Saul Becomes King of Israel

Saul Becomes King of Israel by Jennifer Tolbert

God has a special plan for Israel. This plan set them apart from the nations around them. They were to be a unique people, pointing to the true and living God and living their life for Him. However, like so many times people do, they looked at the people around them and decided they would rather blend in than stand out. 

Key Themes:

1. If we love God, we will obey him. 
2. We need to follow God's plan. 
3. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. 

Memory Verse

I John 5:3a
“This is love for God: to obey His commands.”

Songs

Books of the Old Testament
The B.I.B.L.E.
He’s Got The Whole World in His Hands
​Hear, O Israel
Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
My God is so Big
There is a Flag that Flies in the Castle of My Heart
Who's the King of the Jungle

Story

Begin Class with Songs, Games, Table Activity, or Sharing Time
 
Open Class in Prayer

Introducing the Story Ideas
1. Kings and Queens
Show some photos of famous kings and queens. You may share if they were a good ruler or a bad one. Talk about how much power that person has. Discuss what it would be like to be a king or queen. What kind of rules would you make? SAY: In today's story, we are going to learn about Israel's first king. Remember, they didn't have a king like the nations around them because God was their king. 

2. Follow God's Voice

• Activity: In this story, the people chose to have a king instead of following God's voice. 
• Set up an obstacle course or scavenger hunt. Give students specific, sequential instructions and see if they can follow them closely.
• This will show them how important it is to listen and obey when God speaks to us.

3. Oil as a Symbol

• Activity: Bring a bottle of olive oil or something that looks similar. Explain how Samuel anointed Saul with oil as a sign that God had chosen him.
• Discuss how oil is used in the Bible as a symbol of being chosen as king in the Bible. 

Story: ​In this story, Israelites decide they want a king to lead them. In doing so, they reject God as king. The Israelites are warned of the consequences of having an earthly king but still choose to go their own way. Saul is chosen as Israel's first king, primarily based on his outward appearance. He is reluctant to take up the task but eventually becomes the king. 

SHOW the power point Samuel Anoints Saul as King or read 1 Samuel 8:1-10:27.
EMPHASIZE that:

• God is our king. 
• We need to live our life according to God's Word, not the world's standards. 
• God needs strong leaders in His church. 

Visual Aids

Video: Saul is Anointed King by My First Bible

Video: Israel's First King by IShare

God is...

Challenge the children to come up with "God is" statements based on this story such as God is faithful, God is powerful, etc. ​

Activities

Kids Paper Crown Craft by Trueway Kids

Samuel Anoints Saul by 10 Minutes of Quality Time

Paper Plate Crown by Bible Fun for Kids

Game: The Kings Challenge
In order to lead Israel, Saul needed to trust God, and demonstrate wisdom and leadership. Create a series of "kings challenges" to demonstrate what it would look like to "train" Saul to become a good king. 
Here are some ideas: A blindfolded obstacle course (trust), trivia about Bible characters who showed wisdom/trusted God,  a puzzle with the memory verse, Bible verse find with verses about trust and wisdom.

Molded in His Image
Supplies: clay or playdough
Challenge the kids to make something out of playdough that represents them. (They may make a basketball, or a video game controller, etc.)
Read Isaiah 64:8
For older kids, this may be a good time to discuss peer pressure and the power of influence. Who do they look up to? Who are they modeling? Who or what is "king" of their life. Who is "molding" or has influence over their life?