📖

Why David Spared Saul

David Shows Mercy

Day 79of 180
Week 16of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand that David chose to respect Saul as God's chosen king

2

Learn how to show mercy to others

3

Recognize that God is in control of difficult situations

📖 Scripture Connection

1 Samuel 24:12-15

“May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you, but my hand shall not be against you.”

— 1 Samuel 24:12-15 (WEB)

Shows David's trust in God's justice and his respect for Saul's position

📦 Materials Needed

  • Bible (World English Bible)
  • Piece of fabric or robe
  • Picture of a crown
  • BibleMouse Resource Guide
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

In today's BibleMouse lesson, we'll learn about a time when David could have hurt someone but chose to be kind instead!

💭 Review Question: What did David do with Saul's robe yesterday?
2Teaching (8 min)

David was running from King Saul, who wanted to hurt him. One day, Saul came into the very cave where David was hiding!

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • David's friends said he should hurt Saul
  • David knew Saul was still God's chosen king
  • David trusted God to take care of the situation
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What would you do if someone was trying to hurt you?
  • Why do you think David didn't hurt Saul?
3Activity: Mercy Moment (10 min)
role-play

Act out the story of David and Saul in the cave

📝 Instructions:
  1. Choose one child to be David
  2. Another child can be Saul
  3. Act out David cutting a piece of Saul's robe
  4. Show how David chose not to hurt Saul
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use puppets to act out the story

Challenge: Create a short skit explaining David's choice of mercy

4Closing (3 min)

Remember, God wants us to be kind, even when it's hard!

📝 Review Questions:
  • Why did David spare Saul?
  • How can we show mercy to others?
🙏 Prayer:

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

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn more about showing mercy to others

💎 Memory Verse

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 act out shepherd and sheep movements, repeating parts of the memory verse

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson shows the importance of respecting authority and trusting God's plan

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use gentle voice when discussing difficult situations
  • Emphasize God's protection and care
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it hard to understand why David didn't fight back

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's understanding of mercy and trusting God

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a mercy journal in the BibleMouse Printables Library
  • Draw a picture of David showing kindness to Saul

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 80 →Back to Bible