David And Goliath 1 Samuel 17:1-52

Lesson 079 David And Goliath 1 Samuel 17:1-52

MEMORY VERSE 1 S AMUEL 17:47 The LORD does not save with sword or spear; for the battle is the LORD S and He will give you into our hands. WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Masking tape and markers. Construction paper, Walking in David s Steps template, crayons or markers and a paper bag. Small square pieces of leather or suede (approximately 3 x 3 ), leather lace or string (4 pieces per child approximately 12 long), a hole punch, ping pong balls and markers. ATTENTION GRABBER! How Big is the Giant? To get an idea of how big Goliath was in comparison to David, use a tape measure to measure out 9 9 in the center of the room. Mark off the size using masking tape. Have each child lay on the floor next to the measurements with their feet at the line where you began your Goliath measurement. Mark the child s height using a piece of masking tape. Write the child s name on the piece of masking tape. Have all of the children mark their height and then as a class compare their height with Goliath s height. Why do they think it was so important for David to trust in the Lord? It s a good thing that God fights our battles for us!!!

LESSON TIME! In our lesson today, we are going to study about one of the most popular stories in the entire Bible. It is a story about a young man by the name of David who stood before a mighty and scary giant by the name of Goliath. David was going to fight Goliath for his nation and for the honor of the Lord. The stakes were high because the victor would not only win his life, but victory over a whole nation. With a great demonstration of faith, David knew that God fights our battles for us. So risking his life and his nation David stands before the giant, much smaller and without the same weapons and armor. But there was one thing he knew beyond any doubt; the Lord would be with him. Let s see how our story unfolds. 1 S AM U EL 17:1-11 N o w t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s gat h e r e d t h e i r ar m i e s t o ge t h e r t o bat t l e, an d w e r e gat h e r e d t o ge t h e r at S o c h o h, w h i c h be l o n gs t o J u d ah ; t h e y e n c am p e d be t w e e n S o c h o h an d Az e k ah, i n Ep h e s D am m i m. An d S au l an d t h e m e n o f I s r ae l w e r e gat h e r e d t o ge t h e r, an d t h e y e n c am p e d i n t h e Val l e y o f El ah, an d d r e w u p i n bat t l e ar r ay agai n s t t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s. T h e Ph i l i s t i n e s s t o o d o n a m o u n t ai n o n o n e s i d e, an d I s r ae l s t o o d o n a m o u n t ai n o n t h e o t h e r s i d e, w i t h a v al l e y be t w e e n t h e m. An d a c h am p i o n w e n t o u t f r o m t h e c am p o f t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s, n am e d G o l i at h, f r o m G at h, w h o s e h e i gh t w as s i x c u bi t s an d a s p an. H e h ad a br o n z e h e l m e t o n h i s h e ad, an d h e w as ar m e d w i t h a c o at o f m ai l, an d t h e w e i gh t o f t h e c o at w as f i v e t h o u s an d s h e k e l s o f br o n z e.

An d h e h ad br o n z e ar m o r o n h i s l e gs an d a br o n z e j av e l i n be t w e e n h i s s h o u l d e r s. N o w t h e s t af f o f h i s s p e ar w as l i k e a w e av e r ' s be am, an d h i s i r o n s p e ar h e ad w e i gh e d s i x h u n d r e d s h e k e l s ; an d a s h i e l d -be ar e r w e n t be f o r e h i m. T h e n h e s t o o d an d c r i e d o u t t o t h e ar m i e s o f I s r ae l, an d s ai d t o t h e m, " Wh y h av e y o u c o m e o u t t o l i n e u p f o r bat t l e? Am I n o t a Ph i l i s t i n e, an d y o u t h e s e r v an t s o f S au l? C h o o s e a m an f o r y o u r s e l v e s, an d l e t h i m c o m e d o w n t o m e. " I f h e i s abl e t o f i gh t w i t h m e an d k i l l m e, t h e n w e w i l l be y o u r s e r v an t s. B u t i f I p r e v ai l agai n s t h i m an d k i l l h i m, t h e n y o u s h al l be o u r s e r v an t s an d s e r v e u s. " An d t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s ai d, " I d e f y t h e ar m i e s o f I s r ae l t h i s d ay ; gi v e m e a m an, t h at w e m ay f i gh t t o ge t h e r. " Wh e n S au l an d al l I s r ae l h e ar d t h e s e w o r d s o f t h e Ph i l i s t i n e, t h e y w e r e d i s m ay e d an d gr e at l y af r ai d. For many years the Philistines were a problem for Israel. Once again we find that they gathered their army against Israel. Because the Israelites weren t obedient when they first came into the land, the Lord had said that the Philistines would be left there and be a problem for them. Just a reminder about how important it is for us to obey the Lord. The Israelites were at a stand still. They were fearful to attack and were just holding their ground. Meanwhile the Philistines sent out their champion, Goliath. Goliath was a giant and was probably very scary to the Israelites. He had a big sword and armor that may have almost weighed as much as David. None of the soldiers from Israel

wanted to go and fight Goliath. But what the Israelite army needed to remember is that God fights our battles for us. War is not a game; it is a matter of life and death. In these days battle with an enemy meant hand to hand combat, and the best man won. It was bloody, violent, and ruthless. The winner walked away with not only his life but with all the spoils of victory. And the survivors of the losing side would become slaves to the victors, only to be oppressed. The loss of family and loved ones would be a sorrowful reminder of the battle s outcome. Sometimes an army might avoid the high cost of battle by matching its strongest warrior against the strongest warrior of the enemy thus avoiding great bloodshed. This is what happened here. Goliath had the definite advantage over anyone who would dare challenge him. Especially, when towering over anyone who would stand before him since he was nine feet, nine inches tall. In the days of the Exodus, most of the Israelites had been afraid to enter the Promised Land because of the giants living there (See Numbers 13:32-33). Now the 9 tall Goliath laughed and mocked Israel s soldiers and King Saul. Who would stand up to this monster of a man and risk his life? God fights our battles for us. 1 S AM U EL 17:12-25 N o w D av i d w as t h e s o n o f t h at Ep h r at h i t e o f B e t h l e h e m J u d ah, w h o s e n am e w as J e s s e, an d w h o h ad e i gh t s o n s. An d t h e m an w as o l d, ad v an c e d i n y e ar s, i n t h e d ay s o f S au l. T h e t h r e e o l d e s t s o n s o f J e s s e h ad go n e t o f o l l o w S au l t o t h e bat t l e. T h e n am e s o f h i s t h r e e s o n s w h o w e n t t o t h e bat t l e w e r e El i ab t h e f i r s t bo r n, n e x t t o h i m Abi n ad ab, an d t h e t h i r d S h am m ah.

D av i d w as t h e y o u n ge s t. An d t h e t h r e e o l d e s t f o l l o w e d S au l. B u t D av i d o c c as i o n al l y w e n t an d r e t u r n e d f r o m S au l t o f e e d h i s f at h e r ' s s h e e p at B e t h l e h e m. An d t h e Ph i l i s t i n e d r e w n e ar an d p r e s e n t e d h i m s e l f f o r t y d ay s, m o r n i n g an d e v e n i n g. T h e n J e s s e s ai d t o h i s s o n D av i d, " T ak e n o w f o r y o u r br o t h e r s an e p h ah o f t h i s d r i e d gr ai n an d t h e s e t e n l o av e s, an d r u n t o y o u r br o t h e r s at t h e c am p. " An d c ar r y t h e s e t e n c h e e s e s t o t h e c ap t ai n o f t h e i r t h o u s an d, an d s e e h o w y o u r br o t h e r s f ar e, an d br i n g bac k n e w s o f t h e m. " N o w S au l an d t h e y an d al l t h e m e n o f I s r ae l w e r e i n t h e Val l e y o f El ah, f i gh t i n g w i t h t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s. S o D av i d r o s e e ar l y i n t h e m o r n i n g, l e f t t h e s h e e p w i t h a k e e p e r, an d t o o k t h e t h i n gs an d w e n t as J e s s e h ad c o m m an d e d h i m. An d h e c am e t o t h e c am p as t h e ar m y w as go i n g o u t t o t h e f i gh t an d s h o u t i n g f o r t h e bat t l e. F o r I s r ae l an d t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s h ad d r aw n u p i n bat t l e ar r ay, ar m y agai n s t ar m y. An d D av i d l e f t h i s s u p p l i e s i n t h e h an d o f t h e s u p p l y k e e p e r, r an t o t h e ar m y, an d c am e an d gr e e t e d h i s br o t h e r s. T h e n as h e t al k e d w i t h t h e m, t h e r e w as t h e c h am p i o n, t h e Ph i l i s t i n e o f G at h, G o l i at h by n am e, c o m i n g u p f r o m t h e ar m i e s o f t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s ; an d h e

s p o k e ac c o r d i n g t o t h e s am e w o r d s. S o D av i d h e ar d t h e m. An d al l t h e m e n o f I s r ae l, w h e n t h e y s aw t h e m an, f l e d f r o m h i m an d w e r e d r e ad f u l l y af r ai d. S o t h e m e n o f I s r ae l s ai d, " H av e y o u s e e n t h i s m an w h o h as c o m e u p? S u r e l y h e h as c o m e u p t o d e f y I s r ae l ; an d i t s h al l be t h at t h e m an w h o k i l l s h i m t h e k i n g w i l l e n r i c h w i t h gr e at r i c h e s, w i l l gi v e h i m h i s d au gh t e r, an d gi v e h i s f at h e r ' s h o u s e e x e m p t i o n f r o m t ax e s i n I s r ae l. " Jesse was old in the days of Saul, and he had eight sons. Three of his oldest sons were at the battle field, but David the youngest, would go back and forth from serving Saul as a musician to tend to his father s sheep at Bethlehem. David had been chosen by God to be the next king of Israel, but here we find him running errands for his dad to bring food to his brothers while tending the sheep at home. He was one of King Saul s personal musicians so even though still a young man the Lord was blessing him with increased responsibilities. It is interesting to note that David was faithful in what was given to him. As he was faithful, God was then able to give him more responsibilities. David was gifted by God and was given all the talents he needed to be what God wanted him to be. He knew music, was a skilled warrior, and was quick to learn new things. The Lord was with David and gave him everything as king for success, and here he is, doing menial tasks, but with a humble heart of obedience to his father. Now on the battle field, David experiences first hand, the giant who has brought great fear to his brothers and all the other men of

Israel. David heard that at noon the giant would come and stand up to them. Everyone would run from his presence. David began to ask questions and soon learned that whoever defeated this giant would be richly rewarded. God fights our battles for us. 1 S AM U EL 17:26-30 T h e n D av i d s p o k e t o t h e m e n w h o s t o o d by h i m, s ay i n g, " Wh at s h al l be d o n e f o r t h e m an w h o k i l l s t h i s Ph i l i s t i n e an d t ak e s aw ay t h e r e p r o ac h f r o m I s r ae l? F o r w h o i s t h i s u n c i r c u m c i s e d Ph i l i s t i n e, t h at h e s h o u l d d e f y t h e ar m i e s o f t h e l i v i n g G o d?" An d t h e p e o p l e an s w e r e d h i m i n t h i s m an n e r, s ay i n g, " S o s h al l i t be d o n e f o r t h e m an w h o k i l l s h i m. " N o w El i ab h i s o l d e s t br o t h e r h e ar d w h e n h e s p o k e t o t h e m e n ; an d El i ab's an ge r w as ar o u s e d agai n s t D av i d, an d h e s ai d, " Wh y d i d y o u c o m e d o w n h e r e? An d w i t h w h o m h av e y o u l e f t t h o s e f e w s h e e p i n t h e w i l d e r n e s s? I k n o w y o u r p r i d e an d t h e i n s o l e n c e o f y o u r h e ar t, f o r y o u h av e c o m e d o w n t o s e e t h e bat t l e. " An d D av i d s ai d, " Wh at h av e I d o n e n o w? I s t h e r e n o t a c au s e?" T h e n h e t u r n e d f r o m h i m t o w ar d an o t h e r an d s ai d t h e s am e t h i n g; an d t h e s e p e o p l e an s w e r e d h i m as t h e f i r s t o n e s d i d. The mocking words of Goliath, not only towards Israel, but towards God set a fire in the heart of David. It was not so much the reward and freedom that was offered by King Saul that caught David s attention, but the boastful words of the giant against God s people. We see that David replied, Who is the uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?

David had a different perspective than that of King Saul and his army. When David looked at Goliath he saw a mortal man defying almighty God, and it brought about a fire of holy indignation in his heart. King Saul was afraid, waiting to figure out what he should do. David must have been disappointed as he saw the army of Israel scared and hopeless, but David knew that God fights our battles for us. Eliab, his oldest brother, wasn t very happy to see David s interest in this standoff and harshly expresses his discontent with him. It s possible that Eliab is dealing with some jealousy and resentment towards David because of what God has been doing in David s life. Anointed as king and requested by Saul to play the harp for him in the palace may have been hard for Eliab to deal with since he was the oldest. It s here we see the pride of his heart and the humility of David s as he gracefully avoids a conflict with Eliab. Walking In David s Steps Can you walk in obedience and do what God has asked from you? This activity will help illustrate what it means to walk in someone else s footsteps. For the younger children: Cut out 20 foot prints using construction paper (a template is provided). Make a path in your room using the foot prints. You can tape the prints down using a loop made out of masking tape. Weave the footprints under tables, around toy boxes and between chairs. Be creative with your obstacle course. Have the children each step on the footprints, but make sure that they stay on the steps. For the older children: Choose a variety of colors of construction paper. Cut out one foot print for each child. Using crayons or markers, have them print one big word on each foot (use the theme or the memory verse). Take a large paper bag and mix all of the feet. Have the children pick a foot and see if they can set them in

the right order (according to memory verse or theme) in front of the classroom 1 S AM U EL 17:31-40 N o w w h e n t h e w o r d s w h i c h D av i d s p o k e w e r e h e ar d, t h e y r e p o r t e d t h e m t o S au l ; an d h e s e n t f o r h i m. T h e n D av i d s ai d t o S au l, " L e t n o m an ' s h e ar t f ai l be c au s e o f h i m ; y o u r s e r v an t w i l l go an d f i gh t w i t h t h i s Ph i l i s t i n e. " An d S au l s ai d t o D av i d, " Y o u ar e n o t abl e t o go agai n s t t h i s Ph i l i s t i n e t o f i gh t w i t h h i m ; f o r y o u ar e a y o u t h, an d h e a m an o f w ar f r o m h i s y o u t h. " B u t D av i d s ai d t o S au l, " Y o u r s e r v an t u s e d t o k e e p h i s f at h e r ' s s h e e p, an d w h e n a l i o n o r a be ar c am e an d t o o k a l am b o u t o f t h e f l o c k, I w e n t o u t af t e r i t an d s t r u c k i t, an d d e l i v e r e d t h e l am b f r o m i t s m o u t h ; an d w h e n i t ar o s e agai n s t m e, I c au gh t i t by i t s be ar d, an d s t r u c k an d k i l l e d i t. " Y o u r s e r v an t h as k i l l e d bo t h l i o n an d be ar ; an d t h i s u n c i r c u m c i s e d Ph i l i s t i n e w i l l be l i k e o n e o f t h e m, s e e i n g h e h as d e f i e d t h e ar m i e s o f t h e l i v i n g G o d. " M o r e o v e r D av i d s ai d, " T h e L O R D, w h o d e l i v e r e d m e f r o m t h e p aw o f t h e l i o n an d f r o m t h e p aw o f t h e be ar, H e w i l l d e l i v e r m e f r o m t h e h an d o f t h i s Ph i l i s t i n e. " An d S au l s ai d t o D av i d, " G o, an d t h e L O R D be w i t h y o u!" S o S au l c l o t h e d D av i d w i t h h i s ar m o r, an d h e p u t a br o n z e h e l m e t o n h i s h e ad ; h e al s o c l o t h e d h i m w i t h a c o at o f m ai l.

D av i d f as t e n e d h i s s w o r d t o h i s ar m o r an d t r i e d t o w al k, f o r h e h ad n o t t e s t e d t h e m. An d D av i d s ai d t o S au l, " I c an n o t w al k w i t h t h e s e, f o r I h av e n o t t e s t e d t h e m. " S o D av i d t o o k t h e m o f f. T h e n h e t o o k h i s s t af f i n h i s h an d ; an d h e c h o s e f o r h i m s e l f f i v e s m o o t h s t o n e s f r o m t h e br o o k, an d p u t t h e m i n a s h e p h e r d ' s bag, i n a p o u c h w h i c h h e h ad, an d h i s s l i n g w as i n h i s h an d. An d h e d r e w n e ar t o t h e Ph i l i s t i n e. Criticism couldn t stop David. While the rest of the army stood around he knew the importance of taking action. With God there to fight for him, there was no reason to wait. King Saul soon hears about David s desire to fight Goliath. God fights our battles for us. David could have walked away in discouragement because of the negative comments towards him, but he didn t. People may try and discourage you with negative comments or mockery, but like David you must continue to do what you know is right. By doing what is right you will be pleasing God, whose opinion matters most. Summoned by King Saul, David comes before him with words of encouragement. At first King Saul tells David, you are just a kid, what can you do? Has anyone ever told you that? God can do some pretty amazing things through the lives of children. He can do some pretty amazing things through your life if you will let Him. With boldness and faith, David assures King Saul that he is perfectly capable of slaying this giant of a man. As a shepherd he slew a lion and a bear and it was the Lord who delivered him from them. This giant who defies God will suffer the same fate.

To King Saul his consent to send little David out to fight this giant was like sending a lamb to the slaughter. Unfortunately for King Saul, he had no other options; no one would stand up to this monster. Saul thought that maybe a soldier s armor would make the difference so at least David could look like a warrior. King Saul tried to make a warrior out of a shepherd, but David knew armor wouldn t help. God would use him as he was and in God s care, he would have all the protection he needed. God fights our battles for us. We don t have to rely on gadgets or schemes to accomplish a task that God wants us to do. We need simple faith in a great God who will enable us to serve Him, no matter how great the challenge. 1 S AM U EL 17:41-52 S o t h e Ph i l i s t i n e c am e, an d be gan d r aw i n g n e ar t o D av i d, an d t h e m an w h o bo r e t h e s h i e l d w e n t be f o r e h i m. An d w h e n t h e Ph i l i s t i n e l o o k e d abo u t an d s aw D av i d, h e d i s d ai n e d h i m ; f o r h e w as o n l y a y o u t h, r u d d y an d go o d -l o o k i n g. S o t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s ai d t o D av i d, " Am I a d o g, t h at y o u c o m e t o m e w i t h s t i c k s?" An d t h e Ph i l i s t i n e c u r s e d D av i d by h i s go d s. An d t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s ai d t o D av i d, " C o m e t o m e, an d I w i l l gi v e y o u r f l e s h t o t h e bi r d s o f t h e ai r an d t h e be as t s o f t h e f i e l d!" T h e n D av i d s ai d t o t h e Ph i l i s t i n e, " Y o u c o m e t o m e w i t h a s w o r d, w i t h a s p e ar, an d w i t h a j av e l i n. B u t I c o m e t o y o u i n t h e n am e o f t h e L O R D o f h o s t s, t h e G o d o f t h e ar m i e s o f I s r ae l, w h o m y o u h av e d e f i e d.

" T h i s d ay t h e L O R D w i l l d e l i v e r y o u i n t o m y h an d, an d I w i l l s t r i k e y o u an d t ak e y o u r h e ad f r o m y o u. An d t h i s d ay I w i l l gi v e t h e c ar c as s e s o f t h e c am p o f t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s t o t h e bi r d s o f t h e ai r an d t h e w i l d be as t s o f t h e e ar t h, t h at al l t h e e ar t h m ay k n o w t h at t h e r e i s a G o d i n I s r ae l. " T h e n al l t h i s as s e m bl y s h al l k n o w t h at t h e L O R D d o e s n o t s av e w i t h s w o r d an d s p e ar ; f o r t h e bat t l e i s t h e L o r d ' s, an d H e w i l l gi v e y o u i n t o o u r h an d s. " S o i t w as, w h e n t h e Ph i l i s t i n e ar o s e an d c am e an d d r e w n e ar t o m e e t D av i d, t h at D av i d h as t e n e d an d r an t o w ar d t h e ar m y t o m e e t t h e Ph i l i s t i n e. T h e n D av i d p u t h i s h an d i n h i s bag an d t o o k o u t a s t o n e ; an d h e s l u n g i t an d s t r u c k t h e Ph i l i s t i n e i n h i s f o r e h e ad, s o t h at t h e s t o n e s an k i n t o h i s f o r e h e ad, an d h e f e l l o n h i s f ac e t o t h e e ar t h. S o D av i d p r e v ai l e d o v e r t h e Ph i l i s t i n e w i t h a s l i n g an d a s t o n e, an d s t r u c k t h e Ph i l i s t i n e an d k i l l e d h i m. B u t t h e r e w as n o s w o r d i n t h e h an d o f D av i d. T h e r e f o r e D av i d r an an d s t o o d o v e r t h e Ph i l i s t i n e, t o o k h i s s w o r d an d d r e w i t o u t o f i t s s h e at h an d k i l l e d h i m, an d c u t o f f h i s h e ad w i t h i t. An d w h e n t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s s aw t h at t h e i r c h am p i o n w as d e ad, t h e y f l e d. N o w t h e m e n o f I s r ae l an d J u d ah ar o s e an d s h o u t e d, an d p u r s u e d t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s as f ar as t h e e n t r an c e o f t h e v al l e y an d t o t h e gat e s o f Ek r o n. An d t h e w o u n d e d o f t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s f e l l al o n g t h e r o ad t o S h aar ai m, e v e n as f ar as G at h an d Ek r o n.

When David went out to the valley to meet Goliath s challenge, Goliath is not impressed with David at all. He looked at the ruddy young boy and despised him with a great hatred. Goliath felt insulted that the great nation of Israel would send out a young boy to fight against him. David went quickly out to him with only his shepherd s staff, his sling and some stones. God s newly appointed shepherd of his people goes to defend the Lord s threatened and frightened flock. God used David to protect his father s flock now He would use David to protect His flock. Though David s weapons were no match for a warrior like Goliath, God would be the difference in David s battle. God fights our battles for us. David s strength was his reliance on the Lord (Psalm 9:10). Often times, we as Christians can face impossible circumstances that seem like a giant to us, and we feel overwhelmed. Facing the problem on our own would mean certain defeat. But with the Lord on our side, we can rely on Him for help and He will see us through it. David had no doubts that he was alone, because he knew that God is faithful to help us. God fights our battles for us. As Christians we can be confident that God is on our side. David assures Goliath that his weapons will not help him, because he has come against God who will deliver him into the hands of Israel. This day all the earth will know that there is a God in Israel. Both he and his army will be devastated. God fights our battles for us. Now that the challenge has been made, the giant arose and came down to meet David. But David ran down quickly to meet Goliath to do battle. The hearts of all those in Israel watch this match and hope for a miracle. David knows that this battle will be quickly over. Without any hesitation David slings a stone which embeds into the forehead of Goliath and he falls on his face.

After David used Goliath s sword to cut off his head, the Philistines fled in fear. For they too knew they would suffer the same fate as their champion. The Philistine army was defeated and young David led the way to victory because God was with him. God fights our battles for us. As Christians we might be faced with an overwhelming and hopeless situation, but we can know for sure that God is for us and with us. He will see us through it. When others watch us enter the challenge, He will be glorified and they will know that it is the Lord who helps us. How does God want to use your life to do great things for Him? David s Sling Shot For this craft you will need small square pieces of leather or suede (approximately 3 x 3 ), leather lace or string (4 pieces per child approximately 12 long), a hole punch, ping pong balls and markers. Using the square pieces of leather or suede, punch a hole in each of the 4 corners. Tie one end of each of the 4 leather cords to the ends of the piece of suede. Next give each child a ping pong ball and allow them to color it with markers gray, brown or black to resemble a stone. They now have a sling and a stone that resembles David s in our story. On the piece of leather or suede allow the children to write, God fights our battles for us, along with the scripture reference or memory verse. PRAYER Lead the children in a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord that He fights all of our battles for us. We can also commit to trust in Him in everything. If there are any children who have not yet responded to the gospel, give them the opportunity to do so.

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