Fathers with Adult Children: Samuel and Saul — When Faithfulness Does Not Guarantee Legacy

Saul Annointed as King

(1 Samuel 8–15)

Last week, we looked at Eli, a father who knew his sons were doing wrong yet would not restrain them. His story ended in judgment and sorrow.

This week, the Scriptures lead us forward into the lives of Samuel and Saul — two very different men whose experiences as fathers remind us of another sobering truth: faithfulness does not always produce the legacy we expect.

Samuel — A Faithful Man with Unfaithful Sons

Samuel stands among the great figures of Israel’s history. From childhood, he heard the voice of the Lord in the tabernacle. He judged Israel faithfully for many years and called the nation back to God in times of spiritual confusion.

Yet when Samuel grew old, something troubling appeared.

“Now when Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel…

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.”

(1 Samuel 8:1–3)

The names of his sons were Joel and Abijah. Like the sons of Eli before them, they misused the authority entrusted to them.

Samuel himself remained faithful. But his sons did not walk in his ways.

This moment changed the course of Israel’s history. The elders came to Samuel with a request that would reshape the nation:

“Make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

(1 Samuel 8:5)

The failure of Samuel’s sons helped open the door to monarchy.

Samuel’s life reminds fathers of a humbling truth: devotion cannot be inherited. A godly life may guide children, but it cannot guarantee their choices.

Saul — A King Who Could Not Bless His Son

Samuel anointed Saul as Israel’s first king. At the beginning, Saul appeared humble and promising.

But as his reign unfolded, fear and pride slowly took hold. Saul began to rule more by impulse than obedience. His decisions grew rash and unstable.

This tension becomes clear in his relationship with his son Jonathan.

Jonathan was brave, faithful, and deeply devoted to the Lord. He trusted God when others hesitated, leading Israel to victory against overwhelming odds.

Yet Saul often treated him not as a son to bless, but as a rival to control.

In one dramatic moment Saul made a reckless oath that nearly cost Jonathan his life. The soldiers themselves had to intervene to save him.

Later, when Jonathan befriended David, Saul’s jealousy burned even hotter. Instead of recognizing the goodness in his son, Saul allowed fear to dominate his heart.

Jonathan remained noble. Saul remained troubled.

The tragedy of Saul’s fatherhood is not that his son failed — but that he could not rejoice in the faithfulness of the son he had.

A Quiet Lesson for Fathers

Placed side by side, Samuel and Saul teach different lessons.

Samuel was faithful before God, yet his sons did not follow his example.

Saul possessed authority and power, yet he could not bless the son who stood beside him.

One father could not pass on his faith.

The other could not rejoice in the faith he saw.

Both remind us that fatherhood often unfolds in ways we did not expect.

Children are not extensions of their parents. They are souls entrusted to God.

A Word for Fathers Today

Many fathers discover that their hopes for their children take paths they never planned.

Some watch children wander.

Some see children grow stronger than they themselves have been.

Some must learn to release control and trust God’s work in another generation.

Samuel and Saul stand as reminders that God’s purposes continue beyond our successes and failures as parents.

Our calling is faithfulness.

The rest belongs to God.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me to be the father You want me to be. Amen

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Pro_1:10  My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Pro_1:15  My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: