Young Adults' Group

Vital Lessons Of Life

by Pastor Mark
March 09, 2023

Learning from the life of Saul

Last Saturday, we began our preparation for this year’s Family Camp with a pre-camp special. As we learnt from the life of Saul, there are many vital lessons for us to ponder on. Saul failed in more ways than one, and his life is like a mirror for us to compare and learn from. What are some lessons for us to understand?

1. Commencing

1. Saul started well.
2. These were some of the things that were positive about his life.
   1. He had good personal features like being a choice, handsome and tall man (1 Sam 9:2).
   2. The prophet Samuel was sent to befriend and instruct him, as a mentor would (1 Sam 9,10).
   3. The Lord provided a spiritual experience for Saul when the Holy Spirit came upon him, and he was able to prophesy (1 Sam 10).
   4. He was given the privilege of becoming the commander and king of Israel (1 Sam 9:16).
3. But it is not just a matter of starting well in life…it is about continuing and concluding well.

2. Changes

1. A good change Saul had experienced was being made ruler of Israel.
2. With all that he had, Saul could have become a good ruler.
3. But Saul began to see failure after failure in his life and reign.
   1. He could not lead Israel to victory over its enemies, such as the Philistines.
   2. He sought to make unlawful sacrifices against the commandments of God (1 Sam 15).
   3. When God told him to destroy the Amalekites utterly, he chose to disobey again (1 Sam 15).
4. The Lord’s verdict on Saul for his disobedience (1 Sam 15:22–23)
   1. God saw his disobedience as the sin of witchcraft.
   2. His stubbornness in being right was regarded as bad as iniquity and idolatry.
   3. In turning his back on following the Lord’s Word, Saul had rejected it.
   4. As a result, the Lord rejected Saul from being king.
5. Saul did not follow through with all he had started with and failed miserably.

3. Conclusion

1. Saul continued to deteriorate.
   1. He became jealous of David and sought to kill him.
   2. But David spared him twice in the course of Saul’s search for David.
2. Confessions of Saul (1 Sam 26:21)
   1. He admitted that he had sinned.
   2. He had played the fool for what he had done.
   3. But this confession was too little, too late.
3. Finally, Saul ended his life by committing suicide when Israel was defeated by the Philistines (1 Sam 31).
4. Saul concluded his life on a sad and disastrous note.

Lessons for us to learn

What are some of the lessons we should learn from the life and failure of Saul? Let us learn not only to begin well but also to continue well. The problem is that we can have some success in life but end up losing touch with God. We become spiritually dry along the way. The challenge is for us to return to the Lord and renew our faith in Him. Let us be challenged to find revival in the Lord at the family camp and to rediscover a closer walk with Him.

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