King Saul was a tragic hero

[tonychanyt]

Initially, Saul was a hero. He was humble. God chose him to be the first king of God's people, 1 Samuel 10:

1 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance? ... 15 Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said to you.”

Saul was cool. Not many can contain such huge news from God.

He was decisive and courageous in his first military engagement (1 Samuel 11). He showed incredible leadership skills and was fit to be the king.

Later, however, things changed for Saul. He disobeyed God, 1 Samuel 13:

13“You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

This was the beginning of Saul's downfall. After this, he made one mistake after another. His tragic flaw was pride. He refused to accept David, God's second anointed to be king. He held on to his power to the bitter end. I see Saul as a tragic hero and a foil for David's character.