MEMORY VERSE: 1 Samuel 8:22 "...Hearken unto their voice and make them a king..."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review all 66 books of the Bible.
PRAYER: We need to be careful what we pray for because we may get it! We need to remember to pray as God wills, not our will. He knows what is best for us.
SPECIAL SONG: God Called Samuel (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog.)
VISUAL AID: Write on the whiteboard or chalkboard. List the all the negative things that a king would do to his people. (Words are written in the Activity below under #8 and #9). The students will write these things on their crowns (see Activity below).
LESSON POINTS:
- When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel, but his sons were not good men like Samuel. His two sons, Joel and Abiah, were judges in Beersheba. They loved money, took bribes, and perverted judgments which was not good. They should have been like Samuel.
- All of the elders or leaders of Israel got together and went to see Samuel. They wanted something. They told Samuel that he was old and that his sons were not good judges like he was and they wanted a king. Samuel did not like it when they asked for a king, so Samuel prayed to the LORD. God told Samuel to listen to the people; they had not rejected Samuel, but they had rejected Him. God said that ever since He had delivered them from the Egyptians, the people had rejected Him and had served idols. God told Samuel to grant to the people's request, but to make sure they knew all the differences in being judged by a judge and being ruled by a king.
- Samuel explained to the people that having a king would be different and that it would not be good. Samuel told the people that being ruled by a king would mean that a king would take their sons and make them serve him. A king would make their sons drivers of his chariots. Their sons would become his horsemen and some of their sons would run in front of the chariots. He would make their sons serve in his army and plow his ground, reap his harvest, make his instruments of war, and make his chariots.
- A king would take their daughters and make them become his servants and his cooks and his bakers. A king would take their fields and take their vineyards and olive groves. He would take the best of everything. A king would take a tenth of their seed and vineyards and give it to his servants and his officers. A king would take the people's best servants and make them his own. He would take their donkeys and put them to his work. A king would take a tenth of their sheep. The people would be his servants. Samuel told them everything. He said that the people would cry out because of the king that they had chosen and that the LORD would not hear them.
- After hearing all of the warnings that Samuel gave them, the people still said that they wanted a king. If they had a king, then they would be like the nations around them. They said they would not mind if a king judged them and fought their battles.
- When Samuel heard the people's final decision, he told everything to God. God told Samuel to listen to the people and make them a king. Things would be different for the children of Israel, but they had made their decision with their eyes open, meaning they knew what they were getting into. There's trouble ahead!
"Older Student" Tips:
- Most people want to work and make a little money and do what they want with the money they earn. They usually do not want to give their money to people or, worse, have other people demand some of the money they have worked hard for! This is what Samuel was trying to tell the people: they were better off with a judge! Did the people listen to their friend Samuel who had always told them the truth? No.
ACTIVITY: "Truth" Crowns
Materials needed: 12" x 18" yellow construction paper, about ten sequins, glue, marker, pencil, tape, (Optional: hand-help mirror for students to see themselves wearing the crowns).
- Hand out yellow construction paper to student.
- Cut in half, length-wise.
- Cut triangles from edge to about the middle of the strips.
- Tape two ends together, so that it looks like a crown.
- Optional step, but a good idea: The Bible teacher measures the crown around the student's head and cut to fit, but do not tape it, yet.
- Write "THE PEOPLE WANT A KING!" and "1 Samuel 8" down the middle of the crown.
- Glue sequins in each point of the crown.
- Around the edge of the crown, write in small letters, "Even though a king would take their sons and daughters and make them work for him. He would take their fields and vineyards and olive grove. He would take their servants. He would take a tenth of their seed and vineyards and give it to his servants."
- Around the bottom of the crown, write "A king would take a tenth of their sheep and donkeys. A king would take the best of everything." and " We still want a king!" they said.
- Measure the crown around the student's head and tape to secure.
- Optional: Have students look in the mirror, wearing their crown.