Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.”
1 Samuel 15:24
Sometimes the fear of people is stronger in us than the fear of the Lord and the consequences of such misplaced worship are great. King Saul’s disobedience illustrates this all too well. Instead of completely destroying the Amalekites as God commanded and provided the means to do, Saul chose instead to keep their king alive as a war trophy, as well as some choice livestock, claiming he planned to offer them as sacrifices before the Lord. When confronted, Saul claimed his motives came out of pressure from the people. The only clue we have of this is in 1 Samuel 15:9 where the text says Saul “and the people” did these things.
Regardless of motive, Saul was king (God gave him the responsibility of leading others, not pleasing others), and God had given clear commands. Saul appears to failed both as a leader of people and as a follower of God. His failure would cost him the throne. God sent Samuel to confront Saul, deliver the message of the end of his kingship, and to finish the job of destroying the Amalekites. When confronted, Saul was sorrowful. Saul was confessional. But it was too little, too late. God had decreed an end to Saul’s failed leadership. Fear of man would lead to his undoing.
Saul is a lesson to guard my heart. My motives for service and for leadership should be defined by obedience to and worship of the Lord. There is no room for concern for my reputation or for engaging in people-pleasing. When love and respect for God leads me to properly love and respect people, God will bless me. It is a disaster to reverse the order!
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