Embracing Second Place: Lessons from King Saul
Summary
### Summary
Tonight, we delved into the life of King Saul, the first king of Israel, and explored the theme of "second place." Saul's story is a tragic one, filled with mistakes and a departure from God's will. However, it serves as a mirror for our own lives, showing us the dangers of pride and the importance of humility. Saul's journey began with humility; he was reluctant to take the throne and even hid among the baggage when he was to be crowned. Yet, as his reign progressed, pride took over, leading him to disobey God's commands and ultimately lose his kingship.
We often find ourselves in Saul's shoes, striving for control and resisting the idea of coming in second place. But Matthew 6:33 reminds us to seek God's kingdom above all else. When we put God first, everything else falls into place. Saul's downfall was his inability to surrender to God's will, choosing instead to follow his own desires and the opinions of others. This led to his tragic end, a stark contrast to what could have been a legacy of mentorship and humility.
The lesson here is clear: true purpose and peace come from humility and surrendering to God's will. When we strive on our own, we lose sight of God's plan and end up causing more harm than good. But when we humble ourselves and put God first, we are lifted up in ways we could never achieve on our own. Saul's life serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to embrace second place, knowing that God has already gone before us and paved the way.
### Key Takeaways
1. Humility Leads to Purpose: Saul's initial humility was the key to his early success. When we humbly put our lives in God's hands, our true purpose begins to unfold. Anything we achieve on our own will eventually fade, but what we do for God will last. [01:04:17]
2. The Danger of Pride: Saul's downfall was rooted in his pride. He allowed the opinions of others to dictate his actions, leading him to disobey God's direct commands. Pride blinds us to God's will and leads us down a path of destruction. [01:05:41]
3. Peace Comes from Surrender: Striving in our own strength leads to frustration and a lack of peace. When we surrender to God's will, we find true peace and fulfillment. Letting God do the work frees us from the burden of striving. [01:16:12]
4. God's Will Over Our Will: Saul's story teaches us the importance of prioritizing God's will over our own. Our flesh naturally wants to be self-reliant, but true success comes from aligning our desires with God's plan. [01:10:54]
5. Embrace Second Place: Coming in second place to God is not a loss but a victory. Jesus went first, paving the way for us. When we follow in His footsteps, life becomes easier and more fulfilling. Embracing second place means trusting that God's plan is better than our own. [01:22:05]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[35:49] - Introduction to King Saul
[36:49] - Relating to Saul's Story
[37:34] - Saul's Downfall
[38:04] - The Importance of Friendships
[38:37] - The Struggle with Second Place
[39:18] - Olympic Athletes and Second Place
[40:04] - Personal Stories of Second Place
[41:34] - Spiritual Implications of Second Place
[42:33] - Boy Scouts and Life Lessons
[45:01] - The Snack Shack Revelation
[47:30] - Saul's Missed Opportunities
[48:52] - Israel's Desire for a King
[50:07] - Saul's Anointing and Doubts
[52:57] - Saul's Hiding and Fear
[54:23] - Our Own Spiritual Hiding
[55:57] - Personal Testimonies of God's Faithfulness
[58:41] - Saul's Disobedience and Consequences
[01:00:04] - The Importance of Obedience
[01:01:32] - David's Humility vs. Saul's Pride
[01:04:17] - Purpose Follows Humility
[01:07:06] - The Struggle with Self-Reliance
[01:08:21] - The Chain Together Game
[01:10:54] - God's Will vs. Our Will
[01:12:22] - The Promise of Humility
[01:13:44] - Peace Does Not Follow Striving
[01:16:12] - Let God Do the Work
[01:17:50] - Surrender to Second Place
[01:19:28] - The Cost of Striving
[01:20:42] - Walking in God's Footsteps
[01:22:05] - Conclusion and Prayer
[01:23:31] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 1 Samuel 9:15-21 - Saul's anointing as king.
2. 1 Samuel 10:9-13 - Saul's transformation and prophecy.
3. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
### Observation Questions
1. What was Saul's initial reaction to being chosen as king, and how did he demonstrate humility? ([52:57])
2. How did Saul's attitude and actions change over time, leading to his downfall? ([01:00:04])
3. According to Matthew 6:33, what should be our primary focus in life, and what is promised as a result?
4. What specific actions did Saul take that showed he was prioritizing his will over God's will? ([01:00:04])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Saul's initial humility contrast with his later pride, and what does this tell us about the dangers of pride in leadership? ([01:02:53])
2. In what ways did Saul's disobedience to God's commands reflect his struggle with pride and self-reliance? ([01:00:04])
3. How does Matthew 6:33 relate to Saul's story, and what does it teach us about the importance of seeking God's kingdom first?
4. What can we learn from Saul's failure to surrender to God's will, and how can this lesson be applied to our own lives? ([01:17:50])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled with pride. How did it affect your relationship with God and others? ([01:05:41])
2. Saul's story shows the importance of humility. What are some practical ways you can cultivate humility in your daily life? ([01:04:17])
3. In what areas of your life are you striving in your own strength rather than surrendering to God's will? How can you begin to let God do the work? ([01:16:12])
4. How can you prioritize seeking God's kingdom in your daily decisions and actions? What changes might you need to make? ([41:34])
5. Think of a situation where you felt the need to be in control. How can you practice surrendering that control to God this week? ([01:17:50])
6. Saul's downfall was partly due to his concern with the opinions of others. How can you focus more on God's opinion rather than the opinions of those around you? ([01:05:41])
7. Reflect on a time when you experienced peace by surrendering to God's will. How can you remind yourself of that peace in future situations? ([01:13:44])
Devotional
Day 1: Humility as the Path to True Purpose
When Saul was first chosen to be king, he displayed a remarkable humility. He was reluctant to take the throne and even hid among the baggage when it was time for his coronation. This initial humility was the key to his early success. However, as his reign progressed, pride began to take root, leading to his downfall. This serves as a powerful reminder that when we humbly put our lives in God's hands, our true purpose begins to unfold. Anything we achieve on our own will eventually fade, but what we do for God will last. [01:04:17]
1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV): "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt the need to assert control. How might approaching it with humility and surrender to God change the outcome?
Day 2: The Blinding Effect of Pride
Saul's downfall was rooted in his pride. He allowed the opinions of others to dictate his actions, leading him to disobey God's direct commands. Pride blinds us to God's will and leads us down a path of destruction. When we let pride take over, we lose sight of God's plan and end up causing more harm than good. Saul's story is a cautionary tale that warns us of the dangers of letting pride dictate our actions. [01:05:41]
Proverbs 16:18-19 (ESV): "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where pride has influenced your decisions. How can you actively choose humility in that area today?
Day 3: Finding Peace Through Surrender
Striving in our own strength leads to frustration and a lack of peace. Saul's life is a testament to this truth. Despite his initial humility, he eventually chose to follow his own desires and the opinions of others, leading to his tragic end. True peace and fulfillment come from surrendering to God's will. When we let God do the work, we are freed from the burden of striving and can experience a peace that surpasses all understanding. [01:16:12]
Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are striving in your own strength? How can you surrender this area to God and trust Him to work it out?
Day 4: Aligning Our Will with God's Will
Saul's story teaches us the importance of prioritizing God's will over our own. Our flesh naturally wants to be self-reliant, but true success comes from aligning our desires with God's plan. Saul's inability to surrender to God's will led to his downfall, but we can learn from his mistakes. By seeking God's kingdom above all else, we can ensure that everything else falls into place. [01:10:54]
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (ESV): "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did you seek God's will in that decision? How can you make seeking God's will a regular part of your decision-making process?
Day 5: Embracing Second Place
Coming in second place to God is not a loss but a victory. Jesus went first, paving the way for us. When we follow in His footsteps, life becomes easier and more fulfilling. Embracing second place means trusting that God's plan is better than our own. Saul's life serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to embrace second place, knowing that God has already gone before us and paved the way. [01:22:05]
Matthew 20:26-28 (ESV): "It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with the idea of coming in second place to God? How can you practice trusting God's plan over your own this week?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We may not on earth be actually royalty. Maybe you don't, I mean, I don't know if anybody in the room here is actually a king or queen. But of course we are all, you know, kings and queens of the most high. We're the son and daughter of the highest king, right? But on earth, we have regular jobs, right? We've got regular things that we have to do. It seems mundane. So sometimes we disassociate the scripture. But today, my encouragement for you is to see yourself as Saul." [36:49] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Seek the kingdom of God above all else. Above first. place, above my will, above what I want, above all else. What's underneath all? Everything. Above all else. Relationships, the kids, the school, the job, above all else. And live righteously and he will give you everything you need." [41:34] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he shall. Lift you up, humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. I love a good promise in the Bible. There's no like ifs or maybes there. Do you see that? Humble yourself and you will be exalted. It's a guarantee. We have to humble ourselves. It's not this choice thing of, oh, I'm going to be prideful here. No, it's an ultimate gain. I love to be in second place because I win every time." [01:07:06] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We don't have to fight on our own. We don't have to do it by ourselves, but Lord, you went before us, and not only are you before us, you're behind us. You're on all sides of us, Lord. You are protecting us every single day. And so, Lord, we humbly, humbly put away our striving and humble ourselves to walk and be second to you. Life's better when we're second to you." [01:22:05] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Saul messed up so bad, he began to lose the throne. And what we're going to focus on tonight is how he didn't even lose well. He lost. And even in the process of losing the throne, he didn't lose well. He began to lose more than the throne. He began to lose himself. His relationship. His relationship with God. Everything else began to fall to the side." [37:34] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Saul was called and appointed by God. And what happened though is Saul walked away from that anointing and that calling, which leads him to tragedy. We jump down next to the next verse and it's there in 1 Samuel 1, 9 through 13. It says this, So it was when he had turned back, turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart. And all those signs came to pass that day." [51:33] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Saul started out good. He was humble and meek, choosing to first avoid the throne at all costs. He didn't want the throne. He's hiding amongst the baggage. In a very comedic way, Saul would have preferred to come in second place on that day. Choose somebody else, please. I'm hiding amongst the baggage. Let somebody else be king. I don't want to be here. He didn't want the throne. But maybe that's the point. God saw the heart of a man who didn't want the throne." [01:02:53] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Saul had to be bad at hide and seek. He really did. He had to be terrible. Why? Because the two times he tried to hide, he was found immediately. As I was reading this, I thought, wow, this is so interesting. His story began with hiding amongst baggage, and his story ends trying to hide the plunder that he should have destroyed. Look at the two different men. Saul, the man who didn't want the throne, but God called him and set him apart." [01:17:50] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Saul was trying to hold on to something that had already been taken from him. We laugh at Saul. We say, Saul, come on, man. We treat him like an athlete, right, whose life is on the play. Saul, come on. David, the new hitter's in. It's about, it's over. But we struggle with it as well, letting go. We strive, and we, this is the dream I had. This is what I wanted to do. This is the purpose I had. This is where I wanted my kids to go to school. This is where I wanted to live. This is where, and we hold on to something, right? And we strive. But then we lack peace in our lives and wonder why." [01:13:44] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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