(a) Explain the circumstances that led to the rejection of Saul as the king of Israel. (b) Mention two consequences of Saul's rejection as king.

Answer Details

(a) Circumstances that led to the rejection of Saul as king (1 Samuel 13 and 15)

Saul was rejected by God on account of two major acts of disobedience:

The unlawful sacrifice at Gilgal (1 Samuel 13). Before a battle with the Philistines at Michmash, Samuel had told Saul to wait seven days for him to come and offer the sacrifices. When the appointed time passed and Samuel had not yet arrived, and Saul saw his soldiers scattering in fear, he grew impatient and himself offered the burnt offering, a duty reserved for the priest. As soon as he finished, Samuel arrived and rebuked him for acting foolishly and not keeping the commandment of the LORD. Samuel announced that because of this his kingdom would not continue, and that God had sought out a man after His own heart to be prince over the people.

The sparing of Agag and the best of the spoil (1 Samuel 15). God commanded Saul, through Samuel, to attack the Amalekites and utterly destroy them and all they had, sparing nothing, in punishment for what Amalek did to Israel on the way from Egypt. But Saul and the people spared Agag, king of the Amalekites, and kept the best of the sheep, oxen and other good things, destroying only what was worthless. When Samuel confronted him, Saul first claimed he had obeyed, then blamed the people, saying they kept the animals to sacrifice to God. Samuel replied that to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams, and that rebellion is as the sin of divination. He declared, "Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king." Samuel then hewed Agag in pieces, and the LORD repented that He had made Saul king.

(b) Two consequences of Saul's rejection as king

• The kingdom was taken from him and given to David, and his dynasty could not continue.
• The Spirit of the LORD departed from him and an evil spirit tormented him, leading to jealousy, mental torment and eventual ruin.