Why did God keep raising up individual leaders like Gideon, Samson, and Samuel for Israel?
Because Israel repeatedly left off and fell into idolatry, there was no witness left among them. God therefore had to pick out one man, such as Gideon, Samson, or Samuel, to bring the people back. This recurring pattern reflected a sorry state of affairs after Israel rejected God.
Les explains that when Israel would leave off and go into idolatry, there was no witness left, so God had to again pick out one man—such as Gideon, Samson, or Samuel—to bring the people back. It was a sorry state of affairs. Israel had rejected God, and He said to let them have a king; in chapter 9 they chose their first king, Saul. Les also points to the scriptural format that is never abridged: first the natural, then the spiritual. Saul was the natural, not a godly man, and David, the spiritual, would follow him.