Gleanings of Grace

Last March 29, 2026, our church welcomed Pastor Kent Langham to preach on 1 Samuel. He prepared different preachings for the morning and afternoon services, encouraging the congregation to stay the whole day.

At the time, I was in the midst of my ministry break. My resources were limited, and I had planned to head home after the morning service. Yet the preaching was so rich and compelling that I found myself wanting to hear more. And so I stayed.

Pastor Kent opened his sermon by exposing a sin that often hides beneath respectable behavior—the fear of man.

The phrase itself was not new to me. Yet many people may be unfamiliar with the biblical category. As Pastor Kent said, “No one gets diagnosed with the fear of man.” Modern psychologies may call it social anxiety disorder. Some manifestations may resemble peer pressure, insecurity, co-dependency, conflict avoidance, and people pleasing tendencies. But as Pastor Kent wisely noted:

“When we lessen the problem, we will always lessen the solution and exchange it for that which is no solution at all.”

Unless the problem is properly diagnosed, the solution can never be properly applied.

The fear of man is not merely a personality trait or an unfortunate tendency. Scripture reveals it to be a matter of the heart—a sin that competes with the fear of God.

And because the problem is spiritual, the ultimate solution can only be found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

To help us understand this sin more clearly, Pastor Kent presented four points that explained its manifestations and implications through the life of Saul.

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The Fear of Man Is Rooted in Disobedience

1 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Yahweh sent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel; so now, obey the voice of the words of Yahweh. 2 Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.

9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and they were not willing to devote them to destruction; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

At the start, Samuel had to remind Saul that he was to exercise obedience to Yahweh. He was Israel’s anointed king. His authority and position came from Yahweh. Yahweh’s command was clear: to devote all of Amalek to destruction, sparing nothing and no one. God was accomplishing His judgement upon them through Saul and Israel’s army. 

Yet, Saul and the people disobeyed.

They spared Agag and all that was “good” in their eyes. 

Rather than leading the people in wholehearted obedience, Saul allowed himself to be influenced by them. Saul succumbed to the very people he was called to lead. He cared more about what they thought, and cared less about what Yahweh would say. 

As a result, Yahweh declared, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not established My words.” (1 Samuel 15: 11)

The fear of man not only flows from disobedience—it also produces further disobedience. As Pastor Kent said, “Sin is not in isolation. Sin floods the human heart and things are connected in a way that is just vile and evil.” One sinful desire gives birth to another.

Pastor Kent shared his own testimony—from being a people-pleasing social chameleon who adapted from crowd to crowd in order to gain acceptance, to becoming a minister of God’s Word. Through the process, God was changing his affections away from sports and eventually towards serving in ministry. But it struck me deeply when he pointed out that even ministry can be an outlet for the fear of man to manifest. It was so sharp that it made me ask:

“What is my goal for serving in ministry?”

“What is my goal for attending church on LORD’s day and cell groups?”

“Am I simply meeting people’s expectations?” 

“Or am I convinced that this is where I can best glorify God with the life He has given me?”

“Would I still obey God if others disapproved?”

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The Fear of Man Often Masquerades as Humility

17 And Samuel said, “Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And Yahweh anointed you king over Israel,

Samuel pointed out how Saul saw himself: little in his own eyes. 

The elders of Israel gathered together asking Samuel, “Now appoint a king for us to judge like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8: 4-5). Though this was evil in Samuel’s eyes, he heeded Yahweh, trusting that it served a greater purpose. And so, God led Samuel to Saul.

Samuel gathered all of Israel and anointed Saul as king over them. Given such a momentous event in the history of Israel, of course there was excitement to see their newly appointed king. And so they looked for him, but Saul hid himself by the baggage (1 Samuel 10:22). 

Outwardly, this may appear to be humility expressed through shyness. But if Saul was truly humble, why would he set up a monument for himself (1 Samuel 15:12)?

The contradiction is revealing.

It’s one thing to recognize that there is nothing to boast about, knowing that everything is by grace. It’s also one thing to consider others as more important than ourselves out of biblical love. 

But it’s another thing to think less of oneself out of insecurity, ungodly fear, and concern for what others might think. This is not biblical humility at all. 

True humility recognizes God’s grace and willingly embraces whatever role He assigns us for His glory.

A mentor once shared this thought to me, “A truly humble person does not shy away from the spotlight knowing it is a unique opportunity to glorify God.” 

This thought stayed with me.

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The Fear of Man Distorts Our Stewardship of God’s Calling

17 And Samuel said, “Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And Yahweh anointed you king over Israel, 18 and Yahweh sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of Yahweh, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the eyes of Yahweh?” 20 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of Yahweh and went on the way on which Yahweh sent me and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek and have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God at Gilgal.”

28 So Samuel said to him, “Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you.”

Saul’s problem was not merely that he disobeyed.

Ultimately, he failed to steward his kingly duty.

Again and again, Saul justified his actions. He shifted blame. He hid behind religious excuses. He insisted that he had obeyed Yahweh. His insecurity and desire for approval distorted his leadership. 

And so the kingdom was torn away from him and was given to David (1 Samuel 15:28).

As Pastor Kent pointed out, it wasn’t that Saul was shy or humble. Even from the outset, he resisted embracing God’s call for his life.

Knowing that I am no better than Saul, I found myself asking:

“Have I ever hidden behind false humility?”

“Have I shied away from responsibility because I feared people’s opinions?”

“When I remain silent, is it wisdom—or fear?”

“How am I stewarding the season God has entrusted to me today?”

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The Fear of Man Values Human Approval Above God’s Approval

30 Then he [Saul] said, “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God.”

Even after confessing his sin, Saul’s primary concern was to be honored before Israel, not to be right with God. His priority was preserving his reputation. This reveals where his heart truly was.

22 … “Has Yahweh as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.“

Obedience is not merely external activity. It is a matter of the heart.

Serving may appear noble. 

Giving may appear generous. 

Stepping back may appear wise. 

But not until every deed is brought to God’s perfect judgement, the deeper question lies beneath every action:

“Who am I pleasing?

“People?” 

“Or God?”

33 …And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before Yahweh at Gilgal.

What Saul failed to do, Samuel did.

Samuel’s primary concern was total obedience to Yahweh. The imagery is sobering. Just as Samuel hacked Agag into pieces, leaving no room for compromise, so I must put sin to death decisively–not buts, not ifs. In doing this, may I solely be devoted to God, pleasing and fearing Him alone. 

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As Pastor Kent summarized, “The fear of man can be manifested in countless different ways, but ultimately the problem is that of idolatry–and idolatry of self.”

The fear of man is sin. 

When this is called out for what it truly is, only then can the real solution be made known. And it is not found in therapy, nor in coping mechanisms coated with positivity. Sinners need a Savior.

Saul feared people because he desired their approval.

The Gospel offers something far greater. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus Christ reconciles sinners to God and frees us from slavery to human opinion. Because we are accepted in Christ, we no longer need to live for the approval of others.

The fear of man diminishes as the fear of God grows.

And the only lasting cure for the fear of man is the Lord Jesus Christ.