Observation

This question was attempted by a large number of candidates and their performance was commendable. Candidates had a proper understanding of the story of David and what led to his employment in the house of Saul. This was as a result of Saul going berserk (getting mentally disturbed) and there was need for someone to help play a lyre to soothe his insanity. David was the one chosen for this task. However, outlining the circumstances from the biblical perspective posed a little problem. In other instances, candidate’s weakness in this question was observed in the fact that they wrote about David killing Goliath as the cause for his inclusion into Saul’s household. These weaknesses prevented the candidates from achieving the maximum marks obtainable in this question. Candidates were expected to have answered this question as detailed below:

1. In the war with the Amalekites, Saul was to utterly destroy the people and everything on the land (Holy war).
2. Though Saul defeated the Amalikites and destroyed all the people, he spared Agag, the king of the Amalikites and the best of livestock to sacrifice to the Lord.
3. Samuel told Saul that to obey is better than sacrifice and because Saul had rejected the word of the Lord, God had also rejected him from being King.
4. After the disobedience of Saul, the Spirit of the Lord departed from him and he was tormented by an evil spirit from the Lord.
5. Saul’s servant suggested that a man skillful in playing the lyre should be employed to help soothe Saul whenever he was tormented.
6. Saul agreed to this suggestion and requested for the service of a skilled musician.
7. One of the servants recommended David, son of Jesse, a Bethlehemite.
8. David was described as a brave man and a warrior, one who speaks well and a fine man and that the Lord was with him.
9. To this end, Saul sent messengers to Jesse that he needed David’s services, because he was pleased with him.
10. Jesse gave David some bread, wine and a kid as a gift to Saul.
11. David thereafter started working in the service of Saul.
12. Saul loved David greatly and made him his armour-bearer.
13. He sent message to Jesse requesting David to remain in his service.
14. Whenever Saul was tormented, David played his lyre and Saul felt better, and the evil spirit left him.                  

In the part B, candidates had no problem giving the right answer to the question. They were able to draw the lessons learnt from the aftermath of Saul’s disobedience. Some of these lessons include;

1. Leaders must be obedient and loyal to God’s instructions/sovereignty.
2. Disobedience can terminate God’s plans for one’s life.
3. Saul failed because he was moved by greed/materialism. Therefore, leaders should not allow greed/materialism to dominate their leadership. 
4. Disobedience leads to suffering and condemnation from God. Saul suffered greatly because God allowed evil spirit to torment him. He lost his life at the end.
5. One man’s disobedience can lead to the suffering of others. The Israelites suffered defeat because of Saul.
6. When they err, they should be ready to accept responsibility/the need to avoid shifting blames.
7. When they are wrong, they should learn to correct their mistakes and seek for forgiveness.
8. Obedience is better than sacrifice. It is better to prevent evil than to seek for solution or answer when it occurs.
9. There is need for leaders to be prayerful.
10. Saul was dishonest or untruthful when he lied to Samuel that he had obeyed God’s commandment. Leaders should avoid dishonesty/ deceit/ insincerity and be truthful.