Although Saul stood out above all for his striking appearance, he never won the battles within. Outwardly he was tall, handsome, and well built (1 Samuel 9:2). Inwardly, however, he carried a number of flaws.
Cowardice in Saul's Life
What weaknesses can be observed in Saul's life that had a negative effect on his leadership?
- When the time came to anoint Saul as king, he hid.
- When Samuel called Saul to take up leadership, he excused himself as unqualified.
- When Saul's soldiers began to scatter, he panicked and disregarded God's commands.
- When Saul was confronted with his sin, he found excuses to justify his actions.
- When Saul attacked the Amalekites, he was afraid to trust God and destroy the enemy.
- When Saul feared losing the people's loyalty, he had a monument built to himself.
- When the Philistines faced Israel, Saul's fear led the army into a stalemate.
- When David grew in popularity, Saul's insecurity drove him to attempt to murder David.
Lessons from Saul's Life about Courage and Bravery
- Courage and cowardice are both contagious.
When Goliath challenged Saul's men, they fled to their tents; when David's men faced a vastly superior army, they held their ground, fought... and won (2 Samuel 23:8-12).
- Without courage, it doesn't matter how good a leader's intentions are.
Saul had good intentions when he offered a burnt offering to the LORD. But he let himself be driven by the fear that the people would abandon him (1 Samuel 13:13-14).
- Only courage allows a leader to do the thing they are afraid of.
Saul showed from the very beginning that he lacked courage. He hid so he would not have to become king (1 Samuel 10:22).
- Without courage, leaders become slaves to their own insecurity and greed.
King Saul regretted having tried several times to kill David. Yet, trapped by his fears and his insecurity, he tried again and again.
- When a leader lacks courage, the team will lack commitment.
Against God's command, Saul and the army spared the best of the livestock they had captured from the Amalekites. Saul let this happen and admitted that he feared the people and obeyed their voice (1 Samuel 15:24).
- A leader without courage will never let go of the familiar.
Saul employed a medium to ask the spirit of Samuel for advice - a direct violation of God's law (1 Samuel 28:5-20). He lacked the courage and the trust in God to step into an unknown future.
- A lack of courage sabotages a leader.
Saul's lack of courage ultimately cost him not only the throne of Israel, but also his own life and the life of his loyal son Jonathan (1 Samuel 31:1-6).