LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In 1 Samuel 26:1–23, David has a second opportunity to harm King Saul, who is chasing him. Instead of seeking revenge, David chooses to honor Saul as God’s anointed king. David demonstrates integrity and reverence for God’s authority, choosing peace over personal justice.
This lesson reveals David’s heart and commitment to doing what is right in God’s eyes. For preschoolers, this story can be simplified to show that we respect others because God wants us to. David teaches us that even when someone is unkind, we can still act in ways that honor God.
OPENING ACTIVITY 10:15–10:30 | Love Your Enemies Wand
Items Needed
- Foam hearts
or Foam Hearts with Stickers - Large craft sticks
- Glue
- Ribbons (optional)
Glue two foam hearts together on the end of a craft stick to form a wand. Decorate with stickers and/or ribbons.
Tell students in our Bible story today a man named David had the opportunity to be mean to someone who was mean to him, but he choose love, not harm. This heart wand reminds us to love our enemies like David did. Loving others is always better than hating or hurting them.
2. Sneaky Steps
- Items Needed: None
- Description: Children tiptoe across the room without being heard. Just like David quietly entered Saul’s camp, they must move silently. If they make noise, they start over.
BIBLE VERSE GAME 10:30–10:40 | Memory Verse Tip-Toe Hop Scotch
Items Needed
- Masking tape
- Paper with words of verse
Tape the verse words on the floor. Kids hop from word to word while saying the verse aloud. Have kids do this one at a time, helping them say the words.
Memory Verse: Show proper respect to everyone (1 Peter 2:17a)
SONG 10:40–10:50
5. BIBLE STORY 10:50–11:00
Where is this found in the Bible? 1 Samuel
Is this in the Old Testament or New Testament? Old Testament
Tell the Story:
David and his men were hiding because King Saul wanted to hurt David. One night, David found Saul asleep in a camp. David could have hurt Saul, but he didn’t. He knew Saul was still the king, and he wanted to respect him. David took Saul’s spear and water jug to show that he had been there but didn’t harm him. The next morning, David called out to Saul and said, “Look! I could have hurt you, but I didn’t. I want to do what is right.”
Object Lesson:
Hold up a crown and ask: “Is this mine? No! Only the king wears it.” Just like David didn’t take Saul’s crown or his life, we can show respect too,even when it’s hard.
Theological Questions:
- Who helped David make the right choice? (God)
- Why did David respect Saul? (Because Saul was chosen by God)
Life Application Questions:
- What can you do when someone is mean? (Be kind or walk away)
- How can you show respect to your teacher or parent? (Listen, obey, speak kindly)
Prayer:
“Dear God, help me show respect to everyone, just like David. I want to do what is right in Your eyes. Amen.”
BIBLE GAME 11:00–11:15 | Spear or Heart
Objective: Help kids recognize the difference between harmful choices (like a spear) and loving choices (like a heart), just like David chose respect over revenge.
Items Needed:
- Heart Wand (from craft earlier)
- Spear (use a kabob stick)
- Picture cards of actions (e.g., sharing, hitting, helping, yelling, saying sorry, ignoring, giving a hug)
How to Play:
- Show the group a picture card and ask, “Is this a hurtful choice or a loving choice?”
- Let a child pick either the spear or the heart based on their answer.
- Affirm their correct answers and gently guide them if they get confused.
- End by saying: “David chose the heart. God wants us to do the same!”
Spiritual Tie-In:
Reinforce that David could have used the spear, but he chose to show love and respect. Remind children: “We can always choose the heart.”
7. SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
1 Samuel 26:1–23 (KJV)
1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.
5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.
6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.
8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.
9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?
10 David said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.
13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:
14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?
15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.
16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.
17 And Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.
18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Lord have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go, serve other gods.
20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
22 And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
23 The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the Lord delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s anointed.
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway:
Show Respect
What I learned today:
David had the chance to hurt King Saul, but he didn’t. He chose to respect Saul because he was God’s chosen king. God wants me to respect others too.
Questions to ask me:
Theological:
- Who was the king in our story? (Saul)
- Who chose Saul to be king? (God)
- Did David hurt Saul? (No)
- Why didn’t David hurt Saul? (He wanted to obey God)
- Who helps us show respect? (God)
Life Application:
- How can you show respect at home? (Listen to parents)
- How can you show respect at church? (Be quiet during story time)
- What do you do when you’re mad? (Talk kindly or ask for help)
- Can we respect someone even if they’re unkind? (Yes)
- Who is someone you can show respect to today? (Answers will vary)