1 Samuel 13:11

1 Samuel 13:11 says, And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;   Samuel asked Saul what had he done by offering the sacrifices himself.  Saul tried to justify his actions, partially by blaming Samuel for not being there earlier and partially by saying the people of Israel were still scattered and the Philistines were already amassed.  When we are waiting on the Lord as Saul was waiting on Samuel, God's representative to the people of Israel, we cannot afford to become impatient and take matters into our own hands, no matter how dire the situation may seem.  Veres twelve continues, Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.  Saul said that since he feared that the Philistines would come down on him before he made supplication to the LORD that he forced himself to offer a burnt offering.  Saul was basically saying that his convictions told him this was wrong, but he was proud he was able to overcome them.  When we know that something is wrong, we should never be proud that we were able to overcome that knowledge and do it anyway, especially if we are claiming to have done it to secure God's blessing of what we are doing.  Verse thirteen continues, And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.  Saul may have been king, but Samuel was still God's priest, and he told Saul that he had done foolishly by violating God's commandments.  No matter how powerful a person may be in the world today, if they are violating God's commandments they are acting foolishly.  Samuel then told Saul if he had kept God's commandments that God would have established Saul’s kingdom over Israel forever.  Of course, we forever become a part of God's kingdom by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, but when we do, we are still expected to keep His commandments.  Verse fourteen concludes, But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.  Saul had barely begun his reign as the first king of Israel, but Samuel told him because of his sinful actions that the kingdom was going to pass from him.  God was going to seek a man after His own heart to reign over Israel.   Of course, we know this man was David, but the ultimate Man after God's own heart to rule forever over God's people is Jesus Christ.  All others, even David himself, came up short.  Verse fifteen states, And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.  Samuel left, going from Gilgal to Gibeah, Saul’s city, without praying for Saul, and Saul numbered those present with him at about six hundred.  Matthew Henry says the Samuel went to Gibeah possibly to show Saul that though he was displeased with him, he hadn't totally abandoned him.  When God is displeased with us as Christians today, He may remove His protective hand from us, but He will never abandon us completely.  Saul had very few troops to stand against the Philistines with.  Verse sixteen adds, And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.  While the troops, Jonathan and Saul himself remained at Gibeah, the Philistines and their far superior force encamped at Michmash.  This was a main pass from which they could control much of the area. We need to acknowledge that the forces of evil in the world are going to do everything possible to gain an advantage over Christians today.  Verse seventeen says, And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:  Verse eighteen adds, And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.  From Miczhmash, the Philistines sent out three parties of troops to defeat the Israelites.  They had the far superior force in numbers and armament, so they could afford to divide into three troops and still have the advantage.  Sometimes, it may seem that the forces of evil outnumber us as followers of Christ significantly, but as long as we remain faithful to Jesus Christ, the victory is ours, no matter what happens in this world.  Verse nineteen states, Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:  The Philistines removed all the smiths from Israel to keep them from making swords.  Matthew Henry says that only Jonathan and Saul had swords, and the rest were armed with farm tools, slings and rocks.  Verse twenty adds, But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.  Still, though they had no ability to make swords, they did the best that they could to arm themselves.   We as Christians today need to make the best of what we have under the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our battle against evil in the world today.  Verse twenty-one continues, Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.  Still, they did have a file to sharpen these tools and make them more lethal.  Matthew Henry points out that Saul should have used his first couple of years as king to address this problem, but he didn't.  We need to be prepared at all times to be ready to battle against the world today, and not just sit idly by until the battle comes to us.  Verse twenty-two states, So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.  As stated earlier,  when the battle came, only Jonathan and Saul had swords.  Verse twenty-three adds, And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.  The Philistines then went out from Michmash to battle the Israelites.  We can be certain that the world today stands ready to engage Christians in war, and we need to be spiritually armed when they do.

1 Samuel 13:1

1 Samuel 13:1 says, Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,  Verse two adds, Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.  After Saul had reigned over Israel for two years, he chose three thousand men from Israel to be his army.  Two thousand who were with him at Michmash and a thousand were with Jonathan, his son, at Gibeah.  The rest he sent home.  Matthew Henry says the reference to the one year might have referred to Saul’s maturity level, though this isn't specified, and if these forces were simply to serve him, there were too many, and if for an army there were too few.  Verse three continues, And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.  Jonathan and his forces, under Saul's direction, killed a garrison of Philistines at Geba, for no apparent reason. and the Philistines heard about it.  This brought dishonor to the Israelites.  Then, Saul sounded the trumpet and called on all the people of Israel to hear it.  We cannot just destroy the people of the world today because we don't like them and they don't follow God's laws.  To even act out of hatred towards them brings dishonor to Christ, Who died for their sins as well as ours.  Verse four concludes, And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.  The people of Israel heard that Saul had killed the garrison of Philistines, and that the Philistines then considered the word of the people of Israel to be worthless, though we aren't told if there was a particular treaty that Jonathan acting under Saul's direction had broken.  All the people of Israel rallied to. Saul's call and gathered with him at Gilgal.  When we see fellow Christians in need today, for whatever reason, we needed to rally to the call if they call out for help.  Verse five states, And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.  The Philistines also rallied to fight against Israel, with much greater and very well equipped army.  We as Christians are still up against a formidable army who are fighting against us today.  Verse six adds, When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.  When the people of Israel saw this great force that was ready to go to war with them, they went and hid.  They did not pray and ask God's guidance, but they had sort of given up that right when they demanded a king.  Verse seven continues, And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.  Some of the people went back across the Jordan to Gad and Gilead, but Saul remained in Gilgal, and the people followed him with trembling.   He was the king that they demanded, but they didn't seem to have great faith in him.  When danger comes today, will we as followers of Christ remain faithful to Him, or will we scatter looking for our own safety?  We are to be a beacon on the hill, and not a candle hidden under a bushel basket.  Verse eight continues, And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. Saul remained at Gilgal for seven days, and even though some of the people of Israel were with him, Samuel was not.  Samuel had told Saul at one point to wait seven days and he would come to him.  Matthew Henry points out that Saul did not send anyone to inquire of Samuel, but that before the end of the seventh day, he took matters into his own hands.  We cannot allow our impatience to cause us to run ahead of God.  Verse nine declares, And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.  Though Saul was not a priest, who were the ones who could offer burnt and peace offerings to God, Saul by his own authorization offered these offerings.  We can never just authorize ourselves to do specific things in the name of God, but must do them in accordance with His word and calling.   Verse ten adds, And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.  As soon as Saul offered up these offerings, Samuel came as he had said he would.  We today have an even greater One than a priest or prophet, and that is the Holy Spirit that indwells us, but we still sometimes act out of our own atrengh and knowledge instead of relying on Him for guidance in all that we do.

1 Samuel 12:13

I Samuel 12:13 says, Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.  Samuel then told the people to behold their king, whom God had set over them.  Of course, we need to remember that this was the desire of the people, which God granted, but this had not been His plan.  God, leading through priests, prophets, and judges that He appointed when they needed them had been His way to lead the people.  As I stated before, God may grant us what we want today, but if He does, we may miss what we need.  Verse fourteen adds, If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:  Samuel then hit them with one of the ifs that we find throughout the Bible.  If the people and the king feared the LORD, obeyed His Voice and didn't rebel against Him, they would continue following God and be led by Him.  This still applies to us today as Christians.  Of course, as I have said many times, I don't believe fearing God means being afraid of God, but means showing Him the great respect that He deserves.  Verse fifteen continues, But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.  Then, Samuel gave them the but that comes with the if.  But if they did not obey God, keep His commandments, and rebelled against Him, His hand would be against them as it had been at times against their fathers.  We cannot rebel against God's will as Christians and still expect Him to bless us in this life here on earth, though if we have truly accepted Him as our personal Savior and Lord, we have the everlasting blessing of life with Him forever.  Verse sixteen declares, Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.  Just as Samuel called on the people of Israel then to stand and see this great thing that God was going to do before them, we need to stand today as Christians expecting to see God do great things in our life.  Verse seventeen adds, Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.  Though God had given them a king, Samuel asked if the wheat harvest was not today, and said that he would call on God to send thunder and rain on the wheat to show them the great wickedness that they had done in asking for a king.  It may be that if we are simply asking God to endorse our plans that He is sending thunder and rain on our wheat harvest.  Verse eighteen continues, So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.  This was not a common occurrence at this time of the year, and it also happened just as Samuel had said God would cause it to happen.  We may at times want to write off God's warnings of His displeasure with us as just natural events, but I believe if we are attuned to His will at all we will know the difference.  Verse nineteen states, And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.  The people asked Samuel to pray for them, because they feared they would die for the great evil of asking for a king.  Fortunately, if we as Christians today realize that we have fallen away from the will of God, we can go directly to Him and ask for His forgiveness.  Verse twenty adds, And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;  Samuel told them not to fear, that even though they had done this great wickedness, all they neeed to do was not turn aside from following the LORD.  We cannot change any sin that we commit as Christians, so all we can do is confess our sin,  as the people of Israel did, ask for forgiveness, and then not turn aside from following God.  Verse twenty-one continues, And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.  As Samuel told the people then, if we turn aside from following God, we are chasing vain things, or things that are worth nothing.   Verse twenty-two declares, For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.  Samuel said that God would not forsake His people for His name's sake, because He had chosen them, and it pleased Him to do so.  As Christians today, we are God's people, because He has called us to be so, and it pleased Him to do so, and we will always be His people.  Verse twenty-three adds, Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:  Samuel said that as for himself, God forbid that he ever stopped praying for the people of Israel.  This should still be our attitude towards others today, both our fellow Christians and especially the lost people of the world.  Verse twenty-four continues, Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.  This should be our calling today as well.  Verse twenty-five concludes, But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.  Samuel then gave them a warning.  If they refused to obey God and keep His commandments, then their king and they would be consumed.  I believe this applies to those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord today, but can also apply to our works as Christians.  Those things that we do out of the will of God will be consumed one day.

1 Samuel 12:1

1 Samuel 12:1 says, And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.  Samuel told the people of Israel that he had listened to them and made a king over them, but it was really God Who had done so.  Of course, Samuel did represent God before the people, but even if we are representing God today, we need to make sure that it is His word that we are presenting when we make statements about what we would have them do and never claim credit ourself for what He has done.  Verse two adds, And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.  Samuel said he was old and now the king was walking before them.  He also said he had walked before the people of Israel as God's representative since he was a child.  We could only hope to be able to say that as we get old.  He also said his sons were with them and could be held accountable for any wrong they had done.  We cannot justify the bad actions of our children just because they are the children of a Christian or even a leader in the church.  Verse three continues, Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.  Samuel then asked several questions concerning his integrity before the LORD, and said if he was guilty of cheating anyone that he would restore what he had taken from them dishonestly.  We as followers of Christ should never cheat others, but if we do, we should be ready to restore whatever we have taken from them to them.  Verse four states, And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand.  To Samuel's credit they said he had never done any of these things.  It is one thing for us to say we have done nothing to harm others, but it is so much better if they say the same thing.  Verse five adds, And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.  Samuel asked that God be a witness that he had done none of these things, and the people said that God was a witness.  It is good for us the believe that we have done nothing wrong to others, better if they acknowledge it, but best if God Himself is a witness to the fact.  Verse six continues, And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.  Samuel reminded the people that it was God Who had placed Moses and Aaron over them as He had brought them out of Israel.  As Christians, we should never forget that it should be God Who places people in positions of power over us today in the church.  Verse seven declares, Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.  Samuel told the people to stand still while he reasoned with them, reminding them of all that God had done for them.  Sometimes, we just need to stand still and remember all that God has done for us.  Verse eight adds, When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.  Samuel began with Jacob, who had gone to Egypt during a severe drught, which had led to the people of Israel being enslaved there, until they cried out to God, Who raised up Moses and Aaron to deliver out of Egypt and bring them to the Promised Land.  We as followers of Christ have already been delivered from the enslaving power of sin by the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and we need to always remember that.  Verse nine continues, And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.  Moses then reminded them that they had forgotten God, and He allowed them to be defeated by the Philistines and Moabites.   If we forget about God in our everyday walk of faith, we may find ourselves under the power of sin once more.  Verse ten says, And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.  Samuel reminded them that when this happened that they had confessed their sins and asked God to help them, saying they would then serve Him once more.  We cannot just turn to God when we find ourselves in trouble, but should instead follow His guidance daily so we don't get in trouble to begin with.  Verse eleven adds, And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.  Samuel then reminded them of the men God had sent through the years to deliver them from the power of other nations.  We today need to remember only one Deliverer, and that is Jesus Christ.  Verse twelve continues, And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.  Samuel then reminded them that when Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against them that they had demanded an earthly king, where God had always been their King before.  We do not need anyone to come between God and us, but we need to follow Him by having a personal relationship with Him through our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord and by the leadership of the Holy Spirit Who indwells us.  Verse thirteen concludes, Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.  Samuel then told them to behold the king, Saul, whom God had set over them.  This still was not God's plan, but was His allowing the people of Israel to have what they thought they needed.  Today, we may ask for things that are outside the will of God, and He may allow us to have them, but they will eventually prove to have not been what was best for us.

1 Samuel 11:11

1 Samuel 11:11 says, 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.  Saul divided his men into three troops, and they came into the midst of the hosts of the Amorites at the morning watch.  The Amorites had been told they would have the answer from Israel this day, and they did.  It just wasn't what they expected, but if they chose to misinterpret what that meant, that was their problem.  They were defeated and scattered before they even got up.  If people are looking for answers from us today, especially if they are threatening us because of our Christian beliefs, there is no reason to delay answer them.  Of course, we should do so after first putting our faith in God to be with us no matter what happens.  As long as we put our life in God's hands, we can never lose, so we should never be afraid of the battle.  Verse twelve adds, 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.  The people of Israel responded to their great success under Saul's leadership by asking who had questioned Saul's being put in charge and asking that whoever did be brought forth so they could put them to death.  There was no room forc dissension amongst the people.  Saul was now their king by appointment and action.  If God has placed someone in a position of authority today, we should not question their authority, especially if they are being successful in doing what needs to be done.  Verse thirteen states, 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 said no one would be put to death that day, because God had delivered Israel.   Saul gave the credit and the glory to God, as we must when He leads us to victory over the forces of evil today.  Verse fourteen adds, Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.  Samuel called on the people to go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.  They were no longer being threatened by the Amorites, but had been restored to a position of power. Of course, had they remained faithful to God, they never would have lost their position of power.  If we have allowed sin back into our life as Christians, we have lost God's assurance of victory in the world, but if we repent and return to Him by faith, He will restore our position of power over sin.  Verse fifteen continues, 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.  They went to Gilgal and officially made Saul king before the LORD.   Of course, God had already made him their king, even if they just now acknowledged it.  Jesus Christ has already been made King, whether we acknowledge it or not.  They offered sacrifices of peace offerings to the LORD, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.  When God gives us success in the world today, we should rejoice greatly in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1 Samuel 11:1

1 Samuel 11:1 says,  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.  Nahash, an Amorite, came up against the people of Jabeshgilead, and they sought to make a covenant with him by promising to serve him.  The Amorites were descendants of Lot and as such had been dealt with fairly by Israel when they were first occupying the Promised Land, but they turned out to not be good neighbors, and by this thime, the people of Jabeshgilead were not following God's leadership.  This is evident by the fact that they didn't first turn to God for help.  We may have been nice to the people of the world around us as followers of Christ, but that doesn't mean that they are always going to treat us fairly, or even with respect.  We can never subject ourselves to the authority of the lost people of the world just to maintain peace.  Verse two adds, 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.  Nahash agreed to make a covenant with them on one condition, and that was that he could put out their right eye as a sign of reproach on Israel, which would have also have been a reproach on God.  Even if we were tempted to do something that seems terrible to maintain peace with the world, as Christians we should never do anything that would be a reproach to God, and if we do, we must repent and ask His forgiveness.  Verse three continues, 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.  Again, without consulting God and putting their faith in Him, the elders of Jabesh told Nahash to give them a week to send word throughout Israel, and if they couldn't find someone to help them, they would agree to his terms.  They had forgotten the power of God and were looking to a man for redemption, and we can never afford to do that as Christians.  Verse four states, 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.  The word reached Saul, and all the people around him wept.  We should be saddened if we hear about God's people anywhere being abused or even threatened with abuse.  Verse five adds, 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.  Saul may have been anointed king, but at present he was still tending to a herd in the field.  Seeing the people weep, he asked them what was going on, and they told him.  If we see people sad and upset today, as Christians we should be concerned, and we should care enough to try and find out what is going on.  Verse six continues, And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.  The Spirit of God came on Saul at this time, and he was angered by what he heard.  We as followers of Christ are indwelled by the Holy Spirit and called to reach out to the world with God's love, but that does not mean that we cannot become angry at some of the things that go on in the world.  Verse seven declares, 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.  Saul took two oxen, chopped them into little pieces, and sent the pieces throughout Israel, telling them this was what was going to happen to their oxen if they didn't come forth to him and Samuel.  Still, it wasn't this, but the fear of God that caused them to come.  As Christians, whatever we do should be based on our relationship with God, and done for His honor and glory.  Verse eight adds, And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.  When Saul counted them, there were three hundred thousand men of Israel, and thirty thousand men were Judah.  We must rally as Christians when any of our fellow Christians are threatened.  Verse nine continues, 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 shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.  Saul sent messengers to the men of Jabesh, that by the time the sun was hot tomorrow they would have help.  Verse ten concludes, 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.  The people of Jabesh then sent word to the Amorites that they would come to them tomorrow.   Of course, the Amorites probably misunderstood the message, as lost people of the world tend to misunderstand God's message today.

1 Samuel 10:17

1 Samuel 10:17 says, And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;  Samuel once again called the people of Israel together unto the LORD at Mizpeh.  If we have decisions to make in the world today, we need to gather together, at least spiritually if we cannot all gather physically, and seek God's guidance as followers of Christ.  Veres eighteen adds, And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:  Samuel told them that God He had brought them up out of Egypt.  They already knew this, but evidently had forgotten what that really meant about their dependence on God.  We as Christians should never forget that we owe everything to God, and He has already given us everlasting life with Him.  Verse nineteen continues, And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.  Samuel then said that they had rejected God and demanded a king, and they were to present themselves by tribes before the LORD.  Anytime we allow anything to become more important to us than God is, we are rejecting Him, and He will allow us to do so.  Still, one day we will stand before Him and have to answer as to why we did so.  Verse twenty states, And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.  Verse twenty-one adds, When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.  God singled out the tribe of Benjamin and then continued on down to Saul, but when they sought him, he could not be found.  When God seeks us for our particular calling as followers of Christ, will we be found?  Verse twenty-two continues, Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.  They asked God where Saul was, and He said that Saul had hidden among the stuff.  Samuel may have already ordained Saul to be king under God's direction, but evidently Saul wasn't ready to assume the position of king.  We can have a tendency as Christians to get hidden amongst our stuff, allowing the cares and concerns of this world to come between God and us, and keeping us from assuming the position in the church that God has appointed us to.  Verse twenty-three says, And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.  They ran and got Saul, and it points out once again that He was head and shoulders taller than any of the other people.  Physically, he was certainly what we would look fo in a leader, but we should never base who we choose as leaders in the church, or even the country, on physical appearances.  Verse twenty-four adds, And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.  Samuel pointed out that God had chosen Saul to be king, and that physically there was none like him.  Of course, God had chosen Saul to be king because of their demands for a king in the first place, and not because He had said they needed one.  God may allow us to have what we want today, but that does not mean that it is always what is best for us.  I believe this also may be the first use of the phrase, God save the king, that we know of.  Verse twenty-five continues, Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.  Samuel then told all the people of Israel what the kingdom would look like, wrote it in a book, and sent them home to their own house.  We already know what the kingdom of God should look like, because it is written in the Book.  As we go to our own home everyday, we need to remember this.  Verse twenty-six states, And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.  Saul returned home to Gibeah, accompanied by a band of men whose hearts God had touched.  As we go about everyday life, we need to be accompanied, at least spiritually, by a group of people whose hearts God has touched.  Verse twenty-seven adds, But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.  Not everyone was pleased with God's choice for a king.  The people of Belial asked how Saul could save them and resented him.  Some people are never going to be satisfied with those that God chooses as leaders in the church today, and will be resentful toward them.  We are told that Saul held his peace.  He could have exerted his authority as king and punished them, but he didn't.  God could also exert His authority as the owner of the universe when we gripe about how He is running things or those that He places in positions of authority in the church, but He chooses to hold His peace.