1 Samuel 11 - 14

Contempories Samuel and Saul both came from humble beginnings. Samuel answered the Lord -

"...Speak; for thy servant heareth...." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 3:10)

"And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 3:19)

Samuel lived righteously such that -

"...the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 3:21)

And because of that -

"...all Israel...knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 3:20)

Saul also was -

"...a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 9:2)

And we recognize his humility when he answered Samuel -

"...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?" (Old Testament 1 Samuel 9:21)

And after Samuel anointed Saul to be "captain" or king, for prophesies -

"...thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 10:5 - 6)

"And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets.." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 10:9 - 11)

We see Saul at his finest upon hearing of the threats of the Ammonites -

"...the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 11:6 - 7)

He lead all of Israel to a great victory. From then on, the burden of his ego and appeasing the people changed his heart from doing the will of the Lord. You can sense desire when he says to his men -

"...that I may be avenged on mine enemies..." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 14:24)

Because of this, Samuel tells Saul -

"...But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 13:14)

Saul would have been a great king of Israel had he been more like Samuel. I was particularly touched by Samuel's counsel -

"...If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God..." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 12:14)

You can sense the character of Samuel as he delivers this prophetic counsel to the people -

"...Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 12:20 - 24)