April 21, 2025 • 14 mins
In this Bible Story, Saul rises as king. He leads the Israelites into victory over the Ammonites, and all the people rejoice over their new leader. However, a flickering light of pride dwells within Saul’s heart. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 11. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.
Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 11:13 from the King James Version.
Episode 80: All was well in Jabesh-Gilead, a farming village in Israel, until one day the Ammonites raided them, taking the people captive. The elders of the city begged for a treaty and Nahash, the commander of the Ammonites, gave them an offer of humiliation, pain, and servitude. The elders agreed but requested 7 days for a rescuer to come first. Little did Nahash know that God had given them a King, Saul, who would gather the people and come to their rescue!
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Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max Bard
Producer: Ben Gammon
Hosted by: Pastor Jack Graham
Music by: Andrew Morgan Smith
Bible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray, and Saul said, there shall not be
a man put to death this day, for to day
the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel. First Samuel eleven thirteen.
Dear God, as I look into the horizon of my future,
sharpen my eyes so I can pinpoint the enemy and
(00:23):
see where Satan is planning an attack. Like Saul and
First Samuel eleven, tune my ears to hear the cries
of the herting as I operate in my position of leadership.
Put a fire in my bones and an assurance that
for such a time as this, You've called me to
(00:44):
fully step into and take ownership of the calling in
my life. It doesn't matter the size, expertise or reputation.
I will outpower, out faith, and outperform any opposition that
is standing before me. This is my war cry, This
(01:05):
is my call to arms. I thank you that You've
surrounded me with an army of generals who are prepared
to fight for what is theirs. I declare that no
pride will seep through the cracks of my character. Keep
my heart wholly, humble and honoring as I live my
(01:26):
life in victory in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for
making prayer a priority in your day. To learn more
about the Bible, stay tuned for today's story, brought to
you by Bible in a Year dot com.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Saul's victory over the Ammonites. In our last stories, Saul
was anointed as the first King of Israe. He was
a strong, handsome, and well built man who stood a
foot taller than every other man in Israel. The people
rejoiced over finally having a king, yet Samuel had warned
them that having a king would not be exactly what
(02:15):
they envisioned. Now we see Saul's first victory as king.
He slays the evil Ammonite army with force, and the
entirety of Israel is restored to balance and prosperity, as
inspired by the Book of First Samuel.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Hello Pastor Jack Graham here with today's episode of the
Bible in a Year podcast. Yesterday we met the first
King of Israel. We heard how God showed Samuel the
man that he had chosen for the job, Saul. Saul
was not expecting to be king and was very surprised,
even confused, by what Samuel was telling him. But God
(02:54):
fills Saul with peace and confidence and faith, and when
he was presented to the people, he was ready for
the challenge. The people received Saul with great joy, but
they were warned that having a king would not be
all they had dreamed it would be. Still, for now,
saw was God's men for the job, and he began
from a place of humility and a desire to serve
(03:14):
God and his people. Today we will hear of Saul's
first battle as king. God will give him a huge
victory over the Ammonites, and Israel will enter into a
time of prosperity. So let's listen now to today's reading.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Jibesh Gilead was a small and quiet city on the
edge of Israel. Farmers, shepherds, and their families dwelt peacefully
in the land, minding their own business and working diligently.
Children played in the fields as their fathers and mothers worked.
All was well in the tranquil city of Jibesh Gilead
(03:50):
until one day battle horns could be heard in the distance.
The farmers looked up towards the horizon as a sea
of Ammonites peaked above the hills. Women took their children
into their homes, and the men of the city grabbed
anything they could to brace themselves. The Ammonites swarmed the
city like locusts. The Ammonites surrounded the city on horseback,
(04:12):
their scowls loaned over the men of Jabesh. They were
completely surrounded, with no means of escape, nor could they fight,
for there were too many. The elder of Jibesh stepped
forward and shouted, please do not harm us. He bowed
to the floor. We will do anything you ask. Make
a treaty with us. We will serve you, but please
(04:33):
do not kill us. The men began to laugh. Their
dark and deep cackles filled the air like a poisonous gas.
From among the crowd of Ammonites approached Nahsh, their leader.
He was larger than the rest of his men. His
face was dark and battle hardened, and his eyes revealed
a corrupt wit. He was a truly frightening man and
(04:55):
worthy of fear. He dismounted his horse and slowly approached
the men. He looked down at their elder, bowing and smiled.
He leaned down and said, of course, we will make
a treaty with you. Why waste my men's time and energy.
Nay Hash took the man by his arm and popped
him up. He dusted him off and smiled, if you
(05:17):
gouge out all your right eyes, we will spare you.
You will serve us, and Israel will be disgraced. Nay
Hash then patted the leader on the back and began
walking back to his horse. The elder of Jabesh begged Nahsh, saying,
give us seven days. If there is no hero to
challenge you, then we shall be your slaves. Na Hash smiled,
(05:41):
knowing full well no hero could defeat him in battle.
He agreed and allowed the men to return to their work.
Yet the Ammonites stayed and harassed the city. Their presence
was like chains wrapped around their necks. Messengers were sent
out throughout all of Israel, and the people wept in fear.
In the distance, Saul was tilling his field behind Oxen.
(06:04):
The hot sun beat down on him. Saul's strong body
was dripping with sweat as he methodically broke up the
ground beneath him for planting. Saul could hear a faint
cry from the city. Some people were running across the
roads and fleeing. Saul grabbed a man passing by and said,
what is happening with the people? Why can I hear
cries from the city. The man told him of Nahasha's
(06:28):
insurgents on Jabesh. Saul stood still and let the man go.
He stood still in the fields quietly. Saul had experienced
anger before, but this fire in his belly was different.
The protective spirit of God came upon Saul. His eyes
were like flames. His arms and legs tensed up, like
(06:49):
a mother bear whose cubs were under attack. This was
the first time Saul truly felt like a king. Saul
looked back to his oxen and tore them in pieces
with his sword. He took those pieces and sent them
all throughout Israel with messengers, saying, whoever does not fight
with Saul and Samuel, for the heart of Israel will
(07:11):
be torn apart like these oxen. The message had its
desired effect. Three hundred and thirty thousand men gathered together
with their swords and spears. Saul marched in front of them.
They marched as one man, one body. Saul sent messengers
ahead to Jabesh Gilead, saying, tomorrow, when the sun is
(07:32):
high and hot, you shall have your salvation. The next day,
Saul stood above the plains where the Ammonites met for battle,
The sun was hot, and Saul tilted his head towards
the sun and closed his eyes. The men were hungry
for battle. They felt braver with the king in front
of them. Saul lifted his sword towards the battlefield, and
(07:53):
the Israelites yelled as they descended upon the Ammonites. Saul
split his army into three companies, and the three armies
surrounded the Ammonites and crashed upon them. The Israelites were overpowering.
Swords clanged together as the men of Israel fought with
ferocity and speed. Saul was among them, fighting his way
(08:14):
to the center. He stood ahead, high above every enemy.
He swung his sword with power and authority, striking down
every man in his path. Nahsh was in sight, and
the two ran towards one another. Their swords and fists clashed.
The two kings exchanged blows and carried one another's advances.
(08:35):
Nehash swung upward towards Saul, leaving his side exposed, and
Saul drove his sword through his ribs. The Ammonites scattered
as Israel chased after them. Victory had been one, and
God had gone before them. The people cheered and said
to Samuel, who were the men that doubted Saul. Bring
them to us, and we shall put them to death.
(08:58):
Saul stopped them, saying, no more Israelites shall die today,
for God has given us his salvation. So Samuel led
the nation up to Gilgal, where they renewed their oath
to God and to Saul. They made a sacrifice to
the Lord, and the entire nation celebrated and rejoiced over
the new era brought by Saul. Saul was elated and
(09:22):
stayed humble. Yet something inside him enjoyed the praise and
worship of his people. A subtle pride began to seep
through cracks of his heart. None of the Israelites or
Saul could see it, but God saw it and watched
Saul closely.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
We begin today's reading in the small town of Jabes Gilead.
It's not a mighty city or even an important one,
but it is Israel's territory, and the Ammonites set their
sights on it as an easy target. They surrounded the
city and are ready to attack. Terrified, the elders of
this city approached the Ammoni army and offer a surrender.
(10:02):
They want their lives spared and will willingly give up
their freedom to save themselves. The Amonites say they'll accept
the treaty, but they must all gouge out their right eye.
The only purpose for this condition, of course, was humiliation
and the torture of God's people. So the elders aren't
ready to accept these terms, and they asked that they
(10:24):
think it over and send out a call for help.
The fact that the Amonites agreed to wait signals just
how arrogant they must have been. They had the city
surrounded and could have easily taken it then and there.
Why wait for a larger army to arrive. They did
not fear or respect Israel, and they certainly did not
(10:45):
fear or respect God. When the word got to Saul,
he burned with righteous anger. He was angry that foreigners
would act with such cruelty and make a mockery of
his people, and that, of course, was totally unacceptable. The
spirit of God filled Saul. He slaughtered his oxen and
sent pieces of the best as a message to his people.
(11:07):
Anyone who did not join him in battle to protect
Israel would meet the same fate as the oxen. His message,
though startling, was effective, and three hundred and thirty thousand
men gathered for battle. Israel was united to protect that
one small town, and they were led by a man
who was filled with the spirit of God. The Ammonites
(11:29):
never stood a chance. Saul led his men in a
commanding victory, killing all but a few Ammonites, who scattered
and ran away in fear. If there was ever any
doubt that Saul was fit to be the king, it
was a race that day. Some had doubted him, and
the people knew this. So in First Samuel eleventh twelve
to thirteen, here's what we read. Then the people said
(11:52):
to Samuel, who is it that said, shall Saul reign
over us? Bring the men that we may put them
to death. But Saul said, not a man shall be
put to death this day, For today the Lord has
worked salvation for Israel. No, this was not a time
for revenge or killing, especially not the killing of God's
own people. So Saul unified the people under one banner
(12:16):
that God had brought salvation to his people. Rather than
look at this as his own personal victory, he turned
the attention of the people of God to the Savior
of Israel, God himself. They rejoice because of what God
had done. When we succeed, we can sometimes be tempted
to take credit or feel pride in our own accomplishments.
(12:38):
There's nothing wrong, of course, with celebrating, but we must
always give glory to God, who gives us the victory
we win, not in our own strength or cleverness or charms.
It is God at work at us and through us,
And in this first victory, that's exactly what Saul did.
But unfortunately, soon he would start to believe his own
(12:59):
greatness and pride would creep into his life. It would
be the beginning of the end and his downfall. We'll
hear more about that the next time. Dear Lord, we
thank you for victory, victory that we know comes through
Jesus Christ, our Lord. It is not because of what
we have done, but because of what you have done. Lord,
(13:19):
Not because we are strong, but because you are our
mighty God. We thank you for your spirit who lives
in us and empowers us and enables us to live
lives to accomplish your purposes. May we always be humble
before you. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank
you for listening to today's Bible in a year podcast.
(13:42):
I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download Theprey dot
com app, and make Bible study and prayer a priority
in your life. If you enjoyed this podcast, please share
it with someone you know because it can make a genuine,
even eternal difference in their lives. And if you want
more resources on how you can know the power of
(14:03):
God through Jesus Christ, than visit Jack Graham dot org.
Let us pray, and Saul said, there shall not be
a man put to death this day, for to day
the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel. First Samuel eleven thirteen.
Dear God, as I look into the horizon of my future,
sharpen my eyes so I can pinpoint the enemy and
(00:23):
see where Satan is planning an attack. Like Saul and
First Samuel eleven, tune my ears to hear the cries
of the herting as I operate in my position of leadership.
Put a fire in my bones and an assurance that
for such a time as this, You've called me to
(00:44):
fully step into and take ownership of the calling in
my life. It doesn't matter the size, expertise or reputation.
I will outpower, out faith, and outperform any opposition that
is standing before me. This is my war cry, This
(01:05):
is my call to arms. I thank you that You've
surrounded me with an army of generals who are prepared
to fight for what is theirs. I declare that no
pride will seep through the cracks of my character. Keep
my heart wholly, humble and honoring as I live my
(01:26):
life in victory in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for
making prayer a priority in your day. To learn more
about the Bible, stay tuned for today's story, brought to
you by Bible in a Year dot com.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Saul's victory over the Ammonites. In our last stories, Saul
was anointed as the first King of Israe. He was
a strong, handsome, and well built man who stood a
foot taller than every other man in Israel. The people
rejoiced over finally having a king, yet Samuel had warned
them that having a king would not be exactly what
(02:15):
they envisioned. Now we see Saul's first victory as king.
He slays the evil Ammonite army with force, and the
entirety of Israel is restored to balance and prosperity, as
inspired by the Book of First Samuel.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Hello Pastor Jack Graham here with today's episode of the
Bible in a Year podcast. Yesterday we met the first
King of Israel. We heard how God showed Samuel the
man that he had chosen for the job, Saul. Saul
was not expecting to be king and was very surprised,
even confused, by what Samuel was telling him. But God
(02:54):
fills Saul with peace and confidence and faith, and when
he was presented to the people, he was ready for
the challenge. The people received Saul with great joy, but
they were warned that having a king would not be
all they had dreamed it would be. Still, for now,
saw was God's men for the job, and he began
from a place of humility and a desire to serve
(03:14):
God and his people. Today we will hear of Saul's
first battle as king. God will give him a huge
victory over the Ammonites, and Israel will enter into a
time of prosperity. So let's listen now to today's reading.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Jibesh Gilead was a small and quiet city on the
edge of Israel. Farmers, shepherds, and their families dwelt peacefully
in the land, minding their own business and working diligently.
Children played in the fields as their fathers and mothers worked.
All was well in the tranquil city of Jibesh Gilead
(03:50):
until one day battle horns could be heard in the distance.
The farmers looked up towards the horizon as a sea
of Ammonites peaked above the hills. Women took their children
into their homes, and the men of the city grabbed
anything they could to brace themselves. The Ammonites swarmed the
city like locusts. The Ammonites surrounded the city on horseback,
(04:12):
their scowls loaned over the men of Jabesh. They were
completely surrounded, with no means of escape, nor could they fight,
for there were too many. The elder of Jibesh stepped
forward and shouted, please do not harm us. He bowed
to the floor. We will do anything you ask. Make
a treaty with us. We will serve you, but please
(04:33):
do not kill us. The men began to laugh. Their
dark and deep cackles filled the air like a poisonous gas.
From among the crowd of Ammonites approached Nahsh, their leader.
He was larger than the rest of his men. His
face was dark and battle hardened, and his eyes revealed
a corrupt wit. He was a truly frightening man and
(04:55):
worthy of fear. He dismounted his horse and slowly approached
the men. He looked down at their elder, bowing and smiled.
He leaned down and said, of course, we will make
a treaty with you. Why waste my men's time and energy.
Nay Hash took the man by his arm and popped
him up. He dusted him off and smiled, if you
(05:17):
gouge out all your right eyes, we will spare you.
You will serve us, and Israel will be disgraced. Nay
Hash then patted the leader on the back and began
walking back to his horse. The elder of Jabesh begged Nahsh, saying,
give us seven days. If there is no hero to
challenge you, then we shall be your slaves. Na Hash smiled,
(05:41):
knowing full well no hero could defeat him in battle.
He agreed and allowed the men to return to their work.
Yet the Ammonites stayed and harassed the city. Their presence
was like chains wrapped around their necks. Messengers were sent
out throughout all of Israel, and the people wept in fear.
In the distance, Saul was tilling his field behind Oxen.
(06:04):
The hot sun beat down on him. Saul's strong body
was dripping with sweat as he methodically broke up the
ground beneath him for planting. Saul could hear a faint
cry from the city. Some people were running across the
roads and fleeing. Saul grabbed a man passing by and said,
what is happening with the people? Why can I hear
cries from the city. The man told him of Nahasha's
(06:28):
insurgents on Jabesh. Saul stood still and let the man go.
He stood still in the fields quietly. Saul had experienced
anger before, but this fire in his belly was different.
The protective spirit of God came upon Saul. His eyes
were like flames. His arms and legs tensed up, like
(06:49):
a mother bear whose cubs were under attack. This was
the first time Saul truly felt like a king. Saul
looked back to his oxen and tore them in pieces
with his sword. He took those pieces and sent them
all throughout Israel with messengers, saying, whoever does not fight
with Saul and Samuel, for the heart of Israel will
(07:11):
be torn apart like these oxen. The message had its
desired effect. Three hundred and thirty thousand men gathered together
with their swords and spears. Saul marched in front of them.
They marched as one man, one body. Saul sent messengers
ahead to Jabesh Gilead, saying, tomorrow, when the sun is
(07:32):
high and hot, you shall have your salvation. The next day,
Saul stood above the plains where the Ammonites met for battle,
The sun was hot, and Saul tilted his head towards
the sun and closed his eyes. The men were hungry
for battle. They felt braver with the king in front
of them. Saul lifted his sword towards the battlefield, and
(07:53):
the Israelites yelled as they descended upon the Ammonites. Saul
split his army into three companies, and the three armies
surrounded the Ammonites and crashed upon them. The Israelites were overpowering.
Swords clanged together as the men of Israel fought with
ferocity and speed. Saul was among them, fighting his way
(08:14):
to the center. He stood ahead, high above every enemy.
He swung his sword with power and authority, striking down
every man in his path. Nahsh was in sight, and
the two ran towards one another. Their swords and fists clashed.
The two kings exchanged blows and carried one another's advances.
(08:35):
Nehash swung upward towards Saul, leaving his side exposed, and
Saul drove his sword through his ribs. The Ammonites scattered
as Israel chased after them. Victory had been one, and
God had gone before them. The people cheered and said
to Samuel, who were the men that doubted Saul. Bring
them to us, and we shall put them to death.
(08:58):
Saul stopped them, saying, no more Israelites shall die today,
for God has given us his salvation. So Samuel led
the nation up to Gilgal, where they renewed their oath
to God and to Saul. They made a sacrifice to
the Lord, and the entire nation celebrated and rejoiced over
the new era brought by Saul. Saul was elated and
(09:22):
stayed humble. Yet something inside him enjoyed the praise and
worship of his people. A subtle pride began to seep
through cracks of his heart. None of the Israelites or
Saul could see it, but God saw it and watched
Saul closely.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
We begin today's reading in the small town of Jabes Gilead.
It's not a mighty city or even an important one,
but it is Israel's territory, and the Ammonites set their
sights on it as an easy target. They surrounded the
city and are ready to attack. Terrified, the elders of
this city approached the Ammoni army and offer a surrender.
(10:02):
They want their lives spared and will willingly give up
their freedom to save themselves. The Amonites say they'll accept
the treaty, but they must all gouge out their right eye.
The only purpose for this condition, of course, was humiliation
and the torture of God's people. So the elders aren't
ready to accept these terms, and they asked that they
(10:24):
think it over and send out a call for help.
The fact that the Amonites agreed to wait signals just
how arrogant they must have been. They had the city
surrounded and could have easily taken it then and there.
Why wait for a larger army to arrive. They did
not fear or respect Israel, and they certainly did not
(10:45):
fear or respect God. When the word got to Saul,
he burned with righteous anger. He was angry that foreigners
would act with such cruelty and make a mockery of
his people, and that, of course, was totally unacceptable. The
spirit of God filled Saul. He slaughtered his oxen and
sent pieces of the best as a message to his people.
(11:07):
Anyone who did not join him in battle to protect
Israel would meet the same fate as the oxen. His message,
though startling, was effective, and three hundred and thirty thousand
men gathered for battle. Israel was united to protect that
one small town, and they were led by a man
who was filled with the spirit of God. The Ammonites
(11:29):
never stood a chance. Saul led his men in a
commanding victory, killing all but a few Ammonites, who scattered
and ran away in fear. If there was ever any
doubt that Saul was fit to be the king, it
was a race that day. Some had doubted him, and
the people knew this. So in First Samuel eleventh twelve
to thirteen, here's what we read. Then the people said
(11:52):
to Samuel, who is it that said, shall Saul reign
over us? Bring the men that we may put them
to death. But Saul said, not a man shall be
put to death this day, For today the Lord has
worked salvation for Israel. No, this was not a time
for revenge or killing, especially not the killing of God's
own people. So Saul unified the people under one banner
(12:16):
that God had brought salvation to his people. Rather than
look at this as his own personal victory, he turned
the attention of the people of God to the Savior
of Israel, God himself. They rejoice because of what God
had done. When we succeed, we can sometimes be tempted
to take credit or feel pride in our own accomplishments.
(12:38):
There's nothing wrong, of course, with celebrating, but we must
always give glory to God, who gives us the victory
we win, not in our own strength or cleverness or charms.
It is God at work at us and through us,
And in this first victory, that's exactly what Saul did.
But unfortunately, soon he would start to believe his own
(12:59):
greatness and pride would creep into his life. It would
be the beginning of the end and his downfall. We'll
hear more about that the next time. Dear Lord, we
thank you for victory, victory that we know comes through
Jesus Christ, our Lord. It is not because of what
we have done, but because of what you have done. Lord,
(13:19):
Not because we are strong, but because you are our
mighty God. We thank you for your spirit who lives
in us and empowers us and enables us to live
lives to accomplish your purposes. May we always be humble
before you. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank
you for listening to today's Bible in a year podcast.
(13:42):
I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download Theprey dot
com app, and make Bible study and prayer a priority
in your life. If you enjoyed this podcast, please share
it with someone you know because it can make a genuine,
even eternal difference in their lives. And if you want
more resources on how you can know the power of
(14:03):
God through Jesus Christ, than visit Jack Graham dot org.
Host
Jack Graham
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