“And all
the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal;
and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and
there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.” (v.15)
Throughout
the history of the nation of Israel, the people have turned their backs on God
and questioned His chosen leaders. In our reading today Saul, who’s kingship
had been rejected back in chapter 10 by many, leads an army of three hundred
thousand men to liberate those Israelites who had chosen to live on the other
side of the Jordan river. Then, upon his success, Saul wisely attributed the
victory to God alone (v.13).
The
choice of Saul as king, privately made by God through Samuel, and publicly
confirmed by the election at Mizpah, had now received complete ratification in
his victory over Nahash. His detractors were silenced, and the unanimous consent
of the people was made evident, by all who gathered both to make sacrifices and
rejoice before the LORD. Thus, God's chosen man was made king.
There’s
an old saying, “Love conquers all.” It was Saul’s love for his country, even those
who chose to separate themselves across the Jordan that united the nation
behind him. But the LORD saw him even before he was born.
The
Truth
“And though
I have the gift of prophecy,
and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so
that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians
13:2)
