THE LORD SAVES ISRAEL
1 Samuel 11-13

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Ammonites

• Deuteronomy 23:3
• Refused Israel passage during the Exodus

  When the Israelites of the Exodus paused before their territory, the Ammonites prohibited them from passing through their lands. For this act, they were denied entry into "the congregation of the Lord." – Deut. 23:3
  Attacks by the Ammonites on Israelite communities east of the Jordan were the impetus behind the unification of the tribes under Saul, who defeated them.
  From Samuel II 10:2, it may be concluded that Nahash assisted David out of hatred for Saul; but his son Hanun provoked David by ill-treating his ambassadors, and brought about the defeat of the Ammonites, despite assistance from their northern neighbors in Aram. Their capital Rabbah was captured, and numerous captives were taken from "all the cities of the children of Ammon."

Nahash

• The Snake
• Especially cruel
• Gouges out right eyes
  – Debilitating
  – Humiliating

Jabesh-Gilead

• Refused to muster in Judges 21:8-9
• Gives Jabesh a choice – lose your eye or die!
• Jabesh gets 7 days
  Seven days to determine if Israel is going to be saved

Who Will Save Israel?

• v. 3 – If there is no one to save us
• v. 9 – You shall have deliverance
• v. 13- The Lord has worked deliverance in Israel

Savior Saul

1. Saul is outraged by the oppression and humiliation
2. Saul is consumed with the Spirit of God
3. God empowers Saul to rescue Israel

   He’s farmer Saul to begin with.
   He has compassion on his critics.

Samuel’s Farewell

• God is witness
• Now you have a king
• Who saved you?
• You and your king do right

Holy War – 1 Samuel 13

• Saul musters Israel to go against Philistia
• The troops are going AWOL
• Saul does not show trust (offers sacrifice)
• The dynasty will go to another

Chris Benjamin

West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Evening Sermon, 10 May 2009

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