GOD GAVE DAVID COURAGE TO FIGHT GOLIATH
Bible Story Based on 1 Samuel 17:1-51.
Preparation: Find a picture of Goliath in your files or on-line and print two copies. Cut out the face of one and paste on a wall 9 feet up, if your room is that big! (Another option is to use a large Lego Hero Factory figure and a small Little People person to show the difference in sizes.) Find pictures of soldiers in Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine uniforms.
Discussion: Have you ever been really afraid like when a big dog chased you, or you heard a thunderstorm at night, or something else? Would you be willing to share with us what happened and how you felt? When we are afraid, sometimes our hearts beat really fast: thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump. During the Bible story when you hear me say, “heart beat” I would like for you to all say together, “thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump.”
Who is the tallest person you can think of? (Show me with your hand about how tall you think they are.) All of these people you know are very, very tall. The Bible tells us about a man who was even taller — he was this tall (point to the face of Goliath or show the cardboard tube & TP roll). His name was Goliath. He was a soldier for the Philistine army.
Soldiers often wear uniforms. Have you ever seen a soldier dressed in a uniform? (Show pictures.) Goliath also wore what would be like a uniform to protect him – a bronze helmet on his head; a heavy, bronze armor coat; bronze shin guards on his legs; and a really, really big spear called a javelin. (Show a picture of Goliath.)
Story:
Goliath feared no one! He looked down and yelled to the armies of Israel: “I’m ready to fight. Choose a man from your army to come fight me.”
Because Goliath was so VERY, VERY big — King Saul was scared of him and his heart beat thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump. The soldiers fighting for Israel were terrified of Goliath and their hearts beat thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump. “What are we going to do?” they would ask as their hearts beat thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump. No one was brave enough to fight this huge giant. Everyone paced around wondering what was going to happen as their hearts beat thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump.
A young boy named David was at the battlefield because his older brothers were fighting there. When David saw Goliath, his eyes grew big and wide while his heart beat thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump. This man was REALLY, REALLY, REALLY big! But David did not like the way the giant was talking to the armies of the living God. Since none of his brothers — and none of the soldiers — were volunteering to fight the giant, David went to the king and said: “I’ll fight Goliath.”
David knelt alongside a small brook and took one. . .two. . .three. . .four. . .five smooth stones. He opened his shepherd’s bag and placed the stones inside. David ran toward the giant with only his shepherd’s staff and sling. David’s heart beat thump-thump-thump but God gave David courage to face his fears as he walked closer and closer and closer to Goliath.
David said to the giant: “You come at me with a sword and spear. But I come to you in the name of the Lord. Today the Lord will conquer you. This battle is the Lord’s.”
David loaded his sling. David took aim. David slung his sling in a circle. David let it go. The stone shot through the air and hit Goliath between the eyes with a THUNK. The giant crashed facedown into the dirt. With God’s help, the small shepherd boy David killed the giant Goliath and won the battle for the king of Israel.
Bible Verse: “Be strong and courageous…for the Lord your God will be with you” (Joshua 1:9).
Song: “Be Strong” from the Workmanship album.
Be strong (repeat)
And of good courage (repeat)
Do not be afraid (repeat)
Nor be dismayed (repeat)
For the Lord your God is with you
For the Lord your God is with you
For the Lord your God is with you
Wherever you go