Saul is one of the most tragic figures in Scripture—a man chosen by God, anointed as the first king of Israel, yet ultimately rejected because of his disobedience. His life illustrates great potential squandered by pride, fear, and a failure to trust in the Lord. To understand Saul fully, we must walk through his life, examining where he came from, how he rose to power, the failures that defined his reign, and the condition of his heart before God.
Saul’s Background and Anointing as King
Saul was a man of impressive stature, a Benjamite, the son of Kish. The Bible first introduces him as a young man who stood out physically.
“There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish… a mighty man of power. And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people” (1 Samuel 9:1-2).
Saul’s rise to kingship was not due to his own ambition but because Israel had rejected the Lord as their King and demanded a human ruler. The prophet Samuel, under God’s instruction, anointed Saul.
“And Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: ‘Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance?'” (1 Samuel 10:1).
The Lord confirmed His choice of Saul through miraculous signs. Yet, from the beginning, Saul struggled with insecurity. When the time came for his public coronation, he was found hiding among the baggage (1 Samuel 10:22). This hesitation foreshadowed his internal struggles throughout his reign.
Saul’s Early Success and Military Victories
Despite his insecurities, Saul began well. The Spirit of God came upon him, and he led Israel to a great victory over the Ammonites.
“Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused… So it was, on the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day” (1 Samuel 11:6, 11).
After this victory, the people fully embraced Saul as their king, and Samuel reaffirmed his kingship at Gilgal. It seemed like the beginning of a strong and prosperous reign. But soon, cracks in Saul’s character would begin to show.
Saul’s First Great Failure: Impatience and Disobedience
Saul’s first major failure occurred when he grew impatient waiting for Samuel to offer a sacrifice. Israel was facing the Philistines, and Saul saw his army beginning to scatter. Instead of trusting God, he took matters into his own hands and performed the sacrifice himself—something only a priest was permitted to do.
“So it was, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. And Samuel said, ‘What have you done?’ Saul said, ‘When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, “The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.” Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.’ And Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God… but now your kingdom shall not continue'” (1 Samuel 13:10-14).
This act of disobedience revealed Saul’s lack of faith. Instead of trusting the Lord, he relied on his own reasoning. As a result, Samuel declared that God had sought out a man after His own heart—David.
Saul’s Greatest Rebellion: The Battle with Amalek
God gave Saul a direct command to utterly destroy the Amalekites and leave nothing alive (1 Samuel 15:3). But Saul, again acting on his own understanding rather than obedience, spared King Agag and the best of the livestock. When confronted by Samuel, Saul tried to justify his actions.
“But 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 heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king'” (1 Samuel 15:22-23).
Here, Saul’s heart is fully exposed. He valued his own reasoning above God’s command. He feared the people more than he feared the Lord (1 Samuel 15:24), and because of this, God rejected him as king.
Saul’s Jealousy and Hatred Toward David
Once Saul was rejected, God sent Samuel to anoint David. The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit tormented him (1 Samuel 16:14). Saul’s jealousy of David began when the people praised David’s victory over Goliath.
“Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7).
Instead of repenting and seeking God’s mercy, Saul became consumed with rage and sought to kill David. He spent years chasing him through the wilderness, attempting to destroy the very man God had chosen. This jealousy and paranoia drove him deeper into disobedience, even consulting a medium at Endor (1 Samuel 28), an act of direct rebellion against God.
Saul’s Tragic End
Saul’s life ended in total defeat. In his final battle against the Philistines, he was mortally wounded. Rather than be captured, he took his own life.
“Then Saul said to his armorbearer, ‘Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.’ But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore, Saul took a sword and fell on it” (1 Samuel 31:4).
His death was the tragic conclusion to a life marked by potential but ruined by pride, fear, and disobedience.
My Final Thoughts
Saul’s story is a sobering reminder that outward appearance, gifting, and early success mean nothing if a heart is not fully surrendered to God. He had everything in the natural—strength, position, and anointing—but he lacked the one thing God desires: a heart that seeks after Him.
God desires obedience over sacrifice. Saul’s downfall was not because of a single mistake but a consistent pattern of trusting himself rather than God. The Lord had given him opportunities to repent, but his pride kept him from true humility. Saul’s life stands in contrast to David, who, though he sinned, always returned to the Lord in genuine repentance. This is why David is called a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), while Saul is remembered as the king who was rejected.
The lesson from Saul is clear: A heart that refuses to trust and obey God will ultimately lead to destruction. But for those who turn to the Lord with humility, there is always grace.
Let us learn from Saul’s mistakes and choose to walk in faith, obedience, and surrender to God’s will.
