The Holy Spirit comes upon Saul in a way that is quite similar to the way that the Spirit of God descends upon the judges in the book of Judges. There is a war that Israelites face and they need deliverence. God raises up a judge to deliver them and that judge is anointed and empowered by the Spirit of God. This kind of deliverence was understood as a foreshadowing of Messiah in the Old Testament. This is why many people believed that Jesus would marc over the Romans like the judges marched over the Philistines, or in Saul’s case like he marched over the Ammonites. Jesus did share with them the clear sense of God’s calling and he did share with them the strong presence of the Holy Spirit. However, Jesus’ kingdom was like nothing that had ever gone before.
Jesus brought the kingdom of God in which Christians now live. Like the deliverers of the Jewish kingdom, like Saul, we should be looking for God to anoint us or set us apart for a particular ministry or calling. When we see what our vocation is to be we should expect to live out our calling with the uncommon zeal and power that comes from walking in the Holy Spirit.
1 Samuel 11
1 Nahash[a]the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.”
2But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.”
3The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you.”
4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud. 5Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.
6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. 7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out together as one. 8When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand.
9 They told the messengers who had come, “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.’” When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. 10They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.”
11The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
Saul Confirmed as King
12The people then said to Samuel, “Who was it that asked, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death.”
13But Saul said, “No one will be put to death today, for this day the LORD has rescued Israel.”
14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.
Questions
- Who besieged the Israelites?
- What was the threat to the Israelites in the besieged city?
- How did Saul respond to the threat?
- What circumstances in the world are you called to change?
- How is God equipping you to face the circumstances he wants you to address?
Plymothian 
1. The Ammonites besieged the Israelites at Jabesh Gilead.
2. The threat to the Israelites in Jabesh Gilead was that they would get their right eyes gouged out if they didn’t make a treaty with Nahash.
3. Saul responded to the threat by threatening the rest of the Israelites that he would chop them up if they didn’t gather together to save the Israelites at Jabesh Gilead.
4. Some circumstances in the world that I’m called to change are those of kids in schools who do not have good role models and loving adults in their lives to support, encourage, and teach them.
5. God is equipping me to face this by giving me good role models, both spiritually and in the classroom, so that I can know what it looks like to be a good role model and a loving adult to the children in my classroom.
1.Who besieged the Israelites?
The Ammonites beseiged Gilead.
2.What was the threat to the Israelites in the besieged city?
They were going to have their eyes gouged out.
3.How did Saul respond to the threat?
He took action, slaughtered his cows, and called all the men together to fight.
4.What circumstances in the world are you called to change?
I think that I am called to go and spread the gospel, to be a light in the darkness.
5.How is God equipping you to face the circumstances he wants you to address?
My training at Moody volunteer opportunities has equiped me in addition to the natural gifts and talents that he has given me.
1. The ammonites.
2. Because if they didn’t make the treaty they were going to get one of their eyes poked out.
3. He took an ox and cut it up saying thats what he would do to the israelites if they signed the treaty.
4. I feel pulled in so many directions…obviously for children since I am in this major, but in general to stand up for others whether they are homeless or if they are my friends and being mistreated by others.
5. He is providing me with really small opportunities to step out of my comfort zone and use my voice to speak truth in front of others which could be used really anywhere that God ends up using me.
1.Who besieged the Israelites?
The Ammonites.
2.What was the threat to the Israelites in the besieged city?
They would get their eyes gouged out if they did not make a treaty with Nahash.
3.How did Saul respond to the threat?
He took action by having the oxen chopped up and sent to the men of Israel and threatened them to fight.
4.What circumstances in the world are you called to change?
I definitely have a strong desire to raise a godly family, unlike what the majority of the world would aspire to do. I want my family to be an example of God’s design for people in families.
5.How is God equipping you to face the circumstances he wants you to address?
He is changing my heart, awakening passions in me that I didn’t know I felt so strongly for. He is giving me courage to act on them as well.
1. The Ammonites.
2. they would make treaty with Israel only if they let them gouge out the right eye of every one of of them (Israelites).
3. he threatened the Israelites with destruction if they did not work together to fight their enemy.
4. I have a vision that children of unfortunate circumstances would know what kind of love Christ has for them. I dont want to bring them out of poverty, but i want to bring Christ to them,
5. He has given me the gifts of love and compassion. I am working with children at sunday school at my church. Even though they are not poor, they still need Christ. some of them come from broken homes. the Lord is using me to show His love to them.
1. The Ammonites besieged Israel.
2. They could either fight them or agree to their treaty and have their eyes gouged out.
3. He became angry and called on all of Israel to come to their aid.
4. I think I am called to change the lives of children by showing them the love of Christ. This could be just one child or many children.
5. He is equipping me to do this by preparing my heart for this kind of ministry. He is also allowing me to be at a school and in a program that will prepare me for this.
1.Who besieged the Israelites?
2.What was the threat to the Israelites in the besieged city?
3.How did Saul respond to the threat?
4.What circumstances in the world are you called to change?
5.How is God equipping you to face the circumstances he wants you to address
1. Nahesh the Ammonite besieged Jabeth-gilead.
2. The threat to the Israeites in the beseiged city is that they would get their eyes gouged out if they did not make the treaty.
3. Saul responded to the threat by threatening the people to fight.
4. We are called to change circumstances that are unjust, but we can only seek and pursue these changes we have to let God be the provider of the change itself.
5. God is equipping me to face the circumstances he wants me to address by trusting in His ways above my own and committing to things I feel called to but not capable on my own strength.
1. ammonites
2.fight or surrender their eyes!
3. called (threatened) the men to fight
4. change exclusive youth groups into a body of Christ that accepts everyone in love
5.he puts me through trials to make me stronger
1) The Ammonites were besieging them.
2) They wanted to make a treaty with them that would involve gouging out all of Isreal’s right eyes.
3) They sent a deceptive message to them.
4) I am called to change the way that I allow people to be invovled in predjudices around me.
5) By giving me a desire to reach out to all people.
1.Who besieged the Israelites?Nahash the Ammonite besieged Jabesh Gilead
2.What was the threat to the Israelites in the besieged city? Ammonite would make a treaty with israel only on the condition that they gouge out the right eye of every one of Israel and so bring disgrace on all Israel
3.How did Saul respond to the threat? he made an idea and defeated them
4.What circumstances in the world are you called to change? I don’t know what i am called to change in the world… but if it is God’s will, i would like to go to Asian countries and teach children about Christian view of study and share the Gospel
5.How is God equipping you to face the circumstances he wants you to address? He brought me here in the U.S. and learn lots of things….haha
1. Nahash the Ammonite besieged Jabesh Gilead.
2. The threat to the Israelites were to make a treaty only on the condition that their right eyes get gouged out.
3. Saul threatened them to fight.
4. I am not sure of what I am called to change yet, but we are called to change the world and the actions of non-believers.
5. he has been equipping me by bringing me here at Moody.
1. Who besieged the Israelites?
Nahash the Ammonite.
2. What was the threat to the Israelites in the besieged city?
They threatened that they would make a treaty only on the condition that they would gouge out the Israelites’ right eyes.
3. How did Saul respond to the threat?
Saul threatened people to fight.
4. What circumstances in the world are you called to change?
I think I am called to change students lives by educating them with the word of God.
5. How is God equipping you to face the circumstances he wants you to address? He has equipped me by allowing me to study His word and teaching me how to educate others.
1.Who besieged the Israelites?
-Nahash the Ammonites Jabesh Filead
2.What was the threat to the Israelites in the besieged city?
– The threat was that Nahash would make a treaty with Jabesh when Nahash gouge out the right eye of all Israelites.
3.How did Saul respond to the threat?
-He burned with anger so he took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel.
4.What circumstances in the world are you called to change?
– I am in the process of figuring that out.
5.How is God equipping you to face the circumstances he wants you to address?
– By asking me to put all my trust in Him