You began well, Saul.

An untended root of fear

became your defeat.

-1 Samuel 9:1-13:13

Fear of man is a snare. For a long time I somewhat despised King Saul. Then I realized a lot of my ongoing issues stemmed from the same root problem that he had - the fear of man. Too many times we look back at another person's failure and forget they were people who struggled with the same issues we do. However they don't have the benefit of hindsight. We all do things in the pressure or heat of a moment that we later wish we could do differently or undo. I don't know how many times I would agree to an unreasonable deadline in a meeting and regret it at the time I was doing it. Why would I do such a thing? Looking back now I see it was feeling the pressure of the fear of man.

All through chapter 9 of 1 Samuel we see Saul's outstanding qualifications for being selected by God as king over Israel. He had the look - handsome and tall. (9:2) He was diligent to carry out the tasks given to him. (9:3-4) He was considerate. (9:5) He wasn't pompous, but willing to take advice from a servant. (9:6) He was not big headed. (9:21) and most importantly he was anointed by God to lead. (10:1) Saul had so much going for him, but there was one seemingly minor crack in the vessel. Saul feared man more than he feared God. We see it manifest from day one.

When Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel together to select the king and finally Saul is selected, no one can find Saul! Samuel had already told Saul privately that he was God's choice. He had anointed him. God had confirmed this to Saul by prophetic words from Samuel coming to pass. Saul KNEW he was going to be selected, but when the time came his nerves got the best of him. Why? The same reason you or I get nervous, because we're thinking of our self and considering how we will look foolish or incapable in front of people. The cure is to think of God first, then the people who need to hear from Him and only then of ourselves as the available vessel to do God's will.

"I can't do this!"

"I'm not qualified."

"What if I fail?"

God already said you are the one, so TRUST Him.

Just a few chapters later we see Saul yield to the fear of man again. 1 Samuel 13:18-19 says:

"he [Saul] waited seven days...but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, Bring me the [sacrifice]..."

Why did Saul disobey God? "I saw the people  scattering from me...you didn't come in time, Samuel...the enemy  was getting stronger and I knew I needed God's blessing so I forced myself to overstep my bounds." Weak. First reason: people. Second reason: people. Third reason: people. At the very end of the list: God bless what I'm about to do. whuh??

Samuel's response indicated that Saul was God's choice as king. However because Saul would not own up to his sin, he disqualified himself. He wanted to save face in front of Samuel (I was seeking God's favor, man of God), and in front of the people (see 15:20-24, 30).

It wasn't the mistake, but Saul's response to it that was his ruin. This is good news because we all have flaws.  Flaws in the vessel don't disqualify us when we acknowledge them and submit them to the Master Potter for repair.