Sunday, September 12th
Due to his sin, the Lord has rejected Saul as king of his people Israel, but has chosen a new king. He sends Samuel to anoint this new king.
1 Sam 16: 4-5, 7-8
“Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.” “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart”.” (1 Sam 16: 4-5, 7-8)
- So Samuel was sent to anoint a new king chosen by the Lord. Who did Samuel invite to the sacrifice? Jesse and his sons
- Did the Lord choose any of Jesse’s sons who were present? No
- What does the Lord see in a person? His heart
- Do you think the Lord knows our hearts?
The Story of David & Goliath
Dear Parents,
We will spend the next few days in chapter 17 listening to the story of David & Goliath. Then we will once again join Bishop Boyea for chapter 23.
Monday, September 13th
1 Sam 17: 2-4
“ And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the valley of E’lah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philis’tines. And the Philis’tines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And there came out from the camp of the Philis’tines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.” (1 Sam 17: 2-4)
- What did you hear?
- What do you think is going to happen?
- What is a “champion”? Challenger or defender
- I wonder how tall six cubits and a span is? Approximately 9 ½ feet
Tuesday, September 14th
1 Sam 17: 8-9
“He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philis’tine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” (1 Sam 17: 8-9)
- What did you hear?
- What will happen if Goliath wins the fight?
- What will happen if Israel wins the fight?
- I wonder if the men of Israel were scared?
Wednesday, September 15th
1 Sam 17: 17-18
“And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp of your brothers; also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See how your brothers fare, and bring some token from them.” Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel were in the valley of E’lah, fighting with the Philis’tines. And David rose early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took the provisions, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the encampment as the host was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry. And Israel and the Philis’tines drew up for battle, army against army.” (1 Sam 17: 17-21)
- What did you hear?
- What did Jesse tell his son David to do? Take food to his brothers who were fighting
- Where did David go? To the front lines of the battle
- I wonder what it means to “bring back some token from them”? To bring back a report of how they are doing
Thursday, September 16th
1 Sam 17: 32-37
“And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight against this Philis’tine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philis’tine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth; and if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and struck him and killed him. Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philis’tine shall be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philis’tine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” (1 Sam 17: 32-37)
- What does David want to do?
- Does King Saul think he can win?
- Does David think he can win?
- Why does David think he can win? The Lord will be with him (David) in battle.
- Is the Lord with us when we have difficult battles? Yes! Always!
- I wonder what will happen?
Friday, September 17th
1 Sam 17: 40, 43, 45-46
“Then he took his staff in hand, and chose five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in his shepherd’s bag or wallet; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philis’tine.” “And the Philis’tine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.” “And David said to the Philis’tine, ‘You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down…” (1 Sam 17: 40, 43, 45-46)
- What did you hear?
- What do you suppose the 5 smooth stones are for?
- Do you think the Philistine Goliath was afraid of the boy David?
- Do you think David was afraid of the giant Goliath?
- Why do you suppose David was so sure he would win the battle? He had faith in God!
- Can we have faith like that?
Saturday, September 18th
1 Sam 17: 48-50
“When the Philis’tine arose and came and drew near to David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone, and slung it, and struck the Philis’tine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. So David prevailed over the Philis’tine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him; there was no sword in the hand of David.” (1 Sam 48-50)
- What happened?
- How did David win the battle? With a sling and a stone and the help of God.
- I wonder what the men of Israel thought?
- I wonder what the other Philistines thought?
- Did this seem like an impossible battle?
- Nothing is impossible with God!