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.
