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.

1 Samuel 24:1-18

BIBLE STORY

Let’s use these building blocks to build anything you want to make. Think about what you would like to build (give some suggestions if they are having a hard time) and then I will come back in a few minutes to look at what you came up with. Give them a few minutes to build something. Let’s see what you made. Can you describe to me what this is? This is very nice, but what if I came over here and knocked down your tower. Would you like that very much? Sometimes people can be mean to us and make us want to be mean in return, but the Bible says we are not to treat each other this way. When someone does something hurtful to us, we are not to return it for more hurtful behavior. This month we’ve been reading about the story of David. After he defeated Goliath the Israelites loved him, even more than Saul. This began to make Saul jealous and he began to look for ways to hurt David. So much, that David had to hide in caves to stay safe from Saul. Let’s continue to read our story in the Bible to see what happens with Saul and David.

Read or listen to the scripture 1 Samuel 24:1-18 

What did Saul go into the 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

David was on the run from Saul, who wanted to hurt him because of how much everyone loved David after he killed Goliath. Saul wanted David gone, so David was hiding. God gave David courage to be patient and have mercy on Saul, even though Saul was not showing kindness. God gives us the strength to show mercy to those around us, even when we don’t think they have earned it. 

Activity

David found Saul in the cave and could have harmed him but chose to have mercy on Saul. David did cut a piece of Saul’s garment without Saul even noticing. Hide pieces of fabric or scarves around the room. Let’s go on a hunt for pieces of cloth. See how many you can find hidden around the room. 

Materials: pieces of fabric

Alternate

Act out the story of David having mercy on Saul. Build a cave out of blankets and pillows or use a small tent. Retell the story and how David showed mercy to Saul and in return Saul realizing his own sin and guilt.

Materials: homemade cave of blankets and pillows

Independent activity:

David showed kindness and compassion towards Saul, but Saul showed the opposite towards David. Saul was unkind and merciless towards David. Complete these puzzle pieces matching their opposites together.

Materials: Activity sheet- puzzle

ARTS & CAFTS

CRAFT 1

Make 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, scissors, aluminum foil, art supplies-stickers, jewels, crayons

Craft 2

Coloring page

Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons

FOLLOW-UP

Let’s think about what it means to have mercy on someone. Watch this video about what mercy means. Showing mercy means you show forgiveness to someone even when you don’t think they deserve or have earned it. It means not giving someone the punishment they deserve but showing them kindness instead.

What does it mean to have compassion or mercy on someone?

Have you ever shown mercy to someone?

Is it easy or hard to have compassion?

Is it easy to show someone compassion when they have been mean to you?

What gives us the strength to show someone compassion?

Has God ever had compassion on you?

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 a classmate 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 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.