CHILDREN STS LESSON 45 DEFEAT OF THE AMMONITES
Text: 1 Samuel 11:1–15
Israel’s request for a king to lead them like other nations was granted as we learnt in our previous lesson. Thus, Saul was anointed as the first king over Israel to lead and defend them against enemy nations.
Shortly after the selection of Saul, the Ammonites surrounded Jabeshgilead, a city belonging to the children of Israel. The king of Ammon known as Nahash was a very proud and wicked person. He was a bitter enemy of Israel. This king prepared to make war with Jabesh, boasted that the only condition for which he would make peace with them was to remove all their right eyes. He threatened to bring shame to all Israel. God hates pride, He raised up deliverance for Jabesh through the leadership of Saul and Nahash and his people were defeated and put to shame.
Satan is our arch enemy. He is wicked and always ready to engage children of God in spiritual battle. The good news is that God is on our side. He has promised to give us victory (Romans 8:31).
- STRANGE REQUEST AND PLAN OF THE ENEMY
1 Samuel 11:1–4; John 10:10
“And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel” (1 Samuel 11:2). This was a strange and unusual request from king Nahash of Ammon.
Only a very wicked king can plan the removal of the right eyes of a whole tribe that was at peace with his kingdom. The purpose is to destroy their usefulness as effective soldiers for the rest of their lives. The right eye was used in looking at the enemy over the shield. Israel would have been easily conquered had such an injury come to the soldiers of Jabesh-gilead. Consequently, the enemy would have brought shame to them and made slaves of them forever.
The Bible cautions believers to be sober and vigilant so that the devil will not capture them. The devil is described as the strongman, he never opens the door of his prison for the prisoners to escape. He is more wicked than Nahash, the king of Ammon. The purpose of the devil is to destroy the faith of Christians and render them ineffective and unable to benefit from the promises of God (eternal life etc.). We are not fighting physical enemies (flesh and blood) but the devil and his agents who are spiritual enemies (2 Corinthians 10:3–5).
An insect caught in a spider’s web will struggle hopelessly and become weak and get more entangled until the spider comes to finally kill and eat it up. This is how bad it is to be caught in the devil’s snare. He entices sinners with sinful habits, lust of the flesh and the eyes etc. Once caught, unless delivered by Jesus, everlasting suffering in hell fire is the end of such sinners. This was the plan of Nahash king of the Ammonites. He wanted to enslave, destroy and shame the children of Israel.
Are you already in the cage of the devil? Are you being oppressed with sickness, failure, poverty, bedwetting etc. Jesus is calling you and willing to deliver you today. Do not delay any longer. Repent and confess your sins and give your life to Jesus now!
- SAUL DEFEATS THE AMMONITES
1 Samuel 11:3–15
The wicked request from Nahash the king of Ammon, made the people of Jabesh-gilead to cry out to their brethren in other territories. Their cry came to the notice of Saul who had been chosen as king but not yet anointed in the public. This teaches us that, we must always take our problems to God in prayers. Also seek partnership in prayers from other friends of Jesus especially anointed ministers of God.
As soon as Saul heard the reason for the cry of his people, the spirit of God came upon him and he was empowered to lead Israel in battle against the Ammonites. He gathered three hundred and thirty thousand men (330,000) for the battle. When the people of Jabeshgilead heard the good news from Saul, they were glad. After this, they sent a message to their enemies that they were ready to come with respect to their earlier discussion. The Ammonites thought that they were coming to surrender their eyes, they did not know that God had raised help for His people.
On the agreed day, Saul appeared with his army and took the enemy by surprise. He divided the soldiers into three groups. In an early morning attack, the army of Israel came against the Ammonites. They slaughtered the Ammonites until noon time. It was a great victory over a boastful king and his army. There are many lessons we can learn here:
(i) Friends of Jesus are constantly engaged in life battles, therefore there is need to be in close relationship with God through prayers, watchfulness and being filled with the power of the Holy Ghost.
(ii) Oneness and unity among friends of Jesus will help us to have victory over Satan – our enemy.
(iii) We must always give thanks to God for giving us victory in all our battles.
After the defeat of the Ammonites, Prophet Samuel then called the people to come to Gilgal the place of worship. It was there in the presence of God that Saul was officially made the king of Israel. After the ceremony, the people rejoiced, offered sacrifices to God and renewed their consecration to God almighty.
When God grants us victory in life’s battles, we must not abandon the fellowship but return to praise and worship Him. It is also important that we rededicate our lives to God and serve Him faithfully till the end.
- SAINTS’ VICTORY THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1 Samuel 11:3–11; Judges 6:34; 11:29; Acts 1:4–8
“And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly” (1 Samuel 11:6). As soon as Saul learnt of the serious challenge posed by king Nahash of Ammon, the spirit of God descended on him. Throughout the period of the judges, God always sent His Spirit upon chosen individuals to lead His people to victory over their enemies.
In the case of Saul, God proved to Israel that He is the God of battle, without Him, we can do nothing. The Spirit also came upon Saul because God saw in him the readiness to do His will and defend His people. God is the same yesterday, today and forever and still delivers through the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the early Church, the Lord proved His presence through the power of the Holy Spirit. The twelve (12) apostles, Paul, Stephen, Philip and many other disciples preached the gospel with boldness, healed the sick, raised the dead and cast out devils in the Name of Jesus. The promise of the Holy Spirit baptism is for all friends of Jesus. We need the Holy Spirit’s power today more than ever to have victory over the devil and his agents.
The Holy Ghost baptism is a very important experience a friend of Jesus receives after sanctification. It is an experience whereby God fills a saved, sanctified child with power to serve Him more effectively (Luke 10:19). To have this experience, you must have a thirst for God’s power just as you desire water when you are very thirsty. Pray very well and wait to be baptized. Rise up and pray for grace to be holy, be baptized in the Holy Spirit and live a victorious life.
QUESTIONS:
- The wicked king that threatened to pluck out the eyes of the people of Jabeshgilead is _______.
- Why did he want to pluck out the right eyes of the Israelites?
- Whom did God raise to deliver the people of Jabesh-gilead?
- The children of Israel were victorious over their enemy Yes/No
- The _______ power is always available to help believers overcome in life’s battles.
MEMORY VERSE:
“And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.” (1 Samuel 11:11)
LESSON:
There is assurance of victory for every child who trusts and obeys God.
THOUGHT:
I will live holy and serve God in the power of the Spirit so as to be victorious.
ACTIVITY:
Read Ephesians 6:10–18, write out in your church notebook, the weapons necessary to win in the battle against Satan.
HOMEWORK:
Identify two things in your life that can hinder you from having total victory over sin, self and Satan. Pray and ask for grace to be free from such things.
CONGREGATIONAL SONG:
99 – THERE IS VICTORY WITHIN MY SOUL
CHORUSES:
(1) Keep me true, Lord Jesus keep me true.
(2) Jesus conquered the world.
(3) I’m a soldier, in the army of the Lord.
BIBLE WORD SEARCH
Find the meaning of these words. You can use your dictionary:
- Victory
- Saints
- Faith
- Selfish
- Oppressed
