King Saul had a great impact on the nation of Israel. Before Israel appointed Saul as their King, Samuel was king over Israel and he had two sons who were next in line as King. However, Samuel’s two sons were not following Gods will, they were not following in Samuel’s footsteps as King. Samuel was devastated and prayed to God asking God why has the nation rejected me? (1 Samuel 8:6, New International Version). God comforted Samuel and explained that Israel had rejected God as their King, not Samuel (1 Samuel 8:7). Israel insisted they have a King as all the other nations had a king (Hindson, Yates, 164). This is why Israel desired a King.
There are many reasons Saul was chosen to be King, over other leaders. Saul was head and shoulders over the crowd, and was an incredibly beautiful man (1 Samuel 9:2). Samuel was told by God that Saul was to be the man that would keep the people of Israel in line with God’s plan (1 Samuel 9:16). Saul was the one that could be called “the people’s choice” (Hindson, Yates, 164). The issue with this is that Saul was the people’s choice, before he was God’s choice. Samuel warned against national covenant unfaithfulness and made it very clear that selecting Saul as King was against God’s plan (Hindson, et al, 165). Still however, the people desired Saul as King over God as their King (1 Samuel 8:10-22).
Saul had a very strong beginning, but despite this Saul’s poor choices caused a rapid decline of his kingdom (Hindson, et al, 165). Samuel warned Saul to honor the Mosaic covenant (Hindson, et al 165). Saul, however did not honor the Mosaic covenant and thus his kingdom fell very quickly (1 Samuel 13-15). Much of the rejection of Saul was due to his extreme drive to seek revenge on the Philistines (Hindson, et al 165). Saul mistreated the physical needs of his men, and even endangered the life of his own son Jonathan (1 Samuel, 14). These events lead to cause his people to further reject him as their King (Hindson, et al, 165).
Towards the end of the book of 1 Samuel both David and Saul’s characters are detailed, David as superior to Saul’s inferior character (Hindson, et al, 166). David is God’s choice and is in line with the Messianic promise (Hindson, et al, 166). “The Spirit of God entered David like a rush of wind, God vitally empowering him for the rest of his life” (1 Samuel 16:13, Message). David was very bold and this boldness filled Saul with fear (Hindson, et all, 166). David is extremely popular with the people, this engulfed Saul with jealousy. David was a better King than Saul as he was God’s choice. David was exactly in line with the Messianic promise, and Saul was not. The rise and fall of Saul was detailed throughout the book of 1 Samuel, God’s choice in King was the only one that would lead the people successfully.
Samuel and Saul’s relationship begins with Samuel, rather than anointing himself as King, anoints a king who is a failure (Reiss, 2004). Samuel then later anoints David as king (Reiss, 2004). Reiss explains questions from Peter Gunn, what caused the failure of Saul (Reiss, 2001)? Was it his own inner inadequacy or was it the lack of external forces (Reiss, 2004). Gunn and Reiss conclude that Saul is “an innocent victim of God” (Reiss, 2004). The relationship between Samuel and Saul can be easily related to the relationship between David and Saul. David and Saul’s relationship and inactions are detailed throughout 1 Samuel. David had some positive feelings towards Saul as we can see in 1 Samuel, 24:10-16. David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but did not and instead cut off a section of his robe to show that he could have killed the monarch if he so desired (Angel, 2012). Saul’s envy for David is where he began experiencing the unbalance in his feelings towards David (Angel, 2012). The relationship between Saul and David has another twist when Jonathan, Saul’s own son, warns David of his Father’s plan to kill him (Angel 2012). Jonathan
