Reflections on 1 Samuel 10.
In 1 Samuel 8, Israel demanded a king “like the nations.” In doing so, they rejected God Himself as their King. Yet, we see in 1 Samuel 10, God did not abandon His people – even in their rebellion. God gave them Saul—tall, handsome, and chosen—but ultimately flawed. Saul would disappoint them, just as human leaders always do. But Saul’s story points us forward to a better King: Jesus.
Bound by God’s Covenant
God reminded Israel at Mizpah that He had rescued them from Egypt and delivered them from their enemies—not because they were worthy, but because He is faithful. Even when His people rejected Him, God remained bound to His covenant promises. That covenant finds its ultimate fulfilment in Jesus, who brings blessing not just to Israel, but to all nations.
Ruled by God’s Word
Samuel made it clear: Israel’s king was not free to rule however he pleased. He was accountable to God’s Word. Saul, however, would fail to keep Rule #1—obey God’s commands.
Jesus, by contrast, perfectly obeyed His Father. He declared, “I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father” (John 14:31).
Where Saul faltered, Jesus triumphed. He is the King who always delights in God’s Word.
Empowered by God’s Spirit
Saul needed the Spirit’s empowerment to lead, but his obedience was short-lived and God in time withdrew his Spirit from him.
Jesus, however, lived and ministered fully empowered by the Spirit: “If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28). His miracles, His teaching, His endurance—all were Spirit-filled.
And through His death and resurrection, He secured the astounding promise of the New Covenant: God’s Spirit now dwells permanently in all believers.
The King Who Was Abandoned for Us
Saul’s failures remind us of our own.
Under pressure, we too take matters into our own hands. We break Rule #1.
We need a better King. And in Jesus, we have Him. On the cross, Jesus was abandoned by God so that we would never be abandoned. He bore the judgment we deserve, securing God’s covenant forever. He delivers us not from Egypt, but from the power of sin, death, and Satan.
Called to Follow
Christianity is not about trying harder to impress God. It is about trusting the King who obeyed God’s Word and was empowered by God’s Spirit on our behalf.
A Christian is someone who admits, “I break Rule #1,” but rejoices, “My King kept Rule #1 for me.” And now, by His Spirit, we are empowered to live under God’s Word, saying “yes” to Jesus and “no” to sin.
The King we Need
Saul will disappoint us. Human leaders will fail us.
But Jesus never will. He is the King who obeyed, the King who was empowered, the King who was abandoned in our place, and the King who reigns forever.
The question is not whether we will fail—it’s whether we will trust the One who never does.
Are you living under the authority of God’s Word, empowered by God’s Spirit, trusting in God’s King who never fails?