Called To Be a Blessing: 1 Samuel 11:9-15
God calls us to point people to Him and to be a blessing to those whom we lead. God deserves the praise. People learn to love God by experiencing His grace, love, and mercy. We are best suited to serve God when we are focused on Him and looking for ways to bless those around us.
When Saul’s army arrives to defend Jabesh-gilead, Saul tells the messengers the attack will come by the hottest point of the day. Shrewdly – although not necessarily honorably – the people of Jabesh-gilead sends a communication to the Ammonites informing them of their plan to surrender. Saul uses the evening to split up his army. He attacks during the morning watch. The Ammonites, expecting a peaceful end to the siege, are devastated.
Say what you will about the tactics of Jabesh-gilead. They lulled the Ammonites into a false sense of security. They lied to the Ammonites, intentionally deceiving them. The lie is wrong, of course.
However, the Ammonites were in the position because they put themselves there. The people of Jabesh-gilead did nothing to encourage the Ammonites to lay siege. The Ammonites acted on their own accord. Had the Ammonites not extorted Jabesh-gilead, they wouldn’t have died.
Yes, the people of Jabesh-gilead lied, setting the Ammonites up. But the Ammonites made the first bad move. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but the second wrong wouldn’t have happened had the first wrong not occurred. The people of Jabesh-gilead are guilty of lying; the blood of the Ammonites, though, is not on their hands.
After the incredible victory, the Hebrew people are emboldened to follow Saul. Some were not initially sure of Saul’s leadership, but after his first victory people wanted to follow. In fact, many seek the dissenters to have them killed in support of Saul.
Saul deserves credit. It could not have been easy to hear dissenters after being publicly declared king. Yet, Saul does not take the emotional path here. Had Saul wanted, he could have ridden the wave of victory and demanded the deaths of his dissenters. The people would have gone along and not blamed him. Instead, Saul pardons them. He declares nobody will die on a day that God provided salvation.
Saul makes a great theological point in his actions. God was generous, why should Saul not extend generosity also? God saved, why should Saul not save also?
Strong leadership honors God and blesses people. A good leader points people to God and turns what blessings could be claimed back onto the people. Weak leaders claim glory and blessing for themselves. Weak leaders look to be exalted instead of looking to be a blessing. Saul takes a strong position of leadership at the end of this chapter. Like Saul, God calls each of us to be strong leaders. God calls us to point people to Him and to be a blessing to those whom we lead.
