In Step With The Spirit
Opening Prayer
Faithful Father, bring Your cleansing, renewing power to my wayward heart through Your Word and Spirit now.
Read 1 SAMUEL 11
Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.”
2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.”
3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you.”
4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud. 5 Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.
6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. 7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one. 8 When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand.
9 They told the messengers who had come, “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.’” When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. 10 They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.”
11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
Saul Confirmed as King
12 The people then said to Samuel, “Who was it that asked, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death.”
13 But Saul said, “No one will be put to death today, for this day the Lord has rescued Israel.”
14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge” (Psa. 19:1,2).
This search process has been very thorough. As we have seen, Saul has been anointed (1 Sam. 10:1), appointed (1 Sam. 10:20,21) and hailed (1 Sam. 10:24) as Israel’s first king. Now he is confirmed (14,15). The writer of 1 Samuel leaves no doubt: Saul was the right man for the job, even though as readers we’ve known that all along (1 Sam. 9:16,17). This narrative demonstrates what one of Saul’s famous successors understood so well: “The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps” (Prov. 16:9).
What finally convinced Saul’s doubters was his bold victory over Nahash, an especially unsavory character (2). Sometimes a leader must show restraint (13), while at other times righteous anger is appropriate (6,7). Saul was able to find the right balance because “the Spirit of God came on him in power” (6). Staying in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25) is the first priority for anyone who wants to serve God. The question is, “How can we do that?”
Of course there are many ways, but it begins with a heart that wants to be directed by God. Because leaders are the ones who give the orders, they must be proactive about resisting the influence of spiritual pride. For me, one of the best ways is through prayer. Almost every night around 9:45 p.m. I take a prayer walk, where I look to the heavens and speak aloud to the Maker of heaven and earth. Sometimes I sing or whistle hymns as I walk. Halfway there’s a high point with a big view of the sky and surrounding area. That’s where I stop to lift my hands in confession, supplication or praise. Over the years I’ve been amazed how that simple practice keeps my heart submissive to God’s priorities and aware of his presence.
Apply
Whether you consider yourself a leader or not, set a time when you’ll take a prayer walk today. How about right now?
Closing prayer
Lord, whatever leadership role I might have in life, help me to remember the great truth that true greatness comes from a servant heart.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.