David Becomes King

TEXT: 2 Samuel 2:1-7; 5:1-5

OBJECTIVE

The students will be able to relate that God's anointed was at last made king.

BIBLE LESSON OUTLINE

Introduction: Use the Preschool idea using a "Quality Crown" for your class opener. Talk about the qualities of David as the children add each jewel to the crowns.

1. Saul and three of his sons were slain, and the men of Judah made David king over Judah.
2. The Lord had told David to go to Hebron, and from there he ruled over Judah.
3. After the death of Saul's son, the elders of Israel came to David and anointed him to be king over all of Israel.
   

Climax: David was chosen by God to be the king over Israel, and in today's lesson we read how this came to pass.

Conclusion: God knew that David had qualities that would make him a good leader, and so he was chosen and anointed king.

Response: Your students will be able to relate how David was made king, and will understand that if we are called by God to work for Him, He will, in His own time, make it possible.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In Bible times oils and ointments were considered necessities of life. Both men and women would rub their skin with oil to protect it from the hot, dry climate, and this practice was only omitted during times of mourning. Sometimes people dabbed themselves with the "oil of gladness" as a sign of rejoicing. However, on certain occasions, a person was anointed with oil as a sign that he was being set apart as someone special. For instance, at times a guest would be honored by his host by having a few drops of scented oil brushed on his forehead. Certain objects were also set apart for special purposes in this manner, as in the case of the furniture and vessels used in the tabernacle worship by Moses and the Israelites. Priests were anointed as a sign that they were entering God's service for life. This was accomplished by pouring a specially blended oil over their heads. It was a symbol that the Spirit of God was upon this person, setting him apart for a special purpose. This was true of kings also, as they were not only to be political rulers but spiritual leaders as well, working with the prophets and priests to govern Israel. This gave the king the authority to act as ''the Lord's anointed" serving as His representative.

The anointing of David by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:13) and later by the elders of Judah (2 Samuel 2:4) and finally by the elders of Israel (the northern ten tribes) (2 Samuel 5:3) was a recognition by man of the true anointing of God upon David to be the shepherd of Israel. As the elders of Israel said, "The Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel" (2 Samuel 5:2). This was a foreshadowing of the Good Shepherd who was anointed with the Spirit of the Lord to "preach the gospel to the poor . . . to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18; Isaiah 61:1).

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES

• Give each child a tetrahedron on the life of David (see Patterns). They may color and assemble it in class as time permits.
• Interview "King David" and ask him about his life and the things he had to go through before he became king. Ask him to tell what it feels like now that he has finally been crowned king.
• Make a mobile of the life of David (see Patterns) and the ways you can use his life as an example. Use a different colored paper for each of the different pieces and string the mobile together with yarn.

Special Instructions for Unit 26: Prepare the "King David" place mat for your students. They may take the set home this Sunday.

QUESTIONS

1. Why did David finally become king?
2. God kept His word to David. Tell about a promise God made to you or your family and how that promise was kept.
3. Can men stop God's will from being fulfilled? Why or why not?
4. David had to wait a long, long time before he could be king. Talk about times when you've had to wait a while before you could do something that you wanted to do.
5. David asked the Lord what he should do. How do we get to know God's will for us?
6. How do we know that David didn't hate Saul? How should we treat someone who says or does something bad to us?
7. Why did David reign over only one tribe of Israel at first? How long was it before he reigned over all Israel?
8. What are some of the character traits of David that God looks for in us too?

PRE-SCHOOL SUGGESTIONS

• Make for each child a king from paper or a Styrofoam cup (see Patterns). Turn the cup upside down and color the king's robe. Draw a face on a small Styrofoam ball and attach it to the cup by poking two toothpicks through the head and into the cup. Fashion the arms from pipe cleaners and attach to the sides of the cup with tape or staples.
• Make finger jello from yellow jello and cut it into little crown shapes. This will make a fun snack as you talk about the crown David received.
• Give each of the children a Quality Crown to add jewels to (see Patterns). As each jewel is glued onto a point of the crown, talk about that quality in David and how it can also be a part of each of their lives; i.e., Thankful: David wrote Psalms of thankfulness—we can show Jesus we are thankful; Courageous: David was brave because he knew God would be with him—we can be brave also because God will be with us; Friendly: David was a true friend to Jonathan—we can learn to be a friend to people we know; Faithful: David had faith that God would someday make him king—we can trust God to keep His promises to us also.

REVIEW IDEAS‍

Make a large set of footprints and arrange them across the front of the area where you will be giving your review. Explain to your group that David had certain qualifications and did certain things that made him the one God chose to be king. You might say that each of these qualifications was a "footstep" leading to the goal. Call on volunteers to come forward and pick up one footprint at a time, and read the word written on it. Discuss how David exhibited this qualification, and also how we can show the same quality. Some possible word choices: thankful, faithful, obedient, willing, courageous, trusting, caring.

Adapt the Quality Crown idea from the Preschool Suggestions only have one large crown instead of small ones for each child.

Parallel David's waiting to become king, to your waiting for your birthday. Begin by holding up a large calendar with a date circled in red. Explain the significance of the date. Talk about how hard it is to wait, and why you are looking forward to it. Tell them that on your birthday you might get to wear a special party hat (put one on) and maybe you will get some new clothes to wear (put on a sweater or fancy shirt). Then explain to your group that your story today is about a young man who had to wait for something exciting. He didn't know the exact date, but he knew for sure it would happen because God had said so. When you tell them how David became king, replace your party hat with a crown. Replace your new shirt with a robe like a king might wear. (Perhaps this could be borrowed from Christmas costumes. Otherwise, a fancy piece of brocade material could work.)

SUPPORT MATERIAL

• See Support Material for this Unit
• Make Way for the King — by Eliz. Campbell Murphy
• ABC Bible Characters — by J. M. Stifle