At Church today, the sermon was about 1 Samuel 9 and 10 and the calling of King Saul. Our pastor made a passing comment about how both King Saul and the apostle Paul (Saul of Tarsus) were from the tribe of Benjamin. The more I thought about it, the more I noticed the many striking parallels–and contrasts–between the two.
King Saul’s story is one of a man of great potential who failed to honor God and therefore ended up in rebellion against God and God’s chosen king. His life ended in tragedy. Saul’s life both echoes and redeems the legacy of his namesake. Even more importantly, Saul’s life shows the redemptive power of Christ’s grace to bring the spiritually dead to new life.
Two Men from the Tribe of Benjamin
Both Sauls proudly trace their lineage to the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest of the twelve tribes (1 Sam. 9:21; Phil. 3:5). Benjamin had a reputation in Israelite history for being both fierce and loyal, symbolized by the wolf (Genesis 49:27). In the time of the judges, they were known for their warrior culture (Judg. 20:16). By the time of Paul’s day, Benjamin no longer had a reputation for military might, but carried a reputation for zealousness for God and for remaining loyal to Judah unlike the other tribes. (Galatians 1:14). When Paul mentions his Benjamite heritage, he’s rightly honoring a legacy of zeal and loyalty—but he’s also subtly rejecting confidence in the flesh (Phil. 3:5–7).
Surprising Choices
Both Sauls are unexpected choices though in different ways. Saul comes from a small tribe that had just been through a period of great strife and conflict with the other tribes. He is therefore very unlikely as a unifier for Israel. For this reason, he initially response with humility is striking: “Am I not a Benjamite… from the least of all the tribes?” (1 Sam. 9:21).
On the other hand, in other ways King Saul is an obvious choice. He is physically striking (tall and handsome) (1 Sam 9), and he comes from a tribe known for its military prowess which the Israelites are attracted because they want a military leader to deliver them from the Philistines. He was what Israel wanted: a king like the nations—visibly impressive, outwardly strong. He is literally the one that Israel asks for or desires (in Hebrew his name (שָׁאוּל, Sha’ul) means “asked for” or “desired”).
Paul is a fierce Pharisee, known for persecuting the early church. His brilliant mind and training from one of the brightest rabbis of his generation makes him well equipped. But yet he becomes an arch persecutor with a reputation for dragging Christians from their homes. When Jesus calls him, even Ananias balks—“Lord, I have heard from many about this man…” (Acts 9:13). And becuase of his history of persecuting the Church, Paul later calls himself “the least of the apostles” (1 Cor. 15:9)
In contrast to King Saul, Saul was also not physically impressive. In 2 Corinthians, Paul describes how the Corinthians might mock his presence saying “[h]is letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” (2 Cor 10:10). And Paul had a thorn in his flesh that kept him humble. So where the first Saul looked the part but lacked inner faithfulness, the second Saul looked weak but carried the power of the gospel.
His choosing also had nothing to do with his merit. At the moment of his calling, he was actively opposing Christ. God’s grace was not a reward for repentance—it was the very power that brought it about. As Paul later wrote, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor. 15:10). Grace did not wait for him to soften or seek truth. It arrested him. As he would later write, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
Israel asked for a king who looked the part—and got exactly what they wanted. But God, in mercy, chose someone no one would have expected. And he didn’t give Paul a throne—He gave him a new heart.
3. A Changed Heart: Parallel Moments of Divine Transformation With Different Outcomes
In 1 Samuel 10:9, Saul is called as king and has a moment of spiritual transformation. This moment happens at the initiative of God who calls him to be king despite Saul’s inadequacies. Saul is prepared to be the king of Israel and to lead God’s people and represent it before the nations of the world. But unfortunately, this moment of spiritual transformation does not last. King Saul is disobedient and makes excuses when he is confronted by Samuel. (1 Sam 15:15–21). He ultimately rejects God’s word.
On the other hand, Saul of Tarsus is transformed by encountering the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. This experience humbles him, and redirects his entire life. Like the first Saul, this is an unexpected and unilateral act of grace. Saul is called to be God’s chosen instrument to proclaim God’s name “before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” Saul responds with humility and submission asking “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10).
Both Sauls experience a divine calling. Both are changed. But what they do with that calling couldn’t be more different.
This is where the contrast becomes sharp:
- King Saul’s heart change does not result in lasting faithfulness. The Spirit came upon him temporarily, but he was not given a new heart in the way Ezekiel would later describe—a heart of stone replaced by a heart of flesh (Ezek. 36:26). His insecurity, pride, and disobedience lead to his downfall. His heart becomes corrupted (1 Sam 15). He begins to focus on his own authority, image, and glory. In an act of hubris he erects a monument to himself and fails to obey and honor Israel’s true king.
The end result is tragic King Saul is rejected by God for his disobedience and loses the kingdom (1 Samuel 15:23). He is hardened against God and persecutes David, the Lord’s anointed.
- Paul’s transformation bears enduring fruit. He experienced the regenerating power of God’s Spirit which bore spiritual fruit in his heart. He remained faithful, humble, and bold in the gospel despite immense suffering. His heart becomes consecrated (2 Tim 4:7-8).
Paul goes from a persecutor of followers of Jesus, the true Messiah, to one of his most zealous champions. At the end of his life, he can declare, “I have fought the good fight… There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness” (2 Tim 4:7–8).
The difference lies not in the men, but in the mercy of God. King Saul’s heart was stirred, but not remade. Paul’s heart was forever changed by the love of Christ (2 Cor. 5:14). Paul recognized that his transformation was not the result of his own goodness, but the miraculous power of God, “I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience” (1 Tim. 1:16). He gave Christ all the glory.
Conclusion: A Legacy Redeemed
In a beautiful act of redemption, the man who bore the same name as Israel’s failed king—Sha’ul, “the asked-for one”—would become a chosen vessel of God’s sovereign grace. By Christ’s gracious call he took a persecutor, a murderer, a proud Pharisee, and made him a servant of the gospel.
King Saul is what the people “asked for”—a tall, charismatic warrior-king like the nations. Ironically, this Saul would go on to disobey God and persecute God’s chosen one, David. In contrast, Saul of Tarsus was not the kind of man the early church “asked for.” He had persecuted the saints. But he becomes God’s chosen instrument (Acts 9:15)—a vessel of grace.
King Saul would become a corrupt king just like the rulers of all the other nations. He would build his own kingdom rather than obey God. And he would die in shame after clinging onto his throne. In contrast, Saul of Tarsus would fearlessly proclaim the kingdom of Jesus before kings of the world. And he would die as a martyr because of his faithful witness. In Paul, God redeems even the darkest stories for His glory.
Appendix: Saul vs. Paul: A Chart of Contrasting Parallels
| Feature | King Saul | Saul of Tarsus (Paul) |
|---|---|---|
| Tribe | Benjamin (1 Sam 9:21) | Benjamin (Phil 3:5) |
| Name meaning | “Asked for” (desired by people) | Same name—but chosen by God |
| Initial appearance | Impressive, tall, kingly (1 Sam 9:2) | Unimpressive in presence (2 Cor 10:10) |
| Reputation | Warrior king | Zealous Pharisee |
| Divine calling | Anointed as king by Samuel (1 Sam 10) | Called by Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) |
| Heart change | God changed his heart (1 Sam 10:9) | God transformed him (Acts 9:3–6) |
| Response to calling | Pride, fear, disobedience | Humility, obedience, endurance |
| Relationship to God’s anointed | Persecuted David | Proclaimed Christ |
| End of life | Died rejected and dishonored | Died faithful and crowned (2 Tim 4:7–8) |