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1 Samuel 9 · Preschool

Lost Donkeys

Name Date

Color Saul looking for his father's lost donkeys!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, “Now take one of the servants with you, and arise, go look for the donkeys.”

1 Samuel 9:3 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Saul was looking for donkeys. But God had a bigger plan for him. God guides our steps even when we do not know it.

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.

1 Samuel 9 · Kindergarten

God Leads

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace each word with your pencil.

LOST
FIND
SAUL
CITY
They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them to go up to the high place.

1 Samuel 9:14 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each word to its picture.

DONKEYS
CITY
SAUL
FOOD

Mini Maze

Help find the way through the maze.

Draw It

Draw a time something lost was found.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for leading me even when I do not know it. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Where do you look when something is lost?
  • Does God know where you are going?

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.

1 Samuel 9 · Grade 1

God Has a Plan

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace the words and the verse.

DONKEYS
SEER
SAUL
CITY
They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them to go up to the high place.

1 Samuel 9:14 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each sentence to its picture.

The donkeys were lost.
Saul looked far and wide.
Girls went out to get water.
Saul came to the city.
Samuel gave Saul food.

Saul Meets Samuel

Write the number 1 to 4 in each circle to show the right order.

The donkeys have been found

Yahweh shows Samuel the man

A man of God is in this city

Kish's donkeys are lost

Draw a time something lost was found.

Memory Verse

“They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them to go up to the high place.”

1 Samuel 9:14 (WEB)

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for leading me even when I do not know it. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why did Saul go on a trip?
  • Who helped Saul find Samuel?
  • What would you like to say to God about this chapter?

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.

1 Samuel 9 · Grade 2

The Lost Donkeys

Name Date

Read the Story

Saul was a tall young man. His father's donkeys got lost. His father said to take a servant and go look for them.

They looked and looked. They did not find the donkeys. The servant said a man of God was in the city. Maybe he could help them.

God told Samuel a man would come. When Samuel saw Saul, God said this was the man. Samuel told Saul the donkeys were found. Samuel gave Saul the best food.

Memory Verse

The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, “Now take one of the servants with you, and arise, go look for the donkeys.”

1 Samuel 9:3 (WEB)

Show What You Know

Circle the right answer, or write it on the lines.

  1. Who was Saul?

    The best foodGodA tall young man

  2. What got lost?

    His father's donkeysThe best foodA servant

  3. Who went with Saul?

    A tall young manA servantThe best food

  4. Who told Samuel that Saul would come?

    His father's donkeysA tall young manGod

  5. What did Samuel give Saul?

    The best foodA tall young manA servant

Word Search

Find and circle each word. Words go across and down.

LSFOUNDKEOWDCOHFRBSLSORUVEATWWENKISHVCCJRKJUPHIVTBVEWAGTEVPYAYFUYVSAULNSWVSEERLTT
  • DONKEYS
  • SERVANT
  • FOUND
  • SAUL
  • SEER
  • KISH
  • LOST
  • CITY

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for leading me even when I do not know it. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How might God use a hard day to lead you somewhere good?
  • How can you welcome a guest who comes to your home?

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.

1 Samuel 9 · Grade 3

A Search That Led to God's Plan

Name Date

Read the Story

Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin, had a son named Saul. No one in Israel was more handsome. He stood taller than all the people. One day his father's donkeys were lost. Saul and a servant searched through many lands. They found nothing.

Saul was ready to go home. But his servant said a man of God was in the city. He was honored, and all he said surely came true. On the way they met young women going to draw water. They said the seer had just come to the city.

The day before, the Lord had told Samuel He would send a man from Benjamin to be prince over His people. When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said this was the man. Samuel told Saul the donkeys were found, gave him the place of honor at the meal, and talked with him on the housetop.

Memory Verse

When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! He will have authority over my people.”

1 Samuel 9:17 (WEB)

Answer the Questions

  1. Which tribe was Saul from?

  2. How tall was Saul?

  3. What did the servant say about the man of God?

  4. Who told Samuel about Saul the day before?

  5. Where did Samuel talk with Saul?

Saul Meets Samuel

Write what happened in each box.

1
2
3
4

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for leading me even when I do not know it. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Which godly person can you ask for help?
  • What does Saul's first story tell us about him?

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.

1 Samuel 9 · Grade 4

God's Hidden Hand

Name Date

Read and Think

Saul looked like the perfect king: handsome and head and shoulders taller than anyone in Israel. Yet he first appears on an ordinary errand, searching for his father's lost donkeys through the hill country of Ephraim and the land of Benjamin.

When Saul wanted to give up, his servant suggested visiting the man of God. It was the servant, not Saul, who knew about Samuel and even had a coin to give. Saul seemed unaware of the prophet who had led Israel for years.

Behind the scenes, God was at work. A day earlier, He had told Samuel to anoint a man from Benjamin as prince, because He had heard His people's cry. Samuel honored Saul at the feast with a special portion set aside for him. Lost donkeys led Saul to God's plan.

Show What You Know

  1. What errand was Saul on?

  2. Who knew about Samuel?

  3. Why did God choose to send a prince?

  4. What led Saul to God's plan?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

SaulservantGod
  1. looked like the perfect king: handsome and head and shoulders taller than anyone in Israel.
  2. When Saul wanted to give up, his suggested visiting the man of God.
  3. Behind the scenes, was at work.

Think About It

  1. How has God used ordinary events to guide you?

  2. What does it mean that Saul looked like the perfect king? Is that what matters most?

Memory Verse

“Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me.”

1 Samuel 9:16 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for leading me even when I do not know it. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How did God work behind the scenes in this chapter?
  • Why is looks not the most important thing about a leader?

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.

1 Samuel 9 · Grade 5

Lost Donkeys and a Kingdom

Name Date

Read and Think

Chapter 9 introduces Saul with impressive credentials. His father Kish was a mighty man of valor, and Saul was a choice young man, taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. In outward appearance, he was exactly what Israel wanted in a king like the nations.

Yet the narrative quietly raises questions. Saul searched for donkeys and failed. He was ready to quit. His servant, not Saul, knew of the man of God and had a quarter shekel of silver to offer. Saul seems unacquainted with Samuel, the prophet all Israel knew from Dan to Beersheba.

Meanwhile God was directing every step. He had revealed to Samuel the day before that He would send a man from Benjamin to be anointed prince, to save His people from the Philistines, for He had looked on their cry. At the high place Samuel gave Saul the honored portion, then spoke with him on the housetop. God's providence works through ordinary details, even lost donkeys, to bring about His purposes.

Show What You Know

  1. What were Saul's outward credentials?

  2. What questions does the narrative raise about Saul?

  3. Why did God say He would send a prince?

  4. Through what does God's providence work in this chapter?

Crossword

3421

Across

  1. Saul's father (9:3)
  2. The donkeys of Kish were ____ (9:3).

Down

  1. The tall young man from Benjamin (9:2)
  2. A prophet was once called a ____ (9:9).

Think About It

  1. Where have you seen God's providence in ordinary details of your life?

  2. Why might the writer hint at weaknesses in Saul right from the start?

Memory Verse

“Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me.”

1 Samuel 9:16 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for leading me even when I do not know it. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why did God hear His people's cry even after they asked for a king?
  • How does God use small events for big purposes?
  • 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.