A Comparison of King Saul and the Apostle Paul – Polar Opposites!

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The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:11

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

That means we are supposed to learn from the mistakes of men we read about in God’s Word. King Saul made lots of mistakes! It’s said that a wise man learns from his mistakes. A wiser man learns from others’ mistakes. We can learn from King Saul what not to do and what not to be.

My wife and I listened to Steven Anderson’s amazing message about King Saul vs. the Apostle Paul. He said and I quote;

It’s really interesting when you compare these two characters there’s really no way that it could be a coincidence that these two men have so much in common and are so diametrically opposed to one another.

Both are from the tribe of Benjamin, both have the same name, Saul, which the apostle later changes to Paul. According to Strong’s dictionary, Paul is Paulos in Greek and is of Latin origin meaning “little”! Saul of Tarsus renamed himself Paul as a reminder to keep himself humble!

Some people, even some people who identify as Christians hate the Apostle Paul’s doctrines of salvation by grace through faith alone in the Word of God alone through Christ alone. It could be that God made the Apostle Paul the total opposite of King Saul to vindicate him in the eyes of some doubters of Pau’s apostleship!

Old Testament Saul	New Testament Saul
First King of Israel. 1 Samuel 11:15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal;	Last Apostle of Christ. Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. Paul calls himself an Apostle 9 times.
Started out humble and little in his own sight, ends up proud. Being a king goes to his head. 1 Samuel 10:21-23 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. 1 Samuel 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?	Started out a proud self-righteous Pharisee, ends up humble. Philippians 3:5-7 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Ended by killing priests and persecuting David. 1 Samuel 22:21 And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD’S priests. 1 Samuel 19:10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.	Began by persecuting the followers of Christ. Acts 22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. Acts 26:11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
Was prone to be jealous of others who appeared better than him. 1 Samuel 18:7-9 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.	Was not jealous of other preachers of the Gospel. Philippians 1:15-18 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Tall and good looking. 1 Samuel 9:2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.	Short and not good looking. 2 Corinthians 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: 2 Corinthians 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
Disobedient to God’s commands. 1 Samuel 15:18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. 19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?	Obedient to God’s commands. Acts 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
Ended his life with regret. 1 Samuel 26:21 ¶Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.	Ended his life with joy. 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Loses his crown when he died.	Gained his crown when he died. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Started well.	Finished well.