Saul Rescued Israel
(1 Samuel 11-13)
October 26th, 2025
Sunday Recap
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Sunday Recap •
Hey Fams!
The beginning of Saul's reign as king over Israel brought great promise. He was a fierce warrior, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, was moved to defeat the Ammonite army. However, Saul's foolish choice revealed that he was not the king the people needed. We see Samuel’s warnings come true: an earthly king could never fulfill the role of the eternal God.
What did Saul’s disobedience reveal about his view of God? How do we see the need for Jesus in this passage?
Saul's willingness to defend the people of Jabesh and secure a victory over the Ammonites only served to encourage the people's hope in him as their king. All the people went to Gilgal, where they made Saul their king.
After Saul's victory over the Ammonites, Samuel gathered the people of Israel for a final public speech. Samuel acknowledged the callousness of the people’s hearts after the threats of Nahash, going so far as to call their actions evil in the sight of God (1 Samuel 12:17). Samuel reminded the people to continue walking in obedience if they wanted God’s protection over them. However, Samuel also added the warning that if they disobeyed God or turned away from God, both they and their new king would be swept away.
A wise proverb reminds us, “Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18), and Saul's pride led him to a foolish choice. Saul sinned against God by offering a burnt sacrifice on his own accord, rather than waiting for Samuel to perform this duty as priest. Saul did not honor God as holy and ultimately revealed that his heart was not after the things of the Lord but his own selfish desires as king.
Samuel condemned Saul for his foolishness and spoke of the king who would replace him—one who would be a man after God’s own heart. Though in the short term, we see this prophetic word fulfilled through King David, its ultimate fulfillment would come through his lineage to bring us King Jesus.
Lead your kids to see that only Jesus has ever been able to perfectly obey God and change the hearts of His people. By placing faith in Him as Savior and Lord, we can receive the gift of salvation that leads us to desire the things of the Lord instead of our own selfish gain. Jesus is the perfect King our hearts were made to worship.
** Next week: Saul Disobeyed God (1 Samuel 14-15)
Family Discipleship Plan
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Family Discipleship Plan •
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Read the 1 Samuel 11-13 from the Bible.
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The American Bison is the largest mammal in North America, weighing up to 2,000 pounds! While their size is impressive, the way they protect one another is even more amazing. When danger is near, the herd of bison will circle around the young calves and weaker bison to protect them. The herd sticks together to keep every member safe!
In 1 Samuel 11, the people of Jabesh were terrified when the Ammonite army surrounded their city. The men knew they were not strong enough to fight. Their only hope was for someone to come with help to save them, so they called on Saul. Saul gathered men from across Israel and Judah. Like bison who protect one another, the people came together to fight. God helped the men defeat the Ammonites and save the city of Jabesh.
Even though God had used Saul to keep the Israelites safe and deliver them from their enemy, Saul struggled to obey God. When he faced the Philistine army, Saul didn’t wait for Samuel and tried to make an offering to God, which was only allowed by priests. Samuel told Saul that God would soon choose another king to replace Saul—a king who would be a man after God’s own heart.
God would give the people a new king, but the ultimate promise was to send Jesus who is the greatest King. When we needed an even greater rescue, God sent Jesus to save us from sin and deliver all those who believe in Him! When we realize all Jesus has done to save us, our response should be to worship Him as the King of kings!
Saul defeated enemy armies for Israel but failed to obey God. Jesus defeated our greatest enemies––sin and death––and always obeyed God. All who trust in Jesus will be saved and receive changed hearts that desire to obey God.
Pray:
God, we praise You for sending Jesus to be our Deliverer. He has come to save all who believe in Him, and He offers victory over sin. Help us trust in Him as King. Amen. -
Preschool:
The Lord has set up his throne in heaven. His kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 103:19 NIrV
Older Kids:
The Lord has set up his throne in heaven. His kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 103:19 NIrV
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Mornings
Ask God to help you be aware of those you might encounter today who need love, encouragement, and to hear about Jesus. Ask God for boldness to serve those people today. How might God use your family to point others to Jesus?
Evenings
Thank God for sending Jesus to be the King over all kings! Think about all the ways Jesus is the perfect King. Make a list of the reasons and spend time praising Him for each one.
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For Fun
Start a stopwatch and challenge family members to try and guess when two minutes has passed. Discuss how Saul waited much longer than two minutes for Samuel to arrive but gave in to impatience and failed to obey God.
To Serve
Talk with your church leadership about enlisting a group of families from your church to serve your community. This could involve serving at a food pantry or helping clean up a local park together. After serving with the group, discuss how people working together can have a greater result than everyone working alone.