First
Samuel 10:27 revealed that there were some people who despised Saul when he was
first anointed as king. Those worthless men did not follow him. However, we
have discovered that they were not the only ones who didn’t believe that Saul
had the capacity to save them. That belief was more widespread. How do we know?
The very fact that they did not turn to him as their first option for their
deliverance at Jabesh-gilead proved the common attitude that the people had
about Saul. They just didn’t believe that he could deliver. The question in
verse 11 “Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ was an
indication that they were trying to deflect their own guilt. They were
obviously shifting blame.
So
on that crucial day, they saw a very different man. One who had the guts to
stand up to the enemies. To ease their conscience, they wanted those who
despised Saul to be put to death. But Saul showed grace. He said, “Not a
man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has accomplished deliverance
in Israel.” It’s so unlike him. However, by being merciful, Saul reminds
us of our Lord Jesus. He was despised by the people He came to save. Yet He
chose to show grace and went to the cross for them. Whosoever would believe in
Him would not perish but have everlasting life. From Him, we have received
grace upon grace.
In
verse 14 Samuel then called on the people to go to Gilgal to renew the kingdom.
Gilgal was a significant place. When the people of Israel first crossed the
promised land, their first stop was Gilgal. There they also renewed their
covenant with God. The generation that was born in the wilderness wandering was
circumcised. So at Gilgal, they circumcised and renew their relationship with
the LORD. Then the reproach of Egypt was rolled back. It was in Gilgal that
they would be renewing the Kingdom. This word refers to kingship. It’s about
renewing their relationship with the king. So at Gilgal, they did and verse 15
tells us that “There they also offered sacrifices of peace offerings
before the Lord, and there
Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.”
In
renewing the Kingdom, whose kingship was they renewing - Saul’s or the
LORD’s? Though the people had rejected God as their King, God on His
part still considered them His inheritance. He gave them an earthly king, but
He remained very much their Sovereign LORD. Fundamentally, Samuel was calling
for a renewal in their relationship with God. While Saul was anointed as
king, the nation including the earthly king had to submit to the Sovereignty of
the King of kings. This helps us to remember Jesus’ words. He said that while
we are in the world we are not of the world. The one we give our total
allegiance to is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Yes on earth we must obey
our leaders and submit to earth’s governing authorities. But our citizenship is
in heaven and the one who rules our lives is King Jesus. Remember the Kingdom
of God is within us. We live on earth to reflect the nature of our heavenly
citizenship. So, let us set our affection on things above where Christ is
seated!
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