An individual, a family, a local church congregation, and a nation can lose their calling and and forfeit their destiny if they rebel against the Lord long enough and consistently enough. 1 samuel 15 is an example of God withdrawing his calling on a man’s life, and the impact God's judgment has on the nation. It is one thing for a nation to sin, but it is another matter for the church to sin against their nation by ceasing to pray and believe God for their nation. The United States and South Africa are both in great danger, not mostly from of crime and corruption or moral decay in society, but from Christians who run in fear or speak in criticism against their nation and it’s leaders.
Notice the progression in Saul's great failure and removal as the king of israel:
15:1-3 - detailed obedience is required of Saul in a very tough assignment of discipline and standing against evil.
15:4-9 - partial obedience is disobedience in God’s eyes; Saul saved the best for himself
15:12 - Saul erects a monument to himself. Disobedience leads to deception and self-exultation.
15:11 - Saul is rejected by God to be king
15:12 - Saul lies to Samuel about his sin
15:15 - Saul blames the people for his lack of courage of conviction
15:17 - Samuel acknowledges that one of the problems is that Saul suffers from inferiority and insecurity, “though you are little in your own eyes...” but he is still responsible: “were you not head of the tribes of Israel?”
15:20-21 - Saul again blames his followers for his fear and disobedience
15:24 - Saul acknowledges the root of his sin was the fear of the people and that he obeyed their voice, not God's voice.
15:26-28 - Samuel declares that on that day, Saul has lost his kingdom, and God is now judging him for his sin.
15:33 - Samuel slays the king that Saul was to have killed
15:34-35 - Samuel never saw Saul again to the day of his death.
15:35 - The Lord was sorry that he made Saul king.