Sterling Leadership - Commitment
The preamble to the US Constitution begins, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice….” Yes, the elites, aristocrats, nepotists, and dynasts hate it, but God loves all people. And the people, capable of wicked injustice and mob mentality, are also, by their God given capabilities, capable of assessing character, appointing based on merit, and judging based on righteousness.
In the New Testament, when an issue arose, they called together the people to discuss it and reach a resolution. Nowadays, we can become so caught up in hero worship, anointing men with no accountability and celebrity pastors, that we forget God’s way.
As Christian men and women, we must ever be mindful of our mission and to Whom we are responsible. We preach Salvation through the Cross of Christ (Galatians 5:11), unashamedly. Be ever mindful of the dangers of spiritual warfare and the necessity of careful attention to our own work.
We must live to please the Spirit and take the warnings of falling back into the control of our sinful nature seriously. The same Israelite people who foolishly begged God for a king soon thereafter got the godly gumption to stand up to Saul’s wicked decision to kill his brave son Jonathan. Saul, like many of our so-called leaders today, clung to power and hated others getting rightful credit. In the fateful story of Jonathan and his armor bearer’s bravery against the Philistines, it was God who rescued the Israelites despite Saul’s poor leadership, legalism, and foolishness. Yet Saul pretended to be God honoring and righteous, “‘Yes, Jonathan,’ Saul said, ‘you must die! May God strike me and even kill me if you do not die for this.’” (1 Samuel 14:44). Getting killed for common sense and bravery! Absolutely nuts.
But that’s when “we the people” stepped in. “But the people broke in and said to Saul, ‘Jonathan has won this great victory for Israel. Should he die? Far from it! As surely as the LORD lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for God helped him do a great deed today.’ So the people recued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.” (1 Samuel 14:45). That’s how it’s done. Conviction. Courage. Boldness for Christ alone. We the people!
To back up for a brief moment. I suspect you know well the tragic and horrible scene in the Bible where we see King Saul’s character revealed. Saul was a compromised legalist. He knew the Jewish rules and regulations, but he missed the point. It was as though he knew about God, but didn’t know God. Like grinding wheat with a mortar and pestle, it’s tough to separate a man from his character (Proverbs 27:22).
Saul became king young, too young, perhaps, just 30 years old. God was good to him. God allowed Saul to reign 42 years. God gave Israel incredible success under the leadership of King Saul, setting David up for growth and unity, and Solomon for exponential growth. In fact, Saul was enabled by God to perform great deeds and expand the kingdom of Israel against many enemy nations (1 Samuel 14:47-48). But never confuse God’s corporate purposes and plan with personal approval. Indeed, God blessed Israel despite Saul’s foolish leadership.
We see that early on in Saul’s reign. Saul and his men were in a tight spot with the Philistines. They had God given strength and many resources, but like a pretend Judge (think Gideon), Saul foolishly sent away most of his men, right when he should have been calling them to arms. Saul chose a force of 3,000 troops. But he unwisely split them up, sending 1,000 of them off to Gibeah with his son Jonathan (1 Samuel 13:1-3). Jonathan was not the problem. As the story plays out, we see that Jonathan is the man committed to God, filled with common sense, honesty, and bravery. He indeed knew God. God gave him an early victory over the Philistines, but Saul claimed it as his own. With that early victory over the Philistines at Geba, the Philistines then mustered a massive army, and that is where things get intense - and tragic. But for the bravery of Jonathan and the miraculous intervention of God, the Israelites would have been finished.
Rather than wait for the Israelite army to gather (and for the Prophet Samuel to come and minister and bring godly insight), Saul panics. His men were fearful. They needed wisdom and an example of sterling leadership and courage. Saul made the situation much worse by his own lack of faith. Under pressure, Saul caved after just seven days. He showed his metal - and it was thin. He was a sellout, a legalist. Compromised rather than committed to God. Saul was eager to boast that he was a godly man, but when the going got tough, he proved to be foolish, petty, impatient, and weak.
Like us today, Saul could not argue ignorance. We have more than enough Light. Saul and the people knew very well God’s conditions and commandments. God had explicitly said to them, “Now if you fear and worship the LORD and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the LORD’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the LORD as your God. But if you rebel against the LORD’s commands and refuse to listen to him, then his hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors” (1 Samuel 12:14-14).
I want to encourage you today, not condemn you. God is for us. But let’s be honest. We drift, naturally prone to slide back to our old sinful ways. More than that, we are pushed and prodded and attacked in this daily spiritual battle. That is why it is essential to remind each other of God’s purpose and power. Through Jesus, there is forgiveness of sins. Every person who believes in Jesus is declared right with God (Acts 13:38-40).
Two things this morning, and I know it’s a big ask if you can make the time. First, read Acts 13. You will be reminded of the need to preach the Gospel, and I hope you will be convinced that every person can believe in Jesus or reject Him. Second, read 1 Samuel chapters 13 through 15. There, we see that there is tremendous pressure to cave and compromise on our leaders today. Pray for our leaders and be the leader God wants you to be. Committed. Not compromised.
God is looking for men and women after His own heart, committed to remaining in His grace. God is not arbitrary or capricious. He rejected Saul because Saul did not and would not obey Him (1 Samuel 13:14). Saul was like many of our Christian leaders today. Worldly. Pleasers of men, with no fear of God. But God said this of David, “I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22). We are not robots. We have to develop godly character. God wants us to commit and obey rather than capitulate and compromise.
Lord Jesus, make us brave like Jonathan and his armor bearer today. And may we, the people, fight well for You. Amen.
Benjamin, Solomon, and Abraham (years ago in FL).
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