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This publication is the creation of the General Council Sunday School Department of the Assemblies of God Nigeria. It is shared only with the permission of the church under the handle @revjohno. I do not assert any ownership over the content of the publication. However, as the teacher who presented the material, I am available to respond to any inquiries in the comments section. I look forward to engaging with you there!
TOPIC:
GOD PROTECTS DAVID*
BIBLE TEXT:
1 Sam 1-18, 23:1-15, 19-28
MEMORY VERSE:
I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him (Psalm 91:15b, NIV).
TARGET:
To help the child realise that God has the power to deliver him or her from the attacks of the enemy, and to learn to trust God to deliver him or her out of all troubles.
OBJECTIVES:
During and after the lesson, each child will show that he or she understands the lesson by:
- Saying how God delivered David from the attacks of Saul.
- Discussing the ways in which the Devil attacks children of God.
- Explaining what David always did before he did anything.
OUTLINE:
- David Hides in a Cave - 1 Sam 22:1-18
- David Rescues a City of Israel - 1 Sam 23:1-5
- Saul Goes after David and His Men - 1 Sam 23:6-15, 19-28 ____________________
INTRODUCTION:
David had left Saul and was going from place to place hiding so that Saul would not see him and kill him. He first went to a city called Nob where the priests lived. Ahimelech the priest helped him and prayed for him. He gave him some bread that was in the temple and gave him Goliath’s sword. From there David went to Gath and from Gath, he went to hide in a cave.
In this lesson, we shall see how David fled from Saul who continued to seek to kill him. We shall also see how God protected David from Saul.
LESSON COMMENTARY:
1. David Hides in a Cave - 1 Sam 22:1-18
In order to escape death In the hands of Saul, David went and hid In a cave known as Adullam.
When David’s people heard that he was hiding In a cave they all went to him there. His father and all his brothers went to him in the cave. Other people, all those who had problem with the government of Saul went and joined themselves to David. They were altogether about four hundred men. These people formed themselves into an army and David became their captain. David begged the king of Moab to keep his parents safe so Saul would not kill them, The king of Moab was kind to David. He kept David’s parents safe.
Later, Saul heard about David and his four hundred men. He became angry with his own men and complained that they did not want to help him. It was then that one of his men told him that David had gone to Nob where the priests lived. When Saul heard that the priest had helped David, he sent for the priest. The priest agreed that he had helped David and Saul was very angry with him and all the other priests in Nob and killed them.
2. David Rescues a City of Israel – 1 Sam 23:1-5
While David was still in his hiding place, news came to him that the Philistines were attacking a city of Israel named Keilah. When David heard it he prayed to God asking if he should go to Keilah and fight for Israel. God answered David, “Attack them and save Keilah”, The people who were with David did not think they should go. They felt it was enough of danger facing Saul’s attack; and not to face the Philistines In addition. But David went and defeated the Philistines and saved Keilah.
3. Saul Goes After David and His Men - 1 Sam 23:6-15, 19-28
Saul heard that David was at Keilah. He got his men ready to attack Keilah so he might kill David. When David heard it he prayed again and God answered him, telling him Saul was coming. Immediately David made haste and left Keilah with his men who were now six hundred men.
David fled from Keilah to a hilly village called Ziph. And though Saul was always seeking him, God did not allow Saul to harm David. After Saul received reports that David was at Ziph he went there with his men in search of David. By the time Saul arrived Ziph, David and his men had left to a desert place in Maon by a hill. When Saul reached Ziph he was told that David had left to Maon. Saul went to Maon. At Maon, Saul was at one side of a hill and David was on the other side. Saul was almost getting to reach David when news reached him that the Philistines were coming out against Israel to war. On hearing this news, Saul left attacking David and returned home to save the kingdom. Then David fled to Engedi from Maon.
It was, however, the people of Ziph who led Saul and his soldiers to where David and his men were hiding. They did this because they wanted to gain Saul’s favour. Saul thought he would get David this time. But when he came to the place, nobody was there. David had escaped because God was protecting him from harm.
God also planned that Saul Will leave chasing after David and go home that was why Saul went home when he received the news about the Philistines. God was with David. He will also be with us and protect us when we are in trouble.
APPLICATION:
It was during the war, Rose, and three other girls were in a room when they heard that some soldiers had come to the compound. Rose quickly hid herself under a small bed in the inner room. But there was a large box under the bed and this made it difficult for Rose’s legs to be hidden. They were sticking out and Rose didn’t know what to do. Suddenly her mother rushed Into the room and asked Rose where she Was and prayed for her.
Almost immediately, the soldiers came into the room and asked everybody in the room to come out. Rose thought they had seen her, but she decided to wait till they dragged her out. But the truth was that the soldiers did not see her, God had shut their eyes. To her surprise, the soldiers took the other girls and went away. They did not touch Rose. God had protected her from the eyes of evil men just as He protected David from Saul. God will always protect us when we put our trust in Him.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why couldn’t King Saul kill David? Because
(A) David ran away to another country
(B) David was wiser than Saul
(C) God was protecting David
(D) King Saul did not know how to catch David.
2. What did David do often when King Saul was pursuing him to kill him?
(A) David always complained to his father
(B) David also pursued King Saul to kill him
(C) David always prayed to God for protection
(D) David was always In the field tending the father’s sheep.
3. Who does God protect?
(A) Everyone who trusts and obeys Him for protection
(B) everyone no matter how you disobey Him
(C) God protects only pastors, reverends and their families
(D) All of the above.
4. Other sources of protection that does not last are ______ and ______
(A) Police/Arm forces
(B) Self-protection
(C) God
(D) All of the above
(E) A and B.
DAILY BIBLE DOSE:
Mon: The Ultimate Security - Ps 91:1-16
Tue: God Is Your Keeper - Ps 121:1-8
Wed: Best Form of Protection - Ps 125:1-5
Thu: Fear Not In Evil Days - Isa 43:1-7
Fri: God’s Assurance of Protection Zech 2:5 8
Sat: The Good Shepherd John 10:14-2