Saul raises his army 1 Samuel 12:1-7, 14-18 and 1 Samuel 13AMPC Objective: The children Will learn that GOD IS FAITHFUL with His people. At the same time, God asks US TO BE FAITHFUL AND OBEDIENT towards Him. What God looks for in a leader is not for him/her to be ready and creative, but TO KNOW HOW TO FOLLOW GOD S INTRUCTIONS, and to TRUST in Him, because WE RECEIVE THE VICTORY THROUGH HIM. Reflection:Obedience brings forth God s grace and protection over us. Introduction: Saul showed his true personality through his actions. In 1 of Samuel 10:8 Samuel tells Saul to wait for him for seven days; but Saul did not do so, he was impatient and scared. Although it went against God s Will, he believed that offering a sacrifice to God would make room for the possibility of Israel winning the battle. Saul disobeyed Samuel and God. In chapter 11, Saul guided the Israelites in the battle and conquered the Ammonites. Before the battle, many of those in Israel were not sure that Saul was the king they needed; but, after this battle, they were convinced that he indeed was the kind that God had chosen for Israel. In this lesson we will see that Samuel spoke to the Israelites and made them remember that it was them who had asked for a king and God responded to that petition. That way they would understand that their earthly king was under God s authority, the true King. If the Israelites would obey God, they would prosper; if they disobeyed, they would be punished. The people promised to be faithful to God.
In the next battle that Israel had to confront, Saul did not pass the test because he did not trust in God nor obeyed His commands. Although only the priests had to offer sacrifices, he wanted someone else to do it as well. It was for that reason that he did not wait for Samuel and he offered a holocaust offering to God. Samuel told Saul that he had not kept Gods commandment, and because of this his kingdom would not last. Key terms and points: The Israelites got together in Gilgal to support Saul as their king. Samuel spoke to the people and said that he had heard their petitions. They already had a king who governed over them. By then, Samuel was an elder with gray hair, and he had served the nation as their leader since he was young (12:2). Later, Samuel reminded them how just God was with them and their parents and numbered the ways God has helped the people of Israel. Saul was 30 years old when he was crowned King and he governed Israel for 42 years. He chose 3,000 men to serve in the Israel s army. Two thousand remained with Saul and one thousand went with Jonathan. Jonathan s army attacked the Philistines, and they brought together an army of 30,000 cars and many people, as many as the sand on the beach, to fight against Israel. The Philistines camped in and there they waited for the Israelites. Samuel left Gilgal and went to Gabaa, and Saul counted the people who were with him; there were about 600 men. Because the Philistines were provoked, they stood up against Israel. They sent spies in three directions to find out their weak point, so they could attack them from there. One of Israel s weaknesses was that they did not have iron weapons, while the Philistines did (13:17-18). Places: Micmash was city situated seven miles (11 kilometers) north of Jerusalem. Moab was a country situated east of the Dead Sea. Gabaawas s city situated south of Micmash. Gilgal was the place where Samuel offered holocaust after Saul was anointed as King. 2
Points to consider: 1. What did the prophet Samuel remind the Israelites? (12:7) The doings of salvation. 2. During Samuel s goodbye speech, what did he ask of the Israelites? (12:14) To fear God. To serve God and listen to His voice. To not be rebellious. 3. After how many years of reigning did Saul choose three thousand men from Israel? (13:1-2) After two years. 4. What did the Philistines have when they fought the Israelites in Gabba?(13:5) 30,000 cars 6,000 men on horse A numerous amount of people, as many as the sand on the beach. 5. Did the Israelites hide from the Philistines? (13:6-7) When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. 6. How many days did Saul wait for Samuel before offering holocaust?(13:8) During seven days. 7. Did the army of men react towards Saul when Samuel didn t come back to Gilgal in time? (13:8)They began to desert themselves and separate themselves. 8. What happened when Saul offered the holocaust? (13:10) In that moment Samuel had already gotten to Gilgal. 9. What did Samuel say to Saul when he saw that he had offered the holocaust? (13:13-14) You have done a foolish thing, Samuel said. You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have 3
established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure 10. How did Samuel describe the King God had chosen to govern over Israel?(13:14) But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord s command. 11. How did provoking the Philistines make them go against Israel? (Samuel 13:13-18)They sent spies in three directions to discover their weak point and attack them from there. Bible scripture: 1 Samuel 12:1-7 (AMPC) 12 And Samuel said to all Israel, I have listened to you in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walks before you. And I am old and gray, and behold, my sons are with you. And I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. Samuel was speaking with love, trying to get to the people s hearts to persuade them in understandinghis intentions. Samuel had the wisdom and the authority to do so, but he was specific when he reminded them of the credibility in his words. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God [a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 3 Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and Saul His anointed. Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded or oppressed? Or from whose hand have I received any bribe to blind my eyes? Tell me and I will restore it to you. Samuel recognized his authorities publicly and he also wanted to amend any of his errors so the people would understand his intentions. 4
4 And they said, You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man s hand. 5 And Samuel said to them, The Lord is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. And they answered, He is witness. 6 And Samuel said to the people, It is the Lord Who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of Egypt. 7 Now present yourselves, that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did for you and for your fathers. Samuel reminded the people what God had done for them. He sawhow the people were forgetting about God and how they began to set their eyes and trust on mere men. He wanted better for them, so he tried to impart unity and began to remind them of how God s grace and mercy was upon them through the generations. Psalm 105:8-11 (NIV) 8 He remembers his covenant forever,the promise he made, for a thousand generations, 9 the covenant he made with Abraham,the oath he swore to Isaac. 10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,to Israel as an everlasting covenant: 11 To you I will give the land of Canaanas the portion you will inherit. 1 Samuel 12:14-18 (AMPC) 14 If you will revere and fear the Lord and serve Him and hearken to His voice and not rebel against His commandment, and if both you and your king will follow the Lord your God, it will be good! 15 But if you will not hearken to the Lord s voice, but rebel against His commandment, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers. Samuel was exhortingthe Israelites to be good and to obey the Lord, including their King. At the same time, he explained the consequences they would have to endure if they didn t follow God. 5
16 So stand still and see this great thing the Lord will do before your eyes now. 17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call to the Lord and He will send thunder and rain; then you shall know and see that your wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of the Lord in asking for a king for yourselves. 18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and He sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. Samuel was against the peoples wishes of following a man to the point of disobeying and forgetting God as the Israelites were also doing. As one of the judges before Saul, he had the responsibility of correcting and guiding the people towards the right path. That s why we, as teachers, students and Christians need to follow God and respect the authorities whilst recognizing God as our number one priority. We must understand that there are consequences if we put something or someone else in God s place. Same goes for us wanting something God didn t intend for us to have. 1 Samuel 13 (AMPC) 13 Saul was [forty] years old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose 3,000 men of Israel; 2,000 were with [him] in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and 1,000 with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent away, each one to his home. Jonathan Eldest son of King Saul. (Definition in Hebrew: Jehovah has given. Jehovah's gift) 3 Jonathan smote the Philistine garrison at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear! 6
4 All Israel heard that Saul had defeated the Philistine garrison and also that Israel had become an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal. 5 And the Philistines gathered to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen and troops like sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a tight situation for their troops were hard pressed they hid in caves, holes, rocks, tombs, and pits or cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews had gone 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. All the people followed him trembling At that time, Israel didn t have the weapons or the armor that the Philistines have-only Saul and Jonathan had those tools at their disposition. There was a problem-israel did not have a blacksmith, so they needed to pay the Philistines (who later became their enemy)to get weapons and armors. Money they didn t have. (This was maybe a tactic the Philistines had at the time so they would not need to give the weapons and armors the Israelites so badly needed). With, the Israelites were scared for their lives (since they did not have armors and weapons) as the Philistines gathered to attack them. 8 Saul waited seven days, according to the set time Samuel had appointed. But Samuel had not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from Saul. 9 So Saul said, Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering [which he was forbidden to do]. 10 And just as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came! Saul went out to meet and greet him. Saul s impatience was on display, disobeying and disrespecting God in the process. 7
11 Samuel said, What have you done? Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines were assembled at Michmash, Trusting the Lord and our authorities is a MUST for us Christians and we need to teach our generations about. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. Matthew 7:16 (NIV) 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 12 I thought, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord. So I forced myself to offer 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 the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever; Samuel reminded him of the orders given by God and the promise made to him if he was obedient. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue; the Lord has sought out [David] a man after His own [b] heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince and ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you. Saul needed to sit down, to understand his errors, learn about them, put his priorities in place (God as #1) and come back stronger. A path his heart didn t want to take. 15 And Samuel went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were left with him, [only] about 600. 16 Saul and Jonathan his son and the people with them remained in Gibeah of Benjamin, but the Philistines encamped at Michmash. 17 And raiders came out of the Philistine camp in three companies; one company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual, 18 Another turned toward Beth-horon, and 8
another toward the border overlooking the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. 19 Now there was no metal worker to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears. 20 But each of the Israelites had to go down to the Philistines to get his plowshare, mattock, axe, or sickle sharpened. 21 And the price for plowshares and mattocks was a pim, and a third of a shekel for axes and for setting goads [with resulting blunt edges on the sickles, mattocks, forks, axes, and goads.] 22 So on the day of battle neither sword nor spear was found in the hand of any of the men who were with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them. 23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash. Verse to memorize: Adoren a Dios con reverencia; y con alegría ríndanle culto. Salmos 2:11 (TLA) Serve the Lord with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling. Psalm 2:11-12 (CSB) Presentations: 1 Samuel 13 The Brick testament http://www.thebricktestament.com/king_saul/saul_rejected_for_seeking_gods_f avor/1s13_03-04.html 9
Saul raises his army 1 Samuel 12:1-7, 14-18 and 1 Samuel 13 AMPC Name: Date: First Service Activities Part I - Describe what is happening in the image. Color when you finish. Part II - Answer the questions: 10
A) What did the prophet Samuel remind the Israelites? B) During Samuel s goodbye speech, what did he ask of the Israelites? C) What did the Philistines have when they fought the Israelites in Gabba? D) Did the Israelites hide from the Philistines? E) How many days did Saul wait for Samuel before offering holocaust? F) Was Saul obedient to God at that moment? 11
Saul raises his army 1 Samuel 12:1-7, 14-18 and 1 Samuel 13 AMPC Name: Date: Second Service Activities Part I Color the picture and when you finish answer the questions. Questions to answer: What s going on in the picture? Who are the people in the picture? What are they wearing? 12
Were the Israelites allowed to wear that? How did the Israelites react when they found out the Philistines were coming? What did they do after finding out? Verse to memorize: Adoren a Dios con reverencia; y con alegría ríndanle culto. Salmos 2:11 (TLA) Serve the Lord with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling. Psalm 2:11-12 (CSB) 13