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A WAR IN THE MAKING FOR THE NEW KING
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30
1 Samuel 11

Psalm 73:1-6

 

“Truly God is good to Israel…”

 

A WAR IN THE MAKING FOR THE NEW KING
 
One of the primary duties of a king is to protect the nation against its enemies. This was to be Saul’s first task as the king of Israel. The Ammonites were set to fight Israel, and they posed a strong challenge. Israel then was not strong enough to face the aggressor. The threat of war by the Ammonites would be a test of Saul’s ability to lead his nation. This is the order of events that eventually thrust Saul into his first war.
 
The history of kings in Israel speaks of many wars that these kings had to fight. This was a way of life in those ancient days. Israel was a nation chosen by God to show His power and for His witness. Almost every king that is mentioned had to fight a war with foreign enemies. The biblical record shows the hand of God in all their involvements. Saul, being the first king, began his reign with a war; at last, he also ended his life in a war.
 
The aggressive Nahash, king of the Ammonites, encamped against Jabeshgilead, one of the territories of Israel. During the time of judges, each tribal region had some autonomy. When they faced common enemies, the nation would unite. The appointment of Saul as king was not to one tribe but to the whole nation of Israel. Many kings in those days offered terms of peace at first, but when this step failed, they would then resort to war. This was what Nahash did in this narrative. The men of Jabeshgilead asked him for a covenant. This was a kind of treaty that placed conditions on another nation. The Ammonite king felt that he had an upper hand. He would have the right to enslave the weaker nation. Thus, he gave the men of Israel a punitive condition. The men of Jabesh asked for seven days to seek help from all Israel. They saw that it was not worthy of them to surrender and suffer after hearing the words of the Ammonites. This was what brought the whole nation together. Israel had a history of the hand of God fighting for them.
 
THOUGHT: God was Israel’s immediate help amidst threat.
PRAYER: Father, help me to always remember that Thou art the same yesterday, today and forever.

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