King Saul

OBJECTIVE

In this unit, we will look at the establishment of Kings for God's people, Israel. We will also take a more in depth look on how we learn about Our Lord God, through His interactions with the characters of the Bible. QAahnv

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

Hook 1 - Looks can Be Deceiving - Just because something looks good, doesn't mean that it is good. We can't judge a book by its cover. Here's a short video to show the 5th graders.

Hook 2 - Bring in items that appear better or worse than what they actually are on the inside. For example, spray paint a rotten apple gold and cut it in front of class, dragon fruit (looks tasty but tastes bland), pure bitter chocolate, kiwi fruit (looks bad but very sweet), etc...

Hook 3 - Guess What's in the Bag - Place items of similar size and shape in a paper bag (examples are lemons, limes, plums, tennis ball, pingpong ball). Have the children feel the items and try to guess what's inside. Say leading comments like, "wouldn't it be great if we could see what was inside with special glasses? The items are completely hidden from the outside."

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes

Memory Verse Psalm 51 (Psalm 50 in Agpeya) Entire Psalm for the month
Memory Verse
"But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
Memory Verse
"You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than your companions." Psalm 45:7

The events for today's lesson are located in 1 Samuel 8:1 - 1 Samuel 16:19.

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 15 Minutes

The Isrealite people during the time of Samuel were not following the Lord's commandments. Remember from last week that even Eli the priest had never seen anyone pray from the heart like Hannah did. Eli was supposed to be the spokesperson for God to the people, but even he couldn't recognize the voice of the Lord when He spoke to Samuel. This was indicative of how far away the people were from listening to the Lord and following The Almighty's instructions. The Isrealite people were more interested in acting like the other nations around them. So much so, that they began worshipping idols and they wanted a king to rule over them, just as the other nations. Samuel saw that this was wrong because The Lord God was their King ruling over them from His Heavenly Throne.

1 Samuel 8:4-9

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day---with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods---so they are doing to you also. 9 Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them."

The Isrealite people wanted a king that would appear strong to the other nations. Samuel warned them that an earthly king would give them difficulties in their daily lives. Again, they were more interested in outward appearances and refused to listen to Samuel. Despite all this, the Lord in His wisdom, gave them what they desired.

1 Samuel 9:1-2

"There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people."

Kish, Saul's father, lost a few donkeys from his herd, so he asked Saul to go and find them. Now at the same time, the Lord told Samuel that a man will come to him from the land of Benjamin and this man is the one that will be anointed the king of Israel. Saul went everywhere in the area of Benjamin to look for the donkeys and couldn't find them. He heard of the holy man Samuel, who could help him. When Saul went to look for Samuel.

1 Samuel 9:17-21

"So when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, "There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people." 18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, "Please tell me, where is the seer's house?"

19 Samuel answered Saul and said, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20 But as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father's house?"

21 And Saul answered and said, "Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?"

According to society's standards, Saul had it made He came from a wealthy and influential family, and he was very handsome and strong. He was surely going to be a great king by these measures. Yet Saul struggled with a sense of inferiority and insecurity (verse 12). His whole life, Saul was obsessed with his image and fears. Saul was worried about how to manage his image that all his actions were selfish. The Lord gave God an opportunity to use his talents to lead His people. God called Him to a mission and a purpose. However, Saul failed to realize that The Lord doesn't measure men by their wealth, outward appearance, or their power, but by their hearts. (1 Samuel 16:7 "But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."). Unfortunately, Saul kept trying to prove himself by society's standards, instead of relying on God's grace.
Samuel anointed Saul with oil, just as the Lord instructed Samuel to do, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. (1 Samuel 10:6) The people proclaimed that Saul was now their king. Saul warned them again to fear God and to serve God in truth with all their hearts and to be careful about following earthly kings. Please note that this would be a good time to make the connection of consecration with anointing with oil, which is the practice in our Orthodox church.
Not long after, Saul was faced with a battle where things were not going his way. Instead of following the guidelines of worship, Saul decided to take matters into his own hand and acted like a priest, making sacrifices to the Lord in the temple

1 Samuel 13:5-13

"Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, cthirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth Aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits. 7 And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.

As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 8 Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9 So Saul said, "Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me." And he offered the burnt offering. 10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him

11 And Samuel said, "What have you done?"

Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, 12 then I said, 'The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.' Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering."

13 And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you."

From here on, Saul continues to make a series of mistakes against the people and specifically against the Lord God. For this reason, the Lord rejected Saul as King over Israel. (1 Samuel 15:22-29). Saul was very sad at the state of affairs, however the Lord encouraged him. "Now the Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons." (1 Samuel 16:1)
Samuel then went to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse. Samuel asked Jesse to bring his sons to the service so that they can celebrate it together. Jesse presented each of his seven sons to Samuel, but the Lord did not choose any of them Samuel asked Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here." 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one" 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward." 1 Samuel 16:6-13
There was nothing considerable about David. Even his own father, Jesse, overlooked his youngest son as a valid candidate for honor. David was a young shepherd boy, simple and kind-hearted. He loved his animals and nature, he loved music, poetry and played a harp. Most importantly, David loved God with all his heart

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

We know that Saul seemed like a great King given his outward appearance, but inside, Saul was filled with all kinds of passions that displeased God.
What types of bad things do people hide inside themselves? (Sin)
What is sin? (Anything that displeases God)
What types of sin can people do that no one knows about? (envy, pride, insecurity, complaining, hate)
Does God know about these sins? (Yes)
What does God see in David? (kindness, a need to please God, a need to repent)
Did anyone else see these qualities? (No)

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Our thoughts and feelings are the birthplace of our actions. This week, keep track of your thoughts and feelings in a journal. Remember, God sees and knows what's in our hearts and the Lord can help us with everything.

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Craft: Make paper heart shaped glasses - "The Lord looks at the heart" 1 Samuel 16:7

Timeline Activity: Where we are in the Old Testament

The purpose of this activity is to lay the groundwork and reinforce their previous knowledge of the Old Testament. It's important that the children understand the layout and progression of characters of the Old Testament to see how we arrived at SAMUEL and KINGS.

Please see attached activity sheet

Have children put these following events in order. You can choose many different ways to do this. 1. You can print these out and cut into separate pieces of paper, 2. Have them work in small groups, 3. Do this together as a class the first week, then by themselves or in a small group the following weeks, 4. Have them compete for a prize on correctness the first week and speed of completion the second week, etc...

Place in Order (This is the correct order)

In the beginning, God created Heaven and Earth
Adam and Eve
Noah and the Flood
The Tower of Babel
Abraham & Sarah
Isaac and Rebekah
Jacob & sons
Joseph the Beloved
Moses & Pharoah
10 Commandements
Isrealites in the Wilderness
The promised Land
Joshua & Caleb
The Judges
Deborah
Samson
Ruth
Samuel
King Saul

SERVANT RESOURCES

A Patristic Commentary First Samuel by Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty (orthodoxebooks.org)

Futureflyingsuacers.com