Saul is a tragic figure in the Bible. On the one hand he seemed to have all of the qualities you would need for success. There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people. Tall, dark and handsome. On the other hand, at the remove of three thousand years, the Bible paints him as bi-polar — capable of great highs and great lows. The Israelites wanted a king because of the existential threat posed by the Philistines. The former way of operating seeking spontaneous help in time of trouble (Articles of Confederation, anyone?) was not sufficient to meet the challenge. Saul was chosen as king because central casting thought he looked the part. But he lacked the one essential quality of a king in Israel, complete dependence on God. As we strive to live into the gifts God has bestowed on us in life, let us take the lesson of Saul to heart and rely, not so much on our qualities, as on God’s gift.
