11:1 Saul has recently been chosen by God as king over the children of Israel. But Saul has yet to have any opportunity or duty to serve the role; he has returned home and is living his regular life, though now under the protection of guards. Meanwhile, in a remote and unprotected region of the children of Israel's land, a threat from the Ammonites looms.
The people of Jabesh Gilead are approached by a man named Nahash. Nahash has led an army to the borders of these Israelites with the intention of concurring their land and killing its inhabitants. Unable to defend themselves, the people of Jabesh ask Nahash to make a covenant (deal) with them and receive their service. This suggestion of creating a mutually beneficial deal buys the Israelites time to consider their options. As it stands, their only options seem to be die or become enslaved.
11:2 Nahash responds brutally to Jabesh Gilead. His condition is that the children of Israel may submit to him and remain alive, but only if he can remove their right eyes. Nahash wishes to maim the Israelites in such a way as to publicly mock them, render them defenseless and hinder their ability to see (perceive). Interestingly, that horrid agenda is shared by all things, ideas and forces which oppose God.
11:3 Reasonably horrified by Nahash's conditions, the children of Israel opt to keep their options open for another seven days. The seven-day time-frame is used frequently in scripture as it represents spiritual-completeness. The people of Jabesh Gilead intend to inform the tribes of Israel of their plight in hope that they might be rescued.
11:4 Messengers from Jabesh Gilead arrive and tell the tribes about their impending war with the Ammonites. The children of Israel begin to wail, they feel doomed by the prospect of such brutal defeat.
11:5 Saul returns from his regular duties in a symbolic way. Saul has gathered a flock and encouraged them home; such is Saul's specific duty as king. This symbolic role of shepherd is referenced often: in John 10:11 Jesus Himself is the shepherd of God's children; in John 21:15-17 God instructs Peter to take care of His sheep (children).
Saul returns to find the people in despair and after making an inquiry, he is informed of the immediate problem.
11:6 Saul is prepared by God to confront. Nahash with a bold spirit. He is emboldened by the Spirit of God; his sense of righteous honor is invigorated by this injustice. The Spirit of God, the justice and vehement need to protect it, always enters a child of God. God emboldens us in such a way that mutes and moves our fears from our path. Our impassioned need to protect what is righteous takes over the command center of our brains and propels us forward.
Saul is tremendously unprepared to confront this army; he is a farmer only recently made unlikely king. He has no experience but he does have God. The reason this account was written and preserved in scripture until and beyond our very generation is not because Nahash remains; he is long gone. The reason is because God wants us to understand that we may be unqualified without Him, but we are overqualified with Him. God wants us to realize that Nahash is gone but more people rise up with the same corrupt spirit - wishing to literally and figuratively maim us, weaken us, and mock us - but as long as we are aligned with God's will of righteousness, we will be invulnerable to their attempts.
11:7 Saul makes a physical and furious declaration of war against the Ammonite army. He explains that the members of each tribe of Israel are required to join him (and Samuel the prophet) in battle. Saul's intention is to prod each individual to chose for themselves: bravery on behalf of God's will or cowardliness which will get them killed. Saul feels that if a person is unwilling to defend their brethren, they defend the enemy... and shall be dealt with as such. The children of Israel do come together, however, as one with a united intention to rise against Nahash's army.
Children of God are easily recognizable because their compassion and sense of justice will not allow them to obstruct justice nor turn their back on anyone who is being treated unjustly. Righteousness takes over. The fear is still there but courage provided by God pushes them through it.
11:8-9 Saul amasses an Israelite army and promises the people of Jabesh Gilead that they will receive help the next day, by the time the sun is hot. Without delay, Saul will march his army against the enemy.
11:10 The people of Jabesh Gilead tell Nahash that the next day, they will surrender themselves. This will give the Israelite army enough time to reach and rescue Jabesh Gilead.
11:11 The day of the battle, Saul divides his army into three divisions and the Israelite army thoroughly defeats the Ammonites. Those who do survive of the enemy army are scattered to the point that not even two of them remain together. Realize that it was neither skill nor preparedness that won this battle. Righteousness won this battle. The children of Israel gathered in selfless defense of an innocent people and were thus led by God into victory.
Too often politics as an ulterior motive, whether known to the soldiers and citizens or not. The wars in history and today are convoluted by personal and corrupt agendas more often than they are selfless attempts to restore justice. For this reason, wars are often long rather than short, complicated rather and simple, and chaotic rather than strategic.
11:12 Although united for a greater purpose, the children are Israel are still flawed. The adreneline of the victory is surging through them and they wish to put to death everyone who doubted Saul, (spoken of in the previous chapter).
11:13 Saul's response to their intentions is this: Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has accomplished salvation in Israel. Saul's response is more than appropriate in that he acknowledges God's generous victory and simultaneously refuses to celebrate with death.
11:14-15 Saul leads the people to Gilgal, a site which was made sacred by the covenant with God. Saul's coronation takes place; sacrifices and peace offerings are made to God with fervent joy. The children of Israel celebrate not only the victory against the Ammonites but also - after a long time whining for one - their new king. They believe that they have everything they ever wanted, but God promised that kings only eventually create problems.
It is wise for each of us to give authority to God's will over our lives. For to allow God's will to override our own wishes, prayers, hopes and desires, is to disallow what is not good for us from coming into our lives. God would have won that battle on their behalf without their new king... God is able win our battles without the thing or person we so desperately think we need.
