Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.
—2 Peter 1:13
Key Verse Thought: Read today’s key verse. Realize that tabernacle means “the body as a frail tenement of the soul” and
stir you up means “of the mind; to excite.” A good Bible
teacher’s job, as teachers (in our frailty), is to stir up students (excite
them) by putting them in remembrance (to help them remember the heroes of our
faith). We should be excited about learning of these great men and women in the
Bible. In this lesson, we will continue with our remembrance of some of the
people in the Old Testament – even learning of a few new people along the way.
Anyone who learns something
exciting from God’s Word can share it with someone else!
Emphasis: It is important to remember (with excitement) the people
and events of the Old Testament. Recognize God’s blessings upon those who
called out to Him, and especially those who sought God with the whole heart.
Lesson Summary: In this lesson, we continue our study of the genealogies
listed in the book of First Chronicles. While reading the descendants of David,
recognize the listing of the kings of Judah.
As we read through more of the genealogies, notice the interesting pieces of
information sandwiched into them – events that many overlook as they skip over
the seemingly boring, non-eventful, genealogies (as we discover how exciting
they can be!). We will also see where the rest of the sons of Judah
are listed. After that, time will be spent remembering the kings and their
lives in greater detail.
The first king of Israel was Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin. Remember again, why God removed the kingdom from his family and gave it to another – one who sought after God’s own heart. “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22).
Remember: The Chronicles do not dwell upon the wrongdoings of the kings, but what good they accomplished for Judah.
“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8
The Gospel Message of Jesus is available to anyone who will
receive it. However, one must not only believe that message, it then must be
received into one’s heart and life by faith. “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word
preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it”
(Hebrews 4:2). When one does not believe, it does not profit
them. See why not: “Seeing therefore
it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first
preached entered not in because of unbelief” (Hebrews 4:6). We can
read in the next verse that there is a cry for one not to harden their heart
(so that faith can enter in). See how this is described: “12. Take heed,
brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing
from the living God. 13. But exhort one another daily, while it is called
To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin”
(Hebrews 3:12-13). One who rejects the Gospel message of Jesus has departed
from the living God in unbelief. There is no hope for such a one.
Remember, in the Old Testament God’s people were to obey and follow God,
waiting for Jesus to come.
One cannot help but remember back to the Bible and a very
real example of one without faith. His name was Saul, the first king of Israel.
He was physically, everything a people could want in a king. He was
good-looking, and he stood head and shoulders taller than anyone else did.
However, what kind of a man was Saul really?
In the administration of his kingdom, we find out that Saul
demanded obedience to his command. He even promised death to anyone who defied
his command. In one instance, it turned out to be his son, Jonathan, who had
unwillingly disobeyed his father’s command. When the king was prepared to kill
his son, the people stepped in and saved his life. Shortly thereafter, God
required King Saul’s obedience in a matter. But when Saul disobeyed God, God
did not demand his death. God is forgiving and although there was discipline
for disobedience, God gave him a second chance.
God told Saul to go and utterly destroy Amalek and everything
they had (for they were God’s enemies). He was even to kill the king. Saul
gathered the people and went to Amalek. They took the city. “But Saul and the people spared Agag, and
the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and
all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that
was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly” (1 Samuel
15:9). Saul did not obey God’s command. God declared that Saul had turned back
from following Him, and not performed His commandments. When confronted with
the truth of the matter, Saul lied. Read his response when questioned by
Samuel, God’s prophet. “20. And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed
the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have
brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21.
But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which
should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in
Gilgal” (1 Samuel 15:20-21). Did you notice that King Saul blamed
the people for his disobedience? Because of his disobedience to God this time,
God removed the kingdom from Saul and his family. Samuel told him that because
he had rejected the word of the Lord, God had also rejected him from being
king.
It was not until the punishment had been uttered that Saul
admitted his fault. “And Saul said
unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the
LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice”
(1 Samuel 15:24). Samuel completed
the job that Saul was to supposed do. Samuel killed the king of the Amalekites.
Shortly after that, God chose a man after His own heart,
David. Saul spent the rest of his kingdom not trying to please God, but trying
to destroy David. This caused his kingdom to become one mainly of defeat. We do
not hear of him seeking after God until right before he died in his last
battle. When the Philistine army gathered together against Israel
again, Saul gathered all of Israel
together. He was afraid. Saul wanted a word from God, but he did not receive
one: for God did not answer him (see 1 Samuel 28:6). Saul then searched and
found a woman who had a “familiar spirit” (means a necromancer or sorcerer; a
witch). Saul disguised himself, went by night, and found her. He sought the
world’s ways of seeking answers instead of waiting upon God.
We can understand that the main problem of Saul was that he
had no spiritual foundation on which to build a godly life. Sure, he was God’s
chosen man to be king of His people, but Saul never sought God or His wisdom
with all of his heart. When David came into Saul’s life, many of Saul’s
insufficiencies (his lack of faith and obedience to God) revealed themselves.
Saul openly became a double-minded man. He was a soldier pursuing David as if
he were Saul’s enemy one day, yet the next he would acknowledge that God was
with David. “A double minded man is
unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). We can recognize that Saul
had no faith.
Are you one with no faith, like Saul who departed from the living God in unbelief?
Or,
Have you received the Gospel Message of Jesus, by faith, into your heart and life?
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Saul was the first king of Israel.
He looked (physically) like a good king. However, his true nature was soon revealed.
But the most devastating thing that happened, was that he chose to do what he
wanted to do instead of fulfilling God’s Word. When he disobeyed God, and did
not repent for that, Samuel told him that God was going to take the kingdom
from him and give it to another – a man who would choose to please God more
than himself.
Saul saw the Philistines, the enemy, gather against Israel.
Saul was afraid. When he inquired of the Lord (wanting help for the battle),
the Lord answered him not. See why God does not answer those who
choose to live for themselves instead of obeying God’s Word. “28. Then shall
they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they
shall not find me: 29. For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose
the fear of the LORD: 30. They would none of my counsel: they
despised all my reproof. 31. Therefore
shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own
devices” (Proverbs 1:28-31). God
would not speak to Saul because Saul had chosen to disregard God in his life.
It was at this point that Saul learned a Word from God (through Samuel, the
prophet) that Saul and three of his sons would die in battle against the
Philistines, and the kingdom would be given to David, one who would obey God
and do His will.
Saul, along with three of his sons, died in battle the next
day. And David became the king of Israel.
This should be a mighty example for anyone who chooses to do
what they want to do instead of what God’s Word says they are to do. Because of
Saul’s disobedience, he lost his life and his kingdom.
The following verse should be foremost in our hearts and
minds: “I am crucified with
Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved
me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). I am not to do what I
want, for I am crucified with Christ (this means that I put my selfish desires
to death, choosing instead to please God). I am to live a life pleasing to God,
by the faith I received because I believe in Jesus, God’s Son – the One who
gave His life for me.
Have you crucified your selfish desires to live a life
pleasing to God?
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
Read the Key Verse with your class. Explain the memory verse using the following definitions:
seek:strive after, with earnestness
first:importance; first of all; chiefly
kingdom:the glorious reign of the Messiah; its basis from the prophecies of the OT where the coming of the Messiah and His triumphs are foretold
righteousness:conformity to all God commands; God’s uprightness to which man is expected to conform.
Jesus taught us to strive, with earnestness and as most importantly, for the coming of the Messiah (Jesus) and his reign. And seek to be able to conform to all of God’s commands. When we can do these things, all of the things Jesus had been teaching them (heavenly treasures, provisions here on earth, etc.) would be added.
Summary: We have learned that God’s people rejected Him as their king. They wanted a man. So, God gave them a man, Saul, and he failed miserably as a godly king. But God chose a man “after his own heart,” David. He was a good king, and God made him a promise. Because David wanted to do good for God to build God a house, God would build David a house, one that would last forever. Today, we will see in whom that promise was fulfilled, Jesus.
David believed God’s promise, and it was recorded in the Bible for us to read today. All through the ages, men watched and waited for that “Promised One” to come. Even the wise men of the Far East sought a new king that was born, and wanted to come and worship him. We find John the Baptist proclaimed He had come, and He was God’s Son. But even more than that, Jesus himself declared principles of His kingdom we must learn to adhere to.
Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!
Emphasis: Our job, today, is to seek God as most important in our lives, obeying His commands, making him our King that we will serve. When we do that, we have nothing to worry about because He will take care of us.
Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.). I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash! Pinterest always has great ideas!
You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.
One idea for today’s lesson: (See picture below). For today’s lesson I had a kit that made a shield (since we had been studying the kings of Israel) with a sicker for the middle that said “Christ is my Victory.” It seemed to fit pretty well since we had been talking about the kings of Israel. In today’s lesson we remembered the promise to King David that that Jesus was the promised King of Kings who would come. We also learned a little of Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom that would come.
Mural idea:
Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.
By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives. Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural. Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.
Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall. Encourage everyone to participate.
“When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7
Read the Key Verse with your students. It is very self explanatory. But be sure that they understand – God is with those who please Him, and He will take care of His people. We will see this in David’s life as we study our lesson for today.
Summary After learning of Eli, Samuel, and Saul, we come to the final main character of I Samuel, David. Last week we saw that the people had rejected God as their king and desired a man to rule over them. God gave them Saul – physically, everything a people could want in a king. He was good looking, and he stood head and shoulders taller than anyone else. But we found he chose to please man over God. Remember Saul’s disobedience that caused God to remove the kingdom not only from him, but his family. Today we see that God chooses a “man after his own heart.” We see God take a man the world might see as one of low esteem (a shepherd boy), but one whom He raised up to serve Him. When God chose David, he removed his spirit from Saul and allowed an “evil spirit” to trouble him. Watch today and notice the conflict between these two men. Notice that even though Saul sought to destroy David, when David walked with God, Saul could not destroy him.
Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!
Emphasis: As we see God turn from Saul (for his disobedience) to David, Saul then became David’s enemy, after him at every turn. We read that David continually sought God, and that even Saul recognized God was with David. When David had opportunity to kill Saul, and would not, Saul promised David peace.
Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.). I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash! Pinterest always has great ideas!
You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.
One idea for today’s lesson: (See picture below). For today’s we made a coloring book for each child. Because David was a shepherd boy God chose to be the future king of Israel, there were many choices of coloring pages (some of the most famous are pictures of David fighting Goliath). I chose some that told the story of David. I had a book of construction paper cut and stapled together for them to glue the different pictures into in the correct order. We colored some of the pictures in them with the time we had left. They were then able to take their books home to color the rest of the pictures as they had time, helping them remember what we had learned in class that day.
Mural idea:
Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.
By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives. Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural. Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.
Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall. Encourage everyone to participate.
“For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.” Jeremiah 16:17
Read the Key Verse with your class. Help them understand that the verse tells that God’s eyes are upon everything. Nothing happens that God does not know about; not even their iniquity (faults, mischief, and/or sin.) There is no point in lying about something you may have done (or not done) because God knows it all and nothing is hidden from Him.
Summary: Today we will continue in the life of Samuel, but we will be introduced to the third main character in the book of I Samuel – Saul. We learned last week, that when Samuel answered God’s call, God was able to use him to speak to the people for Him. He was not only a priest, but he was a prophet of God. Today we see that the people now verbally reject God as their king and want a man to rule over them. God chose Saul. He was, physically, everything a people could want in a king. He was good looking, and he stood head and shoulders taller than anyone else. Today we learn what kind of a man he really was, and why God removed the kingdom not only from him, but his family.
Emphasis: We must remember that God sees everything. We must please God in everything we do, obeying His commands. In order to know what God wants from us, we must seek Him – read our Bible and pray, faithfully.
Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.). I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash! Pinterest always has great ideas!
You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.
One idea for today’s lesson: (See picture below). For today’s lesson we made a coloring book for each child. Because Saul was the first king of Israel, there were many choices of coloring pages. I chose some that told the story of Saul. I had a book of construction paper cut and stapled together for them to glue the different pictures into in the correct order. We colored some of the pictures in them with the time we had left. They were then able to take their books home to color the rest of the pictures as they had time, helping them remember what we had learned in class that day. We also colored the page that is today’s Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet and discussed what it meant.
Mural idea:
Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.
By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives. Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural. Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.
Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall. Encourage everyone to participate.
