Gracious God, thank you for all your blessings and for the blessing of your steadfast love and care. I praise your holy name. Amen.

1 Samuel 11:1-15 (Good News Translation) Come Together in Faith and Strive for Justice and Peace Introduction 1 Samuel 11:1-15: While Saul is farming in his hometown of Gibeah, messengers from Jabesh arrive with news that the Ammonite king has besieged their town. The spirit of God takes control of Saul, and Saul gathers an army and defeats the Ammonites. The people once again proclaim Saul as king and celebrate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s Scripture: 1 Samuel 11:13b “This is the day the LORD rescued Israel.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s Reading 1 About a month later King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the town of Jabesh in the territory of Gilead and besieged it. The men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will accept you as our ruler.” 2 Nahash answered, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition: I will put out everyone's right eye and so bring disgrace on all Israel.” 3 The leaders of Jabesh said, “Give us seven days to send messengers throughout the land of Israel. If no one will help us, then we will surrender to you.” 4 The messengers arrived at Gibeah, where Saul lived, and when they told the news, the people started crying in despair. 5 Saul was just then coming in from the field with his oxen, and he asked, “What's wrong? Why is everyone crying?” They told him what the messengers from Jabesh had reported. 6 When Saul heard this, the spirit of God took control of him, and he became furious. 7 He took two oxen, cut them in pieces, and had messengers carry the pieces throughout the land of Israel with this warning: “Whoever does not follow Saul and Samuel into battle will have this done to his oxen!” The people of Israel were afraid of what the LORD might do, and all of them, without exception, came out together. 8 Saul gathered them at Bezek: there were 300,000 from Israel and 30,000 from Judah. 9 They said to the messengers from Jabesh, “Tell your people that before noon tomorrow they will be rescued.” When the people of Jabesh received the message, they were overjoyed 10 and said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do with us whatever you wish.” 11 That night Saul divided his men into three groups, and at dawn the next day they rushed into the enemy camp and attacked the Ammonites. By noon they had slaughtered them. The survivors scattered, each man running off by himself. 12 Then the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Where are the people who said that Saul should not be our king? Hand them over to us, and we will kill them!” 13 But Saul said, “No one will be put to death today, for this is the day the LORD rescued Israel. ” 14 And Samuel said to them, “Let us all go to Gilgal and once more proclaim Saul as our king.” 15 So they all went to Gilgal, and there at the holy place they proclaimed Saul king. They offered fellowship sacrifices, and Saul and all the people of Israel celebrated the event. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reflect What does Saul warn the people will happen if they do not follow him and Samuel into battle? After the people proclaim Saul as king, they offer “fellowship sacrifices” also known as “peace offerings” or sacrifices to ask the LORD’s blessing. In what ways has God blessed you?