Sermon Tone Analysis

Warfare is a common theme in the Scriptures.

We are in a battle.

We have an enemy.

1 sam 11

Across the Jordan River, some forty miles northeast of Saul’s home in Gibeah, there was a crisis: “Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead

Remember there is an ancient enemy who seeks to subjugate and humiliate the people of God.

Nahash = Snake

i.e. that is

Craig S. Keener and John H. Walton, eds., NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016), 478.

The enemy seeks powerful.

The enemy seeks to make the people of God laughable.

1 sam 11

gouge out the right eye.

In the ancient Near East, losing a battle sometimes resulted in physical mutilation.

In the present context, submission to mutilation is presented as a precondition for avoiding battle.

The purposes of blinding the vanquished varied like: Samson was blinded by the Philistines to humiliate and incapacitate him ();

Where did Satan leave Adam and Eve? Standing naked in paradise running for cover from the presence of God.

The reputation of God is linked to the life of His people.

If satan can disgrace the people of God he ultimately assaults the character of God.

We bear his name!

That is why the snake wants to humiliate the people of God because they are inextricably linked to God of the people.

The enemy seeks to leave the people of God cripple.

Gouge Out the EYE

Now you understand when you fought in these times you would hold a shield in your left hand, and most people are right handed, and the sword in your right hand, and you would protect your left eye with the shield and the right eye was the eye that you saw with.

Well, if you gouge out your right eye, you can't fight anymore.

You’d be useless in battle.

When you are completely out of options where do you turn for salvation.

The groundwork of our redemption begins when we stop trusting in ourselves and look for salvation somewhere else.

Remember there is a King who responds to the call of his people.

1 sam 11

1 sam 11 3-

Compassion - He cares about the plight of his people.

There is another important moment in this text!

1 sam 11 7-

Consecration - He is filled with the Spirit of God.

Sometimes the most holy thing you can do is get angry.

Believe that God works salvation through His anointed king.

Credit the Lord alone for salvation.

1 sam 11 13

Commit yourself to the king and rejoice in his salvation.