When we think of Saul, the first king of Israel, the story is often told with a sigh. He is remembered mainly as a man who failed, a tragic figure who fell short of what God required of him. In sermons and teachings, Saul is frequently portrayed as a cautionary tale—a man given to Israel only as a rebuke for their desire to have a king like the nations around them. But is that the whole picture?
Scripture suggests otherwise. When Samuel first met Saul, the Lord said to him: “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.” (1 Samuel 9:16).
This is not the language of mere punishment. This is the language of deliverance. God Himself calls Saul the man who would save His people from the Philistines. That means Saul was chosen, not simply tolerated. Saul may have been flawed—as every man is—but he was not unqualified. In fact, we are never told that a more qualified man existed in all of Israel at the time. He stood taller than the rest, he carried himself with strength, and most importantly, God saw in him the potential to lead His people in victory.
Yes, Saul ultimately failed as king. But his failure was not because God chose poorly. His failure came from disobedience. If Saul had walked faithfully in humility and obedience, he would have been a great king. The tragedy of Saul is not that he was incapable, but that he did not consistently yield himself to the Lord’s command.
And yet, perhaps the most striking testimony of Saul’s kingship comes not from Saul himself, but from David. Even as Saul’s heart turned bitter, even as he pursued David’s life, David refused to forget what Saul truly was: the Lord’s anointed. David would not raise his hand against him, even when it seemed the most logical and convenient option. Twice he had Saul at his mercy, and twice he spared him. Later, even after Saul’s death, David honored Saul’s household, remembering that the anointing of God had rested upon him.
David understood something we are in danger of forgetting: it is no light matter to dismiss the one God has chosen. David lamented Saul’s failures, yes—but he never dishonored the man God had set apart. In this, David gives us an example to follow. We too must be careful not to tread where David never would.
Saul’s story should not be reduced to a single lesson of failure. It should remind us of the weight of calling, the power of obedience, and the tragedy of disobedience. But it should also remind us that God’s choices are never accidental. Saul was chosen to rescue Israel from her enemies, and for a time, he did. He was anointed by God Himself, and that anointing mattered—even to David, the man who would one day take his throne.
When Saul was chosen, he didn’t celebrate, and he didn’t gloat. He was confused. He was a humble man from what he described as the least of all of the tribes, the tribe of Benjamin. When he was anointed, he hid himself from the people, feeling the weight of the responsibility the Lord had just bestowed upon him. Remember, when the people demanded a king, God told them no man on earth should be this, in so many words. Would you then judge Saul for what was put before him? Should anyone do so for you? Would you have done any better? But because Saul tried and failed, can you be more prepared for what the Lord bestows upon you?
So when considering Saul, be honest about his flaws but also fair in remembrance. Lament his downfall, but honor the truth: Saul was God’s first chosen king of Israel, anointed to save His people. Let us learn from his story with humility, and above all, follow David’s example in honoring what God has established.
