God chooses David as king
key words
bible reference
1 Samuel 16:13
lesson objective
To learn that God chooses his servants regardless of appearance.
memory verse
“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2, NIV*).
prepare yourself to teach
In 1 Samuel 16:13, we find a conversation between God and the priest Samuel. God commanded him to go and anoint his chosen one as the king who would occupy the throne of Israel. Samuel responded with fear, because in fulfilling God’s command, he would be betraying the current king, and that could cost him his life. God rebuked Samuel and reminded him of His supremacy and authority.
Samuel obeyed God and made the trip to Bethlehem, a city that was to the south, near Jerusalem. It would later be known as “the city of David,” and later as the place where Jesus was born.
Once in Bethlehem, Samuel prepared Jesse’s family for the sacrifice. This included examining their hearts, as well as an outer cleansing. Offering a sacrifice gave Samuel a valid reason to go to Bethlehem. He used the opportunity to anoint the new king.
Samuel’s gaze went first to Eliab, Jesse’s eldest son. Eliab was a tall, strong young man with a great personality, but God reminded Samuel that the outer appearance was not important. God knew what he needed in the future king of Israel. He would have to be an obedient person, with determination and sensitivity to his divine will. Each of Jesse’s sons was brought before Samuel, and then rejected by God.
It was his youngest son David, the small and humble shepherd, whom God chose to govern his people.
Samuel anointed the boy, who was immediately filled with the Spirit of God, and later ruled Israel with wisdom and the fear of the Lord.
adaptation
As you prepare to teach, reflect on your perception of your children. Do you show a preference for the most obedient and quiet? Are you focusing your attention on the external appearance or on the specific needs of each child?
Ask the Lord to help you see each child as he sees them: unique, special and created to serve him.
Society has established certain standards of physical appearance and external characteristics that people must meet to be accepted or rejected. This behavior tends to develop from childhood; therefore, preschoolers are not unfamiliar with it.
Even in a child’s environment, physical appearance or disabilities are factors that determine their attitude. This lesson will help them to understand that God is not interested in our outward appearance but in our heart.
introduce the lesson
We are all the same
Get pictures, drawings or clippings from magazines of people of different races and places. Glue them on cardboard or poster board.
Allow your children to observe them and ask them: “What makes these people different?” Listen carefully to the answers and clarify them as necessary. When they have finished participating, explain the physical similarities that exist. For example, does each one have two eyes, two ears, one nose, hair, etc.? Then emphasize that although everyone is different physically, they are the same on the inside.
God created them differently physically, but he gave them all a heart to praise and love him.
teach the lesson
A puppet that talks
You can make a simple puppet with a paper bag or sock or piece of cloth. If you have puppets, use them.
Using the puppet, tell the children: The Bible story today is about a young boy named David. Listen very carefully to our visitor as he tells you the story of how God chose David to do something special.
God chooses a new king
Samuel helped the Israelites be obedient to God. He was a very wise man who guided the people to make important decisions. However, the people wanted to have a king. God chose Saul to be the king. He was a good king for awhile, but then he stopped loving and obeying God.
Then God told Samuel to go to Bethlehem, because he had chosen one of the sons of Jesse as the new king of Israel, to someday replace Saul.
Samuel obeyed God, and when he arrived in Bethlehem, he spoke with Jesse and his children. Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son, was very strong and handsome. “Only my youngest son is missing,” said Jesse. “His name is David.” Samuel asked Jesse to call his youngest son to meet him.
When David arrived, God told Samuel, “This is the boy I have chosen to be the next king of Israel.” Samuel poured oil on David’s head. This was a sign for everyone to know that God had chosen him as the new king of his people. David felt the power of God over him when this happened. He was sure that the Lord would help him be a good king.
connect the lesson
God chose David
Cut out the picture of David in Student Activity Sheet #57-B and give one to each child. Also give each child Student Activity Sheet #57-A and a pencil. Instruct the children to write their name and trace the word of faith.
Post it on the scene and save the page. When they have finished, review briefly what they learned today. Encourage the children to take home their activity sheets and share today’s lesson with their family and friends.
Thinking ahead
Because the next lessons talk about David growing up and developing as a king, you might want to consider the group planting some flower or vegetable seeds and to watch them grow for the next few weeks. Be sure to think ahead to Lesson 9 and prepare for this. Keep in mind your group’s particular circumstances. If you begin this activity in today’s session, be sure to obtain any necessary permissions and have the required resources available.
practice the memory verse
Write the memory verse on a large card. Trace the letters well so that your children have no difficulty in reading it. Explain word by word so they know the meaning of what they read, but remember than many pre-schoolers do not read well yet. Repeat it several times until they become familiar with it. Put the cardboard in a visible place.
wrap-up
Pray
Pray with the children before saying goodbye. Ask God to remind them that he is ready to help whenever they need help.
Encourage
It is important that before the children leave, they pick up the materials they have used and clean the room. Encourage the children to ask God to help them during the week.
Invite
Say something interesting about the next session and encourage the group to attend.
* 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.™