1 Samuel 12 · Grade 4
A Faithful Leader's Last Words
Read and Think
As Saul's reign began, Samuel gave a farewell speech. First he asked Israel to witness his honesty. He had taken no ox, no donkey, and no bribe. The people agreed that he had not cheated or oppressed anyone. Samuel's life stood in contrast to his sons and to the king who would take.
Samuel then retold Israel's story. Again and again they forgot the Lord, suffered, cried out, and were rescued by leaders the Lord sent. Asking for a king was another case of forgetting their true King. Still, if both people and king feared and obeyed the Lord, all would be well.
To make the point unforgettable, Samuel prayed, and the Lord sent thunder and rain during the dry wheat harvest. The people saw their evil and begged Samuel to pray. He told them not to fear, not to chase vain things, and to remember the great things God had done. He promised to keep praying and teaching the good and right way.
Show What You Know
What did Samuel ask Israel to witness?
What pattern did Samuel describe in Israel's story?
What sign did the Lord send?
What two things did Samuel promise to keep doing?
Word Bank Fill-In
Use the word bank to fill in each blank.
- To make the point unforgettable, Samuel prayed, and the Lord sent thunder and during the dry wheat harvest.
- The people saw their evil and begged to pray.
- He told them not to fear, not to chase vain things, and to remember the great things had done.
- He promised to keep praying and teaching the and right way.
Think About It
Samuel said that not praying for others would be a sin. Who has God given you to pray for?
Samuel told them to consider what great things God had done. What great things has God done for you?
Memory Verse
“Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.”
1 Samuel 12:24 (WEB)
Copy It
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for the great things you have done. Help me . Amen.
Take It Home
For families: talk about these together.
- Why is it a sin to stop praying for others?
- What are vain things that cannot help us?
Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.