Saul's Final Fall

God's chosen leader does not have the option of deciding how to serve, nor whom to please. Saul has demonstrated his refusal to trust God and obey His instructions, so his rule as a dynasty has been rejected by God. In this account he will add failure to failure giving further evidence he has never truly surrendered his life to God and entered into a personal relationship with Him.

He will assert his stubborn rebellion in what becomes a telling occasion coming on the heels of victory and triumph. There is no pressure from difficult circumstances and even then his conduct reveals an unregenerate heart.

In what sense has this chosen man and his rebellion been a part of God's plan? How are we to understand the statement that a God expressed 'regret' for having chosen Saul? Has God been forced to adjust His plans unexpectedly?

A careful study of related passages of other Scripture alongside this chapter explains a lot about the unchanging nature of God's sovereignty, authority and power, all being critical for us to know as we live out our relationship with the Lord today.