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Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 47 “God Chooses a New King”

Featured Passage: 1 Samuel 16


King Saul made some very poor decisions and disobeyed God’s directions. God no longer wanted  Saul to be king and Samuel told Saul what God had decided. Though Saul did not know it, God already had a new king in mind. God told Samuel to go to Bethlehem, a small town where a man named Jesse lived. Jesse had eight sons, and God had picked one of them to be anointed as king of Israel. Samuel looked at Jesse’s tall and handsome sons and thought he could guess who God picked. But God sees characteristics we do not see, and he had a perfect choice in mind that no one ever expected.

 Discuss:

Richard Gunther (www.lambsongs.co.nz) | FreeBibleImages.org
  • When Samuel saw him, he was sure that Eliab was the one God had chosen. What was it about Eliab that made Samuel feel this way? How did God respond?
  • Why was Samuel having a feast? Was David invited?  
  • David was a young lad when he was chosen to be the next king of Israel. What do you think it would be like for him to be told he would be the next king at such an early age?
  • David was the youngest of his brothers, and he tended his father’s sheep. What lessons do you think David learned from being a shepherd? Do you have any responsibilities at home? What is it like to have that responsibility?
  • What instrument did David play while he was caring for the sheep? Why was David given the job of playing music for Saul? God often uses us for the skills that we develop. What skills are you working on or would you like to master as you grow up? In what ways do you think God could use those skills?

Memory Challenge:

1 Samuel 16:7

 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 46 “Saul and Jonathan”

Featured Passage: 1 Samuel 13 – 15


When Saul first became king, he was humble, and God was with him. But as the years went by, he began to make bad decisions because he wasn’t trusting God. Saul had a son named Jonathan who, unlike his father, was faithful to God. At the time, Israel was at war with the Philistines. Compared to the Israelites, the Philistines had a much stronger army and had better weapons for fighting. This made King Saul and his army very nervous – so nervous that Saul didn’t follow God’s directions, which got him into trouble. On the other hand, his son Jonathan decided to boldly put his trust in God and courageously take action against the enemies of Israel, knowing that in the end, it is God who does the fighting.

Discuss: 

Richard Gunther (www.lambsongs.co.nz) | FreeBibleImages.org
  • King Saul was supposed to wait for Samuel to come to give the special offering to God at Gilgal. Why didn’t he wait for Samuel? Why was Samuel angry with Saul? What should have King Saul done? 
  • Why do you think Jonathan didn’t tell his father that he was going to the Philistine garrison? Why do you think he only took his armorbearer with him? What was the job of an armorbearer? 
  • How did Jonathan know God was with him when he went to attack the Philistines? What were the results of Jonathan’s faith? What are some things that can happen when we trust in God?
  • Even after Israel’s victory due to Jonathan’s trust in God, Saul made some more bad decisions. What were some of those decisions? 
  • Due to King Saul’s poor choices, God decided it was time for Him to choose a new king. Why did God want a new king for Israel? 

Memory Challenge: 

1 Samuel 13:14 

“But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 45 “Samuel and Saul”

Featured Passage: 1 Samuel 9-12


The people wanted a king, so God had a particular man in mind for the job. This young man’s name was Saul, and he was from the tribe of Benjamin. Saul was the tallest and most handsome man in all the land! God told Samuel that he wanted Saul to be king. Little did Saul know about what was in store for him! 

One day, Saul’s father told him to take a servant with him to look for his two missing donkeys. Saul and his servant searched and searched but they could not find them. They were about to give up when they remembered Samuel and decided that the man of God would be able to help them. He was, of course, able to help them, but not in the way that Saul expected. How could Saul know that the two missing donkeys were part of God’s plan to anoint a king over Israel? 

Discuss:

Richard Gunther (www.lambsongs.co.nz) | FreeBibleImages.org
  • Saul was tall and handsome. Do you think this was part of the reason God chose him to be the first king? 
  • When Samuel first told Saul about God’s plan to make him king, how did Saul react? How do we react when someone tells us something surprising? 
  • Why do you think Saul kept it a secret that he had been anointed by Samuel to be the king? 
  • When Samuel went to proclaim to the people who would be king, where was Saul? Why do you think he was hiding? 
  • Later, God said that Saul was “small in his own eyes” at this time. This is another way of saying that he was “humble”. What exactly does it mean to be “humble” or “small in your own eyes?”  

Memory Challenge: 

1 Samuel 10:24

 And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?” So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 44 “Israel Wants a King”

Featured Passage: 1 Samuel 7 – 8


Samuel had been judging Israel for many years. He traveled between the cities of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah to judge the people, though he lived in Ramah with his family. Samuel’s sons became judges, but they did not follow his example. They were evil in how they judged Israel, and the people were upset with how things were going. They decided they wanted to have a king to rule over them instead of a judge. Samuel tried to warn them of what would happen if they had a king, but the people would not listen, and God was preparing to let them have their way.

Discuss:

Richard Gunther (www.lambsongs.co.nz) | FreeBibleImages.org
  • Before Israel had a king, God gave Israel His laws and His judges made sure they were kept. What would change with a king? 
  • Israel was to be an example to the other nations (Deuteronomy 4:6–8). What does it mean to be an example? What is the difference between a good example and a bad example? 
  • What did God say would happen if Israel had a human king?
  • Israel rejected God as their king because they wanted a human king. They did not appreciate what God had done for them. How can we appreciate what God does for us? 

Memory Challenge:

1 Samuel 8:7 

And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not rule over them.”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 43 “Samuel Judges Israel”

Featured Passage: 1 Samuel 3-4, 7

Samuel served in the temple from childhood. Under the guidance of Eli, Samuel began to learn about all the things of God. God was preparing Samuel for big responsibilities. One night, when he was still a young boy, Samuel heard someone call his name. Thinking it was Eli, he jumped out of bed and said to Eli “Here I am!” Eli hadn’t called him, but Samuel was about to find out Who wanted his attention.  And that was only the beginning of the story of how Samuel came to be a prophet and a judge over Israel.

Discuss:

003-ls-samuel-eli
Richard Gunther (www.lambsongs.co.nz) | FreeBibleImages.org
  • Samuel had a special calling to be a prophet to Israel at a very young age. What was Samuel’s reaction when God spoke to him the first time?
  • Samuel’s first prophetic message was about Eli and his family. Why were Eli and his sons punished? 
  • What are the duties of a prophet? Why does God have prophets?
  • What are the duties of a judge?

Memory Challenge:

1 Samuel 3:10 

Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 42 “Samuel – God Heard”

Featured Passage: 1 Samuel 1-2

As 1 Samuel begins, we are introduced to a woman from the strange-sounding city called Ramathaimzophim! Her name was much easier to pronounce than her city! She was called Hannah.

Hannah was a faithful woman, and loved God. But God had not blessed her with the one thing that she desired most – a child. In time, Hannah and her husband travelled to Shiloh to offer sacrifices to God. As she prayed quietly, she began to weep, begging God to give her a child. If only He would bless her with a son, she prayed, she would dedicate the boy to serve God all his life. God heard the prayer of faithful Hannah, and fulfilled her request. Her son Samuel followed Hannah’s example of faithfulness and dedication to God, giving his life in service for decades to come.

Discuss:

Richard Gunther (www.lambsongs.co.nz) | FreeBibleImages.org
  • Hannah dedicated her son to God.  What does it mean to be dedicated to God?
  • Hannah named her son Samuel which means “God heard”. Why do you think Hannah chose that name for him?
  • Samuel lived and served in the tabernacle from the time he was very young. What do you think it would be like to grow up working in the Tabernacle of God?
  • Just as Samuel’s story shows, you’re never too young to serve and obey God. How can you be like Samuel today? 

Memory Challenge: 

1 Samuel 2:26

 And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men.


Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 41 “Deborah and Barak Go to War”

Featured Passage: Judges 4:13-24; 5

As God instructed, Deborah and Barak prepared the army of Israel to fight against their enemies, the Canaanites. Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army heard what the Israelites were doing, so he gathered together his own army—with 900 chariots of iron! He may have thought his chariots were prepared to meet the Israelites in battle, but He wasn’t ready to fight against God! God had a plan to stop those chariots—and they were stopped. They got stuck in the mud! Sisera, seeing the Israelites coming against his army leapt from his chariot and ran away on foot—right into a trap! 

 Discuss:

Richard Gunther (www.lambsongs.co.nz) | FreeBibleImages.com
  • The Canaanites had a superior army to the Israelites because they had chariots made of iron, which is a very strong kind of metal. Israel did not have iron weapons, so how were the Israelites able to win the battle against the Canaanites? 
  • How did God stop the chariots so that they got stuck in the mud? 
  • What happened to Sisera after he ran away from the battle? 
  • Who was the woman that Deborah was talking about when she told Barak “the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman”? Deborah mentions her in the song she sang with Barak after the battle. 

Memory Challenge:

Judges 5:31 

Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength. 


Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 40 “Deborah Judges Israel”

Featured Passage: Judges 4:6-12

Israel had no king and the people were being treated harshly by their enemies the Canaanites. God told Deborah the judge that the time had come for deliverance and He had some special instructions for the Israelites. Deborah sent for a man named Barak who she knew would be able to prepare an army as God had instructed. The problem was, Barak did not want to go—unless Deborah came with him. So, together, Deborah and Barak went to gather an army for Israel in preparation for a battle that God Himself was planning. 

Discuss:

 Richard Gunther (www.lambsongs.co.nz)
  • Deborah was both a judge and a prophetess. There are several women besides Deborah mentioned as prophetesses in the Bible, including Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Isaiah’s wife (Isaiah 8:3), Huldah (2 Chronicles 34:22), and Anna (Luke 2:36). 
  • God reveals to a prophet or prophetess what He wants the people to know, and they have the responsibility to tell it to the people.  What instructions from God did Deborah pass on to Barak? 
  • God told Deborah He was planning to deliver Israel from their enemies the Canaanites if they followed His directions. What are some promises God gives us if we follow His directions? 
  • Why do you think Barak wanted Deborah to go with him to gather the army for battle? What did Deborah tell Barak would happen if she went with him? 

Memory Challenge: 

Judges 4:9

“So she said, ‘I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.’ Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 39 “Deborah”

Featured Passage: Judges 4:1-5


A woman named Deborah lived in the foothills of Ephraim. The Bible tells us that she was a prophetess and married a man named Lapidoth. Deborah lived during a time when an evil Canaanite king named Jabin ruled in the land. He and his powerful army persecuted the Israelites. Deborah and her people longed for relief from their cruel enemies. 

Discuss:

Richard Gunther (www.lambsongs.co.nz) | FreeBibleImages.org
  • Deborah had faith in God and He gave her the help she needed to be a good judge. If we have faith, do you think God could use us to do amazing things? 
  • The people suffered greatly under the Canaanites. Why did God allow Israel to suffer? Remember, God promises that obeying Him brings blessings, but disobeying Him brings trouble (Deuteronomy 30:1520).
  • The Bible says that the evil king Jabin had 900 chariots made out of iron! The Israelites were crying out to God for help! Have you ever asked God for help when you were scared? How can we know He will help us? 

Memory Challenge:

Judges 4:4-5

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.



Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 38 “The Time of the Judges”

Featured Passage: Joshua 24 & Judges 1-3

Israel served God all the days of Joshua, and they continued to serve God under the elders who had been trained by Joshua. However, after Joshua and the elders he trained died, things quickly changed. They soon forgot all about God, and began to do their own thing. When they began to stop obeying God, one of the nearby nations would attack and oppress them. The Israelites would call out to God for help, and in His mercy He would soon send them a leader to save them. This happened again…and again…and again…and again…

Discuss:

Richard Gunther (gunther.net.nz) | FreeBibleImages.org
  • Joshua was a good and righteous leader. What is a leader? What does it mean to be a good leader?
  • During this time, Israel did not have a human king. Who was their king? 
  • In the book of Judges, we see that Israel was led by people called (of course!) judges!  What is a judge? 
  • God corrected the Israelites when they disobeyed him. Why did God correct them and why does He correct us? (Hebrews 12:6). 
  • Israel continued to make the same mistakes over and over – they didn’t learn from their mistakes. How can we avoid following their bad example…how can we learn from our mistakes?
  • How did God show his love and mercy for Israel during the period of the Judges?

Memory Challenge: 

Judges 2:18 “And when the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge…”