.png)
There was a boy named Samuel who lived in the temple of Shiloh. Eli, high priest and judge of Israel, raised him there. The ark of God dwelled within the tabernacle.
I Samuel 2:26 tells us, "Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men."
Samuel heard God's call, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears." Samuel grew in the word of the Lord. He became God's prophet and the last judge to rule over Israel. Samuel was a fair and honest judge of God's law.
Now Israel's army fought in battle against the Philistines. But they lost. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests like their father. So they took the ark of God from the tabernacle and brought it into their camp.
Israel shouted. The earth shook. Surely, the ark of God would give them victory over the Philistines.
This made the Philistines afraid. They said, "God has come into the camp!"
But Israel lost the second battle. And the Philistines captured the ark of God.
Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died in battle. They were wicked men. Both Hophni and Phinehas used their position as priest to cheat and steal from the people of Israel.
God struck the Philistines with plagues. They returned the ark of God. Now Eli died when he was ninety-eight years old. Samuel also grew old. The people of Israel demanded a king. They didn't want Samuel's sons to rule as judges.
God gave the people a king. His name was Saul. But he was not a good king. He didn't keep God's commandments. God rejected Saul as king.
The Lord said to Samuel, "Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons."
In our children's picture book, The Lamb, the shepherd gives his sheep plenty of time to rest. In the stillness, the sheep hear the voice of their shepherd.
Parent Tip: Talk about your house rules with your child. What happens when one of the rules is broken? What are the consequences?
Print the bookmark and read the Ten Commandments with your child from Exodus 20. Explain these are God's rules. God wants His people to honor and obey His rules.