In this lesson, children learn that Saul’s story ends in sadness, but God’s people can still trust Him when life falls apart. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the memory verse, and the activity.
Big Idea
Even when a king makes bad choices and loses everything, God is still in charge, and He keeps His promises to His people.
Memory Verse
1 Samuel 31:6
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor bearer, and all his men, that same day together.
(WEB)
Have children stand up, then sit down slowly as you read the verse together. Then have them tap their chests twice as they say “So Saul died,” so the words stick in their bodies as well as their minds.
The Story: 1 Samuel 31 for Kids
Once there was a king named Saul. He was the first king of Israel, and at the start he tried to follow God. But over time Saul stopped listening to God, and God was no longer happy with him. The Philistines were enemies of Israel, and they came to fight.
The battle was on the hills of Mount Gilboa. The Israelite soldiers ran away, and many of them fell down in the battle. Saul’s sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, were killed too. The archers shot at Saul, and he was hurt badly.
Saul was scared and very tired. He called to his armor bearer, the man who carried his weapons, and said, “Draw your sword and finish me off, so the enemies won’t hurt me.” But the armor bearer was too frightened to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
When the armor bearer saw that the king was dead, he also fell on his sword. That same day, Saul, his three sons, and all his men died together. The people of Israel saw that their army had lost, so they ran away and left their cities.
The next day, the Philistines came to the battlefield. They found the bodies of Saul and his sons on the mountain. They took Saul’s armor and put it in the temple of their false gods. The people of Jabesh Gilead heard what had happened, and they were very sad.
The brave men of Jabesh Gilead walked all night to get the bodies. They burned them there, buried the bones under a tree, and fasted for seven days to show how sad they were. God still cared for His people, even in this hard time.
Read It Together
1 Samuel 31:1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.
(WEB)
Point out that the Philistines were fighting Israel, and Israel’s army was losing. Ask children to notice that the story begins with a battle, which tells them the trouble is real and serious.
1 Samuel 31:4
Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me!” But his armor bearer would not; for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it.
(WEB)
Show children that Saul was afraid and made a terrible choice. Explain gently that this is a sad moment, and that the story does not hide the bad things that happen when people turn away from God.
1 Samuel 31:12-13
12 All the valiant men arose, went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh, and burned them there. 13 They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
(WEB)
Point to the brave men who walked all night to honor Saul and his sons. Explain that they showed kindness and respect even in a sad moment, and that good people can still do right when things are hard.
Talk About It
- How do you think the people of Israel felt when they lost their battle and their king?
- Why do you think Saul made the choice to take his own life instead of asking God for help?
- What did the men of Jabesh Gilead do to show love and respect for Saul and his sons?
- What is one thing you can do when you feel scared, so that you trust God instead of running away?
- How can we remember that God is still in charge, even when bad things happen?
Activity Ideas
Mountain Battle Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a mountain with a valley below and a few small soldiers on the hillside. Then have them draw a simple shape at the top to show where God is watching over His people. Talk about how God sees everything, even on the hardest days.
Shield and Sword Movement Game
You will need an open space and a few cushions or pillows. Have children pretend to be soldiers who stand tall, then drop slowly to their knees. Each time you call out “Trust God,” they stand up again. Use this to practice the idea that when we fall down, God helps us stand back up.
Take-Home Thankful Stones
You will need small smooth stones or paper circles, and a marker. Give each child a stone and ask them to write one thing they trust God for. Tell them to keep the stone in a pocket or on a bedside table. When they feel worried, they can hold the stone and remember that God is still faithful.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter is a sober reminder that Saul’s life ended in failure after he turned away from God’s command. The chapter does not gloss over his death, and it reminds us that God’s plans continue even when human leaders fall short. The faithful care shown by the men of Jabesh Gilead points forward to the bigger story of God’s people.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the reasons for Saul’s choice or making the story feel graphic. Keep the focus on the faithfulness of God and the kindness of the men who honored the dead, and let children know that they can always bring their fears to God.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You are always in charge, even when things go wrong. Help us to trust You when we feel scared, and help us to choose kindness and courage like the brave men of Jabesh Gilead. Thank You that You never leave us alone. Amen.
