Nahash the Ammonite has marched against Jabesh-Gilead and laid siege to its inhabitants. His terms are brutal: he will make a covenant with them only if he can gouge out the right eye of every man, bringing disgrace upon all Israel. The elders of Jabesh plead for seven days of respite to seek help. Messengers arrive throughout Israel, but no army mobilizes until the sound of the news reaches Saul in Gilgal, where he has just been anointed and acknowledged as king. And then something remarkable happens: “The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul” when he heard the report. He takes an ox, cuts it into pieces, and sends the fragments throughout Israel with a solemn threat: anyone who refuses to follow Saul and Samuel will have their oxen treated the same. The people tremble, assemble, and Saul leads them to a stunning victory. Yet even in triumph, Saul shows restraint—he refuses to execute those who questioned his kingship earlier, declaring that no one shall die on this day.
“No man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has accomplished salvation in Israel.” (1 Samuel 11:13 BSB)
This is a pivotal moment in Saul’s reign. The Spirit that rushed upon him at Gibeah now empowers him for battle. The same God who called him through Samuel now vindicates him in war. But notice the restraint. After the victory, some of the men had said, “How can this man save us?” mocking Saul’s fitness to rule. Now that he has proven himself, they are ready to kill those dissenters in retaliation. Saul forbids it. This is not weakness; it is wisdom. He recognizes that the victory belongs to the Lord, not to him. Salvation has come—not from Saul’s sword, but from the hand of God.
Yet the pattern of Saul’s kingship is already visible. The Spirit rushes upon him, yet he lacks the permanence of the Spirit’s indwelling. He wins battles, yet he struggles with obedience. He shows mercy here, but later he will not spare Agag the king of Amalek. His kingship oscillates between flashes of divine empowerment and deep failures of faith. This tension will define his entire reign.
Christ fulfills this passage in ways that both illuminate and transcend Saul’s story. Where Saul was anointed with oil and empowered temporarily by the Spirit, Christ was baptized with the Holy Spirit without measure. Where Saul gathered an army by threat and sacrifice, Christ gathers His Church by grace and the cross. Where Saul showed mercy to his detractors on this day, Christ shows eternal mercy to His enemies—”Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Where Saul proclaimed, “The LORD has accomplished salvation in Israel,” Christ accomplished salvation for all who believe. The oxen cut in pieces and sent as a summons prefigure the blood of Christ that calls us together. Saul’s temporary victory points forward to Christ’s permanent conquest over sin, death, and Satan. The kingdom that Saul foreshadowed would eventually fall, but the kingdom of Christ shall have no end.
Application
When God delivers you in surprising ways—through unexpected provision, through unlikely people, through circumstances you did not arrange—remember to say what Saul said: “Today the LORD has accomplished salvation.” In moments of success or vindication, resist the urge to claim the glory. Reflect on one recent victory or breakthrough and ask yourself: “Did I credit God for what He accomplished, or did I attribute it to my own skill and effort?”
Cross References
- Zephaniah 3:17 — “The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save.”
- Ephesians 6:10–17 — “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”
- Colossians 2:15 — “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
- Luke 23:34 — “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Prayer
Lord of Hosts, You are the one who accomplishes salvation for Your people. We thank You for Jesus Christ, the true King who conquers not by military might but by the power of the cross. Forgive us for claiming victories as our own achievements and failing to give You the glory You deserve. Give us hearts that recognize every triumph as Your work alone and tongues that proclaim, “The LORD has accomplished salvation.” In His name, Amen.
Leave a Reply