Rev. Don Campbell
1 Samuel 15-17
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 12, 2019
“SAUL AND THE “DARK TRIAD”
Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., posted the following in “Psychology Today”: “Lurking beneath the surface of people who use others to their own advantage is psychology’s ‘Dark Triad.’ Defined as a set of traits that include the tendency to seek admiration and special treatment (otherwise known as narcissism), to be callous and insensitive (psychopathy) and to manipulate others (Machiavellianism), the Dark Triad is rapidly becoming a new focus of personality psychology” (1/26/13).
“Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian diplomat, politician, historian, philosopher, humanist, writer, playwright, and poet of the Renaissance period. He has often been called the father of modern political science.” His theories are still debated in the halls of academia but can be summed up as “the end justifies the means.” He pushed the idea leaders must control their public image, conceal their faults and pretend to hold virtues they do not hold. They must control their adversaries—and everyone who does not agree with them is their adversary. “Passing the buck,” “shifting the blame,” “denial and projection” are hallmarks of the Dark Triad.
Saul tried to shift the blame for his sparing Agag king of the Amalekites and the best of the spoils after God had clearly told him to wipe them to destroy them. When Samuel confronted Saul with the bleating of sheep and the lowing of oxen, Saul began, “They have brought them…” Samuel said, “STOP!” God had appointed him as the king and he was supposed to lead, not follow (1 Samuel 15:1-23).
Ignoring the evidence, Saul insisted that he had obeyed God: “And Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” And Samuel said,
“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.
For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has also rejected you from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:20-23)
Saul then says, “I have sinned,” but it was not a true confession of guilt, because he tried to shift the blame: “I was just doing what the people wanted” (1 Samuel 15:24).
Many leaders who are only leaders in name often justify the introduction of false doctrines and worship practices with the claim, “The people want it.” When the people insist on having their way and their figurehead leaders bow to their wishes, God will say, “Have it your way.” [ See “Have It Your Way,” April 9, 2019]
CONNECTIONS
1. President Truman had a sign on his desk which said, “The Buck Stops Here,” meaning as the President he was ultimately responsible for the bad as well as the good of his administration. Are there “leaders” in politics and the church who need to adopt this as a way of life and not just a slogan?
2. Another statement worth thinking about is “Don’t believe your own press reports.” “Spin doctors” are paid big bucks to cast politicians, actors, and others in a favorable light, minimizing faults and maximizing virtues. Are ordinary people like me and you susceptible to the minimizing-maximizing error?
