Saul's Victory over the Ammonites

All was well in Jabesh-Gilead, a farming village in Israel, until the Ammonites raided them one day, taking the people captive. The city's elders 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!

Yesterday we met the first king of Israel. We heard God showed Samuel the man He had picked for the job, Saul. Saul wasn’t expecting to be king and was initially surprised, even confused by what Samuel was telling him. But God filled Saul with peace and confidence, and when he was presented to the people, he was ready for the challenge. Saul was presented to the people to uproarious rejoicing. But they were warned that having a king would not be all they had dreamed it would be. Still, for now, Saul was God’s man for the job, and he began from a place of humility and a desire to serve God and His people. Today we’ll 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.