Samuel retirement Speech

July 18, 2017

1 Samuel 12: 1-5

Do you recall your retirement speech?  I do, and much time and thought went  into it.  After 41 years with a great company and being part of a team that worked well to earn and keep our customers, I had so many people to thank, and I also needed to share with the younger employees what I saw in the future for them. 

But I was not a person of title, I was in sales, and unlike Samuel, I never was the leader, or the person that a nation looked to for direction.  It would be easy to read the wrong thing into Samuel’s farewell address, so let us recall why he said much of this.  You remember his mother Hannah ask God for a son and promised she would give him back to the Lord as a child.  And how she took Samuel to Eli the priest, and he lived and served under him while just a child.  I bet you recall Eli’s sons were the priests in title only, but God called them worthless men.  They took what was only to be given to God, and used it for themselves, and they used the women at the temple gate to have sex.  

Now when Samuel got married and had sons they also were called worthless men, and the people rejected their leadership.  But Samuel took this on a personal note and God reminded him, that it was not he they rejected, but God’s rule.  And so God said let them have a king, and God picked Saul.  So now Samuel is giving his farewell talk.

“And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray, and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me, and I will restore it to you.” They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand.” And he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.”

Today I was involved in a conversation, and the man said he was from Arkansas, and an ex-president’s name came up, and he asked the question, why do we hold them to a higher moral requirement than ourselves?  It is a simple answer, because God does!  That does not excuse our actions, but leadership is always held to a higher level, and we should expect it.  Today the measuring bar is so low and we see Washington filled with people that are immoral at all levels of government.  It makes one wonder, could any of them say what Samuel has said, and how would the people answer?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

One mean-spirited person

 1 Samuel 11:1-3

What an interesting proposition, the men of Jabesh-gilead, offered by Nahash the Ammonite.  Now a little geography to put these people in the proper place, Jabesh-gilead it is about 20 miles south of the Sea of Galilee and just east of the Jordan River.  Most of us, at some time in our life, will find ourselves in a mess, and it became clear the best way out was to pay tribute, it may be a compliment or honor of some sort, but it sure was not from the heart.  It may have been compensation so you could move on with your trip.  I have heard of people who knew the ticket they received was not warranted but to fight it would cost more, disturb a trip, so they paid a fine they knew was not correct.

Nahash the Ammonite had come into Israel and had laid siege to the area, and the people of Jabesh-gilead found themselves in a mess, this Ammonite was going to be a bother, and so they made a deal, we will be willing to pay tribute if you will leave us alone.  I’m not sure they understood that like throwing gas on a fire, he knows you are not willing to fight.  That’s what Neville Chamberlain the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom did to Hitler.  Or moving up to 2012, and Obama's 'red line' failure assured a crisis in Syria and cost 14,000 lives.  Weakness always allows the bullies to have no fear of the outcome and in all three cases stated, we had weak men bring others into peril.

Now I’m not sure they understood that Nahash was one mean-spirited person, and I would put him in the same camp as Kim Jong Un of North Korea and the Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI of Iran.  Evil has been with us since Cain killed Abel; that’s not correct it began in heaven long before that when Lucifer set his heart on being like God.  And now we do not refer to him as Lucifer, but Satan and the devil, and Jesus tells us Satan’s goal is to kill, steal and destroy, and he has entered into the men listed above to carry out his plan.

This was Nahash’ offer; we need to begin in verse 1 and 2, “Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition, I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.” The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.”

Now I’m not sure about you, but this question entered my mind; if no one comes to help us would these men give themselves up to your plan?  Did I miss something, they are more interested in bringing shame than on compensation, and if no one comes to save us, we will submit to you putting out our eyes.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

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

A stronger word than glad

1 Samuel 11:4-11

Mere men weep at a disaster, but something happens on the report of what Nahash the Ammonite had planned for the people of the besieged Jabesh-gilead.  Saul was coming back from the field, and he asked why the people were weeping?  And when told the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul, and his anger was great, he cut up the oxen in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel.

I do think it is worth reminding the reader that this is the same Saul who was hiding in the baggage, but now the Spirit of God is controlling Saul and look at his boldness.  Picking up in verses 7b-9, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have salvation.’” When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad.”

It had to be a stronger word than glad, maybe exuberant, or ecstatic, glad is a little too weak a word for the emotions that would have been taking place.  It is the next day, and we have this account in verses 10-11, “Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered so that no two of them were left together.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

How does it stack-up with Jesus?

1 Samuel 10:17-27

It seems that many in the church have an identity problem, they identify with a denomination but not with Jesus Christ.  In the last week, a lady asked my wife if she knew that they had removed Baptist from the name of our church, and I was so pleased with Jan’s reply, that’s fine with me.  As Jan told me about her conversation, I said, I do not recall Baptists dying for my sins, nor could we remember in times of need praying to Baptist.  We pray to Jesus the Christ each day, for He is our Savior and Lord!

As I looked at the Scripture listed above, it became apparent that this is not a new problem, humanity likes to worship people and things they can see, for to do otherwise requires faith.  One might ask, did not Israel have a history of God saving their bacon, not sure that’s a proper term, when one is talking about the Jewish people, so we will use the term “fighting for them?”  And the answer is definitely; over and over He protected his people He left no room for them to believe otherwise.

So Samuel gives them a history lesson, but it is God doing the teaching, let us pick up the story in verse17-19, “Now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah. And he said to the people of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, ‘Set a king over us.’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands.”

It matters not what denomination title you claim, I believe it is a great question to ask yourself, how does it stack-up with Jesus, where is my identity found, in Christ or some man-made organization?  If you were to ask me today whose church I’m a member of I would tell you that at the young age of 27 I learned that being a Baptist was not a requirement for eternal life with the Father in heaven.  And that by faith, faith that God gave me, the Scriptures convicted me that I was lost and without hope.  Jesus Christ the Son of God had taken the full wrath of His Father and took my sin, and yours to the Cross and paid in full with His blood.  And in three days, death and the grave could not hold Him, and He came out of that grave and my identity is in Him for He has become my life.

So as all the tribes of Israel came, they drew lots, and it fell on the tribe of Benjamin, and its clans and lots took the Matrites, and lots took Saul, the son of Kish.  And he was nowhere to be found, so the people inquired again of the Lord, and he told them they would see him hiding among the baggage.

Picking up the story in verse 23-27, “Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. But some worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

His Resume was not Impressive

 1 Samuel 10:1-16

Do you recall we stated that Saul had a lot going for him, but his resume was not all that impressive, from the information that we have to view?  His dad gives him a job, find the donkeys, and he is a total failure, but from heaven’s view God is working to arrange this meeting with His prophet.

It seems to this writer that Saul would have his doors blown off by what is going to happen next, shall we begin with Samuel taking out a flask of oil and pouring it on the head of Saul and then kissing him.  Now that was part of the custom to honor or to anoint a person for a special task, and I’m sure you recall doctor Luke sharing about Jesus at the Pharisee's house.  This is from Luke’s gospel; “And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.”

“Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord, and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies.  And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage.”  God gave Saul three signs, and they all came to pass, but did you see what God did for Saul; it is what He has done for every person who has by grace and faith entered into Christ.  You will find it in verse nine: “When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day.”

 What a head on collision between grace and works, it may require you to reread and ask the Holy Spirit to allow you the understanding that Saul did not earn this place of honor, it was all God’s doing.  Samuel’s part was to do what God told him, but Saul was given a new heart, and it was not earned, and his involvement was just receiving this blessing from the LORD.

When you and I entered into Christ and He into us it was the same grace extended, and now as we walk as followers of Christ, it requires grace and faith, for in Faith we find the Victory.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice  

A place of honor

1 Samuel 9:22-27

A place of honor is exciting, and it is also very rare to most of us, but when honor is extended when no act or accomplishment has taken place that can be very humbling.  No one got praised for coming in last, it was evident we were not very good at the task at hand, and all we know about Saul at this time, he is from a family of affluence, he was taller than all his people, and he was handsome.  He cannot manage to locate a few lost donkeys, and yet Samuel is having Saul sit in the seat of importance, the head table and he getting a portion of meat set aside for the exclusive guest.

They are coming down from the high place into the city, and the bed was spread for Saul on the roof, and he lay down to sleep.  Can you imagine the conversation that took place on that roof with his servant?  We have no clarity on what, if anything was said.  But if the servant was on the roof I bet it went something like this; what happened today, why were you in the seat of honor, why the particular portion, and Saul replied, buddy I do not have a clue?

It is the next morning, it is the break of dawn, now that’s early for many who have never witnessed a dawn, it is a particular time when the sun is coming up on the horizon, and you awaken to a sky full of the most amazing colors.  And Samuel is saying get up and be on your way; it does not say one thing about breakfast, or food, but just the mission of the day.  So when they are in the street, Samuel tells Saul to send his servant on ahead for he has some words for Saul’s ears only.  And what are those words, the same ones God has been sending to you and me, “that I may make known to you the word of God.”

It is true, but we seem to be too immature to understand that it is God speaking, much like the young boy Samuel when Eli knew it was God talking to Samuel and gave Samuel this directive;  “Speak LORD for your servant hears.”

Tomorrow we will explore chapter 10:1-16; it is going to blow your doors off if you are trying to earn your way into the grace of a Holy God.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice