The Image

Focus Scripture

1 Samuel 15: 1- 24 (NIV)

For today’s text see: https://bible.com/111/1sa.15.1-24.niv

The Lord called Saul to obey His instruction.  The Lord gave Saul a very clear mission.  The mission was to completely destroy the Amalekites for what they had done to Israel. (Verses 2 -3).  But Saul and the army of men only did a part of the mission.

God calls us to obey Him.  However, with free will, we can choose to obey God and be a servant, or we can choose not to obey and be self-serving.

The mission in verse three is clear – Attack and totally destroy.  Put all people to death, spare nothing including the livestock.  But Saul only carried out part of the mission.  We learn in the text that he took king Agag as a prisoner and Saul and the men spared the best sheep and cattle.  They knowingly disobeyed in order to take the spoils of the battle so that others could see their success.  To top this all off, Saul even went to Carmel to erect a monument in his own honor.

Then when Samuel confronts Saul about this, Saul tries to rationalize keeping the king, cattle and sheep, and the monument.  He tries to justify his disobedience; his sin to Samuel.  But Samuel speaking the word of God will have no part of it.

Saul allowed his position (the image) of leadership to dictate what he attends to and how he attends to it.  And when confronted about his choices, how he justified it.  Saul rationalized his disobedience.  He even used religious practice as part of his rationalization.  In Saul’s eyes he successfully completed the will of God.

Samuel explains to Saul that obedience to God is better than any sacrifice.  Samuel finished by stating that rebellion or disobedience to God is like divination and arrogance no better than idolatry.  Samuel closes by saying that since Saul rejected God’s command that God has rejected Saul as leader.  Upon hearing this Saul repents. But even his repentance is still an excuse (verse 24). 

Saul does not recognize how the image of leadership drove decisions he made.  Saul become too concerned with the image of leadership instead of the essence of leadership.  Saul was concerned about being seen by others and recognized for successfully winning the battle against the Amalekites.  He was seeking honor and glory for himself.

When we seek the image of leadership instead of the essence of leadership we move from being servant leaders with the goal of serving God and others to be self-serving leaders who seek personal glory.  The motives for leadership shift from God centered to self-centered.

People look for the image of leadership.  The Lord looks at the heart of leadership.