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Chapter Eleven (ESV)
11 And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
12 Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” 13 But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.” 14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
REFLECTION:
- Saul had previously been anointed in private by Samuel at Ramah and publicly selected as the king-designate at Mizpah. In the subsequent Ammonite crisis, his leadership did not rest on public recognition of his royal authority, but on the military victory. Now at Gilgal, Saul is inaugurated as God’s chosen king and formally assumes the privileges and responsibilities of this office.
- The Israelites had Saul as their first ever king, in thanksgiving, they offered peace offering to God. Leviticus 3 recorded regulations of such sacrifice. It is for thanksgiving of blessings received, it symbolizes the grace of peace because of their recognition of God and obedience to God’s commandments. Though it was the people’s idea to elect a king for themselves, they demonstrate and recognise through the sacrifice, that God is still their king. Saul also acknowledged Israel’s true deliverer (v13). However, as God has foretold in 8:7-19, the trust and obey relationship did not last long.
- Have I experienced a lot of God’s guidance and protection, and have I decided to follow God closely? However, I was not able to resist the temptations or pressures, and I turned from following God?
PRAYER:
Use the following hymn as my prayer as I recall my weaknesses and God’s strength.
I am weak, but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Just a closer walk with Thee, rant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
