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1 Samuel 10: 17-27 Shut your mouth

• Saul is anointed king and immediately there are detractors that want to challenge what God has done in Saul.
• V 24 So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”
• V27 “How can this man save us” So they despised him and brought him no presents
• Folks, upon God doing something in your life, almost immediately, there will be people who will come around and try to discourage what God is doing in your life. They wont like it
• To your face they will rejoice, but in their hearts, they are not on your side, they are against you
• You may be justified, or in a position to assert your position or power and put them in their place, but pay them no mind
• Saul, being King, could have done whatever he wanted to them at this point, because he was king, but he didn’t. He held his peace. He didn’t attack. He didn’t destroy. He didn’t instigate. He didn’t assert. He held his peace.

• Reminded me of Jesus, his trial and crucifixion and how he didn’t defend himself either
• Matthew 27:14 But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
• 1 Peter 2:23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
• Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
• Often times, when faced with opposition, we must remain silent and allow the Holy Spirit to do his work- we must HOLD OUR PEACE
• God is a much better vindicator than you.

• Rom 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
• Now, when I am saying this, I don’t want you to think that you’re unable to defend yourself, or speak up against injustice, or explain to your boss what happened at work.
• It is against those who would attack you from the shadows of your life. The ‘haters’ if you will
• Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
• Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.’

• There is always a contingent of people who wish your demise. They want you to engage in their instigation, and when you do, you look stupid and lessen your witness because you’ve been dragged into a needless confrontation that God can work out more effectively than you.
• A coworker who may not like you. A neighbor who may gossip. An acquaintance speaking against you. A family member who likes to cause strife. A church attender who is not saved
• The closer you get to God, the more detractors you will have because they do not like it.
• Now, if you’re living wrong, this doesn’t apply to you, get your life right. God doesn’t defend the rebellious or divisive. but if you’re living right, then you can hold your peace. God will defend
• How was Saul able to hold his peace as king? How was he able to not engage?

1. The chosen hold their peace

• v 21 And Saul the son of Kish was chosen. V 23 “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?”
• We have been walking through the choosing, calling and anointing of Saul as King
• In this moment, he has an opportunity to exert his kingly power and influence over these detractors, but he doesn’t. He knows who he is. He was already part of Israel- knew his line
• Deut 7:6 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.
• He was raised Jewish- he had to know Exodus 19: 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation

• He doesn’t have to do anything because He knows he’s king! He’s chosen! He doesn’t have to defend himself. He doesn’t have to assert his position or power over these detractors.
• God has called him. God has placed him. God has made him king. Whatever these guys do or don’t do wont change that. He is the King of Israel whether they like it or not.
• This is what detractors do- they try to usurp what God is doing or has done in your life
• Why? 1- havent’ been changed by God 2. Jealous/envious of what God is doing in your life 3 self loathing- don’t like themselves 4. Frustrated people- usually hate everyone- you’re not special

• What does it mean to you?
• You keep your peace by reminding yourself- “I’ve been chosen by God- He is doing something in my life, I don’t need to defend myself- God will defend me”
• Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
• You’re his special people- if you are in Christ, if you are living for him and doing Godly things
• This isn’t a promise for the rebellious or those who are in Sin. You have to reflect. A rebuke is still a godly thing- receive it and repent- but if you’re being biblical and pure- remind yourself of who you are and whose you are- you don’t need to assert. Trust God- he will defend you!
• 1 Peter 2:9 says” you are a chosen generation” Eph 1:4 says “ He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” 2 Timothy 1:9 says “he saved us and called us” (airplane-got MY seat)

1. The Humble hold their peace

• v 22 And the Lord answered, “There he is, hidden among the equipment.”
• In the moment that Saul was to be found as king, he was no where to be found, but humbled himself in the nearby.
• Reluctant to embrace the kingship placed up on him? Or reluctant to overuse his authority?
• Some could say he was a shy leader, but we will see he is not. Most commentators say humble
• Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life.
• see, the humble are usually less likely to engage with those with bravado
• They don’t need to assert their position, because they know the end result- they are patient
• Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
• Story of Pastor Townsend- funeral- letting the people have it

• What does it mean to you?
• Are you a proud confrontational person with those who disagree with you, or are you humble enough to let the Lord vindicate you? Do you always feel the need to speak up for yourself?
• Matthew 23:12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
• When faced with a detractor, are you more inclined to engage in a fight, or be humble?
• Being humble doesn’t always mean taking a beating, sometimes it means just being quiet
• Saul was humble enough to know he was king, and to not run into to fight his detractors
• Most people couldn’t wait to tell everyone they were king, to stand up tall and show out

• IF you want to see God move, check and see if you’re humble. You might be out in front of God
• Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
• Some people have haters because they think they are better than others- I’m not talking about a haughty self righteous jerk that people you don’t like. I’m talking about a loving, caring, submitted saint of God under attack
• God does not call us to self righteousness. He calls us to be humble and trust in him

1. Hearts touched by God hold their peace

• v26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched
• It wasn’t even until after they left the place they were in that the rebels said “ how can this man save us”
• But Saul and these others hearts had been touched by God- they weren’t having any of it
• Last week we talked about being changed by God- here’s the thing- if you haven’t had a tangible interaction with God- its hard to hold your peace
• Daniel had one- Daniel 10:18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me

• All Eleven Apostles, The woman at the well in Samaria – John 4:1-42, The woman caught in adultery – John 8:1-11, The man possessed by demons living in the graveyard of Gerasene – Mark 5:1-20, Nicodemus – John 3:1-21 ; 7:50 ; 19:38-39, Saul of Tarsus – Acts 9:1-31
• Saul who became Paul was touched by God and it changed him-
• Galatians 1:13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
• Phil 3:7-11 READ
• How do you go from “tried to destroy it” to “fellowship of his sufferings being conformed to his death” unless you’ve been touched by God?

• What does it mean to you?
• You need a touch from God- You need to experience him in a tangible way.
• To be able to hold your peace you need to have experienced God- You need to be able to say-
• Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
• These people’s lives were touched in such a way that after being touched by Jesus, they weren’t ever the same Their lives were different
• The healing touch of God will change you in such a way that you wont do what the rest of the people do, or at least you you can hold your peace- allow God to move