acknowledged the Lord as the One who had given the victory and Samuel did not want that attitude to fade away from the minds of the people or from Saul's mind. To "renew the kingdom" was to give a new start to those who had forgotten from where they had come. It is important for us all to remember Calvary and all that happened there. It was there our sin was judged. It is there the reproach of the world is removed and God's people gather to Him who redeemed us and saved us.
"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by who the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." [Gal.6:14]