February 21, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Leadership In Action

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Opening Prayer

Father, I know with certainty that only in You can my restless heart find peace. I thank You for my salvation.

Read 1 Samuel 11:1-15

[1] 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. [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.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright &copy 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.&reg Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Leaders take the lead; they initiate ideas and plans. And leaders move people to follow them by showing them consideration” (Leighton Ford). Here’s clear insight for those who aspire to leadership.

The situation could not seem worse as Saul faces his first leadership test. Some despised his ability to “save” (10:27) and now, not the Philistines (9:16) but the Ammonite king is exercising a reign of terror among the tribes east of the Jordan (1-3). Nahash wants to shame “all Israel,” so it is no wonder the people in Saul’s home town “wept” (4). Saul is still at his home tilling fields. His response to the news, empowered by God’s Spirit, is “anger” (6), the kind that “provokes determined action …. Anger is not always a healthy emotion … [but] sometimes it is exactly the right response” (M. Evans, The Message of Samuel).

Saul mustered men from both Israel and Judah (the differences preceded the division after Solomon; (see 2 Sam. 2:10; 19:11,41; 20:1) and there was victory. Three times in Hebrew the nouns “savior” and “salvation” are used (3,9,13; NIV “rescue”). When reminded of those who refused to acknowledge Saul, Saul’s initiative affirms it was not he but “the Lord” who has “rescued Israel” (13; cf. 7:8). In the past, God delivered through judges, but now he is working through a king who acts like a judge-deliverer, one who seeks the people’s benefits, not his own. This kind of king, empowered by the Spirit, is described later through Isaiah (11:1-5), and sung about Christ by Zechariah (Luke 1:67-75).

Here is an example of a situation where God’s people may feel helpless when surrounded by powerful, hostile forces–whether physical or spiritual–and an example of God’s power to deliver. Victory here comes with God’s people united in purpose under their anointed king. There have always been differences among God’s people: the challenge is to live out being one in Christ (John 17:11-21; Rom. 15:5-7; Gal. 3:28), serving faithfully together with him. Then we joyously celebrate (15).

Apply

Do you face hostile situations? Live in the hope of Christ’s victory. Pray for fellow believers in seemingly impossible situations.

Closing prayer

Lord of the Church, I pray for the leaders of my church. Give them wisdom, discernment, and courage as they pray, strategize, and lead us into Your future for us.

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