David: God's own heart Chapter 4 King Saul - First Battle as King

 

First Battle as King

Receiving a crown did not mean Saul could simply sit back, eat, sleep, and give orders. God required a king who was hands-on—a warrior who would fight on the frontlines with courage and bloodied hands. Like his ancestor Joshua, Saul came from the tribe of Benjamin—a tribe seasoned in warfare, known for its fearless warriors who would never back down when Israel needed them most. As long as their enemies were flesh and blood, they fought with mightily and bloodily With God as their shield and strength, their reputation was etched into the memories of every tribe and feared by every foe. Their battle cries never faded, their skills never dulled, & their history bore the scars and triumphs of many victories, including the conquest of Canaan, the land God had promised.

Such a fierce legacy formed the very hem of the robe from which Saul, the first king of Israel, was cut. God introduced him to his calling with the rise of a brutal enemy—the Ammonites. These enemies, who shamelessly practiced human sacrifice to their false gods, would be the proving ground for Saul’s first swing of the sword.

It’s never mentioned whether Saul had ever fought in a battle before this moment. In fact, when God first presented him to Israel, Saul was found hiding among the supplies. Imagine that—Israel’s chosen king concealed in the baggage. What kind of beginning is that?

But now, the elders of Jabesh-Gilead were crying out under harsh oppression from the Ammonites. It was time for God's justice to be revealed. Saul was the man for the task—God's chosen. His first battle plan was not only courageous but divinely endorsed.

At dawn, Saul led 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 from Judah (note: the correct biblical number is 330,000 total), launching a surprise attack that would last until noon. By then, the Ammonites were utterly defeated. The battlefield was covered in corpses—no enemy was left alive. God had given Saul victory, and Israel witnessed its new king fight and win his first battle.

After the triumph, the people gathered at Gilgal to offer peace offerings to the Lord, officially affirming Saul as their king.

God's justice served, 1st battle is won

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