King Saul

2022-04-21

Saul was the first (official) king over Israel. The people wanted a king because Samuel, the final judge of Israel, was elderly, and his sons were corrupted by the love of money. Despite Samuel’s warning that a monarch would demand much of the people, they wanted to be like the other nations. Ultimately, they did not want the Lord to rule over them directly. People often want to sacrifice freedom for security.

Though he was a big man from a prominent family of Benjamin, Saul had a humble spirit. The first we see of him, the son of Kish was with a servant seeking his father’s donkeys. In this search, he met Samuel, whom the Lord told to anoint Saul the king of Israel. The young man’s humility is shown in the statement, “Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?” (1 Samuel 9:21). He became filled with the Spirit, popularizing the statement, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

At first, the newly anointed never mentioned anything about his anointing. They had to find Saul after casting lots. His first accomplishment as king was to save Jabeshgilead from the Ammonites. However, as he consolidated his power, he started to disobey the Lord. He first made a sacrifice on his own. Later, he broke the terms of the herem, leaving Amalekite king Agag alive and keeping some of the spoil. These events cost him the kingdom. He also made foolish decisions such as swearing that his whole army would not eat before a major battle. Being in a state of disobedience affects all your decisions.

It became clear that the king’s servant David, who was a major officer in his army and the king’s personal minstrel, would succeed Saul as king. The rest of his life was spent pursuing David because he was held in higher esteem among the people. David spared his life twice, proving that he was not Saul’s enemy. Saul’s jealousy was the only reason for his hatred of him. Anyone who defended David, whether it be the Ahimelech the priest or his own son Jonathan, became the king’s enemies also. He ordered Doeg to kill 85 priests of the Lord and their whole city, including children, because of his alleged allegiance to David.

The Lord never answered Saul’s prayers again, and his consulting a witch at Endor became his last act of rebellion. He and three of his sons died in battle against the Philistines the next day.

Saul is a picture of someone who started off humble and godly, but slowly, pride and rebellion destroyed him. His bruised ego turned his life into one of murder and obsession. Only his death stopped this obsession.

This is a part of the Kings of Israel series. To go back to the table of contents, proceed here.