1 Samuel 22: 6-23
“For all of you have conspired against me…”
Characteristics of ungodly leadership.
When Richard Hofstadter identified “The Paranoid Style in American Politics,” he was simply recognizing a pattern that has always existed, not only in American politics, but in political contexts everywhere. This paranoia results from man’s sinful self-obsession that insists on interpreting circumstances in self-centered terms. We see a clear example of this paranoid style in this passage as Saul sought to destroy David and all those who supported him. He had no logical support for this unreasoning fear and loathing of David, but nevertheless he interprets David’s actions as a threat to him and to his reign. Reading through this passage, we are provided with a surprisingly “modern” view of the paranoid leader – one who is characterized by ungodliness. Here are some of the characteristics:
1. Ungodly leadership encourages the cult of personality. V. 6
In this verse, we see Saul in his home town of Gibeah (a safe place for him), sitting on a hill, holding his spear in his hand, surrounded by his servants. The vignette fairly shouts, “Look at me!” While David is hiding for his life in the forest of Hereth, Saul is posing so that all the attention will be focused on him. And as he speaks, it quickly becomes clear that his interpretation of these events has everything to do with Saul’s paranoia and very little to do with the facts.
This is simply the logical conclusion of the rebellion of man – a rebellion that replaced God with self. Whether it’s the supposed “divine kings” of Egypt and Rome or the self-important bloviators in our own government, the cult of personality tends to dominate the political process.
2. Ungodly leadership motivates through sinful desires. V. 7
This is not always easy to see, unless one is inside the organization. Here, Saul sought to use wealth and power as a motivation for his followers to support him. This speaks volumes about Saul’s own priorities! When God is forsaken, the sense of righteousness departs and the only motive left is a crass selfishness. Men have done amazing things in the pursuit of wealth and power, but even they eventually must admit that these things do not satisfy.
How can it be that even in the Church we see these same motivations? Christ NEVER told us to pursue wealth and power. If God gives them to us, we are to handle them carefully as wise stewards, not seek our own glory through them. Beware of so-called Christian organizations that focus on their size, income, influence or wealth. There is something wrong with the leadership in these situations.
3. Ungodly leadership interprets reality to its own advantage. Vv. 8,13
Saul’s paranoia caused him to believe that everyone was against him: his own servants “have conspired against me,” Jonathan “has stirred up my servant against me,” David was “lying in ambush,” and even the priests were in on the conspiracy. How blind could he be? Ungodly leadership eventually loses the ability to tell truth from lies and begins to call evil good – even to the point of attacking and destroying God’s servants.
We can see this so clearly in our own political system where spin control has taken the place of truth-telling. On both sides of the aisle – Democrat and Republican – statesmanship and honesty have been sacrificed on the altar of partisan politics.
Sadly, this same pattern is often witnessed within the Church as well. People fight for power and influence by interpreting reality to their own advantage, and (especially in church splits) it becomes a game of “he said/she said.” How desperately we need Biblical leaders who “by the manifestation of truth [will] commend themselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God!” (2 Cor. 4:2)
4. Ungodly leadership is open to the manipulation of the unscrupulous. Vv. 9,10
We have met Doeg the Edomite before. He was the man who was “detained before the Lord” when David came to ask Ahimelech for advice. But instead of telling Saul immediately, Doeg held on to that information until he could use it for his own advantage. By his revelation he was then able to appear as a loyal follower of Saul just when the king thought all others were against him.
We know from Psalm 52 that this man was evil and was speaking from a heart of deceit and falsehood. As David wrote the psalm, he deliberately contrasted Doeg’s evil with God’s covenant love and faithfulness. He also prophesied Doeg’s destruction. But history is full of these kind of men and women: devoted to their own advancement at any cost and willing to manipulate others to get it. And in their paranoia, ungodly leaders are easy prey for the unscrupulous.
The Church has also had it share of Doeg’s and Elmer Gantry’s. There is no sense of God’s presence or blessing on their work, they are simply using God’s people to gain wealth and power. Such people will have a show of piety, but (like Doeg) will gladly destroy God’s priests for the sake of personal advantage. More often than we’d care to admit, these are the kind of people who end up in positions of leadership in the church. This danger should cause us to pray for our leaders, who are constantly tempted to use their position for their own gain. It should also cause us to speak up, take action and keep our leaders accountable.
A negative example is often very powerful. Saul shows us in this passage what godly leadership is NOT. May Jesus Christ continue to provide godly leaders for His Church and give His people the ability to discern the difference between and Saul and a David.
