I Sam 28-31 One or Two?

April 4th, I Samuel 28-31

       The word for today is duplicity.

       Duplicity 1: contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially: the belying of one's true intentions by deceptive words or action. 

        This is the story of Saul. On the one hand chapter 28:3 tells us that Saul had "put the mediums and necromancers out of the land." It was a God ordained command, that this type of thing was not to go on amongst God's people. Unless of course.... you need one.
         So when the leader of God's people needs a medium he tells his people to find one. To which his servants don't spend any time on research, they simply, immediately say, "Oh, there's one at Endor." You see because it goes like this. The leader, Saul, makes the command. But Saul's leadership knows full well about the level of duplicity in Saul's heart. Instead of following his command, that they would later get in trouble for if the went to the trouble to actually expel these people, they simply kept a rolodex of mediums so they could find one when(not if) the need arises.
       Here inlies the heart of the problem of duplicity in leadership.People here what you say, but they know what you want. When those two things don't line up there is no capacity for respect. If there is no capacity for respect, everyone makes their own way, just like their leader has. Over time, the mess grows and the missteps begin to compound.
       If the mediums were expelled and Saul's servants didn't know where to find one this afternoon, maybe two weeks would have been enough time for Saul to seek God's face and for God to speak to him.
       Notice Saul didn't have a problem with quickly knowing where one was, disguising himself because he knew it was wrong, or making promises to absolve one who was going against God's command. Saul trained his followers that in regards to integrity, nothing really matters.
       Duplicity in our lives has the same result it had in Saul's. First off in our home, children recognize the difference between words and actions without fail. They resolve the tension by doing the same. Leadership in the workplace, at church, in social settings is recognized by people. As we get older we imagine that we cover it up better, but we usually don't. If your in a position of power like Saul, you might think you're getting away with it, but the truth is your powerful position just keeps people from being honest with you. That's how Saul became so delusional.
       The real goal here is to be one with God. He convicts me, forgives me, sets me on a new path. The very opposite of duplicity is to be one with God. That's my prayer for us!!