Acknowledging that it was the hand of our God

 1 Samuel 11:12-15

I believe there are some observations we need to look for as it was in the time of Samuel, so it is today.  Mankind will always give credit to anyone but God!  It seems to be ingrained in our DNA to give praise and honor to a person over acknowledging that it was the hand of our God.  Saul the baggage hider is coming back into town behind his oxen and gets the report of what Nahash the Ammonite is going to do, shall we look once more at verse six, “And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.”  It does not say Saul came up with a battle plan, God’s Spirit took over, all Saul did was go with the flow, it was God who gave the baggage hider the spirit to put a plan into action, and it was God.  It was God who put the fear of Saul and Samuel as His earthly leaders in the hearts of the people, and they did as Saul directed.  And that next morning Israel won a significant battle and whom do they give the credit to?  Yes, you are 100% correct; Saul got the glory, and once more it shows how shallow our understanding of God is.

Do you recall that when Samuel had told the people God had picked Saul to lead them and sent them home, some men of valor whose hearts God had touched went back with Saul?  You will always have those men in your church, but you also will have some worthless fellows, they like to stay in the foyer of the church, not under the authority of teaching.  And their message is the same as the worthless men; “How can this man save us?”  These are dangerous men, always questioning authority, and have no understanding of the ways of God. 

When things go well it seems we remember the so-called worthless fellows, and a nation is in lockstep with the new King, so picking up the story in verse 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.”  Do you recall it said that people are fickle, this same group would be asking for Saul’s head if the Lord had not given him the battle?

Saul shows some excellent leadership skills in verse 13, “But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.”  That is a good start for any leader and Saul did not take the credit but gave it to the LORD.  And the last two verses sound as if we now have a king that will look to God, and the people are excited.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice