📖

Saul in the Cave

David Shows Mercy

Day 76of 180
Week 16of 36
25Minutes
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Learning Objectives

1

Understand how David trusted God during a difficult moment

2

Learn about showing mercy to others

3

Recognize that God protects us even when we feel afraid

1 Samuel 24:1-3

When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, 'David is in the wilderness of Engedi.' Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

1 Samuel 24:1-3 (WEB)

Shows God's protection and David's trust during a challenging time

📦 Materials Needed

  • Bible (World English Bible)
  • Brown or gray blanket/sheet
  • Paper crown
  • Flashlight
  • BibleMouse Resource Guide

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

Welcome to today's BibleMouse adventure! Last time, we learned about trusting God when we're afraid. Today, we'll see how David trusted God in a very scary situation.

💭 Review Question: Can you remember a time when you felt scared but God helped you?
2Teaching (8 min)

Today's story is about David hiding in a cave from King Saul, who wanted to hurt him. Even though Saul came right into the cave, God kept David safe!

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • David was running away from King Saul
  • Saul wanted to hurt David
  • God protected David in the cave
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What do you think David was feeling?
  • How do you think God was helping David?
3Activity: Cave Hideout Reenactment (10 min)
storytelling

Create a simple cave using a blanket and have children act out the story, showing how David could have hurt Saul but chose not to

📝 Instructions:
  1. Set up 'cave' with blanket
  2. One child plays David, another plays Saul
  3. Act out the story quietly
  4. Discuss how David showed mercy
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use stuffed animals to act out the story

Challenge: Have children create a short dramatic scene about showing mercy

4Closing (3 min)

Review the main points of trusting God and showing mercy

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did David do when Saul was in the cave?
  • How did God protect David?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us to trust You and be kind to others, just like David was.

Coming up: Tomorrow, we'll learn how David showed the piece of Saul's robe to prove he meant no harm

Psalm 23:1-3

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

Psalm 23:1-3 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Shepherd Says: Play a version of Simon Says where children only move when the leader says 'Shepherd Says', helping memorize the verse through movement

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson focuses on trusting God during difficult times and showing mercy

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use gentle, age-appropriate language
  • Encourage children to share their own experiences
  • Validate feelings of fear and uncertainty
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it hard to understand complex emotions of mercy and forgiveness

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Signs of empathy and understanding of God's protection

Extension Activities

  • Create a mercy journal in BibleMouse Printables Library
  • Listen to BibleMouse Song Collection about trusting God
  • Read additional stories about David from BibleMouse Read-Aloud Library

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 77Back to Bible