Lesson 079

David And Goliath

1 Samuel 17:1-52

MEMORY VERSE
1 S AMUEL 17:47
The LORD does not sav e w ith sw ord or spear; for the battle
is the LORD S and He w ill giv e you into our hands.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Masking tape and markers.
Construction paper, Walking in Davids Steps template, crayons
or markers and a paper bag.
Small square pieces of leather or suede (approximately 3 x 3),
leather lace or string (4 pieces per child approximately 12 long), a
hole punch, ping pong balls and markers.

ATTENTION GRABBER!
How Big is the Giant?
To get an idea of how big Goliath was in comparison to David, use a
tape measure to measure out 9 9 in the center of the room. Mark
off the size using masking tape.
Have each child lay on the floor next to the measurements with
their feet at the line where you began your Goliath measurement.
Mark the childs height using a piece of masking tape. Write the
childs name on the piece of masking tape.
Have all of the children mark their height and then as a class
compare their height with Goliaths height. Why do they think it
was so important for David to trust in the Lord? Its a good thing
that God fights our battles for us!!!

LESSON TIME!
In our lesson today, we are going to study about one of the most
popular stories in the entire Bible. It is a story about a young man
by the name of David who stood before a mighty and scary giant by
the name of Goliath. David stood to fight Goliath for his nation
and for the honor of the Lord. The stakes were high, because the
victor would not only win his life, but victory over a whole nation.
In a great demonstration of faith, David moves to stand before the
giant, risking his own life and the welfare of his nation. David was
much smaller and without the same weapons and armor; yet his
confidence was not in his ability but in the Lordhe knew the Lord
would be with him. God fights our battles for us. Lets see how
our story unfolds.
S AM U E L 1 7 : 1 - 1 1
N o w t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s gat h e r e d t h e i r ar m i e s t o ge t h e r t o
bat t l e, an d w er e gat h er ed t o get h er at S o c h o h , w h i c h
bel o n gs t o J u d ah ; t h ey en c am p ed bet w een S o c h o h
a n d Az e k a h , i n E p h e s D a m m i m .
An d S a u l a n d t h e m e n o f I s r a e l w e r e g a t h e r e d
t o g e t h e r , a n d t h e y e n c a m p e d i n t h e Va l l e y o f E l a h ,
an d d r e w u p i n bat t l e ar r ay agai n s t t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s .
T h e Ph i l i s t i n e s s t o o d o n a m o u n t ai n o n o n e s i d e , an d
Israel st ood on a m ou nt ain on t he ot her sid e, w it h a
v al l ey bet w een t h em .
An d a c h a m p i o n w e n t o u t f r o m t h e c a m p o f t h e
Ph i l i s t i n e s , n am e d G o l i at h , f r o m G at h , w h o s e h e i gh t
w as s i x c u bi t s an d a s p an .

He h ad a br on z e h el m et on h i s h ead , an d h e w as
ar m ed w i t h a c o at o f m ai l , an d t h e w ei gh t o f t h e c o at
w as f i v e t h ou s an d s h ek el s of br on z e.
An d h e h a d b r o n z e a r m o r o n h i s l e g s a n d a b r o n z e
j av el i n bet w een h i s s h ou l d er s .
N ow t h e s t af f of h i s s p ear w as l i k e a w eav er 's beam ,
an d h i s i r o n s p ear h ead w ei gh ed s i x h u n d r ed s h ek el s ;
an d a s h i el d -bear er w en t bef or e h i m .
Then he st ood and c ried ou t t o t he arm ies of Israel,
an d s ai d t o t h em , "Wh y h av e y o u c o m e o u t t o l i n e u p
f o r b a t t l e ? Am I n o t a P h i l i s t i n e , a n d y o u t h e
serv ant s of S au l? Choose a m an f or you rselv es, and
let him com e down to m e.
"If h e i s abl e t o f i gh t w i t h m e an d k i l l m e, t h en w e
w i l l be y o u r s er v an t s . Bu t i f I p r ev ai l agai n s t h i m
an d k i l l h i m , t h en you s h al l be ou r s er v an t s an d
serv e u s."
An d t h e P h i l i s t i n e s a i d , " I d e f y t h e a r m i e s o f I s r a e l
t h i s d ay ; gi v e m e a m an , t h at w e m ay f i gh t t o get h er ."
Wh en S au l an d al l Is r ael h ear d t h es e w o r d s o f t h e
Ph i l i s t i n e , t h e y w e r e d i s m ay e d an d gr e at l y af r ai d .
Because the Israelites were not obedient to the Lord when they first
came into the land, the Philistines would be a problem for them
through many years. Once again, the Philistines have gathered
their army against Israel. How important that we learn to obey the
Lord.

The Israelites were at a stand still. They were just holding their
ground, too fearful to attack. Meanwhile the Philistines sent out
their champion, Goliath. Goliath was a giant and was probably very
scary to the Israelites. He carried a big sword and wore heavy
armor. Not one of the soldiers from Israel wanted to go and fight
Goliath.
War is not a game; it is a matter of life and death. In Bible days,
battle with an enemy meant hand-to-hand combat and the best
man won. It was bloody, violent, and ruthless. The winner walked
away with not only his life, but with all the spoils of victory. And
the survivors of the losing side would become slaves to the victors,
only to be oppressed. The loss of family and loved ones would be a
sorrowful reminder of the battles outcome.
Occasionally, an army would avoid the high cost of battle by
matching its strongest warrior against the strongest warrior of the
enemy, thus avoiding great bloodshed. This was the case in this
Israeli/Philistine encounter. Goliath, the Philistine champion,
challenged the Israeli army to send out a man to fight for Israel.
In the days of the Exodus, most of the Israelites were afraid to enter
the Promised Land because of the giants living there (See Numbers
13:32-33). Goliath, a towering nine feet, nine inches tall, laughed
and mocked Israels soldiers and King Saul. Who would stand up to
this monster of a man and risk his life?
1 S AM U E L 1 7 : 1 2 - 2 5
N o w D av i d w as t h e s o n o f t h at Ep h r at h i t e o f
Bet hlehem J u d ah, w hose nam e w as J esse, and w ho
h a d e i g h t s o n s . An d t h e m a n w a s o l d , a d v a n c e d i n
years, in t he d ays of S au l.

T h e t h r ee o l d es t s o n s o f J es s e h ad go n e t o f o l l o w
S au l t o t h e bat t l e. T h e n am es of h i s t h r ee s on s w h o
w e n t t o t h e bat t l e w e r e El i ab t h e f i r s t bo r n , n e x t t o
h i m Ab i n a d a b , a n d t h e t h i r d S h a m m a h .
D av id w as t he
f ollow ed S au l.

y o u n ges t .

An d

the

three

oldest

Bu t D av id oc c asionally w ent and ret u rned f rom S au l

t o f eed his f at her's sheep at Bet hlehem .
An d t h e P h i l i s t i n e d r e w n e a r a n d p r e s e n t e d h i m s e l f
f o r t y d ay s , m o r n i n g an d ev en i n g.
Then J esse said t o his son D av id , "Tak e now f or you r
br o t h er s an ep h ah o f t h i s d r i ed gr ai n an d t h es e t en
l oav es , an d r u n t o you r br ot h er s at t h e c am p .
" An d c a r r y t h e s e t e n c h e e s e s t o t h e c a p t a i n o f t h e i r
t h ou s an d , an d s ee h ow you r br ot h er s f ar e, an d br i n g
bac k n ew s of t h em ."
N ow S au l and t hey and all t he m en of Israel w ere in
t h e Va l l e y o f E l a h , f i g h t i n g w i t h t h e P h i l i s t i n e s .
S o D av i d r o s e ear l y i n t h e m o r n i n g, l ef t t h e s h eep
w i t h a k eep er , an d t o o k t h e t h i n gs an d w en t as J es s e
h a d c o m m a n d e d h i m . An d h e c a m e t o t h e c a m p a s
t h e ar m y w as go i n g o u t t o t h e f i gh t an d s h o u t i n g f o r
t h e bat t l e . Fo r I s r ae l an d t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s h ad d r aw n
u p i n bat t l e ar r ay , ar m y agai n s t ar m y .
An d D a v i d l e f t h i s s u p p l i e s i n t h e h a n d o f t h e s u p p l y
k eep er , r an t o t h e ar m y , an d c am e an d gr eet ed h i s
br ot h er s .

Then as he t alk ed w it h t hem , t here w as

the
c h am p i o n , t h e Ph i l i s t i n e o f G at h , G o l i at h by n am e ,
c o m i n g u p f r o m t h e ar m i e s o f t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s ; an d h e
sp ok e ac c ord ing t o t he sam e w ord s. S o D av id heard
them .
An d a l l t h e m e n o f I s r a e l , w h e n t h e y s a w t h e m a n ,
f led f rom him and w ere d read f u lly af raid .
S o t he m en of Israel said , "Hav e you seen t his m an
w ho has c om e u p ? S u rely he has c om e u p t o d ef y
Is r ael ; an d i t s h al l be t h at t h e m an w h o k i l l s h i m t h e
k i n g w i l l en r i c h w i t h gr eat r i c h es , w i l l gi v e h i m h i s
d au gh t er , an d gi v e h i s f at h er 's h o u s e exem p t i o n
f rom t axes in Israel."
David, the youngest, had been chosen by God to be the next king of
Israel; but at this time, he was running errands for his dad
(bringing food to his brothers) and tending sheep at home in
Bethlehem. Though still a young man, he also served as a personal
musician to Saul.
David, sent to deliver food to his brothers, now witnesses the
dilemma of the Israeli army. Goliath makes his appearance and
again challenges Israel to send a man to fight against him. David
learned that whoever defeated this giant would be richly rewarded.
1 S AM U E L 1 7 : 2 6 - 3 0
T h en D av i d s p ok e t o t h e m en w h o s t ood by h i m ,
s ay i n g, "Wh at s h al l be d o n e f o r t h e m an w h o k i l l s
t h i s Ph i l i s t i n e an d t ak e s aw ay t h e r e p r o ac h f r o m
I s r ae l ? Fo r w h o i s t h i s u n c i r c u m c i s e d Ph i l i s t i n e , t h at
h e s h ou l d d ef y t h e arm i es of t h e l i v i n g G od ?"
An d t h e p e o p l e a n s w e r e d h i m i n t h i s m a n n e r , s a y i n g ,
"S o s h al l i t be d on e f or t h e m an w h o k i l l s h i m ."

N o w El i ab h i s o l d e s t br o t h e r h e ar d w h e n h e s p o k e t o
t h e m e n ; an d El i ab's an ge r w as ar o u s e d agai n s t
D av i d , an d h e s ai d , "Wh y d i d y o u c o m e d o w n h er e?
An d w i t h w h o m h a v e y o u l e f t t h o s e f e w s h e e p i n t h e
w ild erness? I k now you r p rid e and t he insolenc e of
you r heart , f or you hav e c om e d ow n t o see t he
bat t l e."
An d D a v i d s a i d , " W h a t h a v e I d o n e n o w ? I s t h e r e n o t
a c au s e?"
Then he t u rned f rom him t ow ard anot her and said
t h e s am e t h i n g; an d t h es e p eo p l e an s w er ed h i m as
the first ones did.
The mocking words of Goliath, not only towards Israel, but also
towards God, set a fire in the heart of David. It was not so much
the reward and freedom that was offered by King Saul that caught
Davids attention, but the boastful words of the giant against Gods
people. David replied, Who is the uncircumcised Philistine, that
he should taunt the armies of the living God?
David had a different perspective than that of King Saul and his
army. When David looked at Goliath, he saw a mortal man defying
almighty God. King Saul was afraid and perplexed. David must
have been disappointed as he saw the army of Israel scared and
hopeless, but David knew that God fights our battles for us.
Eliab, his oldest brother, was not very happy to see Davids interest
in this standoff and harshly expresses his discontent with him.
Eliab may have been dealing with some jealousy and resentment
towards David. After all, his little brother had been anointed as
king; perhaps his position as a musician playing the harp for Saul
also brought jealousy. David gracefully avoided conflict with Eliab.

Though negative comments were hurled at David, David could not

be easily discouraged. He knew the importance of taking action.
With God there to fight for him, there was no reason to wait.
People may try to discourage you with negative comments or
mockery, but like David you must continue to do what you know is
right. By doing what is right, you will be pleasing God, whose
opinion matters most.

Walking In Davids Steps

Can you walk in obedience and do what God has asked you to do?
This activity will help illustrate what it means to walk in someone
elses footsteps.
For the younger children:
Cut out 20-foot prints using
construction paper (a template is provided). Make a path in your
room using the footprints. You can tape the prints down using a
loop made out of masking tape. Weave the footprints under tables,
around toy boxes and between chairs. Be creative with your
obstacle course. Have the children each step on the footprints,
but make sure that they stay on the steps.
For the older children: Choose a variety of colors of construction
paper. Cut out one-foot print for each child. Using crayons or
markers, have them print one big word on each foot (use the theme
or the memory verse). Take a large paper bag and mix all of the
feet. Have the children pick a foot and see if they can set them in
the right order (according to memory verse or theme) in front of
the classroom.
1 S AM U E L 1 7 : 3 1 - 4 0
N ow w hen t he w ord s w hic h D av id sp ok e w ere heard ,
t hey rep ort ed t hem t o S au l; and he sent f or him .

Then D av id said t o S au l, "Let no m an's heart f ail

bec au s e o f h i m ; y o u r s er v an t w i l l go an d f i gh t w i t h
t h i s Ph i l i s t i n e ."
An d S a u l s a i d t o D a v i d , " Y o u a r e n o t a b l e t o g o
agai n s t t h i s Ph i l i s t i n e t o f i gh t w i t h h i m ; f o r y o u ar e
a you t h, and he a m an of w ar f rom his you t h."
Bu t D av id said t o S au l, "You r serv ant u sed t o k eep
h i s f at h er 's s h eep , an d w h en a l i on or a bear c am e
and t ook a lam b ou t of t he f loc k ,
I w ent ou t af t er it and st ru c k it , and d eliv ered t he
l am b f r o m i t s m o u t h ; an d w h en i t ar o s e agai n s t m e, I
c au gh t i t by i t s bear d , an d s t r u c k an d k i l l ed i t .
"You r s er v an t h as k i l l ed bot h l i on an d bear ; an d t h i s
u n c i r c u m c i s e d Ph i l i s t i n e w i l l be l i k e o n e o f t h e m ,
seeing he has d ef ied t he arm ies of t he liv ing God ."
M oreov er D av id said , "The LOR D , w ho d eliv ered m e
f rom t he p aw of t he lion and f rom t he p aw of t he
bear , He w i l l d el i v er m e f r om t h e h an d of t h i s
P h i l i s t i n e . " An d S a u l s a i d t o D a v i d , " G o , a n d t h e
L O R D b e w i t h y o u !"
S o S au l c lot hed D av id w it h his arm or, and he p u t a
br on z e h el m et on h i s h ead ; h e al s o c l ot h ed h i m w i t h
a c oat of m ail.
D av id f ast ened his sw ord t o his arm or and t ried t o
w a l k , f o r h e h a d n o t t e s t e d t h e m . An d D a v i d s a i d t o
S au l, "I c annot w alk w it h t hese, f or I hav e not t est ed
t hem ." S o D av id t ook t hem of f .

Then he t ook his st af f in his hand ; and he c hose f or

h i m s el f f i v e s m oot h s t on es f r om t h e br ook , an d p u t
t h em i n a s h ep h er d 's bag, i n a p o u c h w h i c h h e h ad ,
a n d h i s s l i n g w a s i n h i s h a n d . An d h e d r e w n e a r t o
t h e Ph i l i s t i n e .
King Saul soon heard about Davids desire to fight Goliath and
summoned him.
David came before him with words of
encouragement. At first King Saul told David, you are just a kid,
what can you do? Has anyone ever told you that? God can do
some pretty amazing things through the lives of children. He can
do some pretty amazing things through your life if you will let
Him.
With boldness and faith, David assured King Saul that he could
indeed slay this giant of a man. As a shepherd he slew a lion and a
bear--it was the Lord who delivered him. This uncircumcised
Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies
of the living God."
To King Saul, his consent to send little David out to fight this giant
was like sending a lamb to the slaughter. Unfortunately for King
Saul, he had no other options; no one would stand up to this
monster. Saul thought that maybe a soldiers armor would make
the difference--at least David would look like a warrior.
King Saul tried to make a warrior out of a shepherd, but David
knew armor would not help. God would use him as he was and in
Gods care, he would have all the protection he needed. G o d
fights our battles for us. We do not have to rely on gadgets or
schemes to accomplish a task that God wants us to do. We need
simple faith in a great God who will enable us to carry out His will,
no matter how great the challenge.

1 S AM U E L 1 7 : 4 1 - 5 2
S o t h e Ph i l i s t i n e c am e , an d be gan d r aw i n g n e ar t o
D av i d , an d t h e m an w h o bor e t h e s h i el d w en t bef or e
him .
An d w h e n t h e P h i l i s t i n e l o o k e d a b o u t a n d s a w D a v i d ,
he d isd ained him ; f or he w as only a you t h, ru d d y
an d go o d -l o o k i n g.
S o t h e P h i l i s t i n e s a i d t o D a v i d , " Am I a d o g , t h a t y o u
c o m e t o m e w i t h s t i c k s ? " An d t h e P h i l i s t i n e c u r s e d
D av i d by h i s go d s .
An d t h e P h i l i s t i n e s a i d t o D a v i d , " C o m e t o m e , a n d I
w i l l gi v e y o u r f l es h t o t h e bi r d s o f t h e ai r an d t h e
b e a s t s o f t h e f i e l d !"
T h e n D av i d s ai d t o t h e Ph i l i s t i n e , " Y o u c o m e t o m e
w it h a sw ord , w it h a sp ear, and w it h a j av elin. Bu t I
c om e t o you in t he nam e of t he LOR D of host s, t he
God of t he arm ies of Israel, w hom you hav e d ef ied .
"This d ay t he LOR D w ill d eliv er you int o m y hand ,
and I w ill st rik e you and t ak e you r head f rom you .
An d t h i s d a y I w i l l g i v e t h e c a r c a s s e s o f t h e c a m p o f
t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s t o t h e bi r d s o f t h e ai r an d t h e w i l d
beas t s of t h e ear t h , t h at al l t h e ear t h m ay k n ow t h at
t here is a God in Israel.
"T h en al l t h i s as s em bl y s h al l k n ow t h at t h e LOR D
d oes n ot s av e w i t h s w or d an d s p ear ; f or t h e bat t l e i s
t h e Lo r d 's , an d He w i l l gi v e y o u i n t o o u r h an d s ."
S o i t w as , w h e n t h e Ph i l i s t i n e ar o s e an d c am e an d
d rew near t o m eet D av id , t hat D av id hast ened and
r an t o w ar d t h e ar m y t o m e e t t h e Ph i l i s t i n e .

T h en D av i d p u t h i s h an d i n h i s bag an d t ook ou t a
s t o n e ; an d h e s l u n g i t an d s t r u c k t h e Ph i l i s t i n e i n h i s
f orehead , so t hat t he st one sank int o his f orehead ,
and he f ell on his f ac e t o t he eart h.
S o D av i d p r e v ai l e d o v e r t h e Ph i l i s t i n e w i t h a s l i n g
an d a s t o n e , an d s t r u c k t h e Ph i l i s t i n e an d k i l l e d h i m .
Bu t t here w as no sw ord in t he hand of D av id .
T h e r e f o r e D av i d r an an d s t o o d o v e r t h e Ph i l i s t i n e ,
t ook his sw ord and d rew it ou t of it s sheat h and
k i l l e d h i m , a n d c u t o f f h i s h e a d w i t h i t . An d w h e n
t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s s aw t h at t h e i r c h am p i o n w as d e ad ,
they fled.
N ow t he m en of Israel and J u d ah arose and shou t ed ,
an d p u r s u e d t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s as f ar as t h e e n t r an c e o f
t h e v a l l e y a n d t o t h e g a t e s o f E k r o n . An d t h e
w o u n d e d o f t h e Ph i l i s t i n e s f e l l al o n g t h e r o ad t o
S h aar ai m , e v e n as f ar as G at h an d Ek r o n .
When David went out to the valley to meet Goliaths challenge,
Goliath is not impressed with David at all. He looked at the ruddy
young boy and despised him with a great hatred. Goliath felt
insulted that the great nation of Israel would send out a young boy
to fight against him.
David went quickly out to him with only his shepherds staff, his
sling, and some stones. As the newly appointed shepherd of his
people, David went to defend the Lords threatened and frightened
flock. God used David to protect his fathers flock; now He would
use David to protect His flock. Though Davids weapons were no
match for a warrior like Goliath, God would make the difference in
Davids battle. God fights our battles for us. Davids strength
was his reliance on the Lord (Psalm 9:10).

David had no doubt that he was not alone, because he knew that
His God would be faithful. Often times, we as Christians, face
impossible circumstances that seem like giants to us; and we feel
overwhelmed. Facing the problem on our own would mean certain
defeat. But, as Christians, like David, we can be confident that God
is on our side; and because the Lord is on our side, our enemies will
be defeated. God will see us through. God fights our battles f o r
us.
David responded confidently to Goliath that Goliath was no
matchthough he came with a sword, spear, and javelin (David
had only five small stones); for David came in the name of the
LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, the one Goliath had
defied. David boldly announced that God would indeed give
Israel victory so that all the earth may know that there is a God in
Israel and the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for
the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands." God
fights our battles for us.
With the challenge made, the giant arose and came down to meet
David. David ran down quickly to meet Goliath in battle. There
must have been quite a bit of tension in the air as all of Israel
watched this match, praying and hoping for a miracle. David knew
that this battle would be quickly over. Without any hesitation,
David slung a stone; the stone embedded into the forehead of
Goliath. Goliath fell to the ground, on his face.
When David used Goliaths sword to cut off his head, the Philistines
fled in fear; for they knew they would suffer the same fate as their
champion. The Philistine army was defeated. A young shepherd
boy, with only five small stones and a sling, led the way to victory
because God was with him.

Let us, as Christians, exhibit the same confidence as David when

faced with seemingly insurmountable difficulties; for the battle is
the Lord's. The enemy is certainly no match for us when God is
on our side. God fights our battles for us.

Davids Sling Shot

For this craft you will need small square pieces of leather or suede
(approximately 3 x 3), leather lace or string (4 pieces per child
approximately 12 long), a hole punch, ping pong balls and
markers. Using the square pieces of leather or suede, punch a hole
in each of the 4 corners. Tie one end of each of the 4 leather cords
to the ends of the piece of suede. Next give each child a ping pong
ball and allow them to color it with markers gray, brown, or black
to resemble a stone. They now have a sling and a stone that
resembles Davids in our story.
On the piece of leather or suede, allow the children to write, God
fights our battles for us, along with the scripture reference or
memory verse.

PRAYER
Lead the children in a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord that He
fights all of our battles for us. We can trust in Him in every
situation. If there are any children who have not yet responded to
the Gospel, give them the opportunity.

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