Story Summary

We have been learning about David for several lessons now. We learned how he was anointed as King of Israel by Samuel after Saul began to disobey God. We learned how David defeated Goliath and the Philistines. We learned about how David wrote songs (called Psalms). David was also a very important King of Israel.

The War Between Saul and David

After Saul died, there was still a battle between the house of Saul and the followers of David. At first, David was made king just over the tribe of Judah, and Saul's son, Ish-bosheth (crazy name, huh?) was made King over the rest of Israel by the followers of Saul. There was a long war between the followers of David and Saul, but David and his followers kept getting stronger and stronger until eventually David won and was anointed King of all of Israel (all 12 tribes). There are a lot of details in 2 Samuel 1-4 about that series of events, and you can teach them at your discretion.

David Becomes King over Judah and Eventually all of Israel

David was 30 years old when he became King and he served 40 years altogether (7 1/2 years over just Judah and the rest of the time over all of Israel). He ruled from a town called Hebron when he was just King of Judah. But after he was made King over all Israel, they conquered a city called Jerusalem by driving out the Jebusites and the Philistines. This city became known as the "City of David".

David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem

David also gathered a large group of men to go and move the ark to Jerusalem to have it be the center of Israel again. Remember what happened to the ark just a generation before this? See 1 Samuel 4 - Eli (the one who brought up Samuel in the house of the Lord, who anointed David king over Israel) and his sons lost the ark to the Philistines in a battle (when they were both killed). Then, in 1 Samuel 6-7, we learn that the Israelites regained the ark about 7 months later after God continued to punish the Philistines for taking it, and they kept it in the house of Abinadab for the next 70 years. David wanted the ark to regain its prominence.

As they were bringing the ark into Jerusalem, it almost fell off the cart they made for it and a man named Uzzah reached out and touched it to keep it from falling. But God had given them strict instructions on how to carry it (using poles, not a cart) and told them not to touch it. God killed Uzzah as a punishment. God was very serious about how the Israelites worshiped him. After that the Israelites used the poles to carry the ark as they had been commanded from the beginning.

God's Promise to David

This inspired so much joy, in 2 Samuel 6:13-23, we see some of the most passionate worship in the Bible as David leads the Israelites in dancing, music, offerings, sacrifices, and shouting. David felt guilty that he lived in a nice house, but the ark of the covenant was still being housed in a tent (the tabernacle). So David wanted to build a more permanent house for the ark of the covenant. But before he did so, God turned the tables on him. Essentially, God tells David: "Don't worry about a house for me. I haven't needed one yet." And God begins to give David a covenant, or a promise, that he would 1) give him rest from enemies, 2) build a house for David, and 3) establish a kingdom from his offspring forever. This is clearly a foreshadowing of Jesus, who was in the line of David, establishing a kingdom and a throne that lasts forever.

So David continued to have success militarily (especially against the Philistines) and he built Israel into a great nation.

Activities

Activity 5 "Dance it out"

Time: 10-20 minutes

Materials needed from the cart (varies based on the game you choose):

• christian just dance videos below

• If they don't want to play the Christian Just Dance game they can play follow the leader.

Wrap It Up!

**Snacks can be given at this time, if needed**

-Come together and sit in a circle to talk about what they learned today. Ask them the same questions that you asked at the beginning of the day. How are their answers different now that they know more? Talk about what they can go home and tell their family. This is also a time they can update their journals (big kids only) or color the pictures (littles).

-Ask if anyone has a prayer request/praise report. Pray over requests.

-Worship time- Have the kids go find a spot to themselves and have some time with God (play the song below for around 3/5 minutes).

Worship

Energy Release!

Last Minute Filler Ideas

-Have them gather around the table and draw a picture or write a letter to their families about what they learned today.

-Play a game of some sort. (If you have the hula hoops, have them join hands in a circle and pass the hula hoop around the circle without breaking their hands)