Hope Deferred and the Anointing of Saul and David

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Proverbs 13:12) — "Hope deferred makes the heart sick," this refers to one who betroths a woman and does not marry her at once. "But desire fulfilled is a tree of life" (ibid.) — this refers to one who betroths a woman and marries her at once. Another interpretation: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" — this is David, who was anointed and only became king after two years. "But desire fulfilled is a tree of life" — this is Saul, who was anointed and became king at once. (And Saul seized the kingship over Israel.) [And by what merit? By the merit of good deeds:] for he was humble, for he was lowly in spirit, for he was fearful of sin, for he squandered his own possessions and was sparing of the possessions of Israel. Yehudah bar Nachman in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: for he was a man of Torah, as it is written, "By me kings reign" (Proverbs 8:15). (And he fought against all his enemies round about — what is "and wherever he turned, he condemned"? "He condemned," he held guilty.) Rabbi Yishmael taught: Before Adam the first man sinned, he would hear the Voice and was not afraid; but once he sinned, "And he said, I heard Your voice [in the garden, and I was afraid]" (Genesis 3:10). Rabbi Acha said: Before he sinned, he would hear the Voice standing upright; but once he sinned, he would hear the Voice crouching. [And likewise, before Israel sinned, what is written there?] "And the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire [on the top of the mountain]" (Exodus 24:17). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: There were seven partitions of fire, one added within the other, and they were not shaken; but once they sinned, they could not even receive the face of the intermediary. Rabbi Pinchas and Rabbi Avin bar Rabbi Chanin: even the intermediary felt it with them. [As it is said,] "Kings of armies flee, they flee" (Psalms 68:13). Rabbi Yudan bar Rabbi Aibu: it is not written here "angels," but rather "kings" — the kings of the angels; but once they sinned, they could not even stand before the auxiliary soldiers, [as it is said,] "For I was afraid because of the anger and the wrath" (Deuteronomy 9:19). Before David sinned, [what is written?] "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" (Psalms 27:1); but once he sinned, [what is written of him?] "And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed [and I will terrify him]" (II Samuel 17:2). Before Solomon sinned, [he ruled over the female and male demons, as it is said,] "I made myself male and female singers [and the delights of the sons of men]" (Ecclesiastes 2:8); but once he sinned, "Behold, the bed of Solomon [with sixty mighty men around it]" (Song of Songs 3:7). Before Saul sinned, [what is written of him?] "And wherever he turned, he condemned" — [what is "and wherever he turned, he condemned"? He was victorious]; but once he sinned, [what is written of him?] "And Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, and they were dismayed and greatly afraid" (I Samuel 17:11).