Just Need Him

The last chapter ended with “How can this man save us?”  Chapter 11 is going to present an example of God using the new king.  

2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Abuse takes many forms.  Have you ever noticed how easy it is to start an argument?  

Broadly we can fall into one of two categories; abuser or abused.  Verbal attacks and threats can quickly escalate to physical attacks.

We are often quick to use the term to abuse to mean anything from disagreement to the hurting of a person’s feelings.   The root word in the Latin language (abuti) meant to consume.  The dictionary definition includes “a corrupt practice or custom; improper or excessive use (like abusing a car or a toaster); language that condemns or vilifies; usually unjustly or intemperately or angrily or physical maltreatment”.

Cruel Threats (vv.1-3)

1 Samuel 11:1 (NKJV) Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.

The Ammonites were the descendants of Lot.  By now they were distant relatives from the past.

How do we go from distant relative to enemy?  The “Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh” that is they surrounded the city with a massive army.   Jabesh Gilead was located about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south and east of Bet Shean; about 2 miles east of the Jordan river in the ancient tribal region of Manassah.  

In the future the men of Jabesh Gilead would remember the kindness of Saul, even after he was slain on Mount Gilboa  and rescue his body that was mutilated and on the walls of Bet Shean--take the bodies (of Saul and his sons) and burn them in Jabesh Gilead.  

Right from the start the men of Jabesh Gilead attempted a truce--a surrender.  In their minds the terms of the surrender means they become slaves and subjects of the Ammonites.

Abused people often cave in to...