Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.
Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you. And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. (1 Sam. 11:1-3, 10-11)
Saul’s first battle as king of Israel comes as the men of Jabeshgilead are in desperate need of help from the Ammonites. They sued for peace and desired a covenant truce but the Ammonites instead threatened them with desecration. The elders of Jabesh received a respite that they might seek reinforcements and deliverance from the rest of Israel. Saul gathered the forces of Israel and on the appointed day, having divided the companies of Israel into a three pronged attack force, came against the Ammonites and the Israelites were victorious. It was such a great victory that Saul declared that even those within the kingdom who refused his authority over them would be spared and the kingdom was renewed and celebrated.
This historical account is a record of one of the incursions by the Ammonites, distant relatives of the Israelites as descendants of Lot. The Ammonites came against the citizens of Israel that lived in Jabeshgilead and Saul was called to lead the rest of Israel in defense of their neighbors. Though there was some dissension in the land over Saul as king, the Israelites rose to the occasion and gathered together against a common foe. Saul divided the forces into three companies and came against the Ammonites on the day that the elders had promised to give an answer to their enemies. The Ammonites were overrun and the survivors of the battle were scattered and alone. Saul celebrated the victory which God gave the Israelites by forgiving those who had opposed him as king and renewing the kingdom, rejoicing greatly in the LORD.
While many in and out of the church may oppose us, as the people of God we must understand that our battle is not with flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of the darkness of this world. The prince of the power of the air, disguising himself as an angel of light attempts to deceive, to discourage, and to distract us from the call of God to persevere and to overcome that God may be glorified in and through us. He has called us to reach the lost with the Good News of forgiveness of sin through repentance and eternal life through faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. We are to teach the nations all that He has commanded us that they might know their sin and surrender to Him on His terms. We are to preach and proclaim the Word of God, in season and out, until all have heard and He is done with us. Just as Saul delivered the people of Jabesh, so Christ has won our victory and delivered us from sin, from the bondage of the enemy, and translated us from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of His dear Son. We do not celebrate over the lost, but weep over those who will not submit to Christ in repentance and faith and we celebrate His great Salvation and the victory which He offers to whosoever will receive it.
God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
This historical account is a record of one of the incursions by the Ammonites, distant relatives of the Israelites as descendants of Lot. The Ammonites came against the citizens of Israel that lived in Jabeshgilead and Saul was called to lead the rest of Israel in defense of their neighbors. Though there was some dissension in the land over Saul as king, the Israelites rose to the occasion and gathered together against a common foe. Saul divided the forces into three companies and came against the Ammonites on the day that the elders had promised to give an answer to their enemies. The Ammonites were overrun and the survivors of the battle were scattered and alone. Saul celebrated the victory which God gave the Israelites by forgiving those who had opposed him as king and renewing the kingdom, rejoicing greatly in the LORD.
While many in and out of the church may oppose us, as the people of God we must understand that our battle is not with flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of the darkness of this world. The prince of the power of the air, disguising himself as an angel of light attempts to deceive, to discourage, and to distract us from the call of God to persevere and to overcome that God may be glorified in and through us. He has called us to reach the lost with the Good News of forgiveness of sin through repentance and eternal life through faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. We are to teach the nations all that He has commanded us that they might know their sin and surrender to Him on His terms. We are to preach and proclaim the Word of God, in season and out, until all have heard and He is done with us. Just as Saul delivered the people of Jabesh, so Christ has won our victory and delivered us from sin, from the bondage of the enemy, and translated us from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of His dear Son. We do not celebrate over the lost, but weep over those who will not submit to Christ in repentance and faith and we celebrate His great Salvation and the victory which He offers to whosoever will receive it.
God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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