The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 11:6,
"When Saul heard their [the people of Gibeah] words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger."
Saul's anger was directed toward the Ammonites who threatened to gouge out the right eye of all the Jews living in Jabesh Gilead if they did not surrender to them. I suppose it is possible he might have also been angry because the men of Gibeah were weeping at the threat to their countrymen, as opposed to actually preparing to do something about it (but that isn't clear to me).
In any event, the text communicates is was the Spirit of God that "came powerfully upon him" that prompted this anger that burned with Saul's heart. It was in this anger that Saul brought the Israelites together and slaughtered the Ammonites, "The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together." Verse 11.
"When Saul heard their [the people of Gibeah] words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger."
Saul's anger was directed toward the Ammonites who threatened to gouge out the right eye of all the Jews living in Jabesh Gilead if they did not surrender to them. I suppose it is possible he might have also been angry because the men of Gibeah were weeping at the threat to their countrymen, as opposed to actually preparing to do something about it (but that isn't clear to me).
In any event, the text communicates is was the Spirit of God that "came powerfully upon him" that prompted this anger that burned with Saul's heart. It was in this anger that Saul brought the Israelites together and slaughtered the Ammonites, "The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together." Verse 11.
The Spirit of God is capable of doing all sorts of things in our lives, of motivating us in many ways, of moving us in different kinds of directions. I suspect many have a perspective that when one has had the Spirit of God come upon them, it should look a certain way. The Scriptures don't appear to support that kind of outlook. Where Saul here "burned with anger", others have been humbled (David), frightened (Paul), terrified (Isaiah) and so forth.
God accomplishes many things through those he uses, and to think the Holy Spirit does the same things, the same way, having an identical impact on each, is a misunderstanding of the workings of God.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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