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1 Samuel 15 · Grade 4

Partial Obedience

Name Date

Read and Think

God sent Saul to carry out judgment on Amalek for opposing Israel on the way from Egypt. Saul won, but he and the people spared King Agag and the best animals. They destroyed only what was worthless. Saul even set up a monument for himself at Carmel.

When Samuel arrived, Saul greeted him by claiming he had performed the Lord's command. Then came the sound of bleating sheep and lowing cattle. Saul shifted the blame to the people and said the animals were for sacrifice to the Lord.

Samuel's answer was clear: to obey is better than sacrifice. Rebellion and stubbornness are as serious as idolatry. Saul confessed that he feared the people, but he seemed more concerned about honor before the elders than about God. Samuel declared that the kingdom had been torn from him and given to a neighbor who was better than he. The Lord grieved that He had made Saul king.

Show What You Know

  1. Why did God judge Amalek?

  2. What did Saul set up at Carmel?

  3. How did Saul excuse keeping the animals?

  4. What did Saul seem more concerned about than God?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

sacrificebetterSaulsheepGod
  1. God sent to carry out judgment on Amalek for opposing Israel on the way from Egypt.
  2. Then came the sound of bleating and lowing cattle.
  3. Saul shifted the blame to the people and said the animals were for to the Lord.
  4. Saul confessed that he feared the people, but he seemed more concerned about honor before the elders than about .
  5. Samuel declared that the kingdom had been torn from him and given to a neighbor who was than he.

Think About It

  1. Why is partial obedience really disobedience?

  2. Saul feared people more than God. When do you feel pressure to please people instead of God?

Memory Verse

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected Yahweh’s word, he has also rejected you from being king.”

1 Samuel 15:23 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for teaching me to obey. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why do we sometimes care more about looking good than being good?
  • When do you feel pressure to please people?

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.