What a fascinating chapter!
The Softball
In this chapter Saul is assigned the task of committing genocide against the Amalekites for the wrongs they did against Israel when Israel came out of Egypt. Obviously there is much that could be said about this alone but that’s not where I’m going so let’s just leave it as the backdrop it is to the rest of the story.
This is not a hard assignment for Saul. Apparently the Amalikites were no match for Israel. These were the early days of Saul’s kingship and this was sort of like being thrown a softball to hit out of the park. Saul hits it out of the park, but it’s more like a foul ball than a Home Run. He doesn’t completely follow the Lord’s instructions. He kills all but Agag the king and the best of the flocks and herds.
Here is where it gets real interesting. The Lord “regrets” making Saul king and Samuel gets angry.
The Lord Regrets
What does it mean to say that the Lord “regrets” making Saul king? This is reminiscent of God telling Noah that He regretted making man. The Lord is perfect in all of His ways. He knows the end from the beginning. How can He “regret” something? Honestly, I don’t know. However, the word used here (nâcham) literally means “to sigh or breathe strongly” and by implication “to be sorry or regret”.
As a parent there are times when you know your child is making a mistake, you can see the consequences coming, and when they finally do come all you can do is sigh. Saul was made king because the people demanded a king and Saul was the best they had. When God made man and gave us free will He likely knew the flood would be necessary, along with a great many other unpleasant things, but apparently the good sufficiently out weighed the bad. The one thing I know this does not mean is that the Lord thought, “Oops!”
Samuel is Angry
Why was Samuel angry? I don’t know, but it sure would be an interesting thing to find out.
Was he angry with Saul for disobeying the Lord?
Was he angry with the Lord? Samuel was against the idea of a king from the start but the Lord told him to give the people a king. Furthermore, the Lord told him that Saul was the one to anoint as king. Furthermore, while Saul had technically disobeyed the Lord there can be little doubt that this engagement with the Amalikites was a public relations triumph. Saul’s poll number were likely tracking at their highest ever.
Now Samuel has to go and tell Saul that he can’t be king. (Actually, Saul gets to continue as king but he will have no dynasty.) The man the Lord choose, and had Samuel announce, now at the height of his popularity, and Samuel is going to get the be the one with egg on his face. Maybe he was mad at the Lord?
A Leadership Lesson
Why did Saul blow it? There is no mystery here. Saul tells us with his own words. “I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.”
Saul’s besetting flaw (sin) was fear.
Earlier, when he was faced by the Philistines and stepped over the line by not waiting for Samuel and offering the sacrifice himself, it was because he was afraid of the enemy. Later, when he saw how popular and successful David had become, he would turn on David (his greatest general and defender) because he feared God’s favor on David. Here he is afraid of his own people.
All three fears led to his total downfall. These fears are still debilitating to anyone who would be a leader. Fear of the enemy one can understand, though you can’t lead for long with such fear. Fear of a successful associate is sad indeed and the mark of a weak leader. Fear of your people makes you merely a politician.
No comments:
Post a Comment