King David

OBJECTIVE

In this unit, we will look at the establishment of Kings for God's people, Israel. We will also take a more in depth look on how we learn about our Lord God through His interactions with the characters of the Bible.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

Please review the previous week's lesson. (5 minutes)

Ask the students if they have a favorite sports team that they follow and support.

How do you show their support for your team? (Go to games, wear team gear, watch games together with friends/family).
How do you feel when your team wins? How do you feel when your team loses?
When they lose, do you change your mind and decide to cheer for the other team? (NO)
Why not? (We are loyal to our team)

Ask the students if they can think of a fruit of the Holy Spirit that describes loyalty, like the loyalty you have to your team. (FAITHFULNESS). Describe Faithfulness (Committed and Dedicated to a task, a cause, a service...) The Lord said, "Well done good and faithful servant You were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:21). We will see today how David was very faithful in his life and full of faith in the Lord

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes

Memory Verse Psalm 51 (Psalm 50 in Agpeya) Entire Psalm for the month

Choose any of the following verses. These will be used in an activity at the end of class:

Psalm 23:4- Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
Psalm 121:1- I lift up my eyes to the hills; my help comes from the LORD.
Psalm 37:1-2- Do not be envious of evildoers, for they will fade like the grass.
Psalms 37:4- Take delight in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 27:1- The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid
Psalm 46:10- Be still, and know that I am God;
Psalm 27:10- For my father and my mother have forsaken me, But the LORD will take me up.
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye upon you.
Psalm 25:9- He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

The events for today's lesson are located in 1 Samuel 17 -- 1 Samuel 24

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 15 Minutes

Remember from last week, King Saul did not completely obey the Lord God. He was more interested in himself then he was with the Lord's purpose for his life. The Spirit of God left King Saul because he abandoned the Lord. Soon after a distressing spirit fell upon Saul he sought for someone who could play music for him to soothe him. A servant knew that David played the harp and recommended David for the job. David faithfully did as he was told. David was a great musician. He composed many songs, called Psalms.
Now the Philistines, a neighboring nation, were fighting with the Israelites for land. They gathered together for a battle in a valley. A champion from the Philistines, named Goliath came out to fight. Goliath was not just a fighting champ, he was a giant He was much larger than any other man at the time. Goliath was clad with heavy armor from head to toe. (Read or summarize 1 Samuel 17:8-11, 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:32-51)
David was loved and praised by all the people His bravery and courage in the Lord was unsurpassed because the Lord was with David. King Saul began to be very envious of David because of all the attention he was receiving. King Saul's envy led him to send David to battles in hopes that David would be killed in battle. However, David was even more successful in battle and behaved very wisely. One time while David played the harp for King Saul, King Saul threw the spear at David to kill him, but he slipped away and escaped. (1 Samuel 19:9). Since then, David was on the run trying to escape the anger of King Saul. Every time King Saul would catch up to David, David would narrowly escape with the Lord's help.
While David was on the run, him and his men found a large cave to rest in. King Saul found out that David and his men were in this area and he took his men to chase him. King Saul happened to go into the same exact cave the David and his men were in to attend to his needs. David's men saw this as an opportunity for David to take revenge on King Saul when he least expects it. David's men even told David that the Lord planned it this way. However, David felt a great regard for King Saul since the king was the Lord's anointed (1 Samuel 24:6). Instead, David secretly cut the edge of King Saul's robe. (Read or summarize 1 Samuel 24:8-22)

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 15 Minutes

David was very faithful. What does it mean to be faithful?

(Committed and dedicated to the task) The Lord said, "Well done good and faithful servant You were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:21).

Whatever task David was given, he did it to the fullest of his ability. What are some examples of this?

David was tasked to tend the sheep. He was committed to doing a good job. He didn't leave the job when it became too difficult to complete. He didn't run away when a lion or bear came to attack. Instead, he fought the lion and the bear (1 Samuel 17:34-36). Soon enough he David was given an instrument -- the harp, to play. He was faithful with his instrument and practiced often until he got better and better each day. Soon enough he was known for his harp playing and was asked to play for King Saul.

David had a lot of faith in the Lord. What does it mean to have faith?

(Complete trust and confidence in God)

How do we know David had faith?

Remember from the last lesson, Samuel anointed David with oil, meaning David will be the next King. Soon afterwards, David was called to be in King Saul's court to play music on his harp for him. This must've been difficult for David, knowing that he will take King Saul's place in the future. David trusted in the Lord and had faith that the Lord would keep him safe. When David faced the giant Goliath, he trusted in the Lord and had faith that the Lord would keep him safe.

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Continue writing in your journal this week. Keep track of all your activities. Make sure to include even the simplest and mundane of tasks, like making your bed and taking out the trash. Also include the big stuff like practicing your instrument, doing your homework, reading your Bible, praying. When you are faithful with the few things that you are given, the Lord will make you successful with much more in the future, just like He did with David

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Write the following verses. Next to each Psalm, describe when you think David wrote this Psalm. Then describe an event that this psalm would be a comfort to you.

Psalm 23:4- Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
Psalm 121:1- I lift up my eyes to the hills; my help comes from the LORD.
Psalm 37:1-2- Do not be envious of evildoers, for they will fade like the grass.
Psalms 37:4- Take delight in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 27:1- The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid
Psalm 46:10- Be still, and know that I am God;
Psalm 27:10- For my father and my mother have forsaken me, But the LORD will take me up.
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye upon you.
Psalm 25:9- He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

SERVANT RESOURCES

A Patristic Commentary First Samuel by Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty (orthodoxebooks.org)

Life of Faith by H.H. Pope Shenouda III

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

This week, read the Psalms with your child and share how the Psalms bring comfort during different seasons of life. We discussed what it is to be faithful with tasks and what it is to have faith in the Lord. Please have your children practice being faithful in reading the Psalms daily.