Israel demanded that God give them a king to govern them, just like all the other nations. This upset the prophet Samuel, but God told him to go along with their request and give them what they wanted. So, he did.
In 1 Samuel 9, we learn about a wealthy man named Kish who had a son, Saul. The Bible tells us Saul was a handsome young man, standing head and shoulders above everyone else. One day, Saul’s father’s donkeys went missing, and he went with a friend to find them. This seemingly random search led him to the seer, Samuel.
The day before Saul approached Samuel, God told Samuel that Saul was coming. When Samuel saw Saul, God said, “This is the man; anoint him” (1 Samuel 9:17, NIV). So, Samuel did.
Saul’s Early Success
What a magnificent opportunity and legacy to begin! Saul kept it to himself at first and returned home. However, eventually, the Spirit of God came upon Saul, and Samuel declared him king in front of the people. Despite this, Saul hid himself among the baggage, thinking himself unworthy of being king.
But God thought otherwise.
Saul became king and immediately experienced success in the war for Israel. He was the people's hero. Yet, as quickly as he rose to power, he lost his footing and God's blessing on his kingship.
Saul’s Disobedience
Before going to war, Saul needed Samuel to offer sacrifices to the Lord to receive His favor. After waiting seven days for Samuel, Saul grew fearful because his people were slipping away, and the war was imminent. So, Saul offered the sacrifices himself, knowing he was not authorized to do so. Despite being the most powerful man in the land, Saul did not possess all power. He overreached in his authority and disappointed the Lord.
Saul made an unauthorized sacrifice to secure success, not out of obedience. He feared losing the people's support more than he feared disobeying God. Saul’s leadership became about his image before the people, not his heart for the Lord.
After the victory, Samuel came to Saul and said, “You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which he commanded you” (1 Samuel 13:13, NIV). Samuel then informed Saul that God was not looking for a successful leader but an obedient one, stating, “The Lord has sought a man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14, NIV). Saul was after his own success, not obedience to God.
Saul’s Final Rejection
Later, Saul went into battle against the Amalekites, where he was instructed to kill King Agag and burn the spoils of war. Instead, Saul spared Agag’s life and kept the spoils for himself and his troops, revealing his true motivations. He wasn’t trying to please God but himself. He confessed to Samuel, “I feared the people and obeyed their voice” (1 Samuel 15:24, NIV), demonstrating that he sought the approval of men over obedience to God.
Saul then said to Samuel, “Pardon my sin and return with me, so that I may worship the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:25, NIV). While this appeared noble, Samuel replied, “I will not return with you because the Lord has rejected you” (1 Samuel 15:26, NIV). Saul failed to understand that two wrongs don’t make a right. His arrogance, selfishness, and desire for success at any cost were serious issues.
Saul’s true heart was revealed when he said, “I have sinned… Yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God” (1 Samuel 15:30, NIV). Saul acknowledged his sin only for the sake of restoring his honor before others. He sought worship not of “his” God but of “Samuel’s” God. Saul's repentance was insincere—he was more concerned with his image than his relationship with God.
David’s Sin and Repentance
In contrast to Saul, King David also experienced great success but eventually fell into sin. While his army was at war, David stayed home. One evening, he saw a beautiful woman, Bathsheba, bathing and wanted her. Though he knew she was married to Uriah, one of his mighty warriors, David committed adultery with her. When she became pregnant, David feared being exposed. He tried to cover up his sin by bringing Uriah back from the battlefield, but when that plan failed, David resorted to having Uriah killed.
“But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27, NIV). God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David, telling him a parable that exposed David’s guilt. Nathan then declared, “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7, NIV). David immediately recognized his sin and responded, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13, NIV).
Unlike Saul, David understood that his sin was not just a public relations problem. He knew his actions weren’t merely mistakes in leadership or failures in judgment; they were offenses against God. David’s heart was pricked, and he confessed, “Against you, and you only have I sinned” (Psalm 51:4, NIV). He acknowledged that all sin is an insult to God.
David’s Repentance and Forgiveness
David understood that his sin under the law of Moses merited death. He accepted his guilt and the consequences of his actions. God told David that though He would spare his life, David’s son would die as a result of his sin. David's repentance was genuine, and the loss of his child deeply grieved him.
Nathan then said to David, “The Lord has put away your sin” (2 Samuel 12:13, NIV). Because David owned his sin, God forgave him. David’s repentance showed the difference between a leader after God’s own heart and one focused on success and image. David sought forgiveness, not a restoration of his position, and God restored his favor.
Saul’s downfall was due to his pursuit of approval from others, his fear of losing power, and his insincere repentance. In contrast, David’s genuine repentance and acknowledgment of his sin against God allowed him to be forgiven. A person after God’s heart seeks forgiveness and restoration with God, not success or honor in the eyes of men.
