Saul didn't lose the kingdom because he wasn't talented; he lost it because he was insecure. Discover the warning signs of a leader who is building a monument instead of a mission.
Jeremy Haroldson returns to the life of King Saul, not to celebrate a hero, but to dissect a tragedy. Saul started well—he was humble, chosen, and anointed. Yet, he ended his reign rejected, paranoid, and stripped of authority.
This session is a forensic analysis of leadership failure. It isn't about "bad people"; it's about insecure leaders. Using 1 Samuel 15, Jeremy exposes the subtle compromises—like partial obedience and people-pleasing—that slowly erode a leader's foundation until the whole structure collapses.
Saul was told to destroy everything (the Amalekites). Instead, he kept the best sheep and the King alive. When confronted, he claimed, "I have obeyed the voice of the Lord."
Jeremy warns: "Partial obedience is disobedience." You cannot negotiate the terms of your assignment. Saul thought he could improve on the plan (keep the sheep for sacrifice), but his "good idea" was actually rebellion. In leadership, 99% compliance is still non-compliance if the 1% is a direct violation of core values.
Why did Saul compromise? He finally admits: "I feared the people and obeyed their voice."
This is the kryptonite of leadership. When you fear the crowd more than you respect the Mission [God], you lose your ability to lead. You become a follower with a title. Saul capitulated to the pressure of his team because he needed their approval more than their respect.
When Samuel confronts him, Saul's first instinct is to deflect: "The people spared the best of the sheep."
A true leader takes responsibility for the failure of the team. An insecure leader throws the team under the bus to save face. Jeremy notes that this inability to say "I was wrong" sealed Saul's fate. God can work with a sinner who repents (David), but He cannot work with a leader who deflects.
While the battle was raging, where was Saul? Scripture says he "set up a monument for himself."
Insecurity drives leaders to build shrines to their own ego. Instead of completing the mission, Saul was obsessed with his legacy and image. "When you are busy building your brand, you stop building the Kingdom." Self-promotion is often the first sign that a leader has lost their internal compass.
Saul had the look, the height, and the talent. He lacked the character. The lesson of his fall is simple: Your gift can take you where your character cannot keep you.
Samuel's final verdict—"To obey is better than sacrifice"—is the standard. You cannot bribe God with performance, money, or "sacrifices" if you are unwilling to give Him your obedience. Success is not the metric; faithfulness is.
Perfect for:
Because leadership carries higher stakes. Saul's disobedience didn't just affect him; it compromised the safety and integrity of the entire nation. When a leader goes rogue, the fallout is exponential. God removed Saul to protect the people.
It is an idolatry of approval. It happens when a leader values the opinions of others above the principles of truth. It leads to decision-paralysis, compromise, and eventually, the loss of authority, because you are led by the crowd rather than leading them.
Restoration is always possible through genuine repentance (ownership), but restoration of position is not guaranteed. Saul lost the kingship because he refused to own his failure. David committed worse sins but kept the throne because he immediately confessed, "I have sinned." Ownership is the key to survival.
Key Scripture Reference: 1 Samuel 15:22-23
"Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams... Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king."