Saul The Defective Leader I Samuel 9-15 Four weeks ago, I began a short series on spiritual leadership. Even though we have had an interruption, I would like to continue. This is a topic we need more understanding of in the Church. Now, we can turn any where in the Bible and study leadership, but we are looking at leadership as exampled in the book of 1 Samuel. I call Samuel A Tale of Three Leaders I Samuel records for us the lives of three key men Samuel, Saul and David. Each one of them example some good and some bad characteristics in a spiritual leader. Samuel - Dependable Leader.. David Developing Leader (both boys) This morning King Saul A Defective leader. Saul was a man with all kinds of potential. But His lack of discipline and his character flaws proved to be his downfall as the kind of man God was able to use over the long haul. In his book called Spiritual leadership, J. Oswald Sanders defines leadership this way; Leadership is influence; the ability of one person to influence another to follow his / her lead. (to the good.. to the bad) Spiritual leadership is influencing others in a POSITIVE sense for the glory of God By the life we live, the decisions we make, the service we render, people are attracted to follow Christ and obey His Word The Kingdom of God is advanced As the prophet Samuel and King David offer us a good example (not perfect), Saul defines for us some pitfalls of a leader who does not take the Word of God seriously.. With all of King Saul s potential, he lacked personal character, biblical conviction and sincere commitment in obeying God s Word in His life. Background: Let me set the stage for the leadership transition between Samuel and Saul. Your going to need your Bible this morning to follow the story as it develops between chapters 8 and 15. In Samuel 1-7 we have Samuel, the Prophet s Ministry in Israel. I Samuel 8 Transition in Leadership begins.. Verse One Samuel getting Old Vss 2-5.. Samuel s Sons not working out, the people ask for a King. This seems reasonable but their motivation was wrong. Verse 5b tells us they wanted to be like the world around them. 1
Be Careful what you ask for (YOU MIGHT JUST GET IT) The rest of the chapter tells us that God was displeased with their request. He asks Samuel to explain the ramifications of a King, but in the end the Lord grants their request. Verse 22.. the Lord said to Samuel, `listen to their voice and appoint them a king. So a search for a King began and the search leads them to a young man named Saul Chapter 9 In the next few chapters we not only have the history of this first King recorded, we can also see the factors that brought about both the rise and the fall of this spiritual leader. I. Saul s RISE to Prominence A. His Charisma Was Obvious - I Samuel 9:1-2 First, Saul was a young man whose charisma was obvious. 1 Samuel 9 begins: Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zerror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjaminite, a mighty man of valor. And he had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.. This young man had been created by God with impressive physical qualities, and he radiated a magnetism that others could only envy. I tried to think of an actor who would be perfect for the role of Saul, and I came up with Ben Affleck; Brad Pitt. Saul had the looks.. He had the build he had the background.. Senior class would have voted him Most Likely to Succeed, and succeed he did.. First Saul s charisma was obvious and secondly.. B. His Calling Was Noble - I Samuel 9:15-17 Becoming a King was not a career path that Saul chose for himself not an election he won.. God chose Him.. It was a noble calling.. When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people. I Samuel 9:17 The Lord chose Saul to play an important role in his kingdom; a very singular and sacred purpose. I Samuel 10:1 Saul is anointed as king 2
I Samuel 10:9 Saul is empowered to be king God calls this man God anoints this man God empowers and equips him for this sacred task.. A number of years ago, a man in New York named Joel Sherman became the world s Scrabble Champion. Using words like vug and helicoid, he took first place (and $25,000 in prize money). When asked the secret of his success, he simply replied, This is all I do. Joel Sherman, who hadn t held a regular job in over ten years, spent all his time playing Scrabble. His life revolved around this game, and he lived off the prize money he won. Evidently he believed that was his calling in life. I believe that each of us has a higher purpose than playing Scrabble. As believers we are all called to make a difference in our world for Jesus Christ. We too have a noble calling We have been anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit for a significant purpose. When we commit our lives to Jesus Christ and grow in the knowledge of His word, God shows us what he wants us to do. He guides us. He promises to use us to accomplish his will in this world. We become partners with him in his enterprise. In Saul s rise to prominence, His charisma - obvious, His calling noble and third; C. His Career Was Promising - 1 Samuel 11 Some things never change. Military conquest will often make or break leaders Military conquest gave rise to Saul s place before the people, and it eventually became His demise before God. As the Ammonites were bearing down on the Jewish people in Jabesh-Gilead, Saul gathered 300,000 men for battle. In verse 11 we are told Saul divided his men into three companies and defeated the Ammonites and won the hearts of the people.. 1 Samuel 11:15, So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal This young King Saul got off to a great start, leading Israel into much-needed military victory over the enemies that had been long tormenting them, and he won the respect and admiration of all the people. Chapters 12 and 13 record many of Saul s early successes as He ruled God s people in Israel.. But there was a problem AUTHORITY Leadership has certain requirements attached to it. 3
4 In our democracy the appointed leadership is to be led by the constitution and must answer to the people who elect them (SUPPOSEDLY) In God s order of things, the Leader (King) is to be led by the Word of God and ultimately answers to God, who appointed Him King Saul struggled with this He had trouble listening to God He had trouble obeying God II. Saul s FALL from Grace o It seems that Saul s downfall was a quick as His rise.. Chapters 13-15 give us a clear picture of his downfall. In my thinking Saul s problem is best summarized in I Samuel 15:22-23 After Samuel confronts him about his disobedience to God in verse 19, he says this.. Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king. If there is one thing that God requires of those He appoints as leaders among His people it is OBEDIENCE Listen, we are going to make mistakes Leaders are not perfect The Christian life is not about perfection, it s about direction In verse 23, Samuel is not just stating a general principle that is true for us all. I believe he is pointing out the flaws in Saul s character.. Saul had a couple of issues he never dealt with.. They proved to be his downfall.. Rebellion = Actively opposing authority defiant No one is going to tell me what to do! Insubordination = Arrogance.. exaggerated sense of one s importance You can t make me
The Old Testament often refers to the rebelliously disobedient people as stiffnecked Samuel Faithful in the little Things Available to the Will of God Teachable in the Word of God.. Saul was the polar opposite.. Samuel 3:10, Speak Lord for Thy servant is listening Saul, not so. He seemed to always know better than God. Saul had his mind made up.. God wasn t (isn t) looking for men and women who have all the answers; Those who are pushing their own agenda God is looking for men and women who will obey His Word and perform his will 5 A. His Character Was Flawed - I Samuel 13:13-14 Samuel said to Saul, You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you. Spiritual Leadership James 3:1.. Let not many become teachers my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment Luke 2:48 (Possessions/Responsibility) From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. The results for Saul. V. His Crown Was Lost - I Samuel 15:23b Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king. It was over 1,000 years later Paul makes mention of this when he speaks of the kind of man God uses. After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will. Spiritual leadership has a certain requirement It is to obey the Word of God and do His will.. It is to please God and teach others to obey Him..
Matthew 28:18-20 All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. One of the foremost responsibilities was to teach the followers of Jesus Christ to obey God Obey all which I have commanded you Principles to Apply: This could have been one of the greatest and most uplifting stories of the Bible, but the story of Saul quickly headed south. Although Saul s charisma was obvious, his calling noble, and his career promising, his character was flawed. It seems like every year we hear of key leaders who fall.. Politicians who fail morally.. Company Executives who lack integrity.. Pastor s and spiritual leaders who compromise the very truth they have been appointed to represent. When a leader falls, we all feel the THUD! (ripple affect) All that describes King Saul to a T. What exploits he might have accomplished, what victories he might have won, what history he might have made, what advances he might have made for the Kingdom of Israel and of God if only he had been an obedient man. 1. The Importance of Spiritual Character 2. The Importance of Biblical Conviction 3. The Importance of Personal Commitment This is not a commitment to my cause but God s Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice Doing Wrong Things Well University president Warren Bennis spent several years researching a book on leadership. He traveled around the country spending time with dozens of leaders. His goal was to find these leaders common traits. At first, he had trouble pinpointing any common traits, for the leaders were more diverse than he had expected. But he later wrote: I was finally able to come to some conclusions, of which perhaps the most important is the distinction between leaders and managers: Leaders are people who do the right thing; managers are people who do things right. 6
Both roles are crucial, but they differ profoundly. I often observe people in top positions doing the wrong thing well. Saul was a man who did the wrong thing well. From all outward appearances, he might have been considered a success. But God had the final evaluation and blessing. Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter. Tim Kizziar 7 Leaders need to cultivate two things: a righteous heart and a rhinoceros skin Charles Swindoll