David the shepherd and Goliath

This is such a fun lesson!



Today we are studying David. What can anyone tell me about David? Shepherd (Show display and staff) Shepherds take care of sheep. David took care of the sheep for his dad. What do you remember about a giant that David fought?

Bible Scripture: 1 Samuel 16-20, 31 / 2 Samuel 5

King Saul and his soldiers stood on a mountain and across the valley on another mountain, there were Philistines.

Goliath would come out of the Philistine camp every morning & evening and shout for them to pick a man to fight him. He did this for 40 days and whoever would lose the fight would be the servants of the winner. Goliath was over 9 foot tall, that wasn’t normal, and he wore a lot of armor. He was very scary to them! He was the champion of Gath.

David's three oldest brothers were in King Saul’s army and his father told David to take grain and ten loaves of bread to his brothers. He also took 10 cheeses to the captain. While David was talking to his brothers, Goliath called out his request and David heard it. He heard about what King Saul was rewarding to the person that beat Goliath. (I took bread and cheese for the kids to snack on while we did the lesson)

David told King Saul that he would go fight Goliath, but Saul said he is too young. David was probably a teenager. He would have been younger than 20 because the law stated that anyone over 20 would be numbered for the army of Israel. Numbers 1:3

But David told him that when a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, he would kill it and take the lamb out of the mouth of the animal. David told Saul that God would deliver him.

When David put on Saul’s armor, he took them back off and said "I can't walk in this, it's too big!

He took his shepherd’s staff, picked 5 smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s bag and took his sling shot. When Goliath saw David, he made fun of him. Why would they send this young guy to fight him?

(At this point, I gave the kids a small jewelry/wedding gift type bag and let them pick 5 smooth stones from the 'brook'. It doesn't have to fancy, they loved doing this! It's just felt with the river rocks from Dollar Tree!)

 

David told him “Even though you come with all your weapons, I come in the name of the Lord, and He will deliver you into my hands.” They had to walk toward each other to meet for the battle.

David took out a stone and slung it. It hit Goliath in the forehead so hard it sank into his head. Goliath fell down on his face! David didn’t have a sword, so he took out Goliath’s sword and cut off his head. When the Philistine’s saw their champion was dead, they ran. 

More time passed and more battles and David had sons. Then, when David was 30, he was made king over Israel and Judah. He was king for 40 years. He also had a son, named Solomon.

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These are for 1 Samuel 17. All are not shown.

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(These are the same as the visuals but are black & white.)

I did make felt slingshots for them to take home, with the "Please don't really use it to throw the rocks, etc..."speech! I had a sword for David here also, and 4 more smooth rocks. I thought about taking a new picture, since David wouldn't stand up that morning, and I couldn't find anything else for him to sit on... the kids thought it was hilarious! So, sorry, I didn't retake the picture because every time I see it, I laugh! ☺

            

Bible Verse: 1 Samuel 18:14 

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Used by permission.