1 Samuel 31

If you do not use a cross-reference study Bible, invest in one. Cross-references are notes that take certain verses and connect them to similar verse throughout the Bible. One of my favorites is the Thompson Chain Study Bible. In addition, you should develop the discipline of doing your own cross-referencing. When you read a verse that reminds you of another verse or find connection of some sort, make a note in both places that will aid you in referencing it in the future.

Here we find a fantastic one. In this chapter the men of Jabesh-gilead are mentioned. I will continue with some notes taken from New Unger's Bible Dictionary...

It's inhabitants wee severely punished because they did not respond to the call against Benjamin (Judges 21:8-14), every man being put to the sword and 400 virgins being given to the Benjamites. The city survived the loss of its males and is next heard from as being beseiged by Nahash the Ammonite...they appeal to Saul, whose raises a large army and defeated the Ammonites. This service was gratefully remembered...

If you don't have a copy of New Unger's Bible Dictionary, it is a great resource. I would add to their note that we shouldn't forget that Saul is from the tribe of Benjamin and that he had an ancestor who survived the tribe of Benjamin almost being completely obliterated (Judges 20 & 21). This ancestor would have married one of the virgins from Jabesh-gilead so we gain some insight as to why Saul came to their rescue and why they in turn risked themselves to recover his body after his death in the battle described in this chapter.

What do we gain from all this? In Judges 21 we read about a city whose leaders believed that they could remain neutral and not respond to an egregious injustice of their day. Ultimately, their neutrality was their destruction. Here in 1 Samuel 31, we see this same city's men transformed, seeing a cause and embracing their call.

Is there something that you have been avoiding? Is there a situation in a relationship or your community that you know God is asking you to lovingly confront? If you think that by choosing to not engage you are safer, remember the city of Jabesh-gilead.

Pastor Fred