1 Samuel 9:2
And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
The verse stands in the time when all the elders of Israel gathered to Samuel at Ramah and asked for a king to judge them like all the nations, because Samuel was old and his sons did not walk in his ways. The injustice of those judges caused dissatisfaction and furnished a pretext for urging a change long secretly desired, while the real motive of the demand was discontent and pride and a deliberate and determined purpose.
It describes Saul as a choice young man of noble, dignified appearance, the most handsome and comely in Israel and taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. His outward distinction made him seem fit for command and for rule, and suited the people's pride and desire for a king to rule them. Yet those outward qualities did not amount to true wisdom or inner worth or spiritual character.
His physical impressiveness did not mean he was ready to lead, for he lacked the experience and character needed for the work of a king. The Lord changed his heart through the Spirit, and that change gave him influence, yet he failed when he presumptuously relied on his own judgment. The verse's measure of exceptional height is echoed in Jesus standing head and shoulders above the saints and angels gathered around him, so that his majestic form and lovely face are visible to everyone. Outward appearance alone is therefore not a sound basis for choosing someone for ministry or leadership.