Submission Wins Battles

After the period of the Judges, Israel demanded a king. “Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations” they told Samuel, prophet, priest, and last judge of Israel. Samuel was grieved at their request and ask God for guidance. But the LORD said, “Do everything they say to you... it is me they are rejecting, not you. They do not want me to be their King” (1 Samuel 8:5b-7). God sends Samuel a man from the tribe of Benjamin, Saul son of Kish (1 Samuel 9:15-17).
Saul had the look of a king, “head-and-shoulders above anyone else” (1 Samuel 10:23b). Saul appeared to be humble (1 Samuel 9:21) and after winning the first battle, he did not retaliate against those who scorned his leadership (1 Samuel 11:13). But in time, Saul’s fears, jealousy, and disobedience robbed him of God’s special anointing. Saul’s pride surfaced as he rose in power and position. Saul failed to recognize that any position or authority is a gift from God.