Skip to content 1 Samuel 11-13: When God’s Spirit Moves: Saul at Jabesh Gilead May 19 · 14 min ...more
1 Samuel 11-13: When God’s Spirit Moves: Saul at Jabesh Gilead
May 19, 2026 · 14 min
Meditation on Saul’s righteous indignation, the Spirit’s empowerment, and how bold leadership spurred Israel to rescue and deliverance.
Series Stand on the Word - Video On Demand May 19, 2026 · 14 min · Stand on the Word - Video On Demand
Meditation on Saul’s righteous indignation, the Spirit’s empowerment, and how bold leadership spurred Israel to rescue and deliverance. ...more Show the full description Show less Meditation on Saul’s righteous indignation, the Spirit’s empowerment, and how bold leadership spurred Israel to rescue and deliverance.
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Saul's Spirit-Empowered Victory at Jabesh Gilead 0:10 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Thanks for joining me this morning as today, we look at first Samuel, chapters 11 through 13, verse 12 of chapter 12. If you fear the Lord and serve him and0:21 obey his voice and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. It took both. It took the leadership and the people. We're0:33 gonna see more about that later. So now we get to see Saul in action for the first time as the Ammonites make a move on Jabesh Gilead, which was the area that the half tribe of Manasseh0:45 occupied on the east side of the Jordan. The tribes had not yet unified under the leadership of Saul. He was still kind of king in name only. The Ammonites thought that, Gilead would be0:57 easy pickings because it was separated from the bulk of the other tribes that were on the west side of the Jordan, and they had their own issues going on with the Philistines. But Nahash, the Ammonite leader,1:09 miscalculated as often is the case. Verse 1. Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.1:21 Now a bit disturbing here. The Israelites were, ready to wave a white flag until they heard the terms of surrender. Verse 2. And Nahash the Ammonite answered1:32 them, on this condition, I will make a covenant with you that I may put out all your right eyes and bring reproach on all Israel. Now this had the very practical effect of rendering these1:44 men useless as warriors because you would hold the shield with your left hand, look around it with your right hand, and, of course, most of the soldiers were right handed with the sword. This essentially1:56 rendered them useless as warriors, but it also had the effect of humiliating, the people. Verse 3, then the elders of Jabez said to him, hold off for 7 days that we may send messengers to all the territories2:08 of Israel. And then if there is no 1 to save us, we will come out to you. So I assume they thought appealing to the other tribes for help was at least worth a try. If nothing else, it would2:20 buy a little more time. Verse 5. Now there was Saul coming behind the herd from the field, and Saul said, what troubles the people that they weep? And they told him the words2:32 of the men of Jabez. Saul had been out working. Word had spread. He comes in. The people are weeping, which is good. They were touched by what was happening with these men. Verse 6, then the spirit of2:44 god came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused. Now, this is exactly what Samuel had prophesied over Saul, that the spirit of god would rush upon him. Now, we2:56 saw this right after he was anointed, but we see it once again. This, in this particular case, this is righteous indignation. He was moved by the Spirit of god3:08 because of what was happening to the people of god. Verse 7. So he took an yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers saying, whoever does not go3:18 out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen. And the fear of the lord fell on the people, and they came out with 1 consent. Now sounds very familiar. That's something similar to what3:30 happened as we looked at before with the Benjamites when they were in their trouble. But bottom line is bold action prompts bold action. Alright? Verse 11. So it was on the next day that Saul put the people in3:42 3 companies, and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and killed Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it happened that those And it happened that those who survived were scattered so that no 2 of3:52 them were left together. Then the people said to Samuel, who is he who said, 'Shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men that we may put them to death.' But Saul here he is, this is actually 1 of hisSamuel's Charge: Obey God, King and People Alike 4:03 good decisions not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has accomplished salvation in Israel. Now, if only that Saul had continued to be king and not the petty4:15 1 that we're going to read about shortly, things would have turned out probably much different. Now, in chapter 12, like every good leader that came before him, as Saul's time was coming to a close,4:27 he gives a history lesson, a refresher course on who god is, what he had done for them, and what he expects from them. Verse 1, chapter 12. Now Samuel said to all Israel, indeed, I4:39 have heeded your voice in all that you said to me and have made a king over you. And now here is the king walking before you, and I am old and gray headed, and look, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my4:51 childhood to this day. And then he goes on basically say, I've I've operated honestly. I've taken nothing from no 1. If anyone has anything against me, bring it up now. Of course, no 1 has anything. Then in5:02 verse 6, then Samuel said to the people, it is the lord who raised up Moses and Aaron and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt. Now, therefore, stand still that I may reason with5:14 you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers. Verse 12, And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, and you said to me, no, but a king5:26 shall reign over us when the Lord your God was your king. Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired and take note, the Lord has set a king over you. Verse5:38 14, if you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the King who reigns over you will continue following the5:50 Lord your God. You see, a King did not exempt the people from obeying God and walking in the ways of God. In fact, it took both. It took both the king and the people to6:02 make sure both stayed on track. But, here's an uncomfortable truth. Oftentimes, our leaders reflect who we are collectively as a people. If the people are godly, we're more likely to have6:13 godly leaders, especially in a nation like ours where we elect our leadership. Verse 15, however, if you do not obey the voice of the lord, but rebel against the commandment of the lord, then the hand of the lord will be6:25 against you as it was against your fathers. Now, therefore, stand and see this great thing which the lord will do before your eyes. Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the lord, and he will send thunder and6:36 rain that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the lord and asking a king for yourselves. So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain6:48 that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. You see, a king was not God's plan, but He yielded to the people He would use it for His purposes. Verse 19, after that7:00 demonstration of God's power, All the people said to Samuel, 'Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for7:12 ourselves.' So they just got their attention. Then Samuel said to the people, do not fear. You have done all this wickedness, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord7:24 with all your heart.' You see, God is gracious, willing to forgive. We just need to follow Him and turn to Him. And do not turn aside, for then you would go after7:35 empty things which could not profit or deliver, for they are nothing. Now, what he's talking about here are idols. Keep following the Lord. Don't turn away to idols which are nothings. That's literally7:47 what the word means. They are nothings. They are empty. They are vain. Why would you worship them? Well, here's the reason. Because they are nothing, we can mold them into something that affirms what we want so that we7:59 can then have worship that sanctions our sin. And that's we've talked about this before, but behind the idols or the principalities, the powers, they're demonic forces. And and what8:11 better way to lock people in drawing them away from God than to feed the desires of their fallen nature, and that's what idolatry did and does. Verse 22, for the Lord will not forsake his people for his8:23 great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you his people. You see, it's not about us. It was not about them. It was about God. It was about a people after his name. And it is for8:35 the sake of Jesus that we are repeatedly the recipients of god's grace and his provision, and we've talked about this for as we appeal to god on behalf of whether it's our families or our nation.8:47 We appeal in the name of Jesus for Jesus' sake, for god's grace has been poured out upon us through Jesus Christ. Verse 23, moreover, as for me, far be it from me8:59 that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you, but I I will teach you the good and the right way. Now, here is the character trait of a godly leader. I mean, this,9:11 frankly, quite amazing what Samuel is doing here. Pushed away by the people, kind of rejected as they sought a king so that they could look like the other nations. Samuel says, I will continue9:23 to pray for you and teach you the right way up until my very last breath. Alright. In these last 2 verses, sum this up in verse 24. Only fear the lord9:35 and serve him in truth with all your heart, for consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and the king. Do what is right.9:47 Consider what God has done. Consider what God has done in your life and follow Him, pursue Him. Because, He says, if you do wickedly, you will be swept away, both you and your king. There are consequences9:59 for rejecting the ways of God. Chapter 13, we have the beginning of the end for Saul. As it appears, his early success goes to his head and hisSaul's Fall: Disobedience and Disarmament 10:11 humility turns to pride. He wrongfully here in chapter 13 assumes the role of priest, that number goes well. Samuel has not shown up to offer the sacrifice to the Lord. The10:23 Philistine war drums were growing louder. Saul grew impatient. He crossed the line, and he offered a sacrifice. Verse 11, and Samuel said, what have you done? Saul said, when I saw10:35 that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, the Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I10:46 have not made supplications to the Lord. We see this, he goes on to say, therefore, I felt compelled and offered a burnt offering. Samuel, or Saul rather, is always offering excuses, trying to10:58 rationalize, justify Saul, you have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which he commanded you. For now, the Lord would have established your kingdom over11:10 Israel forever, but now, now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over his people because you have not kept11:22 what the Lord commanded you. You see, the king, this is anyone in authority, is under the authority of the word of God. And Saul was disqualified for disobeying the11:34 explicit instructions of God's word. Now, the rest of chapter 13 speaks to, I think, this is my interpretation of it, take it or leave it, but I do think it speaks to the practical fact of11:45 disarming a population. Look at verse 19. Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, lest the Hebrews make swords and spears. For what reason? To defend themselves.11:57 But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen, each man's plow shear, his mattocks, his ax, and his sickle. So it came about on the day of battle that there was neither sword nor spear found in12:09 the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and Jonathan, his son. Alright. Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for your word. And, Lord,12:20 I I we there's so much to learn. First, I just for Samuel or for for Samuel's example of continuing to pray for and speak truth to the people who who really12:32 rejected his leadership. But as you told him, they had rejected you. It wasn't him. It was you. And, lord, I can see us as a church, as as believers even in many ways in this culture being rejected. But, lord,Prayer and Call to Stand on God's Word 12:44 we should continue to pray for those that we know that need you. And and, lord, continue to speak truth to give guidance to them that they might make the right choices, that it might go well with them and12:56 everyone else. And so we pray for our leaders, that you would give them wisdom, you would guide them, you would direct them, you would turn their heart toward righteousness and the people of our nation as well,13:06 beginning, lord, in each of our families and beginning with us. We thank you, Lord, for your word. We thank you for the Holy Spirit that continues to lead us, and we ask, Father, that we would be yielded completely13:18 and totally to your Holy Spirit working in our midst. In Jesus' name, amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning, and until next time, keep standing on the word.13:31 Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan available for free at frc dot org slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you13:43 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Saul's Spirit-Empowered Victory at Jabesh Gilead4:00 Samuel's Charge: Obey God, King and People Alike10:02 Saul's Fall: Disobedience and Disarmament12:40 Prayer and Call to Stand on God's Word
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