Two primary points stand out: (1) the way they sought the Lord’s will and (2) the way they reacted to their sin. Saul appealed to God’s will but only superficially and without a real desire to see it accomplished (cf. 1 Sam. 20:31; 24:16-22; 26:21-25). David on the other hand, constantly appealed to God’s will, and the times he didn’t were the exception. This drastically shaped the way they approached their roles as leaders of God’s people. 

There are numerous examples of Saul’s failures as a leader, but 1 Samuel 22 goes down in Jewish history as one of the worst. Saul accused his followers of being secret Davidic sympathizers (1 Sam. 22:6-8). After he heard from Doeg the Edomite that David was helped by the priests, he commanded his soldiers to kill the priests and they refused (1 Sam. 22:16-17). This caused Saul to command Doeg the Edomite to raise his hand against the priests and kill them all (1 Sam. 22:18-19). 

Contrast that with David’s leadership, twice he was encouraged by his followers to kill Saul (1 Sam. 24, 26). Both times he set the standard by refusing and showing them a better way. It wasn’t David’s job to strike the Lord’s anointed. Even towards the end of 1 Samuel, when the soldiers of David come back from saving their families and possessions from the Amalekites, some worthless men wanted to keep back the plunder (1 Sam. 30:22). David’s wise council again stayed the tensions and set the standard for all Israel to follow for future generations (1 Sam. 30:23-25). David did a masterful job of handling controversy and difficulties, while at the same time making terrible mistakes. He humbled himself before God and repented, while Saul ran headlong into greater mistakes. 

David recognized his mistakes before God and sought diligently to rectify them and be right with God. Saul struggled to admit his mistakes and humble himself before God, instead, he attempted to justify himself repeatedly when he was wrong (1 Sam. 13, 15). 

All godly leaders must be quick to do these two things: (1) seek out and do God’s will, nothing less and nothing more, and (2) be willing to admit mistakes and humbly make corrections. This is true for godly leadership in the home, as husbands lead the home, and parents lead the family. This is true in the local church, as elders lead the congregation, and deacons and preachers serve in delegated leadership roles. This is true even in secular applications, as we seek to “let our lights so shine before men that they may see our good works” and be impressed by our God (see Matt. 5:16). We should practice this as managers and bosses, as employees and employers, as students and teachers, as we all strive to be the best example we can be to an unbelieving world.