1 Samuel 18:13

Saul removed him. From his own selfish point of view, one of the great mistakes of Saul’s life was when he removed David from his court and made him “captain over a thousand.” No more would the melody of David’s music ease Saul’s affliction. No other was able to uphold the king’s hand before the public as David had done, going “whithersoever Saul sent him” (v. 5). Obsessed by a desire to kill David, Saul did the very thing that made it harder for him to humble his heart and return to his heavenly Father.