Hi again, goldenroad,
I respectfully disagree that we can be "Joyfully praising God for being incomprehensible."
God reveals as much about his nature as he deems we need to know (at the present time), through his love letter to us - The Bible. That we will be unable at times to fathom him, is made clear to us:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8.
Rather than being incomprehensible, God is transcendent; in fact, he transcends all. That being the case, is it any wonder there are things that will give us pause for thought when it comes to his actions or responses?
If we look at the situation in question - King Saul - we are given an insight to God's attitude at the outset and can see the dark clouds looming on the horizon. That God would "grieve" a situation does not necessarily mean that he would do it differently if it presented itself again. In this case, even though he knew it was to their detriment, he gave the ungrateful nation of Israel, exactly what they asked for - a King. Unfortunately for them, they were about to learn the hard way what it means to go against God's warnings (how many of us have learned to our detriment that sin and disobedience lead to all kinds of pain and suffering?).
But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you that they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."(emphasis mine)
I Samuel 8:6-9.
When we realize the history of God, Israel and King Saul, it is much clearer why God felt grieved or sorry for what had befallen them - even though he had clearly warned them of the folly of their decision. I think many parents of teenage children can relate to the feeling of being grieved in such a manner.
God bless,
Peter.