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Lessons in Unit 2
D2.1 - King Saul's Big Mistake
D2.5 - Rededication of the Temple
D2.7 - Joel: Return to the Lord
D2.9 - Bonus: News of the Angel
Return to Other Units
Unit 2 • Lesson 1 • Old Testament
King Saul's Big Mistake
Theme: Disobedience
Biblical Basis • 1 Samuel 28:3-19
After being anointed as Israel’s first monarch, King Saul gradually became less and less obedient to God. After the prophet Samuel died, Saul was left with no advisors. That’s when he did the unthinkable, going so far as to employ witchcraft to speak to the dead, by consulting the medium at Endor.
Additional Text: Hebrews 4:9-13
Lesson Prayer
Lord God, you rule over the living and the dead. Thank you for guiding us by your Word of life. Make us to look to you alone for direction and purpose, trusting in the power of your Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Memory Verse
Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” (1 Samuel 28:7)
Creative Idea for the Week
Regarding the Place of the Dead: Today' Scripture lesson touches on subjects that are mysterious and complex. Issues surrounding the afterlife, the place of the dead, and the nature of body and spirit are difficult to understand and explain -- even for adult Christians. This lesson may raise questions about which you yourself are unsure. As a teacher of youth and children, you do not need to have all the answers. Simply approach this story on a matter-of-fact level, taking the events described at face value, and focusing on the central theme of trusting in God alone to guide us.
For teachers who have never heard the biblical word "Sheol" or are unfamiliar with the Old Testament understanding of the place of the dead, you can download HERE a collection of Bible references that may help provide you with some background on the subject. (Since this topic goes well beyond the scope of the lesson, this is not a handout we recommend using in class with children.)