Everyone likes to succeed. No one likes to look foolish in the eyes of others. This lesson will explore the familiar Bible story of David and Goliath and the boasting that led to destruction. Everyone probably knows this story, but being able to handle success and failure will help our children take a step in the right direction on the narrow path of godliness. {Deuteronomy 5:32}
Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; and 1 Samuel 17
Materials: tape measure
Free Poster: Click on the image below and print.
Background: 1 Samuel 17 tells us that Goliath was about 6 cubits and a span tall. A cubit was around 18 inches. This measurement would place Goliath around 9 feet tall. He was from the city of Gath, which was a powerful Philistine city.
The book of Samuel tells us what happened during the reign of King Saul, the first king of Israel. He did not have a whole heart for God, so God was setting up his plan for a new king. Not only did this plan include a new king of Israel, but it included a King who would reign forever and ever.
Object Lesson for 1 Samuel 17:
{Use the tape measure to show 6 feet, the average height of a man. Then pull it out to 9 feet. Discuss the
difference. If you are in a room with a high ceiling, turn the tape measure vertical so the children can see how tall 9 feet is. My room was not tall enough and the kids realized that Goliath’s head would go through the ceiling tiles!}
What emotions would you feel if a man 9 feet tall entered this room? (Allow answers) Would you want to be his friend? or make him mad at you? (be his friend!) Do any of you watch wrestling on TV? (Allow answers) Those men strut around a ring claiming they are so great and then they wrestle, or fight, each other to see who wins. What kind of boasting do you think a 9 foot tall wrestler might do? (Allow answers)
Bible Lesson for 1 Samuel 17:
Saul found himself at war with the Philistines. {Have the kids “boo” the Philistines.} The Philistine army was on one mountain, and the Israelites were on the top of another mountain. The Valley of Elah was between them. Goliath, THE Philistine champion, went into the valley and boasted to the Israelites, “Send out your best soldier. If you win the battle, then all of us will serve you. But, if I win, then you will serve the Philistines!” Goliath continued to boast and brag and make fun of the Israelite army for forty days.
David happened to visit his brothers who were in Saul’s army while this was going on. “Who is this unclean Philistine that he should treat God’s army like that?” he asked. Once told, David decided that he should be the one to fight Goliath, after all, he had killed a lion and a bear while protecting sheep. Goliath could be no worse than those animals.
King Saul heard the rumor about David, and called him to the king’s tent. David assured Saul that he would fight Goliath and win. Saul offered his own armor to David, but after trying it on, David said he’d use his own weapons.
Goliath, once again, began to mock, and boast, against the army of the Lord and David went out to meet him. “Am I a dog that you send such a one out to fight me with sticks? I will feed your flesh to the birds!”
David responded by running at Goliath crying, “You come to me with sword and shield, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied!!” {Make sure you yell this quote while “twirling” a sling shot. It’s powerful!} Goliath was enraged and ran towards David. David slug a stone at the large man and hit him. After Goliath fell dead, David cut off his head and took it to Saul.
Life Application for 1 Samuel 17:
{Talk about the verse on the poster.} In the eyes of those in the armies, who was wise? (King Saul) Who was powerful? (Goliath) Who was rich? (King Saul) Who was strong? (Goliath) Who seemed foolish? (David) Who brought shame to the wise? (David) Who brought shame to the strong? (David) Whom did God choose to help? (David) In whom did David boast? (God)
What are some examples of boasting that you might hear today? (Allow answers) Is it wrong to be proud of the good things we do? (No) It isn’t bad for us to be successful and it isn’t wrong for us to be proud when we make good choices and do good things…as long as we remember that it is GOD who gives us the ability to do everything we do. There is nothing good in us. God is the only one who is good.
I think David was proud of himself after the fight was over. But he knew who had given him the power to fight. David knew that without God, he could do nothing. David did not boast in what HE did, but what he knew GOD could do and would do.
What are some ways that we can boast in God instead of ourselves? (Allow answers)
This is only possible if you have decided to make Jesus your Lord and Master. But salvation is not the end to having a Christian life. Baptism isn’t the end. All of that is just the beginning. God wants to turn each person into the image of Jesus, and he does that by making you more *godly*, or “more like God”. This is something that God wants to do everyday.
So who should you boast in? (God, Jesus) What is the opposite of boasting? (Being humble) How can we act in a humble way? (Put other people before yourself. Consider other people better than yourself. Allow others to tell of your good deeds.)
{Display the poster in the room throughout this series and read it each week.}
