First off, the bad guy in this story is named Nahash or Nachash. That’s the Hebrew word for snake. 🐍
And His Royal Highness, King Cobra, has slithered across the border of Eastern Manasseh right up to the city of Jabesh-Gilead. The men of Jabesh-Gilead immediately wave the white flag. King Nahash says, “I will accept your surrender along with every man’s right eye.” 😟
Ummm. No thank you?
So, like the men at the Alamo surrounded by the army of Santa Anna, they send out riders to ask for help.
“Just then, Saul was coming from the field behind the cattle. Saul said, “What is the matter with the people, that they are weeping?” So they recounted to him the words of the men of Jabesh.”
1 Samuel 11:5 LEB
I find it fascinating that even though Saul has been anointed king and publicly proclaimed to be the king, he’s literally out in the field working cows. 🐄🐄🐄🐄🐄🤠
When he hears the cry for help from Jabesh-Gilead he doesn’t waste a second. He threatens the men of Israel – “Come with me to battle, OR ELSE!” 330,000 minute-men show up. And they cut the head off the snake.
Saul’s poll-numbers shot through the roof.
Samuel invites everyone to Gilgal. Remember that Gilgal was the first place where Israel camped as a nation when they entered Canaan. It’s a fitting place to gather to install their new king. 👑
Saul is anointed (again) publicly and Samuel offers sacrifices and everyone celebrates. Then Samuel gives a speech.
He reminds them of their national history and admonishes them to be faithful to Yahweh. And then, to end with a bang, he asks the Lord to give a sign to prove to the people that asking for a king was a bad idea – and in the middle of a parched July heatwave, it thunders and rains.
⛈️⛈️⛈️😳
You’d be worried too. I’m sure it dampened the party. The people ask Samuel to pray that God will spare their lives. Samuel’s response is something every flawed human being who is trying to follow the Lord needs to read and take to heart.
“Don’t be afraid,” Samuel reassured them. “You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on him. Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless! The Lord will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people. “As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you. But if you continue to sin, you and your king will be swept away.”
1 Samuel 12:20-25 NLT
Let me break this down into some bullet points. If you have sinned… (even if there’s no divine thunder and lightning) ⚡️
- Don’t be afraid.
- Don’t soften the sin. Own it. You certainly did wrong.
- Turn to the Lord with ALL your heart.
- Whatever you do, don’t turn your back on God, no matter how bad you messed up.
- Don’t go back to your old life. It can’t help you. Nothing from your broken past can rescue you.
- The Lord will not abandon you because His own reputation is at stake. He is faithful to you because of HIS character, not yours.
- Saving you was HIS idea. Making you a member of His own people makes Him happy. He wants to do this.
- Get some good role models who will pray for you, shoot straight with you, and disciple you.
- Be in awe of the LORD and serve Him faithfully.
- Think of all the good things He has done. Don’t dwell on the negative.
- Always keep in mind that you cannot “work the system” with God. He cannot be manipulated. If you persist in a life of sin, you will bear the consequences. And that’s on you.
I like to say, “When you fall, at least fall forward. Fall toward Jesus, not away from Him.”
To The Reader 