Children Bible Overview 46 02/03/08

SAMUEL, THE JUDGE WHO LED ISRAEL TO TRIUMPH OVER THE

PHILISTINES

Teachers to read bible scripture: <1Sam 4-7>

Children to memorize bible scripture: <Col 3:1>

Recap
Last week, we saw that when Eli was the Great Priest of the Israelites but because he did not set
apart for God or tell the Israelites to set apart for God, the Israelites could not defeat the enemies, the
Philistines. Even God’s ark of covenant was taken away.
Introduction
Thereafter, Samuel became the priest of the Israelites who interceded for them. But during that period,
the Israelites continued to be oppressed by the Philistines and had no power. That was because they
did not focus on relying on the Lord, their God and often worshipped and prayed to other gods. Israel
continued to be oppressed and was in suffering. Hence they prayed to the Lord, their God. Therefore,
one day, Samuel gathered all the Israelites at this place (Mizpah) and told them, “If you are returning
to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and commit yourselves to the
Lord and serve him only.” The Israelites heard and hence followed. They sought repentance from
God and removed all the other gods that they worshipped. Samuel then interceded for them and the
Lord forgave the Israelites. On that day, the Philistines came to attack the Israelites. But because the
Israelites had already sought forgiveness from God and removed the idols, Samuel prayed for the
Israelites and the Israelites were able to defeat their enemies, chased them away and attacked many
of the Philistines with the help of God. When he was the judge of Israelites, the Israelites worshipped
and served the Lord, their God faithfully. Therefore, the Philistines could not defeat the Israelites at all.
1. Samuel was the prophet of the Israelites who delivered God’s words to them
1) Samuel grew up in the holy temple (Sunday school) and often loved to hear and
learn about God’s words. Therefore, he knew God’s words very well.
2) After Samuel heard God’s words, he often placed them in his heart and prayed to
God. He also heard and followed what God told him. Therefore he continually
experienced God’s words.
3) After Samuel heard and experienced God’s words, he often used these words to
teach and help the Israelites. Therefore, God used him to become the prophet of the
Israelites and he delivered God’s words to them.

Challenge the children: Hear God’s words (Sunday school)
Pray
Hear and
follow
Experience (at home, in school)
Share with others

2. Samuel was the priest of the Israelites who interceded for them and get them to be
set apart for God
1) Samuel often saw that God loved him. Therefore he had a heart that loved God and
the Israelites = Today, the Lord, Jesus similarly loves us. Therefore He gave us our
parents, teachers, friends, enjoyable activities, good food and good-looking
appearances. However, the devil, Satan often deceives us and causes us not to be
able to see God’s love. Therefore, do not be deceived by the devil!
2) Because Samuel had a heart that loved God and people, he therefore interceded
continually for the Israelites, asking God to forgive them for the sins that they
committed against Him. He also asked God to help them = When we see that the
Lord Jesus loves us and also loves the children around us, we will also pray for them
and ask God to often help them. We will also ask God not to let them be deceived by
Satan but become good children and students.
 3) Because Samuel often interceded for the Israelites, he knew that the Israelites’
problem was not because the Philistines oppressed them but because they were not
set apart for God and often worshipped other gods = Today, the Lord Jesus loves us
greatly, sacrifices Himself for us and helps us daily in the hope that we do not love
this world, do not rely on this world or do not be deceived by this world.

3. Samuel was the judge of the Israelites and often led them in defeating the
Philistines
1) Samuel knew who the real enemy of the Israelites was. The real enemy was not the
Philistines but the devil, Satan. Satan was the one who always used idols/ other gods
to tempt the Israelites. This was because he knew that when the Israelites’ hearts did
not solely rely on the Lord, their God, they would not receive God’s help. As a result,
they would fight losing battles and get oppressed by the enemies.
2) Therefore, Samuel first asked the Israelites to remove their own idols/ other gods,
seek repentance from the Lord, their God and commit themselves to Him only. When
the Israelites did so, the devil, Satan could no longer bind/ deceive the Israelite
people.
3) When the Israelites focused on committing themselves to God and serving Him,
God’s power and help once again came upon them. Therefore, when the Philistines
came to attack the Israelites, they were defeated by the Israelites. From then on, the
Philistines no longer could oppress the Israelites.

Confirm with the children: The meaning of worshipping idols is when we often love other
things more than we love God, or when we do not rely completely on God but rely on our
own intelligence, money, other people and the methods of this world. God says, to solely
love Him and rely on Him.