Day4
Week17
1Samuel 11
“The Spirit of God came strongly upon Saul when he heard these words, and he became very angry. He took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces. And he sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so will it be done to his oxen.” And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out as one man. When he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. They said to the messengers that came, “Thus will you say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have help.’ ” And the messengers came and reported it to the men of Jabesh and they were glad. Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us all that seems good to you.” On the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those surviving were scattered, so that even two of them were not left together.”
1 Samuel 11:6-11 MEV
Cross references
Judges 3:10, 19:29, 20:1;
Judges 1:4-5;
2 Samuel 24:9
Ecclesiastes 1:9
Motivation
There is nothing new under the sun according to King Solomon.
This story sounds like it is taken from a mafia movie.
Chopping up pieces of oxen and sending them out as a message to join or else
This is Saul’s first act as King. He chose to use fear tactics as a motivation to get the people to join him.
It worked, but was it the best option?
The enemies of Israel were already causing great fear over the people.
Saul also in his anger used fear to gather them together for battle.
Saul was lining himself up with the way of the world.
He won the battle and the people feared him.
God’s ways are not like our ways.
God is love. Love is how God motivates us.
A reverent fear or respect is not the same as an intimidating fear.
The enemy of our soul uses intimidation.
God uses love.
Action Step
What is driving your decisions today?
Fear or love?
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