David and Jonathan are good friends
key words
biblical reference
1 Samuel 18:1-11; 19:1-10; 20:1-42
memory verse
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7b, NIV*).
lesson objective
To develop a desire to have friends that love and trust God.
prepare yourself to teach
In 1 Samuel 18:1-11, we read about the friendship of David and Jonathan, one of the most noble friendships in the Bible. In this first encounter, we see the link between these two true friends. Jonathan “loved David as himself,” and made a promise to him, giving him his cape and armor. This attitude could symbolize Jonathan giving David his (Jonathan’s) right to the throne.
In 1 Samuel 20:1-42, there are two very important themes: first, the friendship of these two young men, and second, David’s fear of Saul’s madness.
David and Jonathan understood the danger and adversity they faced, so they decided to promise each other loyalty and friendship before the Lord. The love they felt for one another was genuine, and even though they knew they may not see each other again, they trusted that God was in control of their circumstances.
In the middle of the conflict, David and Jonathan bravely found each other to say goodbye, affirming the love and the promise they had.
David had been running from Saul’s sword for many years. Meanwhile, Jonathan bravely lived each day with a father who did not trust him, and whose deepest wish was to kill his best friend. This must have been a painful conflict for him. Still, Jonathan loved and honored his father. He could have prioritized his own interests and sought David’s death with his father, but he knew he was doing what was right. Jonathan made a righteous decision and gained the admiration of many generations.
David is often seen as the hero of this period. In Jonathan, we have an example worthy of recognition as the model of a loyal and godly man.
adaptation
Children find different ways to be accepted by their peers. Many invest many hours of their day playing with their neighbors and friends from school. This is why the selection of friends can drastically influence their lives. Choosing friends that can help them grow in their walk with the Lord is very important during this critical stage of development.
This lesson will help children understand the importance of loving God and choosing friends who do the same.
introduce the lesson
Ask some volunteers to tell the class about their best friends. They can also bring in pictures or invite them to class.
It is important that they say how they chose their best friend and what they enjoy doing together.
When they finish, congratulate them. Tell them that today’s story is about two friends who loved each other very much.
teach the lesson
Prior to the session study 1 Samuel 18:1-11; 19:1-10 and 20:1-42. Be prepared to tell the Bible story in your own words.
During this portion of the session allow your children to sit how they please, especially with their friends. Tell them that the story is about David and his friend Jonathan. They should pay attention because their friendship was so strong.
Tell the story with the Bible in your hand. Do not read the whole passage; only read the key verses.
Use what you have or can make to illustrate your story as you tell it.
On a large piece of construction paper, write the word “friends” and cut out the letters. Tell the children to stick a letter onto the board every time you say the word “friends” in the story. We also suggest that you show your children some fabric to represent a cape, as well as a toy sword.
Let them know what these symbols represent. An option for this activity is for children to make crowns and a sword and exchange them with a classmate as gifts.
connect the lesson
Who is a good friend?
Give the worksheets to your children, along with colored pencils.
Tell your children to look at the drawing carefully in Student Activity Sheet #143-A, and to choose which of the children in the picture they would like to have as friends. Then ask them to color the ones that they chose.
Discuss as a class why they colored the ones that they did.
A story of friendship
Look at the drawings at the top of Student Activity Sheet #343-B with your children. Have crayons or colored pencils ready. Ask them what they think is happening in the drawing. Facilitate a discussion about the situation using the following questions:
In what different ways could this story end?
What would have happened if Sebastian had agreed to go to the pond?
What would have happened if Sebastian had not agreed to go to the pond?
If Sebastian had agreed to do what Anthony wanted, would this have been right or wrong?
Would a true friend do something dangerous just to please his friend? Why?
Allow your children to draw a happy ending to the story in the blank space that’s provided.
Clarify that in the Bible story, Jonathan stood up against his father to defend David; he kept secrets with his friend and disobeyed his father’s orders to kill him. Make sure your children understand that Jonathan and David were adults, not children. Children should always obey their parents, when it does not mean disobeying a commandment from God. Take into account that not all of your children’ parents are Christians. Be very careful in explaining to them that when their parents ask them to do something that is not right or pleasing to God, they should pray and seek counsel.
Emphasize that they should not keep their friends’ secrets when it can be dangerous (saying bad words, smoking, stealing, etc.).
Let’s choose our friends
Provide pencils for your children and read the instructions on the bottom of Student Activity Sheet #343-B for this activity.
Tell your children that choosing a friend is very important and can be a very difficult decision.
Ask, “Do you remember what the memory verse teaches us about this subject? (We should not choose our friends based on physical appearance, but on their character.) It takes some time to know what a person is like on the inside. Here are some ideas that will help you pick good friends.” Give them time to fill in the blanks by using words from the word bank.
practice the memory verse
This activity can be completed in groups or individually. You will need the verse written on construction paper, as well as scissors. Depending on whether the activity is individual or in groups, give the verse to the children so they can cut it out word by word (or prepare this beforehand). Allow them to place the words in the correct order as they memorize them.
wrap-up
Pray
Pray for your children’s prayer requests and ask God to help your children be good friends.
Encourage
Encourage the children to tell today’s story to their family and friends.
Invite
Briefly review what the children have learned in their lessons on the life of David, and invite them to your next session to learn about how this young man showed mercy to someone who mistreated him. Tell them their friends are also welcome to the group.
* Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™