There is a big difference between a Kingdom and a Kingdumb. Saul was the head of a Kingdumb. The Prophet Samuel could not persuade Israel that having a mortal King was not in their best interests. God would gladly be their King, but they were not interested. They needed to hear what Jesus told Nicodemus, “that which is flesh is flesh, and that which is spirit is spirit.” There is a spiritual “Kingdom,” and then there is a “Kingdumb.” “now make us a king to judge us like all the nations..... that we also may be like all the other nations.” 1Sam. 8:5;8:20).
Even though it was not a good idea, God allowed Israel to proceed with their plans. There are some things that we will never learn unless we learn the hard way. Samuel felt rejected. God reminds us that as God’s servants we should not take rejection personally. God said, “They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me.”
Providence brought Saul the son of Kish to Samuel. Saul had no idea who Samuel was. He might have been one of the few in Israel who had not heard about Hannah’s Son. Don’t expect to be an eagle if you hang around turkeys. Saul raised asses for a living. Be careful. “He that walketh with wise men will be wise, but a companion of fools will be destroyed” (Prov. 13:20). It might be pointed out here that David worked with sheep and Saul worked with jack asses or donkeys. As these animals have a different “temperment” so they are handled differently. Israel needs a shepherd. God would find one in David, and David’s spiritual temperament led him to proclaim what Samuel understood all along, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”
Saul, at best was “goodly” (1Sam. 10:2). There is big difference between being “goodly” and being godly. One is spirit and one is flesh. One results in finding the Kingdom and the other ( unless God steps in) in only finding a Kingdumb.
id