Many people whom I meet suffer from inferiority complex. They become successful and occupy high positions in organizations. The feeling of inadequacy drives them on. Alfred Adler was a disciple of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis. Adler felt uncomfortable with his master's reliance on sex drive to explain the development of personality. So Adler took a different path and based on the human need of power to develop a personality theory. His theory popularizes the term "inferiority complex". Psychologists suggest that disapproving negative parental attitude and upbringing are the causes of the development of inferiority complex in people. Other causes include physical defects, mental limitations and social disadvantages/discrimination.
No doubt, Saul suffered from inferiority complex. But what caused his complex?
The Bible does not tell us how Saul was brought up. But his father Kish was a wealthy man (1 Samuel 9:1) and he seemed to good to Saul. When the asses were lost, Kish sent Saul and a servant to fetch them (1 Samuel 9:3). Furthermore, Saul was tall and handsome. According to the Bible, Saul was the tallest man among the Israelites.
and he (Kish) had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; from his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people (1 Samuel 9:2).
Therefore, we can rule out the first 2 factors which cause inferiority complex. From his family background and his appearance, there did not seem to be anybody in Israel comparable to him. The third factor is ruled out. But we may find some clues in the dialogue between Samuel and Saul.
And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?"
Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the humblest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?" (1 Samuel 9:20b-21)
For whom was all that was desirable in Israel at that time? A king. The Israelites were demanding a king from Samuel. Saul's family was wealthy. Did not Kish's family wish for the promising Saul to be a candidate? Affirmative.
Unfortunately, Saul was a Benjaminite. The tribe of Benjamin had a very bad history and was decimated by the other tribes as recorded in the book of Judges. Saul's inferiority complex was amplified when he was anointed king of all Israel.
The Bible does not tell us how Saul was brought up. But his father Kish was a wealthy man (1 Samuel 9:1) and he seemed to good to Saul. When the asses were lost, Kish sent Saul and a servant to fetch them (1 Samuel 9:3). Furthermore, Saul was tall and handsome. According to the Bible, Saul was the tallest man among the Israelites.
and he (Kish) had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; from his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people (1 Samuel 9:2).
Therefore, we can rule out the first 2 factors which cause inferiority complex. From his family background and his appearance, there did not seem to be anybody in Israel comparable to him. The third factor is ruled out. But we may find some clues in the dialogue between Samuel and Saul.
And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?"
Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the humblest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?" (1 Samuel 9:20b-21)
For whom was all that was desirable in Israel at that time? A king. The Israelites were demanding a king from Samuel. Saul's family was wealthy. Did not Kish's family wish for the promising Saul to be a candidate? Affirmative.
Unfortunately, Saul was a Benjaminite. The tribe of Benjamin had a very bad history and was decimated by the other tribes as recorded in the book of Judges. Saul's inferiority complex was amplified when he was anointed king of all Israel.
God chose the humblest man among the Israelites to be their king. It was sensible. The future greatness of Saul would be based on God alone. Tragically, Saul had another agenda. He did not rely on God but did everything he could to please the people rather than ruling over the people. He fell from grace in the annihilation of the Amalekites because he disobeyed God.
Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I will punish what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way, when they came up out of Egypt.
Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.' (1 Samuel 15:2-3)
Instead, Saul spared the king of Amalek and the good spoils.
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; all that was despised and worthless they utterly destroyed (1 Samuel 15:9).
When confronted by Samuel, he shifted the blame on the people.
Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed." (1 Samuel 15:15)
Samuel wasted no time to condemn Saul.
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 hearken than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king." (1 Samuel 15:22-23)
When Samuel turned to leave Saul, Saul caught hold of his robe to detain him so that he would offer sacrifice to God in the presence of Samuel in order to save his own face before the people. The skirt of Samuel's robe was born, symbolizing that the Lord had torn the kingdom from Saul. Samuel accompanied Saul in the offering of sacrifice but the fate of Saul was sealed.
And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel (1 Samuel 15:35).
It was tragic.
Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I will punish what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way, when they came up out of Egypt.
Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.' (1 Samuel 15:2-3)
Instead, Saul spared the king of Amalek and the good spoils.
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; all that was despised and worthless they utterly destroyed (1 Samuel 15:9).
When confronted by Samuel, he shifted the blame on the people.
Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed." (1 Samuel 15:15)
Samuel wasted no time to condemn Saul.
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 hearken than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king." (1 Samuel 15:22-23)
When Samuel turned to leave Saul, Saul caught hold of his robe to detain him so that he would offer sacrifice to God in the presence of Samuel in order to save his own face before the people. The skirt of Samuel's robe was born, symbolizing that the Lord had torn the kingdom from Saul. Samuel accompanied Saul in the offering of sacrifice but the fate of Saul was sealed.
And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel (1 Samuel 15:35).
It was tragic.
Dear Lord, I have my own share of inferiority complex. I pray that I obey Your voice. My achievements are all Yours. Amen.
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