a Forgetful people and a faithful god
1 Samuel 11-12
Main Idea: We rightly fear the Lord by remembering his saving work on our behalf.
I. A Familiar Story (11:1-15)
Nahash (lit. ‘snake’ or ‘serpent’), the King of the Ammonites, besieged Jabesh-gilead threatening to gouge the Israelites right eyes out and to reign over them. Meanwhile, though Saul has been anointed as King, he is out in the fields with the oxen, failing to step into his God-ordained role.
There are obvious allusions in this story to the era of the Judges:
Jabesh-Gilead & Gibeah feature prominently at the end of judges (Jdg. 19-21)
The Spirit “rushed upon Saul” (11:6), as He did to empower other judges (Jdg. 3:10, 6:34, 14:6)
Saul cuts up an oxen to muster Israel for battle (11:7), just as the Levite did to his concubine (Jdg. 19:29)
Saul musters up the army at Bezek (11:8a), the place of the first victory in Judges (Jdg. 1:4-5)
Saul’s army size (11:8b) and military strategy is similar to Gideon (Jdg. 7:16)
God raises him as a judge to rescue his people—just as God has previously delivered Israel. But this will change with the confirmation of Saul as king. This marks the moment when he ceases to be a judge, raised up by God as an expression of God’s rule… Saul will show himself to be a new-style king. Instead of mediating God’s rule, he will replace God’s rule. Instead of liberating God’s people, he will oppress God’s people. Instead of being exalted by God, Saul will exalt himself, only to be brought low by God.
~ Tim Chester, 1 Samuel For You
After this deliverance from the Lord (cf. Zech. 4:6), Samuel calls the people to Gilgal to “renew the kingdom” in the same place Joshua renewed the covenant (Josh. 5). Saul is to be a king “before the Lord” (11:15), but he lacks the character and spiritual awareness to properly reign in this way.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
II. Forgetting the Lord (12:1-13)
Samuel’s “farewell” address marks a shift in Israel; he will now step-aside from being the de-facto leader of the people and give way to Saul. After establishing his innocence before them (12:1-5), he indicts the Israelites for continually “forgetting” (12:9) the Lord and “forsaking” proper worship of him for idols (12:10).
Samuel’s address to the people completes a major and radical transition in Israel’s life, from leadership by men and women whose primary orientation was to God, to a leadership by kings, leaders whose primary orientation was to the people: God raised up judges; the people demanded a king. The prophetic judges were God-appointed; the political kings were people-acclaimed... Samuel announces the era of the “second best.” For a long time now, leadership has come from God’s saving initiative; now it takes shape from the people’s fears and wishes.
~ Eugene Peterson, First and Second Samuel
As the people of Israel forgot God’s redemptive acts and kingly rule over them, they began to fear what is right in front of them (Nahash) rather than the Lord.
III. Fearing the Lord (12:14-19)
In a miracle of judgment, the Lord sends thunder and rain to disrupt the driest season in Israel (“wheat harvest”). This produces a “fear” in the people, acknowledging they have sinned greatly against the Lord in their request for a king.
There are two different kinds of ‘fear’ in this passage:
The sinful fear of the people (12:18-19), afraid of God’s righteous judgment upon them as they stand condemned
The proper fear Samuel urges, flowing from the gracious redemptive acts of God toward them, received by repentance (12:14)
1 Timothy 1:15: The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: "I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!”
~ Martin Luther, “Letter to Jerome Weller”
Romans 8:31-34: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
