Bible
Lessons from 1 Samuel
13 lessons
Kings and ProphetsHannah Prays1 Samuel 1:1-28; 1 Samuel 2:1-11; 1 Samuel 2:18-21Sad and longing for a child, Hannah poured out her heart to God in prayer, and God heard her and gave her Samuel.Old TestamentPrayer
Kings and ProphetsGod Calls Samuel1 Samuel 3:1-21When God's word was rare in Israel, God called the boy Samuel by name, and Samuel learned to say, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."Old TestamentObedience
Saul Couldn’t Wait: God Is Never Late1 Samuel 13:1-15; 1 Samuel 13:19-22King Saul's army faced a huge Philistine army, and his soldiers were hiding and running away. Samuel had told Saul to wait seven days at Gilgal until he came to offer a sacrifice. Saul waited, but when Samuel hadn't come by the seventh day, Saul got scared and offered the sacrifice himself. Just as he finished, Samuel arrived! Because Saul didn't obey God, his kingdom would not last. God is never late. Patience means trusting His timing and waiting for Him.Old TestamentPatience
Kings and ProphetsGod Chooses David1 Samuel 16:1-13God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king, and instead of the tall older brothers, God chose David, the youngest shepherd, because the LORD looks at the heart.Old TestamentHumility
With MusicKindness in a Song: David Plays the Harp for Saul1 Samuel 16:13-23; 1 Samuel 18:10-11; Ephesians 4:32King Saul was troubled and upset inside. God had chosen young David to be the next king, and God sent David to play the harp for Saul and help him feel better. David used God's gift to be kind, even to the king he would replace. God is kind to us, so we can be kind to others.Old TestamentKindness
Kings and ProphetsDavid and Goliath1 Samuel 17:1-51; 1 Samuel 16:1-13God saves His people by His own power, through the champion He chooses.Old TestamentFreeTrust
With Building BricksDavid and Goliath: Faith1 Samuel 17:32-51; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Genesis 3:15The giant Goliath dared Israel's army to fight him, and every soldier was afraid. But a young shepherd named David said, "I will fight him." David told King Saul, "The LORD saved me from the lion and the bear. He will save me from this giant too." David took no armor, only his sling and five smooth stones. He ran at Goliath in the name of the LORD. God guided one stone, and the giant fell. Faith means believing God and acting on it, because we know what He has already done.Old TestamentFaith
Kings and ProphetsDavid and Jonathan1 Samuel 18:1-4; 1 Samuel 19:1-7; 1 Samuel 20:1-42Jonathan, the king's son, became David's loyal friend, gave up his own claim to the throne, and protected David from King Saul, pointing to Jesus, the Friend who laid down His life for us.Old TestamentFriendship
Big Feelings: Taking Them to GodBig Feelings: Fear1 Samuel 21:10-22:1; Psalm 34:1-8; Psalm 56:3-4; Hebrews 2:14-15David had once beaten the giant Goliath. But when King Saul was trying to kill him, David ran to the enemy city of Gath, Goliath's hometown. When people there recognized him, David was very afraid. He pretended to be crazy so they would let him go, and God rescued him. Afterward, David wrote, "I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears." Fear is a big feeling we can take to God. When we're afraid, we can trust Him.Old TestamentTrust
David Spares Saul1 Samuel 24:1-22King Saul hunted David, but one day Saul walked right into the cave where David was hiding. David's men said, "This is your chance!" David could have hurt Saul, but he cut off only a corner of Saul's robe, and even that bothered him. David trusted God to make things right, so he chose self-control.Old TestamentSelf-control
David and Mephibosheth2 Samuel 9:1-13; 2 Samuel 4:4; 1 Samuel 20:14-17King David remembered his promise to his best friend Jonathan. He found Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, who couldn't walk, gave him back his family's land and invited him to eat at the king's table every day. God shows that same kindness to us, so we show kindness to others.Old TestamentKindness
With MusicThe LORD Is My Shepherd: David’s Shepherd SongPsalm 23:1-6; 1 Samuel 16:11; 1 Samuel 17:34-37; John 10:11-15David was a shepherd who wrote songs to God. In Psalm 23 he sang that the LORD is his Shepherd, who leads him, takes care of him and stays with him even in the darkest valley. Because God is our good Shepherd, we can trust Him and not be afraid.Old TestamentTrust
My Soul Magnifies the Lord: Mary Visits ElizabethLuke 1:39-56; 1 Samuel 2:1-10After the angel visited Mary, she hurried to the hill country to see her relative Elizabeth, who was going to have a baby in her old age. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby jumped for joy, and the Holy Spirit filled her. "Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" she said. Then Mary sang a song of praise – "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!" – because God had looked on her humble state and was keeping His promise to send a Savior. God lifts up the humble, and humble hearts praise Him.New TestamentHumility