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1 Samuel 8-10 | Saul Becomes Israel’s First King

LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS

In 1 Samuel 8:1-10:27, Israel reaches a turning point. Samuel had faithfully served as judge and priest for many years, but he was growing old, and the sons he appointed to help him were dishonest men who twisted justice for money. The elders of Israel used this as their reason to come to Samuel with a demand: give us a king, so we can be like every other nation around us. Samuel was hurt by the request, but God told him the rejection was not aimed at Samuel. The people were pushing away God Himself as their King. God instructed Samuel to warn them plainly about what a human king would cost them. A king would draft their sons into his army, take their daughters into his household service, claim the best of their fields and flocks, and tax them until they felt like servants. The people heard the warning and refused to change their minds. They still wanted a king, because they still wanted to look like the nations around them.

Meanwhile, God was already at work in the ordinary life of an unsuspecting young man. Saul, son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin, was simply out searching for his father’s lost donkeys. His search brought him to the town where Samuel was, and God had already told Samuel that this tall young man was His choice. Samuel fed Saul a special meal, poured oil on his head to anoint him, and gave him signs that would come true on the road home. Every sign happened exactly as promised, and God gave Saul a changed heart. Later, when Samuel gathered the tribes at Mizpah to reveal God’s choice publicly, Saul was nowhere to be found. He was hiding among the baggage. The people pulled him out, saw that he stood head and shoulders above everyone else, and shouted for their new king. God gave them what they asked for, but the deeper problem remained. Israel wanted to copy the nations more than they wanted to follow God. That tension is exactly what preschoolers need to hear at their level: God made you on purpose, and following God matters more than copying everybody else.

OPENING ACTIVITY 6:00-6:15 | Crown Coloring Station

Items Needed:

Set printed crowns at the table with crayons and stickers. As children arrive, they color and decorate a crown any way they choose. Point out how every single crown looks different, even though everyone got the same paper. Tell them we are learning about the very first king of Israel tonight.

BIBLE STORY 6:15-6:25

Object Lesson Items Needed:
A paper crown, a small clear bottle of oil (baby oil or cooking oil), a suitcase or duffel bag, a small stuffed donkey or picture of a donkey

Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? (1 Samuel)

Question 2: Is this in the Old Testament or the New Testament? (Old Testament)

A long, long time ago, God’s people did not have a king. God was their King! God gave them a helper named Samuel. Can you say Samuel? [Let kids respond]

Samuel loved God very much, but Samuel was getting old.

The people looked around at all the other countries, and guess what those countries had? They had kings! Big, fancy kings on big, fancy chairs. [Put on the paper crown and sit up very straight and proud]

So the people came to Samuel and they said, We want a king! We want to be just like everybody else! Can you say it with me? We want a king! [Let kids say it] Say it louder! [Let kids say it louder]

Samuel felt sad, so Samuel did the very best thing you can do when you feel sad. He prayed! Can you fold your hands like Samuel? [Wait for response]

God told Samuel something important. God said the people were not saying no to Samuel. They were saying no to God.

Samuel warned the people. He said a king will take your things. A king will make you work hard. But the people said, We do not care! We still want a king! We want to be like everybody else. [Shake your head slowly]

[Stand up] Now let’s go somewhere else. Way over on the other side of the country, there was a young man named Saul. Can you say Saul? [Let kids respond]

[Hold up the stuffed donkey] Saul’s job was watching his daddy’s donkeys. What sound does a donkey make? [Let kids make donkey sounds] That was so good, let’s do it one more time! [Let kids respond]

One day the donkeys ran away! They were lost! Should we go look for them? [Wait for response] Let’s march and look for those donkeys! [Everyone marches in place]

[Put your hand over your eyes like a visor] Saul looked over here. No donkeys. Saul looked over there. No donkeys. Saul walked and walked and walked. Are you getting tired? [Wait for response] Me too!

Then Saul’s helper had an idea. He said Samuel, the man of God, lives in the next town. Maybe he can help us! So off they went. [March in place again, then sit down]

Here is the surprise part. Ready for the surprise? [Whisper] Samuel was already walking down the road looking for Saul because God had already told Samuel that Saul was coming.

Samuel said, Hello, Saul! Your donkeys have been found! Can you show me your surprised face? [Let kids make big surprised faces] Saul had never met Samuel before, but Samuel knew his name! God told him!

Then Samuel did something very special. [Hold up the bottle of oil] Samuel poured oil right on top of Saul’s head. Can you pat the top of your head? [Let kids pat their heads] That is called anointing. It means God picked you for a special job.

And Samuel said, Saul, God has chosen you to be the king! [Put the crown on your own head, then take it off and hold it up]

Later, all the people came together. Samuel said, I am going to tell you who the king is, but when it was time for Saul to come out, nobody could find him! Where do you think Saul was? [Let kids respond]

[Point to the suitcase] He was hiding behind the baggage! Can you hide your eyes with your hands like Saul? [Wait for response] Peek out! [Let kids peek]

The people pulled Saul out. He was TALL. Can you stand up and stretch as tall as you can? [Everyone stands and stretches] Taller! Reach up high! Now sit back down.

All the people shouted, Long live the king! Can we shout it? Long live the king! [Let kids shout]

[Sit down and lower your voice] But friends, here is the sad part. The people did not want a king because they loved God. They wanted a king because they wanted to copy everybody else.

Do you know what? God did not make you to be a copy. [Point to individual children] God made you, and you, and you. All different. All on purpose. And God wants us to follow Him, not just copy what everybody else is doing.

THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS

  1. Who was Israel’s real King before they asked for Saul? (God)
  2. How did Samuel know who Saul was before they ever met? (God told him)

LIFE APPLICATION QUESTIONS

  1. Have you ever wanted a toy just because your friend had one?
  2. What is one special thing God made just for you?

PRAYER

Dear God, Your Word says in Galatians 1:10 that we want to please You and not other people, so help us follow You today. Thank You for making each one of us special on purpose. Amen.

WORSHIP IN SONG 6:25-6:35

Items Needed: Kazoos for each kid.
Teach the kids how to use the Kazoo before playing the song.

Transition the kids to a calmer song for prayer team.

PRAYER 6:35-6:45 p.m.

Transition the kids to the floor for prayer time. Have them sit in a circle criss cross applesauce. Remind them that Samuel prayed when he felt sad and God listened, and that God listens to us too. Pray for God to help each child follow Him instead of copying the crowd. Thank God for making every child in the room different and special on purpose. Pray for the kids to be brave when doing the right thing looks different from what their friends are doing.

BIBLE STORY GAME 6:45-6:55 | Donkey Round Up

Items Needed:

Scatter the donkeys around the room. Tell the children that Saul’s donkeys ran away and they need to help find them. On go, children search the room and bring every donkey back to the basket. Count them together at the end. Play again by having a leader re hide them.

BIBLE CRAFT 6:55-7:10 | Pray without Ceasing Craft

Items Needed

Have kids color each finger of the prayer hand a different color as you talk about different things you can pray to God for. Remind kids that Samuel prayed to God throughout his entire life, and He also listened for God’s will. We are to do the same.

SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 7:10-7:25

Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks while watching the Bible story video.

BONUS ACTIVITY | How Tall Are You?

Items Needed:

  • Butcher paper taped to the wall
  • Markers
  • Measuring tape

One at a time, each child and each leader stands against the paper while someone marks their height and writes their name. Compare the marks and talk about how Saul was taller than everyone in Israel. Point out that everyone is a different height, a different age, and good at different things, and God loves every single one of them. If time allows, let children decorate their own lines.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE | 1 Samuel 8-10 (ESV)

  • 1 Samuel 8:1-9 Israel demands a king and God tells Samuel they have rejected Him as King
  • 1 Samuel 8:10-22 Samuel warns the people what a king will take from them, and they refuse to listen
  • 1 Samuel 9:1-14 Saul is introduced and goes searching for his father’s lost donkeys
  • 1 Samuel 9:15-27 God reveals to Samuel that Saul is His chosen man, and Samuel hosts him for a meal
  • 1 Samuel 10:1-16 Samuel anoints Saul with oil, gives him three signs, and God changes Saul’s heart
  • 1 Samuel 10:17-27 Samuel gathers the tribes at Mizpah, Saul is found hiding among the baggage, and the people shout for their new king

PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET

Today’s Key Takeaway

Follow God First

What I Learned Today

I learned that God’s people asked for a king because they wanted to be just like all the other countries around them, even though God was already their King. I learned that God chose a young man named Saul, who was out looking for his father’s lost donkeys, and Samuel poured oil on his head to show that God had picked him for a special job. I learned that God made me on purpose and I do not have to copy other people to be special.

Questions to Ask Me

Theological Questions

  1. Who was Israel’s King before they asked for a person to be king? (God was their King)
  2. Who did God send to tell the people about their new king? (Samuel)
  3. What did Samuel pour on Saul’s head to show God chose him? (Oil, which is called anointing)
  4. How did Samuel know Saul’s name before they ever met? (God told Samuel who Saul was)
  5. Does God know everything, even where lost things are? (Yes, God knows everything)

Life Application Questions

  1. Where was Saul hiding when it was time to be king? (Behind the baggage)
  2. What was Saul doing for his dad when God’s plan found him? (Looking for lost donkeys)
  3. Have you ever wanted something just because your friend had it? (Let your child answer honestly)
  4. What is one special thing God made you good at? (Let your child name something)
  5. What can you do this week to follow God even if your friends are not? (Ideas include telling the truth, sharing, obeying the first time, being kind to someone left out)

Verse to Practice at Home: Galatians 1:10.