Saul- the Selfish King

Introduction: Wanting to be like everybody else

Have you ever wanted to fit in — to have what everyone else has or be like everyone else? When I was in HS people weren’t allowed to wear Nike socks because they felt like the brand showing would make other people feel left out. We are a people who want to fit in, to be popular, even to be impressive and the thing is that isn’t new

God’s people, Israel, felt the same way. Turn with me to 1 Samuel chapter 8 where we will see Israel trying to get in with the cool crowd. But before we talk about tonight’s story lets remember where we have been so far.

Review:

Genesis: God created everything perfect, but sin entered the world (Genesis 3).

Abraham: God promised to make a great nation that would bless the world (Genesis 12).

Moses: God rescued His people from Egypt and gave them His law (Exodus 19–20).

The Promised Land: Under Joshua, they settled the land God gave them.

The Judges: The people kept turning away from God; there was chaos and sin.

But, here in 1 Samuel, the people decide they don’t want to just be ruled by God or one of his judges, they need a king instead of God’s leadership. This is a turning point — they are asking for control on their own terms.

A People Who Want Their Own Authority

The people of Israel came to the prophet Samuel who had been speaking to them on God’s behalf and said

1 Samuel 8:5–9 NET

They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead us, just like all the other nations have.” But this request displeased Samuel, for they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. The Lord said to Samuel, “Do everything the people request of you. For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king. Just as they have done from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you. So now do as they say. But seriously warn them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them.”

So Samuel warned them about how things would go wrong if they insisted on having a king.

1 Samuel 8:19–20 NET

But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning. Instead they said, “No! There will be a king over us! We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles.”

Israel was God’s chosen people, set apart to do his will, but they didn’t want to be different, they wanted to be like everybody else. So, God let them have what they wanted because Sometimes God lets us have what we want, even when it’s not what’s best, so we can learn to trust Him again.

A King that LOOKS like a winner

God gave them what they wanted, a king like all the other nations and this kings name was Saul and Saul looked like a king.

1 Samuel 9:1–2 NET

There was a Benjaminite man named Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. He was a prominent person. He had a son named Saul, a handsome young man. There was no one among the Israelites more handsome than he was; he stood head and shoulders above all the people.

Saul was a handsome warrior who could intimidate his opponents and he was skilled in battle. At first, he led well — he remembered who gave him the throne, and he led Israels army to victory against one of their enemies and after the battle he said

1 Samuel 11:13 NET

“today the Lord has given Israel a victory!”

He won in God’s power and gave God the credit, and it was good, but then, Saul let fear creep in and started to work in his own strength instead of God’s.

Saul’s 1st Failure- Fear of Man

Picture this- Israel is attacking one of their primary enemies- the Philistines. They are big and mean and scary, and when Israel attacked they realized pretty much immediately that they were outnumbered and were likely going to lose and they needed help. They needed Samuel, God’s prophet to come perform a burnt offering to God on their behalf.

1 Samuel 13:8–14 NET

He waited for seven days, the time period indicated by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the army began to abandon Saul. So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” Then he offered a burnt offering. Just when he had finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel appeared on the scene. Saul went out to meet him and to greet him. But Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul replied, “When I saw that the army had started to abandon me and that you didn’t come at the appointed time and that the Philistines had assembled at Micmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me at Gilgal and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt obligated to offer the burnt offering.”

Saul let fear and impatience drive his choices instead of obedience. He trusted his own timing more than God’s.

Saul’s 2nd Failure- Obedience for Show

Then, Saul had another chance for obedience.

1 Samuel 15:1–3 NET

Then Samuel said to Saul, “I was the one the Lord sent to anoint you as king over his people Israel. Now listen to what the Lord says.Here is what the Lord of hosts says: ‘I carefully observed how the Amalekites opposed Israel along the way when Israel came up from Egypt. So go now and strike down the Amalekites. Destroy everything that they have. Don’t spare them. Put them to death—man, woman, child, infant, ox, sheep, camel, and donkey alike.’ ”

So Saul led the army to take out the Amalekites, and they did kill and destroy everything they thought was worthless. BUT, Saul and his army kept the king alive as well as his livestock and valuables.

So, God sent Samuel to confront Saul about his disobedience.

1 Samuel 15:19–23 NET

Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Instead you have greedily rushed upon the plunder! You have done what is wrong in the Lord’s estimation.” Then Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the Lord! I went on the campaign the Lord sent me on. I brought back King Agag of the Amalekites after exterminating the Amalekites. But the army took from the plunder some of the sheep and cattle—the best of what was to be slaughtered—to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” Then Samuel said, “Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as he does in obedience? Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice; paying attention is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and presumption is like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

Saul wanted to look spiritual, to act like he obeyed but the Lord knew his heart. God doesn’t want us to look obedient, he wants us to be obedient, and so the Lord rejected Saul as king.

Saul looked powerful, but his heart wasn’t fully surrendered. He wanted the crown, but not the cost of true obedience.

Throughout Scripture, God keeps saying He’s after our hearts, not just our actions. Saul shows us what happens when we choose image over integrity — when we care more about what people think than what God says.

We Need a Better King

Saul reminds us of this truth: We can’t save ourselves by being impressive or in control. Even our best efforts fall short when our hearts aren’t surrendered to God.

That’s why we need Jesus — not as just a rescuer, but as King.

Jesus obeyed perfectly where Saul failed completely.

Philippians 2:5–11 NET

You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death —even death on a cross! As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow —in heaven and on earth and under the earth— and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

While Saul grasped for power, Jesus gave His up.

While Saul disobeyed, Jesus submitted to God’s will.

Jesus is our perfect King, who never fails, and he deserves to sit on the throne of our lives.

So what do we learn from Saul’s story?

1) Don’t Trade Obedience for Approval

Saul disobeyed because he wanted people to like him, he wanted to look impressive he wanted to be respected as king.

If you care more about what others think than what God commands, you’ll always be led by fear instead of faith.

2) Don’t Settle for Partial Obedience

Saul obeyed halfway — and it cost him everything.

Obedience isn’t about doing most of what God says; it’s doing all of what He says. God doesn’t want most of you, he wants all of you.

3) Let Jesus be the King of Your Life

If you claim to belong to Jesus, does your life look like it?

If you have never met Jesus- make tonight the night.

Saul’s crown looked shiny, but it came with a heavy cost — pride, fear, and disobedience.

The question for you today isn’t, “Would you make a good king?”

It’s, “Who’s the King of your heart right now?”

Discussion Questions:

What stood out to you about tonight’s lesson?

Why did Israel want a king? How was their request really about rejecting God’s leadership?

What was Saul afraid of? Why do fear and impatience often lead to disobedience?

What does it mean when Samuel says “Certainly obedience is better than sacrifice?” How can we sometimes do the same thing as Saul where we look obedient but disobey inside?

Who are you trying to impress most in your life? How does that effect your actions?

What would it look like to let Jesus wear the crown of your life? Are you disobeying out of fear or walking in partial obedience? What needs to change?