Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 44 “Israel Wants a King”

Featured Passage: 1 Samuel 7 – 8

---

Samuel had been judging Israel for many years. He traveled between the cities of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah to judge the people, though he lived in Ramah with his family. Samuel’s sons became judges, but they did not follow his example. They were evil in how they judged Israel, and the people were upset with how things were going. They decided they wanted to have a king to rule over them instead of a judge. Samuel tried to warn them of what would happen if they had a king, but the people would not listen, and God was preparing to let them have their way.

Discuss:

• Before Israel had a king, God gave Israel His laws and His judges made sure they were kept. What would change with a king? 
• Israel was to be an example to the other nations (Deuteronomy 4:6–8). What does it mean to be an example? What is the difference between a good example and a bad example? 
• What did God say would happen if Israel had a human king?
• Israel rejected God as their king because they wanted a human king. They did not appreciate what God had done for them. How can we appreciate what God does for us? 

Memory Challenge:

1 Samuel 8:7 

And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not rule over them.”

---