Week 281 · Old Testament · about 2 minutes · 256 words
🌾 1 Samuel 5
1 Samuel 5 opens with these words: “Now the Philistines had taken God’s ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.” The line to keep is 1 Samuel 5:1: “Now the Philistines had taken God’s ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.” Carry the word “philistine” from that verse into the rest of the day.
1 Samuel 5 is a real chapter from the Old Testament. It starts, “Now the Philistines had taken God’s ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.” That is not a motto invented for a poster. It is the first sentence a family hears when this page is opened at night.
Keep going a little further. The chapter also says, “When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel shall not stay with us; for his hand is severe on us, and on Dagon our god.”” 1 Samuel 5 opens with these words: “Now the Philistines had taken God’s ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.” The line to keep is 1 Samuel 5:1: “Now the Philistines had taken God’s ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.” Carry the word “philistine” from that verse into the rest of the day.
The line worth learning out loud is 1 Samuel 5:1: “Now the Philistines had taken God’s ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.” If the rest of the chapter feels crowded, hold that one sentence until the room is quiet.
What happens first in 1 Samuel 5? Then try this: Read “Now the Philistines had taken God’s ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.” once more. What does it show you about God? You do not have to finish every verse. You can close the book after the memory verse and still have read the Bible together.
“Now the Philistines had taken God’s ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.”
1 Samuel 5:1 · 1 Samuel 5
Say it
Practice 1 Samuel 5:1
Tap the words in order. The blanks follow the verse from left to right.
NowthePhilistineshadtakenark,andtheybroughtittoAshdod.
Talk about it
- What happens first in 1 Samuel 5?
- Read “Now the Philistines had taken God’s ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.” once more. What does it show you about God?
- Who can you tell one sentence from 1 Samuel 5 before bedtime?
Prayer
Father, thank you for 1 Samuel 5. Help us remember 1 Samuel 5:1 when we wake up, and teach us to notice you in an ordinary night. Amen.
Parent tip
If 1 Samuel 5 is long, read 1 Samuel 5:1 twice and ask one of the talk-about questions. The chapter page has every verse if you want more tomorrow.
Week 281 · the whole night
🌾 1 Samuel 5
Story, coloring page, word search, and the verse to trace.
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