“The Judges - Samuel”

​B I B L E  B I T S  &  B I T E S
Devotions for Families

Season 3: Judges
Episode 6: “The Judges - Samuel”
Today’s Bible Bite: 1 Samuel 1-3

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P13uIsFW7OA (Saddleback Kids – God Speaks to Samuel)

“As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.” (1 Samuel 3:19)

The last of Israel’s judges was Samuel. He wasn’t just a judge, however, but was also a prophet (like Deborah) and a priest. Samuel’s mother, Hannah, had prayed for a child and God gave her Samuel. Hannah had promised that if God gave her a child, she would dedicate him to the Lord. So when Samuel was very small, she took him to the Tabernacle. She would visit him every year and bring him a new coat, but he was raised by the priest, Eli, and he became his assistant.

One night, Samuel fell asleep in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark of God; he was awakened by a voice calling, “Samuel. Samuel.” He thought Eli, who was very old, was calling to him. But Eli hadn’t called Samuel and told him to go back to bed. Twice more he was wakened by a voice calling him; finally, the third time, Eli realized that God was calling Samuel, so told him to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” So, when Samuel heard the voice yet again that’s exactly what he did.

As Samuel grew older it became known that God spoke to Samuel. He was God’s prophet and the people counted on him to give them good leadership, which he did. But when Samuel was old, the people decided they wanted to be like all the other people around them and so decided that they wanted a king instead of a judge…stay tuned next week for our next season: “Kings.”

Think about it...
• Hannah really wanted to have a baby. So, why would she give him to the priest to raise?
• Even though Samuel wasn’t Eli’s son, he raised him and Samuel became his assistant. Why didn’t Samuel recognize God’s voice?
• Samuel proved to be a good leader and always reliable. Why do you think the Israelites wanted a king instead?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, that you answered Hannah’s prayer and that you protected Samuel as he grew up. Help me to recognize when you’re speaking to me—whether through the Bible, other’s advice or you yourself. Thanks that we’re never too young to learn to live for you!
~ Pastor Jane