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6
David Trusts God
This is a FREE sample session of DWELL. The entire session is below, except for accompanying PDFs (song lyrics, printable resources). To receive an email with links to PDF samples of all DWELL leader and children resources, please use our Get Samples form.
Scripture
Focus
David trusted God to save him from Goliath.
Faith Nurture Goals
- Delight in the way God used young David to win a great victory.
- Wonder at the way David trusted God to protect him.
- Tell what the story shows about God.
- Sense that we can trust God to protect us in scary situations.
Memory Challenge
Session Outline
Leader Reflection
Preparing to Tell God's Story
Yes, you've been eager to tell this story. And why not? No matter how many times we've heard it, the courage, suspense, and adventure grab us anew with every encounter. But don't miss the even more exciting and deeper story of faith that underlies it all.
Just before this story begins, in 1 Samuel 16, we learn that "the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul." When the leader is "Spiritless," all of their followers will become dispirited as well. Mighty King Saul is camped on one side of the Valley of Elah, with the Philistines on the other. The valley between is a no-man's land, because the giant Goliath has challenged Israel to settle the battle one on one: "This day I defy the armies of Israel. Give me a man and let us fight each other." The whole army of Israel, from Saul down to the lowliest foot soldier, cowers in fear.
Along comes David. His older brothers are all in the army of Saul, but David was evidently deemed too young and inexperienced to serve in this way. Instead he brings sandwiches to his soldier brothers. While he is there Goliath bellows out his usual challenge. Interestingly, David is not only interested in the reputation of the God of Israel but in his own advancement. "What will be done with the man who kills the Philistine....? Then he expresses his scorn for Goliath: "Who does he think he is 'that he should defy the armies of the living God'?" The Bible is honest about people. David isn't all courage and pious talk; he also wants to get ahead---he's got ambition, which is quite possibly another factor that makes him a "man after God's heart" (vs. 18).
David's defiance gets him an audience with the king himself, who is both astounded and skeptical that this mere boy might even consider going against Goliath. But David convinces Saul to at least give him a chance. "Go," the king responds, "and the Lord be with you." (Unable to catch Saul's verbal inflection, we wonder whether this reply was an expression of faith or of desperation.) Next we see David stumbling out of the camp under the weight of Saul's full armor, looking ridiculous and feeling hampered and useless.
As soon as he gets far enough away from the Israelite camp, David dumps down the armor, takes his staff in hand, stoops to choose five smooth stones from a brook nearby, and sets off to meet Goliath armed with what the giant had mockingly referred to as sticks and stones. The fact that David is so young, so small, and so ill-equipped seems to enrage Goliath all the more. But David only grows in faith and courage. To his credit, he identifies and names his true champion---it isn't himself but "the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." Now we know what this is really all about, the reputation of God's covenant name and the well-being of his people.
David's very lack of the typical accoutrements of battle makes clear the real point: "it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's...."
This was a clear-cut case of faith in God, combined with stealth, cunning, and skill. David snuck up on Goliath, who, we might conjecture, hadn't seen the slingshot but only the staff. With a practiced shepherd's skill, David swirled the slingshot, let the stone fly, and landed it right on Goliath's exposed head. Goliath dropped dead on the spot, "face down on the ground"---the attitude of slavery. Ironically Goliath, who had vowed to make slaves of the Israelites, now lies face down before this kid, this spunky shepherd boy. David takes Goliath's enormous sword and slices off the giant's head.
As God's story continues we will hear a lot more about David. It isn't all positive, to be sure. An unfaithful husband and less than exemplary father, David will fail. But, the Bible seems to tell us, David, with his qualities of greatness, is the best that we as human beings can expect. Until the Son of David comes along, who will give humanity a whole new start, wrestling with the powers of hell on the cross.
Wondering
What motivates David to stand against Goliath?
What’s wrong with Saul and his armies?
What do you think of David’s apparently complex motivation?
How do faith and skill operate together in your life?
Teaching
This is a story of faith, but as we’ve seen it’s faith in combination with courage, skill, and cunning. Faith is central, but if it’s the only thing emphasized our calling as human beings gets diminished.
This may be a stretch, but you might want to help the children begin to make a connection between David and David’s son, Jesus Christ, the ultimate deliverer.
Steps
Materials
Songs: “Jesus, You Are Here with Me” and “Give Thanks”
Story symbol from previous session
Show and Share paper from previous session
Story symbol, session 6 printable page
Welcome your kids by name and with a big smile so they’ll sense how much you care about them and how excited you are about your time together. When all have arrived, gather everyone around you for a time of meeting with God. Begin by looking at the story symbol and the Show and Share paper version of the story from last time. Invite your kids to recall the story and tell it back to you. Wonder aloud afterward whether any of them could feel God, their good shepherd, taking care of them everywhere they went since you last saw them. Show the story symbol for today and invite everyone to guess what the story might be. Your kids will probably figure out the answer, but just smile in eager anticipation and don’t confirm anything.
Invite everyone to stand and praise God. Begin by saying and then singing the words of Psalm 136:1 together. (If you have a Memory Challenge poster handy, you might want to point to each word as you say the verse to encourage any early readers.) Follow that by singing and doing the actions along with the unit song “Jesus, You Are Here with Me,” affirming once again how great it is to know that we are never alone. Join hands in prayer and thank God for leading each child (mention each one by name) to church today to learn more of God’s big story.
If you have time, use the story symbols from this unit as cues to see how many stories you can remember.
Re
formed
formedIt’s important to look at this story with a holistic worldview. If we see it only as a story of faith we will miss the complexities of how faith operates in real life—with familiar weapons and picking the right stones. On the other hand, if it’s just about David’s skill and courage we will inspire a kind of hero-worshiping mentality in which the strongest and brightest can get the job done. A balanced view: God is at work—but he’s at work through us.
Gather kids around you in your story area. Open your Bible to 1 Samuel 17, point out where the story is found, and invite kids to help you tell it by doing the following actions each time they hear these words:
Goliath: Flex their arm muscles and grunt.
David: Tap their right hand twice over their heart and then point upward to show that David’s help comes from God.
Israelites or Israel: Look scared and pretend to chew their fingernails.
Philistines: Say “Na, na, na, na, na, na!” in a singsong, teasing voice.
Practice each action a few times and then, once everyone is ready, use the story call to greet the story:
Leader: A story! A story!
Children: Let’s hear God’s story!
Leader: For me and for you—
Children: and for everyone too!
The story follows:
Day after day David cared for his sheep. And day after day he remembered that God was there, taking care of him and keeping him safe. When David remembered to trust God, he felt brave. Even lions and bears couldn’t frighten David when he remembered that God was always taking care of him!
One day David’s father gave him a job to do. “Your brothers are fighting the enemy with the rest of the king’s soldiers. Bring them this bread and cheese. Then come back and tell me how they are doing” his dad said.
So early the next morning David set off to find his brothers. After walking all day he came to the place where his brothers and the other Israelite soldiers were camped on a hill.
On another hill nearby, David could see also the camp of the enemy soldiers—the Philistines—fierce men who did not love or serve God. Quickly David ran to greet his brothers.
Just then a giant man named Goliath stepped out of the Philistine camp. Goliath’s voice roared across the valley at the Israelites: “COME OVER HERE, IF YOU DARE! COME FIGHT ME, IF YOU DARE! IF YOU WIN, WE’LL WORK FOR YOU.…BUT IF I WIN, YOU MUST WORK FOR US!”
The Israelites shook with fear. Some even ran away. Not a single one of them dared to fight the Philistine soldier named Goliath.
David heard Goliath shouting too. And as he watched and listened he became very upset. “Why won’t anyone fight this giant?” he asked. “Goliath is making fun of our great God. If no one else will go, I will fight this giant.”
When the king heard about David, he sent for him. “Why, you’re only a boy. How can you fight this giant?” asked the surprised king.
But David said to the king: “When I am taking care of my sheep I have to fight lions and bears that try to carry away my lambs. God always keeps me safe! So I know for sure that God will protect me from this giant too.”
Still King Saul was worried. He gave David his own coat of armor and a sword but it was far too big and heavy for such a small boy. David gave it back. “I can’t walk wearing all this heavy equipment,” David said as he gave it all back to the king. Then he picked up his shepherd’s staff and his slingshot and chose five small stones from the stream to put in his pocket.
The king and all of God’s people, the Israelites, watched as David walked down the hill toward Goliath and the Philistines. The giant stood still, watching and waiting—and angry! “What do you think I am? A little dog?” he roared. “You’re just a boy! Come here.…I’ll destroy you!”
David shouted back, “You carry a large sword and spear to protect yourself. But I come in the name of the Lord God Almighty!” Then he put one stone into the slingshot. He twirled the slingshot around and around, and hurled the stone straight at his enemy. The fast-moving stone hit the giant right in the forehead, and down he crashed. David had killed Goliath!
The Israelites cheered, and the soldiers chased the frightened Philistines away.
But the story doesn’t end there. God was pleased with David because he trusted God to take care of him. David remembered that God was always with him. And God blessed and watched over him. And when he grew up David became the new king of God’s people.
Materials
Index cards
Wall putty or tape
Before the session begins, print “Goliath” in large letters on a piece of paper, and print each child’s name on an index card. Have a few extra cards on which to print the names of any visiting children.
Thank your kids for their help in telling the story and then invite everyone to stand up along the wall. Line everyone up along the same wall—or as close together as possible—and leave a space in the middle where Goliath’s measurements will go.
Measure each child by putting your hand on their heads and then sticking the index card with their name on it to the wall at that height. Have kids remain at the wall after being measured until you give the signal. Stand on a chair to add the name Goliath to your wall—as close to 9 ½ feet from the floor as you can get. Signal to everyone to stand back and look at the difference in size between each of them and Goliath. Comment that David wasn’t that much bigger than they are now when he fought the giant Goliath!
Gather everyone back down around you (in view of your measurement wall, if possible) and spend some time wondering into the story together, using questions like these to guide your discussion:
- I wonder—how could David be so brave?
- What were the rest of God’s people—the Israelites—forgetting about God?
- What things scare you sometimes?
- What does this story help you remember about God?
Affirm that God is more powerful than anyone and anything else—even a giant!—and that we can trust that wherever we are, no matter how scary that place may be, God is with us. Point out that David never stopped trusting God—even when Goliath roared and shook his great spear at David!
Let your group know how much you need to trust God wherever you are too.
Materials
Show and Share papers, session 6
Invite your kids to join you in a game that will help them remember that they can trust God in scary situations. Begin by teaching them the rhythm of the chant: slap knees twice and then clap hands twice, repeating this pattern throughout the refrain.
Once everyone has the beat you can begin to chant, inviting the kids to echo each phrase back to you.
Goin’ on a fear hunt! (Goin’ on a fear hunt!)
We’re not afraid. (We’re not afraid.)
We know God is with us! (We know God is with us!)
Every day! (Every day!)
End clapping rhythm.
Oh, no! (Oh, no!)
Look what I see! (Look what I see!)
It’s the DARK! (It’s the DARK!)
Can’t go under it! (Can’t go under it!)
Can’t go around it! (Can’t go around it!)
We’ll have to PRAY though it! (We’ll have to PRAY through it!)
Resume clapping rhythm.
Goin’ on a fear hunt! (Goin’ on a fear hunt!)
We’re not afraid. (We’re not afraid.)
We know God is with us! (We know God is with us!)
Every day! (Every day!)
End clapping rhythm.
Oh, no! (Oh, no!)
Look what I see! (Look what I see!)
It’s (name a scary thing mentioned in Step 3 or ask a child to name one now) (It’s _____!)
Can’t go under it! (Can’t go under it!)
Can’t go around it! (Can’t go around it!)
We’ll have to PRAY through it! (We’ll have to PRAY through it!)
Resume clapping rhythm.
Goin’ on a fear hunt! (Goin’ on a fear hunt!)
We’re not afraid. (We’re not afraid.)
We know God is with us! (We know God is with us!)
Every day! (Every day!)
Continue, naming each scary thing the children suggest.
End with a round of applause for our powerful God.
Give each child a Show and Share paper—use your remaining time to "read" the story once together, inviting the children to name the pictured words as they use their Show and Share papers to follow along. You might also wish to pass out pencils and challenge kids to spot the differences in the two pictures on pages 2 and 3.
Close in prayer, including prayer requests from the children and thanking God for being with us wherever we go.
Easy Extras
Time
10-15 minutes
Materials
mural paper
tape or wall putty
measuring tape
markers
optional: aluminum foil and glue
Measure out a length of mural paper that’s as close to 9 ½ feet (2.9 meters) long as possible. Fill the length of paper with the outline of a body. Add facial features—including an angry looking mouth!—and mark off lines for a simple belt, sandals and a tunic. If you have foil and glue you could cut and paste some onto his head to look like a helmet. You might also add a foil sword to his hand. Lay the paper across the table and, as kids arrive, invite them to decorate the clothing and color the hair of your giant man. Use tape or wall putty to adhere him to the wall where all can see him during your story.
Time
10-15 minutes
Materials
Show and Share paper, session 6
optional: simple costumes (vests, t-shirts, etc.) for each child and a big heavy coat and large pan (armor and helmet) for David
This activity can also be used in Step 3: Living into the Story.
Today’s story is a great one to dramatize. Assign roles—you’ll need a David, a Goliath, Israelites, Philistines, and, if you have enough kids, a King Saul and David’s father. (David’s father can stand with the Israelites too once he’s finished acting.) Position the Israelites in one corner of the room and the Philistines and Goliath in another. If there is a safe way to do it, you may want to provide a small chair or stool for Goliath to stand on. Use the Show and Share paper version of the story to provide the narration while kids act out the story. Reassign roles and repeat the story as often as necessary until all the kids have had the opportunity to be either David or Goliath.
Time
10 minutes
Materials
colored construction paper
David and Goliath figures printable page
tiny pebbles or stone shapes cut from paper (five per child)
glue or glue sticks
crayons or markers
Provide kids with the materials listed so they can create pictures of today’s story. After coloring the figures of David and Goliath, they can glue them onto construction paper. They can add background details—a stream with the five stones, the sun, clouds, the two army camps, King Saul, and more—with markers or crayon or by tearing construction paper into shapes and gluing them onto the page.
Time
10-15 minutes
Materials
blindfolds
items for obstacle course
Have kids help you arrange the furniture in your room to set up a simple obstacle course. When the course is ready, ask kids to tell whom David trusted to help him, no matter what. Point out that David was probably afraid when he saw the lion and the bear—and Goliath! But each time he trusted God to take care of him.
Explain that, in order to help the kids know what it feels like to trust someone, they are going to do a trust walk. They will be blindfolded, and a partner will guide them through the obstacle course. They will have to trust their partner to guide them safely through. Be very clear that the guide’s job is to hold his friend’s hand and tell her all along the way where to walk and what to do so she can feel safe. Be sure the group understands that this is not a race, and make sure there is nothing along the course on which a child might stumble, bump a head, or be injured.
Divide the group into pairs, and blindfold one child in each pair. After one pair has a good start on the course, invite the next pair to begin. When all of the pairs have completed the course, blindfold the other child in each pair and have them walk the course again.
Afterward, talk together about how it felt to trust the partner who was leading them. How sure were they that their friend would lead them safely? Emphasize that David was absolutely sure that God would keep him safe—and that we can trust God to take care of us too!