Inspired
by the Spirit of God, Saul was stirred into action. Unlike previously, verse 7
tells us that “He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and
sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of
messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so
shall it be done to his oxen.”” Here was a very different Saul. He
announced in all seriousness what would happen to those who would not rally
around the people of Jabesh-gilead. Cutting up the oxen, and sending the pieces
throughout the land, he challenged the people to come out with him and Samuel
to do what was needed. This time he was not just willing to enjoy the
anointing, he was seriously going to do something with it.
Immediately we are told that “…the dread of
the Lord fell on the
people, and they came out as one man.” There was a united response to the
rallying call. God moved in the lives of not only those whose hearts were
touched by God but also those who were not before. A total of 330,o00 people
responded 300,0oo of the people of Israel and 30,000 from
Judah. They all came gathering at Bezek. There was a remarkable
unity and they came as one man. From Bezek, they sent the messengers
confidently back to Jabesh-gilead with the good news of the coming deliverance.
When the people received the news, they were glad. Good news always
brings hope. We are all called to be bearers of the best news humanity has
hoped for. The coming of the King of kings, Jesus our Lord, is the best news
anyone can ever receive. The issue is, are we bearers of the good news of His
deliverance? When was the last time you share with another person that came
across your path, the Gospel of Jesus Christ? We are told to go into all the
world, not just to share the good news but also to make disciples for Christ.
Let us enlarge the Kingdom.
Strategically, the people of Jabesh-gilead than
conveyed to the Ammonites by giving the impression as if they were giving in to
their demands. They told the Ammonites saying, “Tomorrow we will come out to
you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” The combined
force that had rallied as one man was divided into three divisions. They came
among the Ammonites, between three to six in the early morning, and caught them
by surprise. Until the heat of the day, the Ammonites were slaughtered. Those
who were not killed scattered till no two persons were found together.
The
Gospel of the Kingdom is more than a message. It is warfare. Know it or not, saving souls is liken
to a spiritual battle. Are we fighting to win men for the
Kingdom with the message of the Kingdom? The world is engulfed by darkness
promulgated by the prince of darkness. We, the children of light, are called to
shed light in the world of darkness. In Jesus’ words, the violent shall take it
by force. Like physical childbirth, spiritual birth is not a casual thing. The
former is usually attended to by the agony of blood, sweat, and tears, the
latter must be engaged with the agony of travailing prayers. Remember as soon
as Zion travailed, she brought forth her babies. Are we praying for spiritual
birth? Don’t neglect this all-important responsibility of prayer. The souls of
men in darkness call for us to pray fervently. Let us do it for God, for the
Kingdom and for the sake of the lost!
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