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Answer key (separate)‹ Back to chapter 7

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1 Samuel 7 · Grade 5

Until Now

Name Date

Read and Think

Chapter 7 is a turning point. After twenty years with the ark at Kiriath Jearim, Israel mourned after the Lord. Samuel, now leading the nation, called for repentance that was more than emotion: put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, direct your heart to the Lord, and serve Him only. Israel obeyed, and the Lord promised deliverance from the Philistines.

At Mizpah, Israel poured out water before the Lord, fasted, and confessed, We have sinned against Yahweh. Samuel judged them there. This time, under threat, they did not try to manipulate God with the ark. They pleaded for Samuel to keep crying out to the Lord. Prayer, not a religious object, became their hope.

Samuel offered a nursing lamb as a whole burnt offering, and the Lord thundered against the Philistines, throwing them into confusion. The stone Samuel named Ebenezer, Yahweh helped us until now, looks back with gratitude and forward with trust. The defeat at Ebenezer in chapter 4 was answered by help at a new Ebenezer. Samuel then judged Israel faithfully on a yearly circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah.

Show What You Know

  1. What did Israel confess at Mizpah?

  2. What became Israel's hope this time?

  3. How does the name Ebenezer look both back and forward?

  4. Where did Samuel travel on his yearly circuit?

Crossword

31254

Across

  1. The name Samuel gave the stone (7:12)
  2. Where Israel gathered and fasted (7:6)
  3. Yahweh sent ____ against the Philistines (7:10).

Down

  1. Samuel offered a suckling ____ (7:9).
  2. Samuel said, Yahweh ____ us until now (7:12).

Think About It

  1. Why is confession an important part of returning to God?

  2. Looking back on your life, how can you say God has helped you until now?

Memory Verse

Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Yahweh helped us until now.”

1 Samuel 7:12 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for helping me until now. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why do people sometimes trust things instead of God?
  • What does Yahweh helped us until now mean for your future?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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.