1 Samuel 13:1 Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty-two years over Israel.
1 Samuel 13:2 He chose three thousand men from Israel for himself: two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in Bethel’s hill country, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away, each to his own tent.
1 Samuel 13:3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”
1 Samuel 13:4 And all Israel heard the news, “Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison, and Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines.” Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
1 Samuel 13:5 The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
1 Samuel 13:6 The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, in thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns.
1 Samuel 13:7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear.
1 Samuel 13:8 He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him.
1 Samuel 13:9 So Saul said, “Bring me the ascending offering and the fellowship offerings.” Then he offered the ascending offering.
1 Samuel 13:10 Just as he finished offering the ascending offering, notice Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him,
1 Samuel 13:11 and Samuel asked, “What have you done?” Saul answered, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn’t come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash,
1 Samuel 13:12 I thought, ‘The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven’t sought Yahveh’s favor.’ So I forced myself to offer the ascending offering.”
1 Samuel 13:13 Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the command Yahveh your God gave you. It was at this time that Yahveh would have permanently established your reign over Israel,
1 Samuel 13:14 but now your reign will not endure. Yahveh has found a man after his own heart, and Yahveh has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what Yahveh commanded.”
1 Samuel 13:15 Then Samuel went from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were with him, about six hundred men.
1 Samuel 13:16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, and the Philistines were camped at Michmash.
1 Samuel 13:17 Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three divisions. One division headed toward the Ophrah road leading to the land of Shual.
1 Samuel 13:18 The next division headed toward the Beth-horon road, and the last division headed down the border road that looks out over the Zeboim Valley toward the wilderness.
1 Samuel 13:19 No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears.”
1 Samuel 13:20 So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plows, mattocks, axes, and sickles.
1 Samuel 13:21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel for plows and mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on a cattle prod.
1 Samuel 13:22 So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.
1 Samuel 13:23 Now a Philistine garrison took control of the pass at Michmash.
1 Samuel 12:1 Then Samuel said to all Israel, “Notice, I have carefully listened to everything you said to me and placed a king over you.
1 Samuel 12:2 Now notice that the king is leading you. As for me, notice I’m old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have led you from my youth until now.
1 Samuel 12:3 Notice me. Bring charges against me before Yahveh and his anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I wronged or mistreated? From whom have I accepted a bribe to overlook something? I will return it to you.”
1 Samuel 12:4 “You haven’t wronged us, you haven’t mistreated us, and you haven’t taken anything from anyone,” they responded.
1 Samuel 12:5 He said to them, “Yahveh is a witness against you, and his anointed is a witness today that you haven’t found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they said.
1 Samuel 12:6 Then Samuel said to the people, “Yahveh, who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt, is a witness.
1 Samuel 12:7 Now present yourselves, so I may confront you before Yahveh about all the righteous acts he has done for you and your ancestors.
1 Samuel 12:8 “When Jacob went to Egypt, your ancestors cried out to Yahveh, and he sent them Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.
1 Samuel 12:9 But they forgot Yahveh their God, so he handed them over to Sisera commander of the army of Hazor, to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab. These enemies fought against them.
1 Samuel 12:10 Then they cried out to Yahveh and said, ‘We have sinned, for we abandoned Yahveh and worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now rescue us from the power of our enemies, and we will serve you.’
1 Samuel 12:11 So Yahveh sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel. He rescued you from the power of the enemies around you, and you lived securely.
1 Samuel 12:12 But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was coming against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king reign over us’– even though Yahveh your God is your king.
1 Samuel 12:13 “Now notice the king you’ve chosen, the one you requested. Notice, this is the king Yahveh has placed over you.
1 Samuel 12:14 If you fear Yahveh, worship and obey him, and if you don’t rebel against Yahveh’s command, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow Yahveh your God.
1 Samuel 12:15 However, if you disobey Yahveh and rebel against his command, Yahveh’s hand will be against you as it was against your ancestors.
1 Samuel 12:16 “Now, therefore, present yourselves and see this great thing that Yahveh will do before your eyes.
1 Samuel 12:17 Isn’t the wheat harvest today? I will call on Yahveh, and he will send thunder and rain so that you will recognize what an immense evil you committed in Yahveh’s sight by requesting a king for yourselves.”
1 Samuel 12:18 Samuel called on Yahveh, and on that day Yahveh sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared Yahveh and Samuel.
1 Samuel 12:19 They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to Yahveh your God for your slaves so we won’t die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves.”
1 Samuel 12:20 Samuel replied, “Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following Yahveh. Instead, worship Yahveh with all your heart.
1 Samuel 12:21 Don’t turn away to follow worthless things that can’t profit or rescue you; they are worthless.
1 Samuel 12:22 Yahveh will not abandon his people, because of his great name and because he has determined to make you his own people.
1 Samuel 12:23 “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against Yahveh by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way.
1 Samuel 12:24 Above all, fear Yahveh and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for you.
1 Samuel 12:25 However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people, and say to them, ‘Suppose I bring a sword against the land, and the people of the land take one man from their borders and make him their watchman. 3 He sees the sword coming against the land, blows the trumpet, and warns the people, 4 but there is one who hears the sound of the trumpet yet does not heed the warning. Then the sword comes and sweeps him away. He will be responsible for his own death. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, so he is responsible for himself. If he had heeded the warning, he would have saved his life. 6 But suppose the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people. Then the sword comes and takes one of their lives. He is swept away for his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for that person’s death.’ 7 “As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you must warn them on my behalf.
Some refer to them as lookouts. Ships at sea position these lookouts on high points to watch for other vessels and hazards. On road construction sites, work crews use them to monitor approaching vehicles and warn the other workers. The Forest Service places them in towers to detect smoke from forest fires and dispatch firefighters swiftly.
The purpose of a watchman was to warn of danger.
We have read about watchmen at work in 2 Samuel and 2 Kings, as well as in the Psalms and Isaiah. It was a familiar sight in cities of the Ancient Near East. Their purpose was to protect the city by alerting its citizens of coming invaders. If they saw the signs of an invading army, they would blow their trumpet, and the citizens and the army would be warned so that they could defend themselves against the attack.
The presence of these watchers was common in Ezekiel’s time. The Lord reminded Ezekiel of their presence to explain to him his purpose as a prophet.
Ezekiel was responsible for being a watchman.
He was to be a watchman, but not exactly like those with trumpets. He was to be a lookout for spiritual enemies. Instead of guarding the city’s walls, he was to guard the hearts of its people. The Lord told him that if he sees the enemy coming into their hearts and he doesn’t sound the alarm to warn them, he would be responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but the Lord will hold them responsible for their deaths.
Two wars were going on simultaneously. There was a physical war that threatened invading armies who would bring disaster and captivity to the people of God. But another war was also raging in the hearts and minds of those same people. Ezekiel was the watchman responsible for protecting the people from that invasion.
The Lord said that if he declares that certain wicked people will surely die but doesn’t tell them to change their ways, they will die in their sins, and he will be held accountable for their deaths. That made Ezekiel passionate about his work. He fervently warned his listeners that their lives were in danger because they had rebelled against God and needed to repent before disaster overtook them.
The people listened, but they failed to respond.
Ezekiel attracted a following. People gathered to hear that unconventional prophet deliver his sermons. They observed him to critique his style and scrutinize his word choice. To them, it was entertainment, much like watching a TV show. They never considered that God might be guiding his words. Nor did they realize that God had sent him to guard them against the invisible army invading their hearts and causing their downfall.
There were also false prophets in Ezekiel’s generation. If people got tired of Ezekiel’s harsh words, they could change the channel. On the other channel, they could find a prophet who would tell them what they wanted to hear. Oh, and they were such eloquent liars. They were so erudite. They had such a way with words. Their sermons were so polished that you were left feeling so blessed. Their message was always the same: God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. He is a good shepherd, and he always takes care of his sheep. You are safe in his arms, no matter what you do.
Meanwhile, Ezekiel has the tough job of warning the people of coming disaster, both from the invading foreign armies and from the invisible invasion that had already begun. It didn’t matter that the people showed up to listen to him if they never heeded his call to repent.
We have to respond to God’s warnings.
The message applies to us today as clearly as it applied to the people in Ezekiel’s time. When God warns us of the consequences of our sins, we must listen, but we must do more than listen. We have to repent of our sins and change our ways. If we fail to do that, God is forced to condemn us for that neglect.
In the church age, we have watchers, just as in Ezekiel’s time. We have people whose spiritual gift is to be on the lookout for where we, as the church, are failing to live up to the standards of the covenant. Four places in the New Testament discuss the spiritual gifts. Romans chapter 12, I Corinthians chapter 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4. Neither list is exhaustive, but one gift is discussed in all three chapters: the gift of prophecy.
The purpose of the gift of prophecy is the same as it was during Ezekiel’s time. It is not primarily for foretelling the future. Its primary purpose is to declare God’s mind and what he wants us to do, or not do. It is the watchman’s gift. Every church has them. They are not always popular for the same reason that Old Testament prophets were often executed. Nobody likes to be reminded of their sins.
It is an embarrassing thing to have to listen to someone tell you that you are doing something wrong. But God has built into each Christian community a ministry of doing just that. He knows that we need them. He knows that unless the watchers are at their post, the enemy will invade and destroy.
We have some examples of the Lord himself serving as a watchman in two chapters of Revelation. The letters sent to the seven churches in Asia Minor are prophecies to those churches.
In his letter to Ephesus, the Lord praised their orthodoxy and endurance despite the city’s reputation as a pagan city. However, He warned they had abandoned their first love, not the truth. They were theologically correct but flawed in action, neglecting the very works they taught. Jesus cautioned that if they didn’t return to their initial love and deeds, they risked being replaced. Love does more than say “I love you.” Love proves itself by works. Faith that does not work is dead faith.
In his letter to Smyrna, Jesus told them to remain faithful to the end and promised them the crown of life. Their testing was like an Olympic game where winners undergo rigorous trials and emerge victorious wearing a crown, which is the same as the one Jesus promised the church at Ephesus: life itself. Wearing the crown of life means being raised from the dead at Christ’s return. Ultimately, that is the only victory that matters.
The believers at Smyrna could also take solace in the fact that Jesus promised their time of testing would be limited. What those ten days of testing entailed, we can only speculate. We do know that at least some would pass the test. Some would live to see the time of testing completed and gain victory over the apostate Jewish community by surviving their attacks.
In his letter to the church at Pergamum, Jesus identifies two distinct false teachings. First, he speaks of “the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.” Most of us remember this prophet for speaking to animals. Jesus reminds his readers of another incident in Balaam’s life, when he tricked the Israelites into sinning. Pergamum apparently had prophets who were leading the church astray.
Then there was “the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” Jesus commended the Ephesians for hating the Nicolaitans’ works, but did not explain what those works were. Both the Ephesians and the believers in Pergamum knew exactly what the Nicolaitans were teaching. While the Ephesian Christians had resisted their influence, the church at Pergamum had not. They had been compromised by – not one, but two heresies.
In his letter to Thyatira, Jesus spoke against a false prophetess. He called her Jezebel and demanded that she repent of her false prophecies. He told the church to hold fast to what they have.
He found Sardis sleeping and told the church to wake up, or else he would come upon them like a thief.
He commended Philadelphia for its faithfulness.
He warned Laodicea for being lukewarm: neither cold nor hot. They had what they needed, so they felt no need to be radical in their faith. Jesus is depicted as knocking at their door, symbolizing a relationship they could pursue. Taking this for granted led to tepid faith, and remaining lukewarm would be disastrous.
In each of these cases, God had a message for his church, and Jesus was the watchman he sent to deliver it. In most of these cases, that message was a warning. We ignore God’s warnings at our own peril. Our God loves us, so he cannot stand by and let us put ourselves in danger. He will send a word of warning. But it is our responsibility to heed that warning.
1 Samuel 11:1 Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”
1 Samuel 11:2 Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I’ll make one with you on this condition: that I gouge out everyone’s right eye and humiliate all Israel.”
1 Samuel 11:3 “Don’t do anything to us for seven days,” the elders of Jabesh said to him, “and let us send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If no one saves us, we will surrender to you.”
1 Samuel 11:4 When the messengers came to Gibeah, Saul’s hometown, and told the terms to the people, all wept aloud.
1 Samuel 11:5 Just then, notice Saul was coming in from the field behind his oxen. “What’s the matter with the people? Why are they weeping?” Saul inquired, and they repeated to him the words of the men from Jabesh.
1 Samuel 11:6 When Saul heard these words, the Breath of God suddenly came powerfully on him, and his anger burned furiously.
1 Samuel 11:7 He took a team of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by messengers who said, “This is what will be done to the ox of anyone who doesn’t march behind Saul and Samuel.” As a result, the terror of Yahveh fell on the people, and they went out united.
1 Samuel 11:8 Saul counted them at Bezek. There were three hundred thousand Israelites and thirty thousand men from Judah.
1 Samuel 11:9 He told the messengers who had come, “Tell this to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.'” So the messengers told the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.
1 Samuel 11:10 Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do whatever you want to us.”
1 Samuel 11:11 The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions. During the morning watch, they invaded the Ammonite camp and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. There were survivors, but they were so scattered that no two of them were left together.
1 Samuel 11:12 Afterward, the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Give us those men so we can kill them!”
1 Samuel 11:13 But Saul ordered, “No one will be executed this day, for today Yahveh has provided deliverance in Israel.”
1 Samuel 11:14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let’s go to Gilgal, so we can renew the kingship there.”
1 Samuel 11:15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there in Yahveh’s presence they made Saul king. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings in Yahveh’s presence, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
1 Samuel 10:1 Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it out on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t Yahveh anointed you ruler over his inheritance?
1 Samuel 10:2 Today when you leave me, you’ll find two men at Rachel’s Grave at Zelzah in the territory of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you went looking for have been found, and notice your father has stopped being concerned about the donkeys and is worried about you, asking: What should I do about my son? ‘
1 Samuel 10:3 “You will proceed from there until you come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one bringing three goats, one bringing three loaves of bread, and one bringing a clay jar of wine.
1 Samuel 10:4 They will ask how you are and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them.
1 Samuel 10:5 “After that you will come to Gibeah of God where there are Philistine garrisons. When you arrive at the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place prophesying. They will be preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres.
1 Samuel 10:6 The Breath of Yahveh will come powerfully on you, you will prophesy with them, and you will be transformed.
1 Samuel 10:7 When these signs have happened to you, do whatever your circumstances require because God is with you.
1 Samuel 10:8 Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to you to offer ascending offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”
1 Samuel 10:9 When Saul turned around to leave Samuel, God changed his heart, and all the signs came about that day.
1 Samuel 10:10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, notice a group of prophets met him. Then the Breath of God came powerfully on him, and he prophesied along with them.
1 Samuel 10:11 Everyone who knew him previously and saw him noticed him prophesy with the prophets and asked each other, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
1 Samuel 10:12 Then a man who was from there asked, “And who is their father?” As a result, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” became a popular saying.
1 Samuel 10:13 Then Saul finished prophesying and went to the high place.
1 Samuel 10:14 Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?” “To look for the donkeys,” Saul answered. “When we saw they weren’t there, we went to Samuel.”
1 Samuel 10:15 “Tell me,” Saul’s uncle asked, “what did Samuel say to you?”
1 Samuel 10:16 Saul told him, “He assured us the donkeys had been found.” However, Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship.
1 Samuel 10:17 Samuel summoned the people to Yahveh at Mizpah
1 Samuel 10:18 and said to the Israelites, “This is what Yahveh, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’
1 Samuel 10:19 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions. You said to him, ‘You must set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before Yahveh by your tribes and clans.”
1 Samuel 10:20 Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected.
1 Samuel 10:21 Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the Matrite clan was selected. Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. But when they searched for him, they could not find him.
1 Samuel 10:22 They again inquired of Yahveh, “Has the man come here yet?” Yahveh replied, “Notice him, hidden among the supplies.”
1 Samuel 10:23 They ran and got him from there. When he stood among the people, he stood a head taller than anyone else.
1 Samuel 10:24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one Yahveh has chosen? There is no one like him among the entire population.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
1 Samuel 10:25 Samuel proclaimed to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll, which he placed in the presence of Yahveh. Then Samuel sent all the people home.
1 Samuel 10:26 Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, and brave men whose hearts God had touched went with him.
1 Samuel 10:27 But some wicked men said, “How can this guy save us?” They despised him and did not bring him a gift, but Saul said nothing.
jeffersonvann 