MEMORY VERSE: 1 Samuel 3:9 "...thou shalt say, Speak, LORD, thy servant heareth..."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review all 39 books of the Old Testament and all 27 books in the New Testament. Ask the students how many books are in each testament and then in the whole Bible.
PRAYER: Let us always listen and obey when God speaks to us through His Word.
SPECIAL SONG: God Called Samuel (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #4 on this blog).
VISUAL AID: A copy of the Activity below
LESSON POINTS:
- Remember young Samuel went to live in Shiloh with Eli, who judged over Israel, because he was given back to the LORD. His mother and father went back home, but when his family came to worship every year, Hannah brought him a new coat. She must have sewed love in every stitch. The Bible says that young Samuel usually wore a white linen ephod.
- In the time that Samuel was living in Shiloh, the LORD was not speaking very much to men like he was in previous times like with Abraham and Moses. The Bible says that the Word of the LORD was very precious in those days. Perhaps with the wicked sons of the aged Eli as Israel's priests, it was just too much for God to tolerate. Certainly, he was displeased with their behavior (1 Samuel 2:12-17).
- One night, when all the lights were out and everyone had gone to sleep, God called Samuel. He said, "Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Here Am I!" Thinking that Eli had called him, he ran into Eli's room and said, "Here am I because you called me!" But Eli said, "I did not call you. Go lie down again." Samuel went and laid down on his bed again.
- A second time, God called Samuel. God said, "Samuel!" Samuel said, "Here I am!" and ran into Eli's room again and said, "Here I am!" Again, Eli said, "I did not call you, my son. Go and lie down again." Samuel went back to his bed. Samuel did not yet know the LORD and God had never talked to him, so Samuel thought it was Eli calling him.
- A third time, God called Samuel. God said, "Samuel!" Samuel went into Eli's room and said, "Here I am because you called me." Eli finally realized that it was the LORD calling Samuel and told Samuel to go back and lie down and if he was called again to say, "Speak, LORD, thy servant heareth." So Samuel went back to bed.
- Just like the other times, the LORD called Samuel's name. God said, "Samuel!" Samuel said, "Speak, LORD, thy servant heareth." Then God began to talk to Samuel. He said, "I am going to do something in Israel that will make everyone's ears tingle. I am going to end the judging of Eli because his sons are so wicked and he did not restrain them. The sin of Eli's house will not be taken away."
- Samuel laid on his bed until morning. Samuel was afraid to tell Eli what God had told him because it was bad news for Eli and his family. Eli called for Samuel and wanted to know what the LORD had said. Eli said not to hide anything from him, but just to tell him what God had said. Samuel told Eli everything the LORD told him, and Eli said, "It is the LORD, let Him do what He seems best."
- So Samuel grew and the LORD was with him. Everyone in the land knew that Samuel was a prophet because the LORD talked to him.
- God used to talk to people through a prophet, but now He only talks to us only through the Bible, His Word (Hebrews 1:1, 2). We must read the Bible to know what God's Will for us is today. God does not talk to us if we do not read.
- God used a young Samuel to tell an old prophet that he was not living right and would have to account for the sins he had done by not disciplining his sons. God wants His children to be disciplined.
ACTIVITY: God Calls Samuel And Samuel Gets A New Coat
Materials needed: 6" x 9" tan felt, 6" x 9" white felt, 3" x 4" white felt, 6" x 9" green felt, scraps of black and brown and red felt, two 1/2" x 1/2" green felt, 5 1/2" square piece of felt, a small tuft of cotton batting, small box, scissors, hot glue, glue gun, pencil.
Special Note: This particular project is an unusual activity. The purpose of this project is not for the children to assemble and glue like our many past projects. The purpose of this project is to model the story and retell the what happened to Samuel over and over again to whoever will listen to them! The Bible teacher should have all of the 'Samuels, pillows, blankets, and beds' ready before Bible class begins, distributing the items at Activity Time, so the students can tell the story to a friend.
While many Bible Teachers are able to sew, this Bible Teacher is pitiful at sewing, so I hot glue. However, it is nice when the "Samuel" is about 7" tall, stuffed with cotton, and his face is embroidered. Certainly, this will be an activity that the students will keep and will learn much from! Here is how the Bible Teacher would make this activity:
- On the tan felt, draw a simple outline of a person or use the template below. This is Samuel.
- Cut out Samuel.
- Cut hair, nose, ears (optional), and mouth out of scraps of felt.
- Glue face and hair on Samuel. (Don't forget that the back of Samuel's head needs hair, too!)
- Fold 6" x 9" white felt in half.
- Cut nightshirt out, leaving shoulders uncut, so that the nightshirt is in one piece.
- Fold green felt in half.
- Cut coat out, leaving shoulders uncut, so that the coat is in one piece.
- Cut up the middle of the coat, so it opens.
- Glue two small squares of green felt on coat. These are pockets.
- Fold 3" x 4" white felt in half.
- Place small tuft of cotton batting in the middle of the white felt.
- Hot glue on three open sides of the felt, so it looks like a pillow.
- Write " SAMUEL" and "1 Samuel 2:19; 3:1-21" on box.
- Hand out to students. Watch them tell the story over and over again!
- After telling and retelling Samuel's story many times, put Samuel, the pillow, the 5 1/2" square piece of felt (for blanket), white nightshirt, and coat inside the box to take home.
