What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 11:9? So they said to the messengers who had come • The elders of Israel have sent word back with the envoys who brought news of Nahash’s threat (1 Samuel 11:3–4). • Their immediate response shows that leadership has been established in Saul; the messengers are now receiving royal instruction, echoing earlier moments where God raises a deliverer (Judges 3:9–10). • The wording signals readiness, not panic. God’s people can speak with confidence because He has already provided a king “whom the LORD has chosen” (1 Samuel 10:24). Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead • Jabesh-gilead sits east of the Jordan, historically connected to Israel yet often isolated (Judges 21:8–9). • Saul’s concern for these distant kinsmen displays covenant loyalty; no tribe is to be abandoned (Deuteronomy 3:18–20). • Sending a specific message underscores that God’s deliverance is personal and targeted, much like the angel’s words to Gideon, “The LORD is with you” (Judges 6:12). ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’ • The promise is clear, time-stamped, and unconditional—mirroring Moses’ assurance: “Stand firm and see the salvation that the LORD will accomplish for you today” (Exodus 14:13). • “Tomorrow” emphasizes God’s swift action; there will be no prolonged siege. • “By the time the sun is hot” (late morning) adds precision, so faith can be anchored to a definite moment (2 Kings 7:1). • The term “deliverance” points to God’s salvation operating through His anointed king (Psalm 20:6), foreshadowing Christ’s ultimate deliverance. And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced • News of certain rescue produces immediate joy, the natural response to God’s saving word (Psalm 126:2–3). • Their rejoicing contrasts with earlier despair (1 Samuel 11:4), demonstrating how hope grounded in God’s promise transforms emotion. • This pattern repeats throughout Scripture: a word of salvation brings joy before the victory is even seen (2 Chronicles 20:17, Luke 1:44). summary Saul’s declaration assures Jabesh-gilead that God’s appointed king will bring timely rescue. The precise promise, delivered through messengers, invites confident faith and immediate joy, illustrating how God’s word turns fear into celebration and foreshadows the ultimate deliverance found in Christ. |
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