1 Sam. 11 : 14 - 12 : 22

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Here is the (haftarah) Reading Schedule for this week:

Korach

Haftarah : 1Samuel 11:14-12:22

May the following be our prayer...

"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy ." - Psalms 119:18

Also, please share with us what Adonai has shown you, or ask any questions that you may have.

Shalom chaverim (friends),

Reuel

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

"If ye will fear YHVH, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the YHVH, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following YHVH your G-d: But if ye will not obey the voice of YHVH, but rebel against the commandment of YHVH, then shall the hand of YHVH be against you, as it was against your fathers."
1 Samuel 12:14-15

In the Haftarah reading we see that Israel wished to have a king placed over them...a leader. This leader was to lead the people in righteousness, and to make sure that the people would follow YHVH's commandments. But, we also see if that leader failed to do this that he whom was once annointed would then have the hand of YHVH against him, and the people. As we read the TeNaKh we see that many of the Kings of Israel led it's people into sin because of their own error, and sin. And, this caused the people to be consumed, destroyed, and led into bondage as we see in the following passage...

"Only fear YHVH, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king."
- 1Samuel 12:24-25

What responsibility a leader has in G-d's eyes! When you are in spiritual leadership you cannot afford to have your focus split. You must be 100% dedicated to what G'd has called you to. Everything -must- revolve around the good, and perfect will of the Father. If a leader does not do this, than those whom are under their authority will suffer because of their errors, and sin. At what point do you seperate yourselves from such leadership so that you will not be destroyed along with them? (as we can see in this week's reading)...

"And YHVH spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. And they fell upon their faces, and said, O G'd, the G'd of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? YHVH spoke unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins."
- Numbers 16:20-26

Of course, in this case it was the other way around in regards to the leadership being in the right, and a few in the congretation that were in the wrong. But, I believe the heart of the teaching can be applied on either side (leadership, or congregation).

Any thoughts?

Reuel

[alon]

1 Samuel 11:14-12.22, Haftara for par’shah Korach

The newly chosen but not yet installed king has just faced his first challenge. In the same model as the judges he is to replace as leader of Yisro’el, the Spirit of Elohim takes hold of him when he learned of the Amorite incursion into haEretz; an incursion which threatened the entire nation. Shaul successfully brings all the tribes together and in a miraculous victory he utterly defeated the Amorites. Shaul had stature, but he has just been empowered by El ha-Gibbor- God the Strong One, the Warrior to rally the nation, fight and win a miraculous victory. He had proven his leadership; he now had authority to be king. However according to Pastor Ed Cole, the time after a victory is more dangerous than the fight itself. Immediately in the euphoria of the aftermath of winning a great battle, Shaul is tempted to get rid of those who opposed him:

1 Samuel 11:12-13 (ESV) Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.”


1 Samuel 11:14-15 (ESV) Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.” So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

The nation had demanded a king, and Shaul was the anointed one of Elohim. However until this victory the nation remained divided along tribal lines. Now was the time to both renew the covenant and inaugurate their king.


The Amonite invasion shows that there were other motives besides the age of Sh’muel or the misconduct of his sons. Their real motives lay in lack of trust in and rebellion against Kadosh Israel- the Holy One of Yisro’el.

1 Samuel 12:12 (ESV) And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king.

The Amonite incursion(s) had already started before their cry for a king went up. It was in response to this the Hebrews demanded a king to lead them, where always before El Elohe Yisro’el had always raised up judges to lead and deliver them.


1 Samuel 12:1-4 (ESV) And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. Here I am; [testify against me] before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.” They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand.”

Sh’muel here, at Gilgal and before assembly of all Yisro’el, is making a declaration of his own integrity in fulfilling his office as a prophet and judge. He never abused his office for personal gain; whereas the implied contrast is the widespread corruption among men in permanent political office. The implication here is clear- his rejection is unwarranted, unjustified, and an act of ingratitude on the part of the people.

Acts 24:16 (ESV) So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

He did however secure his place in service to the monarchy and Yisro’el. His official office was done away with, however in his entire life Sh’muel never ceased to judge Yisro’el. Furthermore, the office of the prophets and their duty to advise and correct kings was secured.


1 Samuel 12:5-6 (ESV) And he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.” And Samuel said to the people, “The Lord is [witness], who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

Ro'eh Yisra'el, the Shepherd of Israel as well as His anointed bore witness to the fact Sh’muel had given no reason to abandon government by the judges for a king. He, a proven Godly leader had been rejected in favor of being ruled by a king with only one victory and whose devotion to Melech HaMelachim, The King of kings, was as yet untested, and therefore unknown.

We as individuals are prone to this same kind of thinking. We forget the invisible Magen Avraham and look to the visible, a flesh and blood champion who will save us.

2 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV) He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

I am dependent on medication in order to survive. I could place my hope in Obamacare or some other earthly person or thing in order to get these meds, however I have no faith in them at all. My trust is to my ultimate provider who, in His mercy is faithful every once in a while to give me some small sign of encouragement. I missed one dose last night, and should have been awakened in severe pain. But I was not. I checked, and not only was that dose still on my nightstand, but my alarm was malfunctioning. So I know I missed it. Yet I suffered no ill effects. I know He can deliver me from this in His own time, or just provide for my needs and take up the slack when I fail. My task is to be faithful, and to share what God has done. It’s a small thing, but a great comfort to me. (And skepticism is allowed- I know, but really you have only my word. Take it for its own value but always check you spirit when hearing of these things).

1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV) I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 6:1-5 (ESV) When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your . Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers,


1 Samuel 12:7-12 (ESV) Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers. When Jacob went into Egypt, [and the Egyptians oppressed them], then your fathers cried out to the Lord and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. But they forgot the Lord their God. And he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against them. And they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, that we may serve you.’ And the Lord sent Jerubbaal [Gideon] and Barak [Bedan or Samson] and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety. And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king.

This is a recounting of the deliverances of Adon Olam, the Master of the World on behalf of Yisro’el. When they obeyed, the Hand of the Lord was with them; when they disobeyed they saw the back of His Hand. However even when it was their own fault, when they repented their Elohim always delivered them from their enemies. This I think unearths the real reason for their desire for a king, a permanent champion to deliver them in times of trouble. There was no need for repentance, since they had a permanent anointed champion to fight their foes.

However as we all do when we are in too deep, “they cried out to the Lord.”

Exodus 2:23 (ESV) During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.

“Because we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth”- as always, being delivered into hands of an enemy is seen as punishment for forsaking their God to worship other gods. Deliverance from their enemies is the natural result of returning to HaRachaman- The Merciful One of Yisro’el.


1 Samuel 12:13-15 (ESV) And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the Lord has set a king over you. If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king [fathers].

The people are rebuked for their ingratitude. They are exhorted to “fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice” while at the same time being warned against rebellion. The statement “now behold the king whom you have chosen” lends context to this exhortation. The fate of the king and the nation are now one and the same.

The people’s motives in demanding a king were wrong. They could not yet see it, however the kingship would expose both their leaders and themselves to many dangerous temptations. Obedience to the theocratic ideal was as always all that could save them; however with a king instead of judges it would be very difficult to hold to this standard.

Vs 14 gives the same secret for success as was given to Yehoshua:

Joshua 1:8 (ESV) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Rebellion became Melech Shaul’s persistent sin, and it would eventually cost him the kingdom and his life. A rebellious people now had a rebellious king to lead them.

Still in all Sh’muel would try to bring them to repentance for this great sin in demanding a king.


1 Samuel 12:16-18 (ESV) Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king.” So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

Aibishter (Yiddish)- The Most High will now confirm all that His servant Sh’muel has said by a miraculous sign. It would thunder and rain during the harvest season; an event so unusual as to clearly be seen as miraculous. This also demonstrated the anger of the Lord as well as the power of Sh’muel’s prayers.

Rain in Yisro’el only falls from late fall to early spring. Rain during the summer would ruin the crop. Huge swaths of wheat stalks could be laid flat on the ground. If ripened, the grain could be shelled out onto the ground. Disease and rot would set in. This was a serious sign, with heavy consequences.


1 Samuel 12:19 (ESV) And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.”

This great catastrophe leads the people to at least an outward show of repentance.


1 Samuel 12:20-25 (ESV) And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

YHWH-Yireh (Adonai-jireh), The LORD will Provide is true to His word; and though the people had forsaken Him, He would not forsake them. They now had assurances both of the faithfulness of Elohim and the continued prayers and ministry of Sh’muel.

We need to take these words to heart! While we may at times miss the mark, or even drift from our ancient moorings and find ourselves in dark, stormy waters, the Lord our God will never forsake us:

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV) Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Abandonment of His people would damage Adir, theStrong One’s great name among the nations, and they would attribute it to weakness on His part.

Joshua 7:9 (ESV) For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?”


Had Melech Shaul maintained a good relationship with Sh’muel and obeyed he would have successfully led the nation. But as we know, his failures of character were many and he led them to defeat, even attempting to kill his anointed successor out of jealousy.

Sh’muel, whose authority is reconfirmed by this miracle will continue to represent people before God by his prayers, and will represent God before people by means of instruction. However the fate of the people now rests with their king.

Dan C

Resources: JPS Study TNK, W Wiersbe, Ed Cole, Unger, Edersheim, Meyer, Rav S, my father and others.

[alon]

Bump- this week's haftara.

Dan C