A Poke in the Eye

The more I think about the deal that Nabash offered the people of Jabesh Gilead (1 Samuel 11.1-2), the clearer it is to me that  that whenever we opt for a compromise, or cut a deal with the world, it always involves severe loss--e.g.getting an eye poked out.  These compromises never come free. The enemy drives a cheeky bargain--he knows how much we crave for certain things and he will push hard for a serious payment. And depending how vulnerable we feel, we may pay up.

His evil purpose runs deeper than just causing us misery--he aims to bring disgrace on God's people (v2) and beyond that his ultimate aim is to tear at God's glory. He sees our weakness as a way to do it.

Perhaps we would be more resistant to compromise if we realised that we are not just risking ourselves when submit to his eye-gouging, but we are bringing disgrace on God's people (discouraging them) and being used as pawns in an attack on God's glory.

Two things, then, that show how costly compromise with the world is:

1. Compromise always comes with serious loss (in this case 1/2 their eyesight).
2. There is even a bigger defeat than personal consequences if we compromise, because we are being manipulated into disgracing the Church and attacking God's glory.

Resolution:
Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4.7
Put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Eph 6.13

Feeling Some Passion

1 Samuel 11.

God created a situation that ignited Saul’s passion for God’s cause. [Lack of godly passion is the underlying cause of our boredom, slackness, fear and defeat.]

The Ammonites picked on Jabesh-Gilead, laying siege to that town in Israel.

The people’s first response was to try and negotiate their way out of trouble—but the Ammonites’ demands were too humiliating: the blinding of one eye of every person. It is a sign of the times that these Israelites first thought of compromise when threatened by their enemies. It seems that God was not their first refuge. They had come to think only in terms of material and physical resources. Also, they had no thoughts about God’s honour. It never occurred to them to plead with God on the grounds that HE was being dishonoured by the attacks of the Ammonites. It was all about them and their petty little world.

[We can become so spiritually cold that we only think of our troubles in terms of our personal discomfort and whether we have the natural resources to overcome them. We do the maths…but leave out God. We scheme and figure ways to minimise the damage caused by our troubles…but we don’t fall on our face before God.  We weigh up the shame we are prepared to endure…but we don’t consider the shame our situation brings to God’s name.  We don’t plead that God will correct us and defeat our enemies for the sake of HIS glory.]

When the news about Jabesh-Gilead’s predicament reached other places, people wept—but they neither prayed to God nor acted.  A defeated mindset had settled over Isreal.  They didn’t like the attacks of their enemies, but they couldn’t see any way out of them.

[Right now, the Church is under siege (like the town of Jabesh-Gilead). The world is demanding that the Church admit that the Bible is a bigoted, hate-filled book that has nothing relevant to say to 21^st Century people. Some Christians are wavering and prepared to water down Bible truths--prepared to become one-eyed—in hope that the world will leave them alone.]

But this disaster was the moment God had orchestrated for Saul and Israel’s benefit.  Saul started to feel something at last! Indignation gripped Saul.  The Holy Spirit rushed on him so that he burned with anger against the shame that was being visited upon God’s people. He took strong action. He demanded that Israel arise and resist the Ammonites. The butchered oxen emphasised the seriousness of the call to arms—oxen were costly—and this was a costly call.

God put a serious attitude upon the people and the men of Israel armed themselves and stepped up—330,000 of them. The Ammonites were caught completely by surprise and their force was decimated.

God used this situation to establish Saul’s credibility as a leader in the eyes of Israel (and her enemies).  He also used the situation to establish Saul’s belief that God could work in and through him for the sake of His name.

[Look around you—listen—observe what havoc the enemy is working. Stir the ashes of your spiritual passion for God. Feel pity for the oppressed. Feel indignant that Christ is slandered and portrayed as feeble. Look for a fight that he will prepare for you—something you can pray against, speak his word into and pull others in to struggle against.  Will you let the enemy poke your eye out? Will you draw a line and say, ‘NO, I won’t sacrifice the truth for an expensive truce with evil’?  Saul was not strong or confident in himself—but when the Spirit of God rushed on him, he became a man.] 

If you ask for the Holy Spirit, your Heavenly Father will give him to you. (Luke 11.13).

Stages on a Journey to Serve God

1 Samuel 10.1-16

We are learning how God prepares opportunities for us to engage by faith in his work--in spite of our shortcomings. Saul was a poor choice for King of Israel, but he was the kind of man the people hankered for. So God gave them what they wanted--but he also furnished Saul with opportunities to be a better man. Saul's life warns us not to miss the opportunities God provides for us to put off our old selves and be remade fit to work for his glory.

Samuel took Saul aside and anointed him with oil. The oil represents the Holy Spirit who sets persons apart for God's work, provides the power to do it and blesses them in it. 

[Go to the book of Acts and notice how the Holy Spirit was always there when new initiatives were set in motion and when people were prepared and sent to out to build the church. Reflect on your experience of the Holy Spirit. How is his work of separating you out for God's holy purposes happening in you? Noticeable?]

Samuel informed Saul that:

1. God had selected him to lead the people of Israel.
2. Signs at three different locations would be given to confirm this as the Lord's word.

Samuel sends Saul on a staged journey, with three confirmatory signs along the way, so that he would know that God is with him and that he is moving towards God's planned destination for him.

[Do you pray about your path? Are you making random direction changes without consulting God--or even your brothers, sisters or mentors? Do you think if you prayed for your future, God could provide some encouraging signs at various stages--so you can be sure you are on track?]

Stage 1. Rachel's Tomb.

Rachel's tomb is a marker that points towards the coming of a future king--King Jesus. You find throughout the Old Testament signposts and types that point towards the One to whom all history points: Jesus Christ.  Saul's brief pause at Rachel's tomb is one of those signposts. It calls to mind that God's work is greater than Saul. 

Alongside the road to Bethel was a monument to Rachel, Jacob’s wife (Genesis 35).She died and was buried there by Jacob on the way to Ephrath (i.e. Bethlehem). Rachel was pregnant but went into hard labour before they made it to Bethlehem. Rachel died and her baby, Benjamin survived (Gen 48.7). Jacob set up a cairn of rocks there over her tomb. Generations later, a descendant of Rachel would make a similar painful journey towards Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph would have ridden past Rachel's tomb--the significance of which would not have been lost on Mary.  By God's grace she made it to Bethlehem and there gave birth to the King above all others, Jesus. 

In the time of Samuel, God was preparing an interim king, Saul, who would turn out to fall short of his calling and be just one in a long line of evidences that Christ alone is worthy to lead God's people. Samuel directed Saul past his ancestor Rachel's, tomb and there to be reminded that the word was out: "Where's Saul?" Saul's future was coming looking for him.He could have taken great encouragement from this, but unlike his forefather, Jacob, he was not desperate for the promises of God. 

[It is very encouraging when we go out after God's calling and meet it on the road inviting us to come this way!]

Stage 2. Bread for the journey

As far as we know this Oak at Tabor was just a well-known old tree that was a familiar landmark by the road. At that place, God provided some bread to sustain Saul and his servant in their journey. God was proving to Saul that he would supply his needs when he stayed on the path he was send down. [He will so that for you, too. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be provided for you.]

Stage 3. Meeting the prophets

The hill of God--this is Bethel, where God revealed himself in a vision to Jacob and he learned that the Lord stands at the head of everything and that everything on the earth comes and goes at his command and control (Gen 28).  At this place, Saul would have his personal revelation of God--he would be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak praises to God.

All these signs were fulfilled and Saul experienced the influence of the Holy Spirit. He was 'changed into another man'--in other words, Saul's normal attitude was subdued and he acted out of character for Saul--he began praising God and speaking God's messages while he was amongst the group of prophets.

[It seems that it is possible for someone to fall under the influence of the Holy Spirit by association with others, without a permanent work being done in the person. How can we be sure that we are properly receiving the Spirit and not just being affected by association with other Spirit-filled persons?]

Samuel urged Saul to grasp any and all opportunities that he could see around him at this time--for God was with him.  In other words, Saul should take strong actions and not hold back.

[How can we keep the flow of God's blessing and power going on our lives? Is it possible we are too passive and lacking in confidence in the Holy Spirit--so we let slip opportunities to make gains at the enemy's expense?  See 2 Kings 13 and the king who struck the ground with his arrows, too timidly.  Paul told Timothy: God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of love, power and self-control.]

When these signs meet you, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 1 Sam 10.7