What are the major reasons why Saul was rejected by GOD as king

Why Saul Was Rejected

A leader who failed under pressure

"Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as a king. I S am 15:3

Saul had everything going for him. Tall and handsome, he struck people with his appearance.

God chose him as the first king in the history of Israel. Soon after he was secretly anointed, God's Spirit came on him - an encounter with God that affected his entire personality.

Almost immediately Saul led a successful rescue operation, saving the people of a besieged city from mutilation. He was then publicly crowned king, even though he himself did no politicking for his office.

He wisely refrained from allowing his opponents to be punished. Instead, he united all 12 tribes behind him even though he himself came from a small, minority tribe.

Deterioration under pressure

Yet Saul's life went tragically wrong. The first sign of trouble, as I Samuel tells the story, came not long after he became king. While preparing for a campaign against the Philistines, Saul grew impatient. Samuel, scheduled to lead in the proper spiritual preparation for battle, was seven days late. Saul's men began to desert, and Saul decided he could wait no longer. 

He himself began to make the religious sacrifices that Samuel, as Priest, was supposed to make. Just then Samuel arrived. He blasted Saul [I Sam 13:13-14].

Saul's hastiness, insignificant though it may seem, showed an inner weakness; his willingness to compromise God's directions under pressure

Attempted Murder

Sometime later Saul compromised again in a high-pressure situation, not following the precise instructions God had given for a military campaign. Again, Samuel caught in the act.

This time he accused Saul of rebelling against God. Samuel's  words must have rung in Saul's head the rest of his life ; "Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king"[I Sam 15;23]