Leader guide cover art

David and Goliath

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Flex (Multi-Age)Year 2Unit 5Session 4
4

David and Goliath

This is a FREE sample session of DWELL. The entire session is below, except for accompanying PDFs (song lyrics, printable resources). To receive an email with links to PDF samples of all DWELL leader and children resources, please use our Get Samples form.

Scripture
1 Samuel 17
Focus
David trusted God to save him from Goliath.
Faith Nurture Goals
  • Delight in the way God used young David to win a great victory.
  • Wonder at the way David trusted God to protect him.
  • Tell what the story shows about God.

Session Outline

Leader Reflection

Preparing to Tell God's Story

Yes, you've been eager to tell this story. And why not? No matter how many times we've heard it, the courage, suspense, and adventure grab us anew with every encounter. But don't miss the even more exciting and deeper story of faith that underlies it all.

Just before this story begins, in 1 Samuel 16, we learn that "the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul." When the leader is "Spiritless," all of their followers will become dispirited as well. Mighty King Saul is camped on one side of the Valley of Elah, with the Philistines on the other. The valley between is a no-man's land, because the giant Goliath has challenged Israel to settle the battle one on one: "This day I defy the armies of Israel. Give me a man and let us fight each other." The whole army of Israel, from Saul down to the lowliest foot soldier, cowers in fear.

Along comes David. His older brothers are all in the army of Saul, but David was evidently deemed too young and inexperienced to serve in this way. Instead he brings sandwiches to his soldier brothers. While he is there Goliath bellows out his usual challenge. Interestingly, David is not only interested in the reputation of the God of Israel but in his own advancement. "What will be done with the man who kills the Philistine....? Then he expresses his scorn for Goliath: "Who does he think he is 'that he should defy the armies of the living God'?" The Bible is honest about people. David isn't all courage and pious talk; he also wants to get ahead—he's got ambition, which is quite possibly another factor that makes him a "man after God's heart" (vs. 18).

David's defiance gets him an audience with the king himself, who is both astounded and skeptical that this mere boy might even consider going against Goliath. But David convinces Saul to at least give him a chance. "Go," the king responds, "and the Lord be with you." (Unable to catch Saul's verbal inflection, we wonder whether this reply was an expression of faith or of desperation.) Next we see David stumbling out of the camp under the weight of Saul's full armor, looking ridiculous and feeling hampered and useless.

As soon as he gets far enough away from the Israelite camp, David dumps down the armor, takes his staff in hand, stoops to choose five smooth stones from a brook nearby, and sets off to meet Goliath armed with what the giant had mockingly referred to as sticks and stones. The fact that David is so young, so small, and so ill-equipped seems to enrage Goliath all the more. But David only grows in faith and courage. To his credit, he identifies and names his true champion—it isn't himself but "the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." Now we know what this is really all about, the reputation of God's covenant name and the well-being of his people.

David's very lack of the typical accoutrements of battle makes clear the real point: "it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's...."

This was a clear-cut case of faith in God, combined with stealth, cunning, and skill. David snuck up on Goliath, who, we might conjecture, hadn't seen the slingshot but only the staff. With a practiced shepherd's skill, David swirled the slingshot, let the stone fly, and landed it right on Goliath's exposed head. Goliath dropped dead on the spot, "face down on the ground"—the attitude of slavery. Ironically Goliath, who had vowed to make slaves of the Israelites, now lies face down before this kid, this spunky shepherd boy. David takes Goliath's enormous sword and slices off the giant's head.

As God's story continues we will hear a lot more about David. It isn't all positive, to be sure. An unfaithful husband and less than exemplary father, David will fail. But, the Bible seems to tell us, David, with his qualities of greatness, is the best that we as human beings can expect. Until the Son of David comes along, who will give humanity a whole new start, wrestling with the powers of hell on the cross.

Steps

Step 1 Breathe

Re*formed

It’s important to look at this story with a holistic worldview. If we see it only as a story of faith we will miss the complexities of how faith operates in real life—with familiar weapons and picking the right stones. On the other hand, if it’s just about David’s skill and courage we will inspire a kind of hero-worshiping mentality in which the strongest and brightest can get the job done. A balanced view: God is at work—but he’s at work through us.

Use this time to focus your attention on God.

Do this with me: calm your head, heart, and hands as you slowly breathe in . . . and out. (Demonstrate a few deep "in and out breaths" with eyes closed.)

Step 2 Tell and Wonder

Let's enter God's story together. Here's the story symbol for the part of God's story that we'll be spending time in today. I wonder what clues it gives us about the story we're about to hear? (Show the story symbol. Accept any answers without giving away whether or not the kids have guessed correctly.)

Listen closely as we read the story together to see which story our symbol represents.

Read "David and Goliath" aloud, pausing throughout to allow children to answer the wondering questions. NOTE: It's always a good idea to read through the story beforehand so you'll be able to tell it well.

You can also read the story from a children’s Bible or a simplified translation of Scripture like the New International Reader's Version (NIrV). Remember to pause throughout to allow time to wonder.

Story: David and Goliath 

1 Samuel 17

Open your Bible to 1 Samuel 17 and point out where the story is found. 

The story follows:

When God’s first king, Saul, stopped following God, God had Samuel, the prophet, anoint David, a shepherd, to be king. But David didn’t become king immediately the moment he was anointed. He had to wait until it was the right time. So day after day David continued to care for his sheep. Maybe as he did he also remembered that God was there, taking care of him and keeping him safe. 

How do you feel when you remember that God always takes care of you? (Pause for responses.)

One day David’s father gave him a job to do. “Your brothers are fighting the enemy with the rest of the king’s soldiers. Bring them this bread and cheese. Then come back and tell me how they are doing” his dad said.

So early the next morning David set off to find his brothers. After walking all day he came to the place where his brothers and the other Israelite soldiers were camped on a hill.

On another hill nearby, David could also see the camp of the enemy soldiers—the Philistines. Quickly David ran to greet his brothers.

Just then a very tall man named Goliath stepped out of the Philistine camp and called out to the Israelites: “Aren’t you going to come fight me? Aren’t the Philistines and Israelites at battle? Choose someone to come and fight me. If he wins, then we will be your servants. But if I win, you will be our servants.”

How do you think the Israelites felt when they heard Goliath’s words? (Pause for responses.) Do you think anyone was willing to fight Goliath? (Pause for responses.)

The Israelites shook with fear. Some even ran away. Not a single one of them dared to fight Goliath.

David heard Goliath shouting too. As he watched and listened he asked. “Why won’t anyone fight this man? Who is he that he should taunt and tease God’s people?”

Everyone was talking about what David had said, and eventually King Saul heard and sent for David. David told King Saul, “Do not fear this Philistine. I will go and fight Goliath.” But Saul responded, “Why, you’re too young. How can you fight this man, who has been fighting for years?”

How do you think David will answer this question? (Pause for responses.) How would you answer this question if you were David? (Pause for responses.)

But David said to the king: “When I am taking care of my sheep I have to fight lions and bears that try to carry away my lambs. God always keeps me safe! So I know for sure that God will protect me from this man too.”

So King Saul sent David with his blessing saying, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” He gave David his own coat of armor and a sword but it wouldn’t work for David so he gave it all back to the king. He picked up his shepherd’s staff and his slingshot and chose five small stones from the stream to put in his pocket.

How do you think David felt as he got ready to fight Goliath? (Pause for responses.)

David approached Goliath. The Philistine, even taller up close, moved forward and came near David. When Goliath saw David, he was annoyed by him and that the Israelites had sent someone so young. “What do you think I am? A little dog?” he said. “Come here…I’ll  destroy you!”

David shouted back, “You carry a large sword and spear to protect yourself. But I come in the name of the Lord God Almighty! Today the Lord will help me win this fight.” Then he put one stone into the slingshot. He twirled the slingshot around and around, and hurled the stone straight at his enemy. The fast-moving stone hit Goliath right in the forehead, and down he crashed. David had killed Goliath!

The Israelites cheered, and the soldiers chased the frightened Philistines away.

God was pleased with David because he trusted God to take care of him. David remembered that God was always with him. And God blessed and watched over him. And when the time was right David became the new king of God’s people. 

After pausing for the story to settle in, gather for a time of relaxed and reflective discussion. You might use questions like these:

  • What do you wonder about this story?
  • What do you wonder about God after hearing this story?
  • What do you wonder about yourself after hearing this story?
  • What does this story show us about God?

Step 3 Pray

Materials

  • index cards

  • markers

Distribute index cards and markers to the children. Ask them to write down or draw one or two situations that are going on in their lives for which they would like to ask God to give them the faith and courage to overcome. If the children feel comfortable, invite them to share one or two of the items they have written down, either together as a group or in smaller groups of two or three. 

Close your time by praying as a group about the “giants” in their lives. Ask God to give them strength and confidence to trust God’s power and might.

See 5 Ways to Pray with Kids for other ways to pray.

Step 4 Respond

Files

Select and do one or more of the response activities from God’s Big Story card #46 or check out 5 Ways to Retell a Bible Story with Kids for some fun ways to retell this story. Include older kids in the retelling by having them read the story aloud while the younger children act it out.

Use the Flex Family Resources to encourage and equip families to form faith at home by posting the shareable image or sending home the printable page (see Step 4 files). Both will point families to God’s Big Story cards* so make sure families have those as well! Additional details can be found in 3 Simple Ways to Help Families Form Faith at Home With DWELL Flex Family Resources.

*God's Big Story cards can be ordered from DwellCurriculum.org/Cards.

Easy Extras

1. Story Pictures

Materials

  • colored construction paper

  • David and Goliath figures printable page

  • tiny pebbles or stone shapes cut from paper (five per child)

  • glue or glue sticks

  • crayons or markers

Provide kids with the materials listed so they can create pictures of today’s story. After coloring the figures of David and Goliath, they can glue them onto construction paper. They can add background details—a stream with the five stones, the sun, clouds, the two army camps, King Saul, and more—with markers or crayon or by tearing construction paper into shapes and gluing them onto the page. 

Older children can write out a caption to describe the story or a verse from the Bible story, such as 1 Samuel 17:37.

2. Age-Specific Activities

Click below to access the full age-specific Dwell session for this story: