To Study: 1
Samuel 17:1-52.
To Read in class: 1 Samuel 17:1-11.
Memory Texts:
Younger: 1 John 3:8 “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He
might destroy
the works of the devil.”
Older: 1 John 3:8 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil
sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
OBJECTIVES. To teach that:
1. David’s visit to the battlefield was made in obedience to his father’s
will, taking food to his brothers.
2. David realized that the army was paralyzed by its fear of a giant
demanding that someone come to fight him.
3. The contest between the two champions would decide the fate of each side,
for victory or for defeat.
4. David depended on God and trusted in His power for victory.
5. This story foretells the victory obtained by Christ over Satan through
His death and resurrection.
6. The Israelites were able to live quietly afterwards. Believers can do
likewise because of the work of Christ.
SCENE No. 1. VISUAL AIDS. (E-22) Near
Bethlehem, figures of Jesse sending his son David with bread and cheese -
food for his older sons who were on the battlefield.
DEVELOPMENT:
Concerned about his sons, Jesse sends David with food for them, and to
enquire how they are.
- David, obedient to his father, leaves home to discover a previously
unknown situation in which he is to play an important part.
Apl. In this lesson, it is important to show David as a type of the Lord
Jesus, sent from the Father to “His own” with food they needed. He was
despised but in the end won a decisive victory.
- Jesse did not send a servant on this important mission but instead, his
own son.
Apl. Christ, who was sent by His Father into this world, did not bring
bread, for He IS the Bread of
Life.
Cns. We read of Christ that “He came unto His own, and His own (His
Israelite brethren) received
Him not” (John 1:11).
SCENE No. 2. VISUAL AIDS. (E-8) In the
valley of Elah, two armies, one on either hilltop. A figure of Goliath
showing his defiance and some of the words of his challenge, written out.
Inset: David before Saul and some of the armour that he chose not to use.
DEVELOPMENT:
- Israel’s army, representative of the people of God, face their enemies,
the Philistines.
- Sent by his father, David arrives and hears the challenge of the giant.
- He finds his brothers and is not well received. They falsely accuse him
and despise him.
- David realizes the powerlessness of the Israelites and their great fear of
an enemy that wishes to
enslave them.
- The Israelites had no one who could respond to the enemy that they
perceived as more powerful
than they.
Cns. No one in the world is able to confront Satan and bring salvation,
except the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Paying no attention to his brother’s failure to understand, David offers
to go against Goliath.
- This youth dares to do so, for he realizes that the Israelites are “the
armies of the living God.”
- He comes into the presence of Saul and expresses his confidence in the
Lord. He offers to go and fight Goliath.
- He does not want to use Saul’s armour, for it would be a hindrance to him,
and he is not accustomed to wearing it.
Cns. David depended on God, not on things that men provided, not even a
king.
Cmt. Saul’s armour was for self-defense. David was going on the offensive to
destroy the enemy.
Apl. Christ came into this world not to defend sinners from the enemy (Satan
and his kingdom of
death), but rather to set them free and give them a new life free from fear
(Hebrews 2:14-15).
- At other times, David had overcome the bear and the lion when they were
stealing one of his
father’s sheep.
- David realizes that “the Lord ... delivered me” (1 Samuel 17:37). His
faith is placed in the One that
can help, and this frees him from the fear of the giant that the others had.
Cns. The Israelites see a giant man and a small God. David sees the
greatness of his God and a
“small” giant.
- When David goes out to fight the giant he knows it is not going to be
merely a skirmish, but a fight to the death.
Cns. Goliath represents Satan who was overcome by the Lord Jesus through His
death and
resurrection.
Cmt. David is seen going down into the Valley of Elah to fight. After he
wins the victory, he goes
up to receive the praise of the people for his marvelous achievement.
Apl. The valley that the Lord Jesus went down into was the “valley of
death”. He suffered death,
was buried and rose again, showing that He is the Victor over the enemy.
SCENE No. 3. VISUAL AIDS. (F-15) In the
valley with a brook running through it. Figures of the two armies on either
side of the valley and the giant in the valley below with his armour bearer.
Figure of David collecting stones from the brook. Then change the figure of
David bending down for one showing him facing the giant.
DEVELOPMENT:
- The giant is offended by the youthfulness of his adversary,.
- David needed a very humble spirit to endure the rejection of his brothers,
the distrust of Saul, and
perhaps the doubts of the Israelite soldiers.
- David’s humility served him well when he listened to the insults of the
giant without becoming
angry.
- David is well aware of the great strength of his enemy.
- David’s weapons are not such as to inspire the confidence of anyone.
- He goes forth depending only on the power of God.
- The Philistine curses David in name of his gods (1 Samuel 17:43).
- David is not seeking recognition for himself but wants to show Who is the
true and living God. His
purpose is that “all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel” (1
Samuel 17:46).
SCENE No. 4. VISUAL AIDS. (E-24) Valley
scene. Figures of David cutting off the head of the fallen giant, and the
Philistines fleeing while the Israelites pursue them.
DEVELOPMENT:
- The stone reaches its mark, the giant falls to the ground, and David cuts
off the head of the fallen
enemy.
Cmt. He that freed the lamb from the mouth of the lion now sets his people
free from the power of
their terrible enemy.
- The Philistines flee on seeing their champion fallen and his head cut off
with his own sword.
- David wants the Israelites to know that “the Lord saveth not with sword
and spear” and that “the
battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47).
- The Israelites are free; thanks to the victory that David has won for
them. He is their saviour.
Apl. The Lord Jesus has freed us from the power of death through His battle
and victory over Satan.
He is our Saviour.
Note for teachers: Goliath’s sword was his principal weapon. Satan’s
“weapon” is death. As David went down into the valley to face the foe, so
the Lord Jesus came down to earth and became man. By His death and
resurrection, He won the victory over Satan. Hebrews 2:14-15 summarizes this
truth: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he
also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might
destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver
them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
.Now those who believe do not fear death. “O death, where is thy sting? O
grave, where is thy victory? .. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55, 57). |
