David was on the rise. But Saul continued on a downward spiral. The comparison between the two culminates in chapters 28 through 30. King Saul steps outside of God’s design…
then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward…
You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything…
You shall not steal.
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.