1 Samuel 11:1-15: a reflection

1Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.” 2Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make it with you, that all your right eyes be gouged out. I will make this dishonor all Israel.” 3The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.” 4Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, and spoke these words in the ears of the people, then all the people lifted up their voice and wept. 5Behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, “What ails the people that they weep?” They told him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6God’s Spirit came mightily on Saul when he heard those words, and his anger burned hot. 7He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, then sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever doesn’t come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” The dread of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out as one man. 8He counted them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9They said to the messengers who came, “Tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be rescued.’” The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you.” 11On the next day, Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the middle of the camp in the morning watch, and struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. 12The people said to Samuel, “Who is he who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring those men, that we may put them to death!” 13Saul said, “No man shall be put to death today; for today the LORD has rescued Israel.” 14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come! Let’s go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.” 15All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

When Nahash threatens the city of Jabesh-Gilead, the Spirit of God comes on Saul, newly made king, and he rallies all Israel and rescues the city. But notice what he does in the hour of victory. Earlier, some had despised him, doubting he could save Israel; and now, flush with triumph, the people want to put those doubters to death. But Saul refuses: No man shall be put to death today; for today the LORD has rescued Israel. In his hour of success, Saul does not avenge himself on those who doubted him; he spares them, and gives God the credit.

Notice Saul's magnanimity in the hour of victory. He had been despised, doubted; and now, with the people on his side and the power to take revenge, he could have paid back those who scorned him. But he refused to avenge himself, sparing his critics, and turned the glory to God: today the LORD has rescued Israel. In the moment when revenge was easiest and would have been applauded, Saul chose magnanimity, crediting God rather than settling scores. Success did not make him vengeful, but generous.

That magnanimity, refusing to avenge ourselves in the hour of our success, is worth aspiring to. When we succeed, when we are proven right and those who doubted or scorned us are put to shame, the temptation is to settle scores, to pay them back now that we can. But Saul, in his hour of triumph, spared his doubters and credited God. When you succeed, and those who doubted or wronged you are within your power, do not use the moment to avenge yourself; be magnanimous, as Saul was, sparing them and giving God the glory. Success is a test of character; let your triumph make you generous, not vengeful, crediting God for what he has done rather than settling scores with those who doubted you, as Saul refused revenge and said, today the LORD has rescued Israel.

Lord, when Nahash threatened Jabesh-Gilead, your Spirit came on Saul, and he rallied Israel and rescued the city. But notice what he did in the hour of victory: some had despised him, doubting he could save Israel, and now the people wanted to put those doubters to death; but Saul refused: no man shall be put to death today, for today the LORD has rescued Israel. In his hour of success, he did not avenge himself, but spared them and credited you. Show me his magnanimity. He had been despised, doubted; and now, with the power to take revenge, he refused to avenge himself, and turned the glory to you. Success did not make him vengeful, but generous. Help me aspire to that magnanimity, refusing to avenge myself in the hour of my success. When I succeed, when I am proven right and those who doubted me are put to shame, the temptation is to settle scores. But Saul, in his hour of triumph, spared his doubters and credited you. When I succeed, and those who doubted or wronged me are within my power, keep me from using the moment to avenge myself; help me be magnanimous, as Saul was, sparing them and giving you the glory. Success is a test of character; let my triumph make me generous, not vengeful, Lord, crediting you for what you have done rather than settling scores.