What role does fear of the Lord play in 1 Samuel 11:7? The Setting in 1 Samuel 11 • Israel is threatened by Nahash the Ammonite. • Saul has just been anointed king, yet the nation is still loosely organized and hesitant. • Verse 7 records Saul’s dramatic summons: “He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by messengers, proclaiming, ‘This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.’ Then the dread of the LORD fell upon the people, and they turned out as one man.” Fear of the LORD—Not Mere Fright • Scripture presents “fear of the LORD” as a reverent awe that recognizes His absolute authority (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 33:8). • In 1 Samuel 11:7 the phrase “dread of the LORD” shows that the people’s sudden unity was not driven mainly by Saul’s grisly threat; it was a Spirit-provoked awareness that resisting this call would be resisting God Himself. • The verse explicitly ties their obedience to the divine, not merely to the human command. What the Fear of the LORD Accomplished That Day • Energized obedience—“they turned out as one man.” No tribal rivalries, no delays. • Validated Saul’s kingship—God’s fear resting on the people authenticated Saul as the LORD’s chosen leader (see also 1 Samuel 10:24). • Protected Israel—within a single day 330,000 men mobilized, leading to deliverance for Jabesh-gilead (11:8-11). • Foreshadowed covenant blessings—God had promised that humble fear would bring national cohesion and victory (Deuteronomy 28:7; Exodus 20:20). A Pattern Repeated in Scripture • 2 Chronicles 17:10: “The dread of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.” • Acts 9:31: “Walking in the fear of the LORD and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, [the church] continued to increase.” • In both Old and New Testaments, fear of the LORD leads to unity, protection, and growth. Personal Takeaways Today • God-given reverence remains a unifying force among believers, overcoming personal preferences for the sake of His purposes. • Genuine fear of the LORD still empowers swift obedience, turning intention into action. • When the church walks “in the fear of the LORD,” God validates leadership, secures His people, and advances His mission—just as He did on that day in Gibeah. |
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