1 Samuel 9-15

Lessons From An Insecure Leader

1 Sam 9

1 There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish …

2 His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.

Saul’s Calling

1 Sam 9

20 “I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.”

21 Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?”

Saul’s Calling

Distorted view of self & comparison to others (cf. 1 Sam 17)

1 Sam 10

21 And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them.

But when they looked for him, he had disappeared!

22 So they asked Yahweh, “Where is he?”And Yahweh replied, “He is hiding among

the baggage.”

Saul’s Calling

1 Sam 10

23 So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else.

24 Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man Yahweh has chosen as your king.”

Saul’s Calling

1 Sam 10

23 So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else.

24 Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man Yahweh has chosen as your king.”

Saul’s Calling

Insecure leaders resist and even refuse to step up into leadership (cf. 1 Sam 17)

But God still extrudes Saul into leadership

1 Sam 11

[Nahash surrounds Jabesh Gilead…]6 Then the Spirit of God came powerfully

upon Saul, and he became very angry.7 He took two oxen and cut them into

pieces and sent the messengers to carry them throughout Israel with this message:

Saul’s First Battle

1 Sam 11

7 “This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who refuses to follow Saul and Samuel into battle!”

And Yahweh made the people afraid of Saul’s anger, and all of them came out together as one.

Saul’s First Battle

1 Sam 11

7 “This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who refuses to follow Saul and Samuel into battle!”

And Yahweh made the people afraid of Saul’s anger, and all of them came out together as one.

Saul’s First Battle

Insecure leaders name drop and cite the authority of others (cf. 1 Sam 17)

1 Sam 11

7 “This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who refuses to follow Saul and Samuel into battle!”

And Yahweh made the people afraid of Saul’s anger, and all of them came out together as one.

Saul’s First Battle

Insecure leaders use threats and compulsion to secure a following

Contrast with David’s mighty men, who followed in spite of threats from Saul

1 Sam 13

[The Philistines are gathering against Saul and his men are starting to freak out]

7 Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear.

8 Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come.

Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away.

Saul’s First Failure

1 Sam 13

9 So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!”

And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.

Saul’s First Failure

Insecure leaders cannot wait on God. They end up taking things into their own hands (cf. 1 Sam 24, 26)

1 Sam 13

10 Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived.

Saul went out to meet and welcome him,

Saul’s First Failure

1 Sam 13

11 but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?”

Saul replied, “I sawmy men scattering from me,and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle.

Saul’s First Failure

1 Sam 13

12 So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for Yahweh’s help!’

So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”

Saul’s First Failure

Insecure leaders can’t admit wrong or learn from their mistakes (cf. 2 Sam 12)

1 Sam 14

[Jonathan and his armor bearer send the entire Philistine army running]

16 Saul’s lookouts in Gibeah of Benjamin saw a strange sight—the vast army of Philistines began to melt away in every direction.

Saul’s Second Failure

1 Sam 14

18 Then Saul shouted to Ahijah, “Bring the ephod here!” …

19 But while Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp grew louder and louder.

So Saul said to the priest, “Never mind; let’s get going!”

Saul’s Second Failure

1 Sam 14

24-25 Now the men of Israel were pressed to exhaustion that day, because Saul had placed them under an oath,

saying, “Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening—before I have full revenge on my enemies.”

Saul’s Second Failure

1 Sam 14

24-25 Now the men of Israel were pressed to exhaustion that day, because Saul had placed them under an oath,

saying, “Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening—before I have full revenge on my enemies.”

Saul’s Second Failure

Insecure leaders tend to be angry and bitter and harsh and high control

Hardcore about the wrong thingsEventually their people give up in exasperation

1 Sam 14

24-25 So no one ate anything all day, even though they had all found honeycomb on the ground in the forest

Saul’s Second Failure

Insecure leaders tend to be angry and bitter and harsh and high control

Hardcore about the wrong thingsEventually their people give up in exasperation

1 Sam 14

33-34 Someone reported to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against Yahweh by eating meat that still has blood in it.”

Saul’s Second Failure

Insecure leaders tend to be angry and bitter and harsh and high control

Hardcore about the wrong thingsEventually their people give up in exasperation

1 Sam 14

33-34 “That is very wrong,” Saul said… Do not sin against Yahweh by eating meat

with the blood still in it.’ ”

Saul’s Second Failure

Insecure leaders tend to be angry and bitter and harsh and high control

Hardcore about the wrong thingsEventually their people give up in exasperation

1 Sam 14

36 Then Saul said, “Let’s chase the Philistines all night and plunder them until sunrise…

His men replied, “We’ll do whatever you think is best.”

But the priest said, “Let’s ask God first.”

Saul’s Second Failure

Insecure leaders tend to be angry and bitter and harsh and high control

Hardcore about the wrong thingsEventually their people give up in exasperation

1 Sam 14

37 So Saul asked God… But God made no reply that day.

38 Then Saul said to the leaders, “Something’s wrong! … We must find out what sin was committed today.

Saul’s Second Failure

Insecure leaders tend to be angry and bitter and harsh and high control

Hardcore about the wrong thingsEventually their people give up in exasperation

1 Sam 14

39-40 I vow by the name of Yahweh who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!”

But no one would tell him what the trouble was… … And the people responded to Saul, “Whatever you think is best.”

Saul’s Second Failure

Insecure leaders tend to be angry and bitter and harsh and high control

Hardcore about the wrong thingsEventually their people give up in exasperation

1 Sam 14

[they cast lots, and Jonathan is busted]43-44 “Tell me what you have done,” Saul

demanded of Jonathan. “I tasted a little honey,” Jonathan admitted.

Saul’s Second Failure

Insecure leaders tend to be angry and bitter and harsh and high control

Hardcore about the wrong thingsEventually their people give up in exasperation

1 Sam 14

43-44 “It was only a little bit on the end of my stick. Does that deserve death?”

“Yes, Jonathan,” Saul said, “you must die! May God strike me and even kill me if you do not die for this.”

Saul’s Second Failure

Insecure leaders tend to be angry and bitter and harsh and high control

Hardcore about the wrong thingsEventually their people give up in exasperation

1 Sam 15

9 Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle…

12 Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul.

Someone told him, “Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself…

Saul’s Third Failure

1 Sam 15

13 When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully.

“May Yahweh bless you,” he said. “I have carried out Yahweh’s command!”

14 “Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded.

Saul’s Third Failure

1 Sam 15

15 “It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted.

“But they are going to sacrifice them to Yahweh your God. We have destroyed everything else.”

Saul’s Third Failure

1 Sam 15

16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Listen to what Yahweh told me last night!”

“What did he tell you?” Saul asked.

Saul’s Third Failure

1 Sam 15

17-18 And Samuel told him,“Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel?

Yahweh has anointed you king of Israel. And Yahweh sent you on a mission…

Saul’s Third Failure

Insecure leaders think too little of themselves

1 Sam 15

35 Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him.

And Yahweh was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.

Saul’s Third Failure

Spiritually Confident LeadersKnow their identity, don’t need to compareLooking for ways to influence for GodStand on the authority God has given them. Flows from a healthy prayer life

Admit wrong and learn from failureForgiving, compassionate, low control, looking to delegate

People want to follow themTheir littleness doesn’t matter…

Insecure LeadersHave a distorted view of self and compare themselves with others

Resist and refuse leadershipName drop and cite other authoritiesCannot wait on GodCan’t admit wrong or learn from failureAngry and bitter and harshBeat people down and lose their followingThink too little of themselves

2 Sam 7:25, 29And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family…

For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!