Written by Michelle J. Goff, founder and director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Searcy, Arkansas
Saul was anointed as the first king of Israel by the prophet Samuel.
9 As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. 10 When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying. (1 Sam. 10:9-10)
However, when Saul returned home, he did not reveal what God had done through him, nor that Samuel had anointed him king. We don’t know if he was Incredulous of what had happened through him by the Spirit of God. We don’t know if he was scared of what would be expected of him during his reign. We truly don’t know why he hid himself among the supplies when Samuel called Israel to come forward by tribes, clans, then families.
23 They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. 24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.”
Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!” (1 Sam. 10:23-24)
Since the Israelites had rejected God as King, Saul often bore the tremendous responsibility of representing the LORD to the people. The Spirit of God would come powerfully on him to act and speak as God would’ve. And during the initial years of his reign, Saul sought God’s counsel through the prophet Samuel in order to fulfill that calling and responsibility. More often than not, Saul strove to give glory to God for rescuing His people from their enemies. Initially, Saul recognized that He was merely God’s servant, put in place to serve God’s people and point them back to Him.
However, in 1 Samuel 13, we learn that Saul took matters into his own hands and neglected to obey what the Lord had commanded him. Samuel rebuked Saul and instead of repenting, Saul defended his decision, expressing the worry that had consumed him instead of his trust in God’s instruction.
From that point on, we see God’s Spirit departing from Saul’s life and his leadership. Instead, a spirit tormented him and ultimately destroyed him, ripping the kingdom from his hands and those of his descendants.
The shepherd boy David came before Saul’s throne room to play the harp, temporarily soothing him with the harmonious melodies. However, Saul’s relief was short-lived, especially once he learned that God had anointed and blessed David as successor to the throne, not his own son, Jonathan.
The vast contrasts between Saul and David are profound illustrations of how it is possible to keep or lose a crown.
- Both men were anointed with the Spirit of God. One was a head taller than the rest. The other was the youngest and smallest of his family.
- Both men wore a crown. One stayed seated on the throne of his own heart. The other made the LORD his King.
- Both men were chosen to lead God’s chosen people Israel after rejecting the LORD as their King. One heard God’s instructions and ran with them. The other constantly sought God’s will at every step, before moving forward.
- Both men sinned. One justified his actions. The other repented.
- Only one got to keep his crown…
Years after the prophet Samuel confronted King Saul, the prophet Nathan confronted King David for his horrendous sins of adultery and murder. David was cut to the heart and repented (2 Sam. 12). Having witnessed Saul’s tormented spirit, we can hear the anguish of David’s repentant cry that God not take His Holy Spirit from him.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Ps. 51:10-12)
Kings Saul and David, like us, face daily trials and decisions. They are a testing of our faith, which we can consider pure joy (James 1:3). For “blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).
None of us deserves the crown of life, but the loving, perfect sacrifice of God’s own Son allows us to be heirs of His eternal Kingdom.
May the contrast between Saul’s and David’s crowns serve as a reminder of how a rejection of God’s ultimate Lordship can give birth to sin, which, when full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:14-15).
Today, and each day, we can choose the crown of life and with it, surrender to God’s Lordship, trusting His Spirit to guide our steps.
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