Saul's reign as king was not a happy one. He was reluctant to become king in the first place, then he quickly failed when he offered the sacrifices that were the preserve of the priest. Then he showed lack of leadership when he introduced his unwise fast. Now he is rejected by God.
Samuel gives Saul clear instructions from the Lord to destroy the Amalekites. Saul is not king on his own behalf, but on behalf of the Lord. He is there to carry out the Lord's instructions.
Saul sets out to attack the Amalekites. On the way he spares the Kenites. Saul attacked the Amalekites, but spared the king, and the best of the sheep and cattle. This was in direct contravention of God's instructions.
The Lord told Samuel that He rejected making Saul king. So Samuel went to Saul. Saul seemed to be feeling rather pleased with himself. Samuel questions the sound of bleating sheep. Saul claims he did this so they could be sacrificed to the Lord. Now either this is just an excuse, or he genuinely was doing it for God. Either way he was disobeying the Lord. Today some think they are "doing good" when they approve of various sexual practices that are directly forbidden by the Bible. They claim to be doing this from good motives, and may genuinely have such motives, but it is still against God's word.
Samuel rebukes Saul, but Saul objects, claiming he has obeyed the Lord. People can be easily deceived. Samuel reminds Saul that obedience is better than sacrifice. We first of all need to do what the Lord says.
Saul then admits his guilt and pleads for mercy, but Samuel tells him he has been rejected, and that the kingdom has been taken from him. Finally Samuel puts the Amalekite king to death.
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