VERSES: 1 Samuel 27:1-28:25
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Samuel 28:15 "...God is departed from me and answers me no more..."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review the 66 books of the Bible.
PRAYER: May we always follow God's Word and save ourselves much heartache. We show God that we love Him by doing His commandments.
SPECIAL SONG: Jesus Loves The Little Children (see February - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #2 on this blog)
VISUAL AID: Bible Map, showing Gath. Draw a large picture of the Activity (see below) on a whiteboard or chalkboard.
LESSON POINTS:
- David was still concerned about King Saul and the many times that the king had tried to kill him. He was afraid that the king might end up killing him one day, so he hurriedly escaped to the land of the Philistines and lived with Achish, the king of Gath, in the city of Gath. This was a place where he felt safest since he didn't think the King Saul would follow him there. David took everyone with him: his 600 soldiers and their families, even his two wives went with him. After someone told King Saul that David had run away to Gath, the king did not search for David anymore.
- Achish gave David the city of Ziglag for he and his army to live in and they lived there for one year and four months. From there, David fought with many people who were enemies of the LORD. Achish made David his most important bodyguard, but the problem was that David was on the enemy's side.
- Meanwhile, King Saul was having a hard time. God wasn't talking to him at all anymore, especially after Samuel died. A huge army of Philistines had gathered themselves together and King Saul had gathered all of Israel together, but when King Saul saw how many Philistines there were, he was very afraid and his heart trembled.
- King Saul had tried to get an answer from God about what to do with the Philistines, but God did not answer King Saul since he had disobeyed God concerning Agag, the king of the Amalekites and Samuel, God's prophet, had died. God has never tolerated disobedience and still does not today.
- King Saul resorted to finding a woman who he thought could bring back Samuel to talk to him. He disguised himself, took two men with him, and went to talk to this woman at nighttime. The woman was fearful because she knew that the king had outlawed men and women like her. Today we would call these people 'fortune tellers.' but they really just take people's money and fool them into thinking that God talks to them. King Saul was desperate and, when the woman asked the king who he wanted to talk to that had died, he said, "Samuel." The woman knew she tricked people, so when the LORD let Samuel talk to King Saul, she screamed! She said to the king, "You tricked me! You are the king!" Even she was shocked that Samuel had appeared!
- King Saul reassured her that she would not die and asked her what she saw. She said an old man in a coat and, realizing that this was Samuel, Saul bowed low on the ground. Samuel asked Saul, "Why have you disturbed me?" Saul answered that the LORD was not talking to him and he didn't know what to do with the Philistines.
- Then Samuel gave King Saul very bad news. He said that because Saul had not obeyed the LORD completely in the matter of the Amalekites, the LORD had given the kingdom of Israel to his neighbor, David. Even worse news, the next day, King Saul and his sons would die in the battle with the Philistines and the LORD would deliver all of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. VERY bad news!
- King Saul was so afraid that he fell on the ground and there was no strength in him. He hadn't eaten all day, so with a little urging from the woman, King Saul rested, ate a little bit, and then went home. He would fight the Philistines the next day.
"Older Student" Tips:
- We all have weaknesses and David was no exception. Fear that King Saul might take his life was one of David's human weaknesses. Brave and determined before Goliath, yet always thinking about King Saul's many attempts on his life, David was afraid. He knew the LORD was on his side, yet he was still concerned.
- King Saul also had many weaknesses and heartaches, but his fears and troubles began when he did not obey God.
ACTIVITY: What Samuel Said To King Saul
Materials needed: 9" x 12" light green construction paper, 2" x 12" orange construction paper, 3" x 6" dark green construction paper, 2" x 4" dark brown paper, 1/2 of a clear plastic sandwich bag, scraps of paper, marker, glue, scissors.
- Hand out light green paper. This is the background.
- Hand out orange paper. This is the floor.
- Glue orange paper to the bottom of the light green paper.
- Cut a large triangle out of the dark green paper. This is King Saul's robe.
- Cut arms.
- Glue on to robe. (see picture).
- Cut 1" circle out of brown scrap paper.
- This King Saul's back of his head.
- Glue Saul's head on to the robe.
- Cut a large triangle out of dark brown paper. This Samuel's coat.
- Glue Samuel's coat in the top right of the light green paper.
- Cut 1" circle out of scraps for Samuel's head.
- Glue Samuel's head on to his coat.
- Cut large circle out of plastic bag.
- Glue plastic over Samuel's whole body.
- Finish decorating with shoes, and hands.
- Write "WHAT SAMUEL SAID TO KING SAUL" and "1 Samuel 28" in the top left hand corner of the light green paper.
- Write "The LORD has departed from you." "Why have you disturbed me?" "God has given the kingdom to David" "You and your sons will die tomorrow." "You disobeyed God." and "The Philistines will win the battle." in speech bubbles all over the paper.
- Write "Samuel" and "King Saul" close by each character.
