Children

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David, Just A Shepherd

David was just a shepherd. That's it. Nothing special at all. Just a little guy who babysat sheep. Right?
Wrong! Do you have any idea the dangers you face as a shepherd? There's lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) out there!
Anyway, back to David. He was a cute little fella who carried around a harp and some weapons to face those lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) with. Let's see what kind of weapons he was carrying. (Have a guy dressed in camo whose name is "David" come in with a bag of weapons to unload.) {As he unloads the weapons and lays them on the table, make a big deal about the cool weapons. Go on a few minutes and see if the kids have figured out the whole wrong David thing... if not, clue "David" in that he's not the "David" you were talking about and that the David you were going to tell about didn't quite have those kind of weapons, in fact, in Biblical times, there weren't those in existence.}
The David I would like to introduce to you (real David comes in carrying his harp and slingshot which is tucked into his belt, not really obvious and sits down and begins to play the harp and sing softly) carried much smaller weapons and, I believe, it took more guts to face lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) with it than with any of those!! (Camo David turns around and looks at leader kind of angry or shocked – ad-lib whatever.)
David fought lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) with a harp! Wait! I meant to say a slingshot and some stones, the beautiful music distracted me. David was a very loyal son and always did his absolute best to take care of his father's sheep. Whenever lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) came looking for food, David showed his bravery by facing them. He also showed his trust in the Lord, his heavenly father. He knew he couldn't defeat the lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) on his own, he needed God's help.
David took out the harp often and gave thanks to Father God through the songs he sang. He was very compassionate and loving. (David sings a random Psalm --- can be any random phrase they think of or a verse from Psalms but needs to be a "love" type of phrase). {Ps. 9:1 works well "I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of your wonders." or vs. 2 "I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."}
One day, a prophet, named Samuel came to the home of Jesse, David's father. Samuel was sent by God to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be used of God in the future in a great way. (whisper while blocking the side of your mouth toward David so as to give the impression you don't want David to know "He was going to be King of Israel when King Saul died." --- David reacts to the news but so that teacher doesn't see...). After Jesse brought the first 7 sons to Samuel, oldest to youngest, Samuel hadn't anointed one yet. He asked Jesse if there were any more sons, he responded that there was one more, but he was nothing at all, the youngest son. Just a kid that babysat sheep. Samuel decided to wait for them to bring David to him.
When he saw David, Samuel knew he was the one and anointed him (whisper... "to be king" while blocking mouth again --- David reacts excitedly but without teacher seeing). Why would God choose David to be future king? The answer is that David was a man after God's own heart. What?? How would we know that and why would he be? We know because it's in the Bible and why God called him that is because David had the characteristics of God. He was loving, faithful, and served God and others. There are many great characteristics David had. He was merciful, gentle, and compassionate.
And when he had to face a giant of a problem, he showed faithfulness, passion, and trust in God by screaming out, "I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down!" Then he flung a stone and the giant came tumbling down. (oh my!)

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