Whenever you think of the Biblical King Saul, it is often a fleeting thought. Most people view him as simply the prefix to the Davidic monarchy. Leadership Lessons: Avoiding the Pitfalls of King Saul by Ralph Hawkins and Richard Parrott offers a different view. They perform an extensive review of the King and show very clearly that he was a logical choice to become the first king of Israel. This book has forced me to go back and reevaluate my views of this first Hebrew monarch.
The authors extrapolate principles of leadership and success from the examination of his failures. They indicate that this "negative study" is done for a very specific reason -- wise people learn most from their mistakes, errors, and shortcomings. Both men afford the reader a deep understanding of the Biblical and historical context of Saul and provide a clear explanation of where Saul went wrong. Then, the authors turn to the application of the lessons to the modern day.
My gripe with the book is that the majority of it focused on modern scholarship and psychological theory rather than continuing a Biblical exegesis. The historical books of Scripture contain a wealth of information that could have further developed their ideas without so quickly turning away from the textual details.
Nevertheless, I like the books for its unique perspective and depth of understanding with the first Hebrew king. He started out well and finished horribly. That very same pattern could occur in all of our lives; however, we must learn from these past mistakes so that we may glorify God in all that we do -- wherever He has placed us.
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