MEMORY VERSE: 1 Samuel 16:18 "...cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war...and the LORD is with him."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review the 66 books of the Bible. Idea: Divide students into two groups on opposite sides of the room. One person from one team begins with "Genesis." A person on the other team says, "Exodus." The Bible books are said from one side to another across the room. If someone misses a book, a teammate can save him before the other team can try. It is nice to promote memory work!
PRAYER: Thank the LORD for creating so many things in life that can soothe us and help us feel better,
SPECIAL SONG: The Bible, The Bible (see February - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #2 on this blog)
VISUAL AID: Large harp (see Activity below)
LESSON POINTS:
- After Samuel had anointed David with the oil that was in his horn, the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day on (1 Samuel 16:13). As David received the Spirit of the LORD, the Spirit of the LORD left King Saul and was replaced with an evil spirit that troubled him.
- Saul's servants told King Saul that an evil spirit was what was troubling him and that he needed to hear someone play the harp, a musical instrument, in order to feel better. Saul told his servants to go and find someone who could play well and bring him back to Saul.
- One of his servants told Saul that he remembered that Jesse of Bethlehem had a son that played well. He was also a mighty, valiant man, a man of war, wise in speech, a handsome man, and the LORD was with him.
- Saul sent messengers to Jesse and asked to send David, the shepherd, to him. So Jesse, David's father loaded up the donkey with bread, something to drink, goat meat to eat, and sent the king his youngest son, David.
- David was sent in to see King Saul and King Saul loved David greatly and was very pleased with him. He even made David his armor-bearer which was a job given to only those whom the king trusted most.
- Then Saul sent word to Jesse to see if Jesse would allow David to stay longer with King Saul to stand before him because David had found favor in King Saul's sight.
- As time went by, whenever King Saul was troubled, David took a harp and played for King Saul until he wasn't troubled anymore.
"Older Student" Tips:
- King Saul did not know that David had been anointed the next king of Israel, otherwise, King Saul probably would have tried to kill young David. That was the way it was in Old Testament times.
ACTIVITY: David And His Harp
Materials needed: 9" x 12" black index paper (which is a little sturdier than construction paper), yarn, hole puncher, white crayon or silver marker, scissors..
- Hand out black paper to student.
- Round the corners of the black paper.
- Cut the middle out of the paper, so it looks like the letter "C" or a harp.
- Punch six holes on the inside of the harp and six matching holes on the inside of the harp.
- String yarn by tying a knot in the inside of the harp, then going in and out of the punched holes.
- Tie a knot in the last hole with the yarn.
- Write "David Played The Harp" and "1 Samuel 16:14-23" on the harp.