The question of whether King Saul was saved or not is an interesting one that the Bible does not explicitly answer. Saul was the first king of Israel, anointed by Samuel at the Lord’s direction (1 Samuel 9-10). Saul started off well, leading Israel to some military victories. However, he eventually disobeyed God in multiple incidents, leading to God regretting making him king and rejecting him from being king over Israel (1 Samuel 13, 15). Saul’s disobedience and lack of true devotion to God eventually led God to send Samuel to anoint David as the next king over Israel (1 Samuel 16).
After David was anointed by Samuel, Saul struggled with intense jealousy and sought to kill David multiple times. This led to David fleeing from Saul and living as fugitive for many years as Saul tried to kill him. David had multiple opportunities to kill Saul during this time but refused to harm the Lord’s anointed king (1 Samuel 24, 26). Saul eventually died in battle against the Philistines after being severely wounded by archers (1 Samuel 31).
So what evidence is there in the biblical account regarding Saul’s spiritual state and whether he was saved or not?
On the negative side:
- Saul disobeyed God’s direct commands multiple times despite being God’s anointed king
- God regretted making Saul king and tore the kingdom away from him
- The Holy Spirit departed from Saul and he was tormented by an evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:14)
- Saul consulted a medium, which was forbidden, the night before his death (1 Samuel 28)
- Saul committed suicide by falling on his own sword (1 Samuel 31:4)
On the positive side:
- Saul prophesied by the Spirit of God after being anointed as king, indicating he likely had a genuine experience with God early on (1 Samuel 10:10-12)
- Saul admitted his sin and wrongdoing to David in their final encounter before his death (1 Samuel 26:21)
- David, a man after God’s own heart, did not take revenge on Saul or speak ill of him after his death (2 Samuel 1:17-27)
Ultimately, only God knows Saul’s heart and whether he had true saving faith. Even David, as close as he was to the situation, did not pass judgment on Saul or definitively claim he was unsaved. While Saul committed grave sins, he exhibited some positive traits as well. He started off devoted to God, prophesying by the Spirit, before being corrupted by power and jealousy. And he displayed some humility in admitting wrong towards the end, even though it was too late to change his destiny. So while the trajectory of Saul’s life was largely one of rebellion against God, there seems room for hope that his soul may have been saved despite his royal failures.
The Bible reminds us that God alone sees the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). We need to be cautious in making definitive judgments about someone’s salvation based on their outward actions. Judas Iscariot was handpicked by Jesus as a disciple yet betrayed Him. The thief on the cross next to Jesus repented at the last minute and was told he would be with Christ in paradise that day. So we simply cannot know with certainty where Saul’s heart was when he committed suicide on Mount Gilboa after his fatal battle wounds.
There are some key lessons we can take away regarding Saul’s life:
- No position or calling from God exempts us from the need for wholehearted obedience to Him.
- Disobedience separates us from God’s presence and protection.
- Pride, anger and jealousy often lead to further sin and rebellion.
- Admitting our sins and turning to God is the only path to restoration.
- Only God sees the heart and knows the eternal state of each person.
While we cannot definitively determine King Saul’s eternal destiny, his life offers a sobering reminder that every person with influence needs to humbly follow God or risk losing everything. Though Saul was unfaithful as king, David was merciful and honored him. And God, in His mercy, may have granted Saul saving faith at the end. The key lesson for us to take away is examining our own walk with God and being quick to repent of any sin or disobedience in order to finish strong. Our task is not to judge other’s souls but to trust the Lord who alone understands the heart.
In conclusion, though King Saul grievously sinned and disobeyed God during his reign, ultimately only God knows the eternal state of his soul. Based on some positive evidence of Saul’s early zeal and his admission of wrongdoing at the end, we cannot with full certainty claim he did not have saving faith despite his flaws as king. The testimony of Scripture urges us to be cautious in making eternal judgments about others. Our responsibility is to walk in humility and obedience before God, leaving ultimate matters of the heart and salvation to Him.
Throughout his reign, Saul struggled spiritually with obeying and submitting to God’s commands. He started off strong, being filled with the Spirit of God and anointed as king. But Saul allowed pride, anger, and jealousy to take root in his heart, as evidenced by his disobedience to God’s instructions through the prophet Samuel. On multiple occasions, Saul directly rebelled against the word of the Lord. Though he tried at times to portray himself as obedient, his outward show did not match the condition of his heart.
One telling incident was when Samuel instructed Saul to wait for him to arrive before offering a sacrifice to the Lord. Saul grew impatient and offered the burnt offering himself, which was a role specifically reserved for priests. When Samuel confronted him, Saul justified his action instead of repenting (1 Samuel 13:8-14). This revealed a heart issue – Saul wanted to do things his own way instead of God’s way. On another occasion, God commanded Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites as judgment on them. But Saul disobeyed by sparing the king and keeping the best livestock. When confronted again by Samuel, Saul insisted he had fully obeyed and blamed the people for taking the plunder. He still would not own up to his clear defiance of God’s word (1 Samuel 15:10-23).
These incidents and others demonstrated that Saul valued his own wisdom and desires over submission to the Lord. Though he still carried out some religious rituals as king, his heart was far from wholeheartedly devoted to God. The Bible says that rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft and arrogance is like evil idolatry (1 Samuel 15:23). Saul was more concerned with his public image than pleasing God in private. His growing jealousy and paranoia towards David also exposed his trust issues with God’s plan.
So in evaluating Saul’s spiritual state, his repeated defiance of God’s clear commands and instructions through the prophet Samuel seems to indicate a heart in rebellion. Though God gave Saul the role of king, he abused the position and lived according to his own standards. The Lord would eventually reject Saul as king, tear the kingdom from him, and remove His Spirit from Saul (1 Samuel 15:23, 28). These are sobering reminders that disobedience has serious consequences regardless of one’s position before God.
However, there are a couple clues that suggest Saul’s repentance and faith at the end of his life. When David had opportunity to kill Saul in the wilderness but instead spared his life, Saul was moved and admitted he had “played the fool” and that David was more righteous than him (1 Samuel 26:21). This brief acknowledgment of wrongdoing offers a glimmer of hope. We also know from Samuel’s initial words to Saul that the Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power prior to being made king, and Saul prophesied among a group of prophets (1 Samuel 10:10-11). Though those experiences faded over time as Saul’s heart grew hard, could that early zeal have represented genuine saving faith?
Ultimately, based on Saul’s repeated pattern of willful disobedience and lack of repentance for most of his reign, it seems unlikely that his soul was saved and that he had a vibrant, personal relationship with the Lord. However, God alone sees and knows the heart. It is possible that through David’s mercy on sparing his life, and Samuel’s continued prayers for him, and the undeniable zeal Saul first exhibited when anointed king, that Saul humbled himself before God at the end of his life and received mercy and grace. While unlikely due to his lifelong disobedience, we cannot rule out the possibility that Saul’s heart turned back to the Lord in his final hours.
There are a few key lessons we can take from Saul’s life:
- Obedience to God should flow from a devoted heart, not mere outward compliance.
- Disobedience places us under God’s judgment, regardless of position or anointing.
- Pride and arrogance leads to further rebellion against God.
- Even severe sin does not preclude the offer of mercy and grace through repentance.
While the weight of scriptural evidence suggests King Saul did not have a genuinely saved and surrendered heart, the possibility of repentance at the end offers a glimmer of hope. His life serves as a sobering reminder that obedience to God is essential and that He sees beyond our outward actions. But God’s grace reaches even unlikely candidates humble enough to admit their need of Him.
In summary, Saul’s life highlights the deadly dangers of disobedience, pride and jealousy. His repeated defiance of God’s clear commands indicates a heart bent on rebellion, though his genuine zeal early on paints a complex spiritual picture. Only God knows Saul’s eternal state for certain. The testimony of his life serves as a warning that even the Lord’s anointed leaders must wholeheartedly obey or risk condemnation. But even in likely apostasy, God’s grace offers hope when sinners like Saul admit their folly and turn back to Him. The lessons from Saul’s life urge us to walk in humility, trust God’s ways over our own, and be quick to repent from any sin or self-will that separates us from intimate fellowship with Him.