King Saul jump-started his reign over the Israeli monarchy with such promise. He appears to have been found humbly hiding because of his feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness when learning of God’s selection of him as king. He had eagerly accepted the heroic role of avenger for God’s people when Jabesh-Gilead was threatened by the Ammonite king, Nahash.

But suddenly something changed. Travel with me to my own perceptions from this story. I suggest that somewhere Saul’s humility was ousted by his unrestrained pride as Saul neglected to handcuff his desire for superiority, power, and recognition. He permitted his lust for control to lead to compromise. When Saul knew that God’s injunction required him to destroy the Amalekite nation, Saul chose rebellion and possibly “people-pleasing,” and elected to disobey. Saul rationalized his choice, but rationale must never be permitted to replace requirement.

When Saul absorbed in his spirit God’s rejection of him, Saul then unveiled what was perhaps a previously unseen, frightening flaw in his character. Saul asked for forgiveness, likely out of insincerity, and asked Samuel to go with him to worship. The reading of Saul’s first request might lead the reader to believe that his request for forgiveness was genuine, but later, in 1 Samuel 15:30 NKJV, “30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.”

Why “before the elders of my people and before Israel,” Saul? Did the appearance of worship interest you more than the authenticity of worship?

I cannot say for certain about Saul, but I find this often to be the case with others. Their willingness to compromise reveals their lack of commitment in their relationship with God. But even though they are not concerned with being “sold out” to God, they are consumed with appearing to be just as faithful as everyone else.

The delusion of appearances is frightening. Someone’s spiritual state of mind that is satisfied only with how others view them rather than the true picture of their character is a slippery slope that rarely ends well. I myself seek God daily, because I never want to be consumed with appearances. My intention is to please God.