Pleasing God
Dear Parents, We hope the following summary of the Sunday School lesson will help you in discussing the lesson with your children and working through this booklet together. SCRIPTURE PASSAGE:
1 Samuel 3:19-7:4 BIBLE STORY SUMMARY:
Even though the Lord blessed Samuel with godly wisdom, and others saw him as a prophet of the Lord, when it came to battle, the Israelites thought they knew what to do better than Samuel might have and they went into battle without asking for the Lord’s wisdom and blessing. They lost the first battle decisively. Convinced that they needed God’s help, but not interested in seeking His wisdom about how that should happen, the elders and military leaders summoned the Ark to go with them into battle; Hophni and Phinehas oblige without seeking the Lord. Through the battle, the Israelites are overcome, Hophni and Phinehas are killed, the Ark is captured and Eli falls over dead when told of the outcome. While the Ark may be displaced, God is not subordinated as evidenced by Dagon’s falling prostrate to the Ark - twice. After disastrous implications to the Philistines, they send the Ark back. The method with which the Ark is returned clearly displays God’s hand in the reverence of those involved as well as the incredible motivation of the oxen pulling the wagon. God’s people rejoiced and worshiped Him as the Ark was returned to a farm field. Samuel helped them return their hearts to the Lord. LESSON FOCUS:
To realize that in tough times and difficult situations, people tend to try to solve their problems without God’s help. This can be very dangerous and detrimental. Even when the Ark was gone from the people, God was still watching over His people; He returned to them in His timing. WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT GOD:
God will not be subordinated to anything including idols that are in temples and the idols that we place in our lives and minds. He will work out His plan for our eventual good in spite of our shortcomings.
Samuel Points Israel’s Heart Back to God
RESPONSE:
To call on Him in time of need, not rushing into my own solution, skipping past a time of quiet and worship, seeking His direction. BIBLE MEMORY VERSE:
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows…the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life Galatians 6:7-8 Copyright 2009 Berean Baptist Church
This Week’s Memory Verse: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows… the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8
309 E County Road 42 Burnsville, Minnesota 55306 952.432.7168
April 21, 2013
1
Saturday - Correct the Memory Verse
Monday - Defeat without God
d Rea
uel Sam 2 4:1-
Have you ever met a big bully? Yes
No
Do not stay deceived
If you answered yes, why were they a problem for you? Bigger than me
didn’t care about me
Older than me
bad attitude
wanted to scare me
A man reaps what he sows
What was the name of the Israelites enemy? Ebenezer
Philistines
Aphek
Who won the battle? Israelites
the one who sells to please the Spirit
Philistines
How many of the Israelite Army were killed? 100
400
1000
4000
To the Spirit will reap
10000
Everlasting life
How do you think they were feeling?
Happy
Scared
Dagon cannot be mocked
Sad
Angry
Look at our memory verse above. In each line above, cross out the word that is wrong and write in the correct word.
Say
Your Mem ory Vers e
d Rea l mue a S 1 9 6:7-14 & 13
Friday - The Ark of God Comes Home
Read
Tuesday - Israel Needs God
1 Sa
muel
4:3-
The Philistines decided that the God of the Israelites was a real God of power. They decided to send it back.
5
Who did the leaders of Israel think had allowed the defeat of their army? The
Put a check mark by all the items used to send the cart back:
L __ __ __ __ (4:3)
New cart 2 cows that have new calves The calves got to go along
Can you draw a picture of what they wanted to take into battle with them?
Ark of God was put on top Chest of Gold
When they got it all ready they decided to
K __ __ __ W__ __ __ __ __ __ __ I __
(6:9)
So that they would know where it went. When the Ark returned to Israel the people burnt an
O __ __ __ __ __ __ __
to the
L __ __ __ (6:14)
Did the Israelite leaders ask Samuel what he thought would be best? Yes
Not really
No
Did the Israelite leaders ask God what he thought would be best? How would you feel if you were there when the Ark of God came home? Really excited
Confused
Pretty good
Kind of bored
Yes
Not really
No
Would you want to ask for God’s help deciding some thing big like that? Yes
Not really
No
d Rea
l mue 1 Sa -13 4:10 -18 & 17
Wednesday - Eli: Shocked to Death
Read
Thursday - God is #1
1 Sa
muel
5:1-4
The 2nd battle was a lot like the first. The Philistines defeated the Israelites. Read verses 10 & 11 then answer the following quiz: (True or False)
1. The Philistines Lost
T
F
2. Every man fled to his tent
T
F
3. Hophni and Phinehas ran home
T
F
4. 30,000 Israelites were lost
T
F
5. The Ark of God was captured
T
F
6. Hophni and Phinehas died
T
F
The Ark of God was a symbol of His presence, the presence of the Living God to Israel. When the Philistines captured it, where did they put it?
D __ __ __ __ ‘ __ T __ __ __ __ __ They thought it was like the idol they made for their pretend god Dagon. Can you draw a picture of what they found in the morning?
A man named Benjamite ran all the way back to Shiloh to tell the bad news. How would you feel if you had to tell all the bad news? They put Dagon back on its stand and went away. What did they find on the floor the next morning? Dagon Sad
Terrified
Bored
The Ark of God
Other statues
Confused
When Eli heard the bad news, what part caused him to fall over in his chair? 30,000 soldiers lost
Hophni and Phinehas died
Ark of God was captured
Israel fled
What would you have told them if you found Dagon broken on the floor again? _____________________________________________________________