1Samuel 13:4 - Prayer Tents



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1Samuel 13
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“God Is Out Looking for Your Replacement”

13Saul was a young man when he began as king. He was king over Israel for many years.H7586H4427H1121H8141H4427H8147H8141H3478 2Saul conscripted enough men for three companies of soldiers. He kept two companies under his command at Micmash and in the Bethel hills. The other company was under Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. He sent the rest of the men home.H7586H977H7969H505H3478H505H7586H4363H2022H1008H505H3129H1390H1144H3499H5971H7971H376H168 3Jonathan attacked and killed the Philistine governor stationed at Geba (Gibeah). When the Philistines heard the news, they raised the alarm: "The Hebrews are in revolt!" Saul ordered the reveille trumpets blown throughout the land.H3129H5221H5333H6430H1387H6430H8085H7586H8628H7782H776H559H5680H8085 4The word went out all over Israel, "Saul has killed the Philistine governor—drawn first blood! The Philistines are stirred up and mad as hornets!" Summoned, the army came to Saul at Gilgal.H3478H8085H559H7586H5221H5333H6430H3478H887H6430H5971H6817H310H7586H1537 5The Philistines rallied their forces to fight Israel: three companies of chariots, six companies of cavalry, and so many infantry they looked like sand on the seashore. They went up into the hills and set up camp at Micmash, east of Beth Aven.H6430H622H3898H3478H7970H505H7393H8337H505H6571H5971H2344H3220H8193H7230H5927H2583H4363H6926H1007 6When the Israelites saw that they were way outnumbered and in deep trouble, they ran for cover, hiding in caves and pits, ravines and brambles and cisterns—wherever.H376H3478H7200H6887H5971H5065H5971H2244H4631H2337H5553H6877H953 7They retreated across the Jordan River, refugees fleeing to the country of Gad and Gilead. But Saul held his ground in Gilgal, his soldiers still with him but scared to death.H5680H5674H3383H776H1410H1568H7586H1537H5971H310H2729 8He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel. Samuel failed to show up at Gilgal, and the soldiers were slipping away, right and left.H3176H3176H7651H3117H4150H8050H8050H935H1537H5971H6327 9So Saul took charge: "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!" He went ahead and sacrificed the burnt offering.H7586H559H5066H5930H8002H5927H5930 10No sooner had he done it than Samuel showed up! Saul greeted him.H3615H5927H5930H8050H935H7586H3318H7125H1288 11Samuel said, "What on earth are you doing?" Saul answered, "When I saw I was losing my army from under me, and that you hadn't come when you said you would, and that the Philistines were poised at Micmash,H8050H559H6213H7586H559H7200H5971H5310H935H3117H4150H6430H622H4363 12I said, 'The Philistines are about to come down on me in Gilgal, and I haven't yet come before GOD asking for his help.' So I took things into my own hands, and sacrificed the burnt offering."H559H6430H3381H1537H2470H6440H3068H662H5927H5930 13"That was a fool thing to do," Samuel said to Saul. "If you had kept the appointment that your GOD commanded, by now GOD would have set a firm and lasting foundation under your kingly rule over Israel.H8050H559H7586H5528H8104H4687H3068H430H6680H3068H3559H4467H3478H5704H5769 14As it is, your kingly rule is already falling to pieces. GOD is out looking for your replacement right now. This time he'll do the choosing. When he finds him, he'll appoint him leader of his people. And all because you didn't keep your appointment with GOD!"H4467H6965H3068H1245H376H3824H3068H6680H5057H5971H8104H3068H6680 15At that, Samuel got up and left Gilgal. What army there was left followed Saul into battle. They went into the hills from Gilgal toward Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul looked over and assessed the soldiers still with him—a mere six hundred!H8050H6965H5927H1537H1390H1144H7586H6485H5971H4672H8337H3967H376

Jonathan and His Armor Bearer

16Saul, his son Jonathan, and the soldiers who had remained made camp at Geba (Gibeah) of Benjamin. The Philistines were camped at Micmash.H7586H3129H1121H5971H4672H3427H1387H1144H6430H2583H4363 17Three squads of raiding parties were regularly sent out from the Philistine camp. One squadron was assigned to the Ophrah road going toward Shual country;H7843H3318H4264H6430H7969H7218H259H7218H6437H1870H6084H776H7777 18another was assigned to the Beth Horon road; the third took the border road that rimmed the Valley of Hyenas.H259H7218H6437H1870H1032H259H7218H6437H1870H1366H8259H1516H6650H4057 19There wasn't a blacksmith to be found anywhere in Israel. The Philistines made sure of that—"Lest those Hebrews start making swords and spears."H2796H4672H776H3478H6430H559H5680H6213H2719H2595 20That meant that the Israelites had to go down among the Philistines to keep their farm tools—plowshares and mattocks, axes and sickles—sharp and in good repair.H3478H3381H6430H3913H376H4282H855H7134H4281 21They charged a silver coin for the plowshares and mattocks, and half that for the rest.H6477H6310H4281H855H7969H7053H7134H5324H1861 22So when the battle of Micmash was joined, there wasn't a sword or spear to be found anywhere in Israel—except for Saul and his son Jonathan; they were both well-armed.H3117H4421H2719H2595H4672H3027H5971H7586H3129H7586H3129H1121H4672 23A patrol of Philistines took up a position at Micmash Pass.H4673H6430H3318H4569H4363


The Message (MSG). All Scripture quotations are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries. More details.
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