Where 1 Samuel 11:1–11 confirms that it is the Lord who saves a sinful people, the last few verses give us the reason for God’s actions. He saves a sinful people for the purpose of fellowship. God saves a sinful people so that he can enjoy fellowship with them.
After Saul’s victory, there was a gathering at Gilgal to renew the kingdom followed by a fantastic feast. The renewal in view has to do with both politics and religion. In terms of politics, you will remember at the end of 1 Samuel 10:1–27 there had been some who questioned Saul’s kingship and refused to follow him. Now they were given another chance to commit themselves to Saul. In terms of religion, we know that Israel’s request for a king was a rejection of the Lord. Now there was a chance for all the people to recommit themselves to God and the terms of the old covenant. A chance to affirm that the Lord is King.
And with these chances, we see that God’s king is not only a king who leads in battle and defeats enemies, but a king who opens the door to real fellowship. Saul showed mercy to the men who initially rejected his kingship. Following the instruction of Samuel, we can also assume that it was he who led the people to Gilgal where there was sacrifice and worship. He brought the people of Israel together before the Lord. Consider who were gathered at that feast: the troublemakers from Gibeah who deserved death; the men and women from Jabesh-gilead, saved from certain death; and the people of Israel as a whole—everyone who rejected the Lord with their earlier request for a king were present. Everyone in Israel who deserved death was invited to a feast with God. The king saved God’s people for the purpose of fellowship.
What Saul did for Israel is nothing compared to what Jesus Christ has done for us. The true Messiah brings a rescue that is much greater. He saves us from sin and the punishment we deserve for our rebellion. He also opens the door to permanent fellowship with God. Because he is the perfect King who feared the Lord all the days of his life, he can invite us to a fellowship with our Father. As we read in Hebrews 10:19–25, because of Christ a new and living way has been opened. We can draw near to God with a true heart and full assurance of faith, our hearts having been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience. And so, as the apostle John testifies in his letter, our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3–4).
What is more, our Lord Jesus also invites us to a feast in the here and now. In Holy Communion, we come to the table of our King—a table where we are fed with Jesus Christ’s true body and blood. A table where we enjoy fellowship with one another and with our Lord. A foretaste of the glories that wait for us in the new creation. And we can come to this table even though we are sinners who have rejected our Lord time and again. Like Israel, we come not on account of our own righteousness, but because of God’s King. We come trusting in the righteousness of Christ.
12 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.”