Samuel has anointed a king in Israel much against his better judgment, but his life gets no easier after that. He is still responsible for offering sacrifice in the presence of the people. It is here that he tangles with this king.

Saul prepares to go to battle, probably anxious to flex his muscles but not anxious to follow anyone else's orders. After all, isn't he king? This attitude will prove his undoing.

He waits for the old prophet to come for the pre-battle sacrifice. Samuel doesn't arrive, so the king offers the sacrifice himself. The smoke is still rising from the altar as Samuel comes into view and he condemns the royal action. "You have done foolishly."

Shortly thereafter, Saul compounds his arrogance in a battle with Amalek. Again contrary to orders, he spares the choicest of the livestock to be used for sacrifice. Again reprimanded by Samuel, Saul offers a telling reply. It was "the people" who took these animals for "sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal."
What an interesting use of the pronoun. Has Saul rejected the very God who chose him?

Samuel says "to obey is better than to sacrifice." We are told that he does not see Saul again before his death but that "Samuel grieved over Saul."

This experiment in kingship has failed on the first try, but the Lord is willing to risk another attempt. So Samuel is to take his flask of oil and head to Bethlehem where he will find God's second exemplar.

In that small town Jesse brings out 7 of his sons, each of them strong and good-looking enough to be a king, but the Lord's eye is not on any of them. Still clutching his oil, Samuel asks the bewildered Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" No, not quite, since the youngest has been left in the fields with the sheep. He is hurriedly sent for. Imagine his surprise as Samuel pours oil on his ruddy head" in the presence of his brothers." For "the Lord does not see as mortals see."

Israel's second king enters history. It is young David.

Bible references: I Samuel 13, 15, 16