1 Samuel 11: Saul Established as King

Outline

• Kingdom threatened
• Kingdom delivered
• Kingdom renewed

Introduction

As we begin chapter 11 we need to appreciate that Saul was in a very similar position to Donald Trump today. Donald Trump has only been the president elect for a few days, and is untested and untrusted. We see at the end of the last chapter that Saul was in a similar position, v27, ‘But some worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.’ It appears as if the whole point of chapter 12 is to answer that question. It really is the necessary question as we consider the whole issue of a king who is to save. The answer of the chapter is plain, ‘not by might, not by power but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord. This chapter of an anointed King who delivers his people and the people recommit themselves to God is a striking forerunner of the deliverance of Christ. The seed of the serpent comes into God’s garden, and threatens God’s bride, and God’s anointed and appointed vice-regent crushes the seed of the serpent and delivers the people.

As we view God’s mercy in raising up and empowering a man to deliver His people we will note the wickedness of sinners, the necessity of the Spirit and appropriateness of our allegiance to a saving God as we observe this forerunner of Christ saving his people.