1 Samuel 9:16

To-morrow I will send thee a man, &c. This shows still that all was done by God's direction. Out of the hand of the Philistines Though driven out of the country by Samuel, they were now ready, as appears by the following history, to invade it again; and being the constant and nearest enemies of the Israelites, they were most dreaded by them. And from these did Saul in some measure save them, and would have saved them much more, if his and the people's sins had not hindered. For I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me Though he would not hear their cry to relieve them from the oppressions of their kings, (1 Samuel 8:18,) yet he was so gracious as to make those kings instruments of their deliverance from the oppression of their cruel neighbours.