Why Was Saul So Bad?

When the people of Israel rejected G-d and demanded a king He gave them Saul. Saul was ok in that he didn't lead the Israelites into pagan worship, but he did reject G-d in 1 Samuel 15 by failing to completely destroy the Amalekites. Which, seems on the grand scale of evil not horrible. So why, after that, did G-d not only plan to replace him, but end his ruling lineage? Future kings of Israel were downright evil, leading G-d's people in worshiping other gods and seeking to kill G-d's prophets. You'd think they would deserve to have not just their reigns ended but their lineages and blood lines ended.

The answer is simple yet profound. I include the whole section because it is a powerful passage. One of the great covenants in the Bible.

2 Samuel 7:8-16
‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. ⁹ And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. ¹⁰ And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, ¹¹ from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. ¹² When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, ¹⁵ but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. ¹⁶ And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”


The short answer is G-d promised David an eternal lineage. So winding through the years David's descendants took many terrible turns, but G-d was always faithful in keeping it going. All the way to Jesus. The eternal King of the Jews.

G-d keeps His promises. Even when we do terrible things He stays faithful and holds up His end. It really makes me wonder what promises He has made to me...