VERSES: 1 Samuel 20:1-42
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Samuel 20:42 "...The LORD be between me and thee...forever..."
BIBLE BOOK TO REMEMBER: The students should know all of the 66 books of the Bible. Review them again, so they will stay fresh in their minds!
PRAYER: We know that the LORD takes care of his own, but He takes care of those who obey Him. May we try every day to stay close to the LORD by reading His Word and doing His Will.
SPECIAL SONG: The Bible, The Bible (see February - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #2)
VISUAL AID: Large Activity (see below)
LESSON POINTS:
- Times were getting tough between King Saul and David. Because of the king's suspicion and jealousy of David, King Saul began to worry David more and more. David asked his close friend,Jonathan, who just happened to be King Saul's son, what terrible thing had he done to King Saul that he would try to kill him. What had David done? What was his sin? David had nothing wrong and he had no sin concerning God's anointed king. He had only treated King Saul with respect and honor, but Saul was trying to kill David. Saul could see that the LORD was with David and now was not with him.
- Answering David's question, Jonathan said that David wouldn't die. He did not believe that his father would hurt David. Perhaps Jonathan believed his father when King Saul had said he would not kill David when they were out in the field. Jonathan thought that Saul would tell him if he was going to kill David.
- David, on the other hand, was not so sure. He said that he thought there was only a step between life and death for him. The two friends talked at great length about this problem and finally they had a plan.
- Since it was the time for feasts and sacrifices, David planned to not be in King Saul's presence for three days. Instead he would hide in his hiding place. If King Saul asked why David was not at the dinner table like he usually was, then Jonathan would tell his father that David was going to feast with his family in Bethlehem.
- If his father got angry with David then Jonathan would give David a sign. Jonathan would take a young boy out into the field near where David was hiding and practice shooting arrows. David would listen and if Jonathan told the boy to go find the arrows on this side of the young boy, then that would mean all was safe and King Saul was not angry with David.
- But, if King Saul was angry with David, then Jonathan would tell the boy that the arrows were farther away. That would mean that things were not safe for David and that he should leave and not come back because King Saul was going to try to kill him.
- David and Jonathan did everything that they had planned and, on the first day, Saul missed David because he wasn't sitting at his place at the table but Saul didn't say anything. The next day, King Saul asked about David and Jonathan said he was feasting with his family in Bethlehem. King Saul then got very angry with Jonathan for trying to protect David and told Jonathan that as long as David was alive that Jonathan would not have a kingdom. King Saul commanded Jonathan to bring David to him, so that David would die. King Saul was so angry that he threw a javelin at his own son. Then Jonathan knew that King Saul was determined to kill his friend.
- Jonathan got up from the table very angry and did not eat any food because he was so grieved about David. The next morning, Jonathan went out into the field at a time that they had agreed on and shot arrows, taking a young boy with him. When the little boy picked up one of the arrows, Jonathan shouted out, "Isn't there another farther away?" Then Jonathan sent the young boy back to the house with his weapons.
- As soon as the boy was gone, David came out of his hiding place and tearfully said good-bye to his best friend in the world, Jonathan. They promised that the LORD would always be between them and their children and then David went away.
- This is a great story about the friendship that two friends shared. May we be that good friend to our friends and have the LORD in common.
- Jonathan was very upset when he realized that it was not safe for David to stay in the king's home. He was extremely sad and grieved. There was little he could do to control his father's feelings or actions. We , too, might be in a situation that seems very dreary and sad, but we must always trust the LORD and obey Him, no matter what.
Materials needed: 9" x 12" blue construction paper, 4 1/2" x 12" green construction paper, 9" x 12" white construction paper, green scrap of paper, crayons, glue, scissors, marker.
- Hand out blue paper to students. This is the foundation.
- Hand out both green papers.
- Glue long strip to the bottom of the blue paper.
- Cut a large "bush" out of scrap of green paper.
- Fold bottom edge of small green paper.
- Glue edge of green paper and place on top of green strip, preferably in the corner of the page. IF ENTIRE BUSH IS GLUED, DAVID CANNOT HIDE.
- Hand out white paper.
- Draw David, Jonathan, young boy, and a couple of thick arrows.
- Write "David," "Jonathan, "Boy" on correct people.
- Write "Isn't there another farther away?" in speech bubble.
- Cut out David, Jonathan, young boy, speech bubble, and arrows.
- Fold bush down and glue David behind it.
- Glue Jonathan, young boy, and arrows onto blue paper.
- Write "Jonathan Says Good-Bye To David" and "1 Samuel 20" at the top of the blue paper.
