Monday, March 1, 2010
Fear and Failure
(I Samuel 15:23-35)
After what must have been a heated conversation between him and Samuel, King Saul finally admitted his disobedience. From the earlier context we know that Saul made excuses and mentally minimized his sin. The old prophet would have none of it! He pointedly reminded Saul that his disobedience was as serious a matter as witchcraft and idolatry (23). No words needed to be minced; the truth is the truth.
In an interesting twist, Saul gives insight into his disobedience. Perhaps he is just making another excuse—once again blaming the people—or, just maybe, he gives a genuine glimpse into his thinking. Saul declares, “I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words; because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice” (emphasis added). Perhaps Saul’s underlying motivation in disobedience really was fear.
Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man bringeth a snare.” In other words, fearing what men think is a trap. One’s behavior is determined by what he fears. For example, if one fears the criticism of others, he may spend money he doesn’t have to impress people he doesn’t like. As foolish as that sounds, it happens all the time. One who fears social isolation may, even against his conscience, sip a cocktail or tip back a beer—just to fit in. Maybe a lady who knows better decides to wear a short skirt or tight top so that her “friends” won’t think she’s “not with it.” All of these are actions taken out of fear.
In the given examples, the outcomes would have been different had these folks feared God more than men. Fearing God would have helped them make right choices. Saul “feared the people” more than he feared God, and he lost the kingdom over it. Think about it: Who do you fear?
