The People’s Leader

And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. 1 Samuel 14:44‭-‬45 KJV

We are beginning to have an understanding of Saul as a rigid and inflexible leader. While it is good to be firm, it is suicide to be inflexible as a leader. An inflexible leader is obstinate because of personal insecurity. There’s always a tendency to act out, to proof a point of who you are. This trait showed up in Saul’s command that day when he gave a command that no one should taste food. Well, Johnathan and his armour bearer were out bringing victory to Israel. They didn’t hear of this command. The way Saul swore, it is as if someone went out to disobey him. While Saul was the King, Jonathan and David were the people’s leaders. The people’s reaction show their real allegiance was to these leaders. Saul didn’t have his way. That had begun to puncture his status as King. Leaders, you need leaders. You correct and not kill the up coming leaders. They will make mistakes. Correct them. Bill Howatt in an article published on 2016 describes what a leader should do in the following words: ” Simple corrections require a conversation, not a lecture…Most corrections provide an opportunity to teach. When correcting a behaviour, start with awareness. Don’t assume the employee knows or understands the issue you want to correct. Ask the questions required to confirm whether the employee has the required knowledge, skills and attitude to avoid repeating the mistake”. Saul was the first King. He had no such manual. Now you do. Don’t make his mistakes.