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Lesson Series

10. The Life of Paul

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©2007 David A. Jones.
All rights reserved.

OBJECTIVES: To teach that:
1. Wherever he was, David behaved wisely at all times, and did not boast of his great victory.
2. Love is shown in actions, as in the case of Jonathan who loved David as his own soul (life).
3. Jonathan was capable of appreciating the sacrifice David had made, but Saul was not thankful.
4. This same thing happens in our day, for people are not appreciative of the Lord Jesus.

SCENE 1 VISUAL AIDS: (D-2) Background divided into two halves.
(First half) Following the battle with the Philistines, figures of David talking with Saul and Abner, with the head of the giant in his hand.
(Second half) Jonathan talking with David and giving him his own possessions to show his appreciation. David, dressed in the royal garment given him by Jonathan.
DEVELOPMENT:
(First Half) - Abner, the general of the army, takes David to Saul.
- David comes into Saul's presence carrying the head of the giant, which he has cut off using
Goliath's own sword.
- Saul asks David whose son he is, for he has promised to reward whoever defeats the giant and now he must fulfill this. See 1Samuel 17:25.
- Saul seems not to have recognized David as the young man who previously played him music.
- Saul had promised that Goliath's conqueror would receive great riches, the king's daughter as his
wife and his family's freedom from taxation.
Cmt. It is not clear whether Saul kept his word completely. We know that David received Michal as
his wife instead of Merab, the older one. See 1Samuel 14.49 and 1Samuel 18.20.
Cns. Goliath's head in David's hand was evidence that a terrible enemy had been conquered by one stronger, a young man whose confidence was placed in God's power.
- Jonathan recognized David as his liberator, and he loved him.
Lsn. David’s victory over Goliath is a figure of the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ over Satan.
Cns. When a sinner appreciates what Christ has done for him, he wants to show his gratitude.
Apl. The students can be told that Christians give offerings to God and help in the work of the local
church because of their gratitude to the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Second side) Cns. Jonathan gives David his own possessions, as if to say, "You deserve it because of what you did, for you freed me from the threat of death."
- Jonathan gave David possessions that were uniquely his because of his position as prince.
- In this way Jonathan shows that he loves David "as his own soul" and is willing to renounce
everything for David.
Cns. Love is shown by visible acts. Love leads one to do something; it is not just a passing feeling or words expressed in the emotion of the moment.
Apl. The Lord Jesus Christ showed His love when He gave His life for us and now there ought to be
a response from us, a willingness to sacrifice for Him.
- Jonathan and David made a covenant between themselves. They promised to be friends forever
(1Samuel 18.3).
Apl. David was Jonathan's saviour, and when a sinner accepts Christ as his Saviour, it involves a
commitment to the Lord forever.
Sug. Before emphasizing what Jonathan did in giving his belongings to David as a sign of his
commitment to him, talk to the children about the fruit that should be seen in the life of believers
as evidence of their commitment to the Lord.
- Jonathan gave David: 1. His prince's garment; 2. his sword; 3. his bow; 4. his girdle.
- All these items would be valuable and of the best quality, for he was the son of the king.
Cns. With this act of surrender, Jonathan recognizes the lordship of David, a surrender that ought to be seen in the believer in Christ as well.
Apl.1. The act of giving his robe speaks of giving up his personal ambitions as prince.
2. The girdle is a sign of service. It was used as a case or bag to carry the articles a soldier might
need in times of war or of peace.
3. The bow and arrows typify one’s circle of influence with others, seen in the distance an arrow
might reach.
4. The sword represented his ability to exercise his control over any situation.
Apl. Giving all this to David showed he was giving him his heart.
SUMMARY OF ABOVE SCENE:
- The visual aid of Jonathan’s act of giving to David shows what was in Jonathan’s heart.
- Thankful for the victory David had obtained, Jonathan recognizes that he owes David his very life.
- Jonathan gives to David that which represents his position as prince.
- He takes the mantle he is wearing and gives it to David, along with other items of his clothing.
- He also gives him his armaments, showing that he recognizes it was David who gained the victory, and no one else deserves to be Captain and Lord.
Apl. Refer here to the Lord and what he did for us.
- He humbled Himself, going into the valley of death.
- Not only did he endanger His life, but He gave it for us.
- Jonathan responded to David just as we ought to respond to the Lord Jesus Christ who merits the
love, devotion, trust and obedience of every sinner.

SCENE 2. VISUAL AIDS: (D-7) A field with a city visible in the distance and with figures of Saul, Jonathan and David, a group of women singing and the words written "Saul has slain his thousands ... "
DEVELOPMENT:
- Saul takes David with him and on reaching the city, gives him responsibilities in his court.
- Although Saul does not realize it, will help to prepare David for his future as king.
Apl. God knows what is necessary in our lives to prepare us for our future service.
Note David lived with Saul until the king turned against him, and afterwards lived in the desert and
mountains without a home of his own. It appears he never again lived in his father Jesse’s home.
- Wherever he was, David "behaved himself wisely" (1 Samuel 18:5).
- As they traveled back to their city, women came out of every town or city they passed through,
singing and dancing with joy, celebrating the victory over Goliath. They credit David with ten
times greater success than Saul.
- The song of the women angered Saul greatly, for he was a weak king and he feared that one
stronger than himself could take the throne from him.

SCENE 3. VISUAL AIDS: (H-16) In a palace, with figures of an angry Saul recalling (in a small figure in a bubble above his head) the song of the women while David plays on his harp. Change the figure of Saul and add one of him directing his javelin (spear) at David.
DEVELOPMENT:
- Unlike Jonathan, Saul is jealous of David.
- This began when the women praised David more than Saul in their song.
- This attitude opens the door for Satan to work, and Saul once again suffers from "an evil spirit from God" that is, permitted by God.
- In his anger, Saul tries to kill David who twice avoids the javelin.
- When he is unable to kill David, Saul becomes afraid of him, realizing that the Lord had left him
and was with David.
Cns. Saul had not wanted to obey God nor give first place to God's interests, and now he suffers the results of the decision he had previously made.
- Saul's next attempt to end David's life is made when he sends David on a dangerous campaign
against the Philistines (1 Samuel 18:25).
Cns. In the life of Christ, the devil made various attempts against the Lord, trying to hinder the work
God had laid out for Him to do.
- David continued to do everything well, not returning to Saul evil for evil.
Cmt. It is important to stress this attitude of David's because it is what should be seen in a Christian today.
- Even though he was so successful against the Philistines and so beloved by the nation, David thinks of himself with humility (1 Samuel 18:23).
Cns. David is a figure of the Lord Jesus in His life and walk.

SCENE 4. VISUAL AIDS: (D-8) In a country place, figures of David who comes out of his hiding place to speak with Jonathan and in the distance, a figure of the boy that Jonathan had used to notify David, heading back to the city. In a separate space, David and Jonathan give each other a farewell embrace.
DEVELOPMENT:
- Jonathan knows that Saul has told all his servants that they must try to bring about David's death.
- It seems that Saul thinks that Jonathan would have the same jealousy that he himself feels.
- Saul knows nothing of the unselfish love and gratitude that Jonathan feels toward David, and both
had reason to be grateful.
Exm. David had freed both Jonathan and Saul from death. However, each had an opposite reaction – one loved him and the other hated him.’
Apl. It is possible that some people who have experienced salvation show little gratitude for what
God has done in their lives.
- Jonathan interceded for David, and brought about his return to the palace.
- However, Saul experienced no real change and very soon David was in danger once again.
- This is what brought about the situation where David hid in the field while Jonathan assessed what his father’s intentions were toward David (1 Samuel 20).
- By shouting his message to the boy, Jonathan notified David of his danger and, once they were
alone, the two friends said goodbye with promises to each other about the future (1 Samuel 20:41).
Cns. One sign of friendship is the concern one person has for another.
- David departs to hide himself from Saul and Jonathan returns to the city.
- The two meet only once more in Horesh, a desert area of Ziph (1 Samuel 23:16-18).
- On this occasion, Jonathan expresses his dream that one day David will be king and he will be
second to him in the kingdom.
- After making their covenant before the Lord, David remains in the hill country and Jonathan returns home.
Cns. Jonathan wants to be with David when he reigns, but is not willing to share with him in his time of rejection.
Apl. The Lord Jesus has been rejected by the world, but there is a promise for His own that those
who suffer with Him will also one day reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12).
Ccl. We ought to be on His side during this time of His rejection and of being disowned by the world.
- David experiences what later on the Lord Jesus was going to experience - rejection by a people that he had helped so much.