1 Chronicles 10
King Saul’s life is ignored as the writer focuses on his death. He was a man with a good beginning and a tragic ending, and the reason is given in verses 13–14: he was unfaithful to the Lord and disobeyed His Word.
First Samuel 13–31 records Saul’s gradual decline. He ran ahead of the Lord and offered a sacrifice. He spared King Agag and then lied to the Lord about it. He wanted recognition from Samuel and the people even though God had deserted him. He envied David and tried to destroy him. He wasted God-given opportunities for repentance. Finally, he turned to Satan for help and ended up committing suicide.
Not belonging to the tribe of Judah, Saul was never meant to establish the dynasty (Gen. 49:10), but that was not the cause of his sin. He could have been a godly leader and prepared the way for David, but Saul would not obey. Alexander Whyte quoted a relevant comment by Thomas Shepard: “Oh, the grievous shipwrecks of some great ships! We see some boards and planks lying in the mud at low water, but that is all!”