No Covenant with Satan
1 Sam 11:1 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.
Jabesh-gilead was beyond Jordan, and near the Ammonites, they were a part of Israel. In fear, they wanted to surrender and make a covenant with the enemy, the Ammonites. The name Nahash means serpent or snake. He is a type of satan.
We do not make covenants with evil. Too often we compromise and satan gains ground, he is not a kind conqueror.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
1 Sam 11:2 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.
Satan brings darkness and torment, we do not covenant with him. Plucking out the right eye would be an offense to all IsraeL, what had they done to deserve that? This was a punishment for a shepherd who does not watch his flock.
Zec 11:17 Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
We are to watch and avoid the enemy, if he comes we resist him with God's word and the authority of Jesus. He will try to remove our vision and strength. We must be sensitive in the Spirit, and give no ground to satan. We follow the leading of God's Spirit.
Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
1 Sam 11:3 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.
They were to send for help. When we are attacked by satan, we send word to others for help. The body of Christ can see to basic needs and they can come along side and pray, the battle is a spiritual battle. If we come to the knowledge of our need, we then may receive salvation through Jesus.
Phil 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Phil 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men (Jesus), whereby we must be saved.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
1 Sam 11:4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.
Their reaction pleased the enemy. When God's people fear satan, then he becomes bolder.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 Sam 11:5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
Saul, new as king was at home working in his field. He was waiting on God's direction.
1 Sam 11:6 And the spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
The Spirit of God can be angry and grieve at sin and satan coming against God's people.
Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
1 Sam 11:7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
Saul, used this bloody message to stir their hearts. They were to come with Saul and Samuel to battle. Including Samuel gave the message of unity, sort of like the call of service "for God and country."
1 Sam 11:8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
1 Sam 11:9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and showed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
The people rejoiced in their salvation.
1 Sam 11:10 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.
The enemy thought they were surrendering as cowards.
1 Sam 11:11 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.
Saul had a military strategy and the armies of Nahash were defeated.
1 Sam 11:12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.
1 Sam 11:13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
Saul wisely showed mercy to those who accused him. Satan always has his accusers who come to divide. To give notice to them would take away from the victory of a united people. With every move of God, satan sends his detractors to divide and destroy God's work.
1 Sam 11:14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
1 Sam 11:15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
Saul had proven himself to be their anointed leader. God will prove his anointing in his people. If no proof? Their is no anointing. He had overcome by the spirit, resisting personal attacks and defeating the armies of the Ammonites. At the start, Saul was indeed a king of God's choosing.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Saul was indeed the King they wanted, for now.
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