1 and 2 Samuel
The books of 1 and 2 Samuel tell the historical story of the Israelites. They include the stories of Hannah, Samuel, Saul and David.
Hannah's Prayer (1 Samuel 2:1-10)
Today's story looks at Hannah and the baby Samuel
Helping our children trustThis week, be intentional about lifting each child up with kind words and actions. Trust is so important. Our children can be battered around (emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically) throughout the week so go the extra mile in making church and children’s church a safe haven. When our children trust us and know that we’ll take care of them by being kind, understanding and listening to what they have to say, they can relax and learn to trust God, too.
Keeping promisesA story about Hannah and Samuel
Hannah was very sad. She had a husband named Elkanah whom she loved. She had a nice house and good food. Some people might think that Hannah had a good life, but she wasn’t happy. She was sad all the time. She cried, she didn’t want to eat her food. Hannah wanted one thing more than anything else in the world and it was the one thing that she didn’t have. Hannah wanted a child. She tried to be cheerful. She tried to smile and be happy, but when she saw other mothers with their children, she felt sooo sad. Some other mothers teased her about not having children and that made things much worse. Each year, Hannah and her husband went to the temple in Shiloh to have a special feast. Hannah packed up good food and together they travelled to Shiloh. When they got there, Hannah went in to the temple and sat down to talk to God. She loved God very much and trusted him to take care of her and hear her prayers. As she prayed she started to cry. Her mouth moved as she spoke, but no sound came out. Just then the priest, Eli, came in and saw Hannah crying and talking to God. He didn’t think she looked sad, he thought maybe she was drunk! Eli came up to her and told her she shouldn’t be drunk and mumbling to God. But Hannah said she wasn’t drunk. She was just very very sad. Eli sat down with her and Hannah shared that all she wanted was a baby and that if God gave her a little boy, she would bring that child back to the temple so that her son could serve and follow God his whole life. Eli listened to her story and felt love for her. He told her not to worry, that God had heard her prayers. Not long after that baby Samuel was born. Hannah and Elkanah, her husband, were very happy. God had heard Hannah’s prayers. When Samuel was 5 years old, Hannah took him to the temple so that he could live with Eli and learn more about God. It was hard to leave her precious little boy with Eli, but Hannah had made a promise to God and she knew that God would take care of Samuel. Every year, Hannah would visit Samuel at the temple, bring him new clothes and spend some time with him. Samuel learned so much about God. He was Eli, the priest’s, helper in the temple. God was very happy with Hannah for keeping her promise and Hannah was very happy that God had given her a beautiful child! I wonder questions
Trust gameA game about listening and trusting
What you need: Nothing What you do:
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Letting goAs a parent, I read the story of Hannah and Samuel with amazement, joy, admiration and a gut wrenching sense of uncertainty. Could I have done what Hannah did? Could I have given up the answer to my prayers? Could I have let go and kept my promise?
Letting go of our children is a tough one, and most of us are not required to let go the way that Hannah did. Not withstanding the incredible and miraculous events surrounding the story, as parents, we too are continually faced with letting go. From our toddler who wants to pick out her own clothes, to our 5 year old just starting school, parenting is about the balance between holding on and letting go. We want to love, teach, resource, and support our children so that eventually they will be able to be independent. It can be a rough road. I know of parents whose children have left for uni or their OE who are devastated; empty nesters who don’t know what to do with themselves. Letting go doesn’t start when our children move out, it starts when they’re wee; when our baby squirms to get down from our arms, when our preschooler races off to kindy friends, when our older child chooses to bike to school, when we allow our teens to drive the car or set their own bedtime. This week, identify moments throughout the day when you are practicing letting go- not to push your child away, but to allow them to grow into the person of God that He has ordained them to be. A friendship without trustWhat you need:Nothing
What you do:Say something like: I once had a friend named Kim*. I really liked being with her. She was fun and interesting. We used to like to walk together so we could chat while we were exercising. But then something happened. She got busier at work, so it was harder to arrange time together. A few times, I invited Kim over or to go out for a walk and she said she couldn’t make it. Then she called and asked if I were free the next morning and I was. So we planned to meet, but Kim didn’t show up. I thought maybe she’d forgotten so wasn’t too worried. But it happened again. We made a plan, and she wasn’t where we’d planned to meet. We organized to go out for coffee with 2 other friends and the three of us waited for Kim, but she didn’t come. It wasn’t a good feeling at all. I felt like I couldn’t trust her and didn’t want to make any more plans with her. It was a bit sad. Kim had been a good friend, but it didn’t feel like she valued our friendship. In some ways, Hannah must have felt sad, not only that she didn’t have a child of her own, but also wondering whether God had really heard her prayers- and whether he was going to answer. But God always hears and answers. His answer might not always be ‘yes!’ He listens carefully. He always ‘shows up’. We never have to worry that God is going to forget about us. Through Eli, God promised Hannah a son, and Hannah made a promise back to God. Hannah’s prayers were answered- that was God’s promise. And Hannah gave Samuel to God’s service- that was Hannah’s promise! *If you have a similar story, use your own examples, names, etc. If you don’t have a similar story, you can say something like, “There was once a girl named Julie who had a friend named Kim” Talking about HannahSome discussion questions:
Teaspoon prayersThis is a simple way to help people learn to pray.
What you need: Optional: A teaspoon for each person or one to hold up for the group What you do: Explain what tsp prayers are. Say something like:
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The Lord calls Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1-10, 11-20)
Samuel was about 9years old when God called him by name one night. He kept thinking his friend Eli was calling him but on the fourth time realised it was God and, as Eli suggested to him, he answered saying ‘Speak Lord, I am listening’. God can use any of us. God loves all of us, no one is too young!
Read the StoryBob Hartman is a creative storyteller, and has produced a range of great books and poetry to retell this story of Samuel. Some of our favourites include:
Intergenerational WorshipWritten and compiled by Melissa Neumann from the Uniting Church of Australia, for Intergen Australia. View Here
Icebreaker gamesPlay a listening game as part of an introduction to the story today. The aim is to help children recognise that they have to listen well to find out what is happening.
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Seven Minute SermonA Seven Minute Sermon from Rev. George Penk. God spoke to Samuel in the Temple, and to Martin Luther King in his kitchen. How will we respond if the Lord calls us?
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Samuel anoints David (1 Samuel 15:34; 16:1-13)
Intergenerational WorshipIntergen ideas for this passage from 1 Samuel, sharing the story of David being anointed by Samuel. It includes a Creative Bible Engagement + Prayer, a Creative Bible Engagement + Song and an Interactive Prayer that can be used as part of the Prayers for Others, an Early Word or as a Sermon Response.
Written and compiled by Beth Waldron Anstice for Intergen Australia. |
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David (1 Samuel 16-)
David is a young shepherd who is chosen by God to rule Israel. He gains fame first as a musician and later by killing the giant Goliath, champion of the Philistines. He becomes a favorite of King Saul and a close friend of Saul's son Jonathan. After Saul and Jonathan are killed in battle against the Philistines, a 30-year old David is anointed king over all Israel and then conquers Jerusalem, establishing the city as his capital, and taking the Ark of the Covenant into the city to be the center of worship in the Israelite religion.
Activities
- Marshmallow Sheep (Doodlekins)
- Cottonball Sheep (Busy Bee Kids Crafts)
- Cheerio Shepherd Staff (I Did It, You Do It)
- David's Harp (Crafting the Word of God)
- David's Bag of Stones (Kinnen Livejournal)
- Slingshot (KGM Crafts)
- David's Crown (Crafting the Word of God)
- David Dances Before the Lord Dancing Corn (Green Kids Crafts)
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David and Saul
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Leaders
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BibleProject overview on the book of 1 Samuel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In 1 Samuel, God reluctantly raises up kings to rule the Israelites. The first is a failure, and the second, David, is a faithful replacement.
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The BibleProject poster of the books of Samuel
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