In Ecclesiastes, chapter four, verses thirteen through sixteen, a contrast between a wise boy and a foolish old king who refuses advice illustrates the sad consequence of a ruler becoming arrogant and no longer knowing how to serve his people, as seen at the beginning of this theme. “Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.” The first verse of this theme reminds believers of Jesse’s son, David, and Saul. David was wise, and the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, as in First Samuel sixteen, verse thirteen. David was a man after the heart of God, as in First Samuel thirteen, verse fourteen, because he kept the commandments, and confided in God, as in First Samuel twenty-three, verse two. “Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.”
On the other hand, Saul, the son of Kish, as described in verse two of First Samuel nine, “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.” However, the heart was not after God, nor did he make an effort to keep the commandments, as in First Samuel thirteen. He goes and offers a burnt offering, and Samuel confronts him, only to hear Saul’s reply was about the people in verses eleven to twelve, and not about God. Then in First Samuel fifteen, Saul was given instructions by Samuel, but did not follow them accordingly. This negative activity affected his life and his sons thereafter.