If you read the first of this new series, then you notice the title is a bit different.  You are right because I want to check your historical and Biblical knowledge.  Answer this simple question:  who was the second king of Israel?  I know you just answered in your mind, then looked at the title and thought something like this - "Well, I'm not gonna waste my time here.  This author is a way off base because there is no way that David was just a figurehead."  I would encourage you to read on because all is not as it seems.  A definitive lesson or two can be clearly seen from the second king as he faced challenges stemming from Saul - the Initiator.

Saul, the first Hebrew king, offers us an example that cannot be overlooked - particularly for those that are business starters or hold a newly created leadership position.  He made decisions that are typical of an "initiator" and we would do well to learn from his example to save us from expensive AND extensive difficulty.  To unpack his life and leadership, we will go to the book of 1 Samuel for a summary explanation of his life and decisions.  Please note that we cannot cover the majority of one Old Testament book in a short blog, so this will only hit the highlights.  We will close with five specific applications of those lessons for leaders.

This blog entry will start a new series (The Mess of the Monarchy) and a new category (Hebrew Kings).  For the longest time I struggled with Hebrew history with a particular focus on the mess that men made of the monarchy.  In my quest to analyze and figured that out, I stumbled upon the work of J. Robert Clinton and his conclusions from studying hundreds of Biblical leaders (should you want to learn more, see his article "Listen Up, Leaders!").  Still, that article did not dig deep enough into the specifics of the Hebrew kings and how they varied greatly.  Yes, I recognize that some served God and others did not, but why?  That question is the heart of my pursuit going forward so that I can learn to leave the right legacy behind.  First, here are a few foundational thoughts.