TO SHOW MERCY
WELCOME TO WEEK 3
Welcome to week 3! This week we continue a part of David’s story. David had courage to fight Goliath, now he has to have courage to show mercy to someone who wants to harm him. David’s courage comes from trusting and obeying God.
BIBLE STORY
Print and cut out the following cards on different color paper or be sure to separate the cards into piles according to their label.
Today we are going to look at the difference between justice and mercy. Print and cut out the attached cards. Place the problem cards (the scenarios) in one pile facedown. Place the mercy/grace cards facedown in another pile. Choose a card from the problem pile, read the problem on the card. Then choose a card from the justice and mercy pile. Read the solution given on the card of how the problem would be handled. Discuss if you think this is an appropriate response to the problem given. Let’s continue reading through the cards in the same way and decide if you think the card accurately deals with the problem.
There is a balance in how our parents and God handle justice and mercy. We of course really prefer we are shown justice when we are the one with the problem, but is it easy to show mercy to someone else who has wronged us? This week we are continuing the story of David and Saul. After David killed Goliath, the people of Israel loved him and praised him. Saul began to be jealous of the attention David was receiving and searched for David to kill him. David had to run into the caves to escaped being found by Saul. Let’s continue reading in the story of David to see what happens next.
Materials: printed Mercy and Grace game
Read or listen to the scripture 1 Samuel 24:1-18
What did Saul go into he cave to do? (Relieve himself)
Who was in the cave already? (David and his men)
What did David’s men tell him to do to Saul? (That the lord had delivered Saul into David’s hands to do with him whatever he wanted)
What did David do to Saul without him noticing? (He cut off a corner of Saul’s robe)
What did David say was the reason he wouldn’t hurt Saul? (He would not hurt an anointed man of God)
When David told Saul what happened, what did Saul say? (David was a more righteous man than himself. Saul treated David badly but David treated Saul well)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
David and Saul were very different and did not treat others the same. Compare David and Saul’s behavior and how they were the same and different. Then decide if you are more like David or more like Saul. Cut and paste the facts under who it describes: David or Saul.
Materials: printed activity sheet, pencil, scissors
Alternate
Read the following scenario cards and pretend you are the judge. How would you show mercy to the person or what punishment would you make them endure?
Materials: printed scenario cards
create:
Psalm 57 is a song written by David during a time when he was hiding from Saul. David speaks of the hardship he is going through but then at the end of the song David says he will make sing and make music for God. Make a musical instrument using materials you have at home. Look at the following websites to see how to make these homemade instruments. Guitar, maracas, drum, harp, flute
Materials: See Websites for homemade musical instruments and the materials needed.
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
David’s sword. Using a pasteboard or a large sheet of paper, cut out an outline of a sword. Wrap the point of the sword with aluminum foil. Decorate the handle with jewels, stickers or color with crayons.
Materials: poster board or large sheet of paper, pencil, aluminum foil, art supplies: jewels, stickers, crayons
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Read Luke 6:32-36. It’s easy to be good to those who are good to you or give to those you know will return it. But what about being good to those who are not good to you, or lend even if they can’t repay it back? We are to be merciful just as the Father is merciful.
Is it easy to love people you don’t get along with?
How should we respond if someone does something wrong to us?
Why is being merciful to our enemy different than what sinners do?
Has God been merciful to us?
Do we deserve God’s mercy?
Showing Mercy to others is more than being kind to the people we love, but even to people who mean to do us harm. Saul meant to harm David and was looking for a way to kill him, and yet when David had the opportunity to hurt Saul first, he instead chose to show him mercy. Both David and Saul benefited from the mercy that was shown that day. David received peace in that he was doing God’s will and Saul felt gratitude because he received mercy when he could have received death. God shows us mercy that we do not deserve. The bible says the wages of sin is death and that we have all sinned. Jesus died on the cross so that could receive eternal life instead of what we really deserve for our sins, death. That is the ultimate example of mercy.
Practical Application at Home
Showing compassion for someone when they really deserve to be punished is hard! When your sister breaks your toy, we want her to be punished, or buy us a new one. If your friend cheats on their test when we studied really hard, we want them to receive a bad grade. If a kid pushes us down at the playground, we want to get up and push them back so they know how it feels. Although most of those punishments seem reasonable, God wants us to show mercy to others. David was running for his life, and yet God wanted him to show mercy towards Saul. David had an opportunity to get give Saul the punishment he deserved, but instead decided to humbly show Saul he meant him no harm. Listen to the following scenarios. Can you think of ways you could show mercy instead of giving them the punishment they deserve?
-A boy pushes you out of the way so they can get on the swings first.
-As you get ready to eat lunch, the kid next to you pushes your food on the floor.
-A new kid in your neighborhood calls you names.
-One of the kids in your class brings a treat to share with all your friends but doesn’t bring one for you.
-A friend won’t let you give ideas of what you should play together
-Your brother tells your mom you are the one who ate all the candy out of the candy dish
-Your sister gets mad at you and breaks all of your art pencils
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Spend time in nature watching how both living and non-living things have their own cycle and jobs to do. Watch how their job fits with the ecosystem and creates balance in nature. God had a plan for all of creation.