In this lesson, children learn that God is in charge even when people do sad and hurtful things, and that God’s plans do not fail. It suits children aged 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is always in charge, even when life is sad and things go wrong. We can trust Him to keep His promises and to take care of us.
Memory Verse
2 Samuel 18:28
Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, “All is well.” He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, “Blessed is the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!”
(WEB)
Have children stand up tall with their arms raised over their heads, then slowly lower them as they say the verse together. Lowering the arms shows how we bow before God in trust, and raising them again shows that He is still good.
The Story: 2 Samuel 18 for Kids
King David had a son named Absalom. Absalom was not kind to his father. He tried to take the kingdom away from David and made many people turn against the king. David was very sad about this, but he still loved his son.
David gathered his soldiers and organized them into groups. He wanted to go out and fight with them himself. The people said, “No, King David, you must stay here. You are worth ten thousand of us. It is better that you stay safe in the city.” David listened to them and stayed by the gate while his men marched out.
Before they left, David gave a special order. He said to his leaders, “Please be gentle with my son Absalom.” Everyone heard the king say this. The soldiers went out into a forest, and the battle was fierce. Many men were lost that day, and the forest seemed to swallow up more of them than the sword did.
Absalom was riding his mule through the forest when his long hair got caught in the branches of a big oak tree. The mule kept going, and Absalom was left hanging in the tree. A soldier saw him and told Joab, the commander. Joab was not gentle. He went to the tree and took action against Absalom, and the battle ended for that day. Joab then blew his trumpet and called the soldiers back.
Two messengers ran to tell King David the news. The first was Ahimaaz, who ran fast and was a good man. David was watching from between the two gates and saw a runner coming. The watchman said, “I think that is Ahimaaz, the good man.” Ahimaaz arrived and said, “All is well!” He told David that God had helped the king’s army win.
Then the second messenger came, and he told David the truth about Absalom. David was very sad. He climbed up to a room above the gate and cried. He said, “My son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, my son!” David loved Absalom even though his son had done wrong.
Read It Together
2 Samuel 18:3
But the people said, “You shall not go out; for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city.”
(WEB)
Point out that the people cared about David’s safety and asked him to stay in the city. Show children that God gives us good friends and helpers who look out for us.
2 Samuel 18:14
Then Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this with you.” He took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the middle of the oak.
(WEB)
Explain that this was a sad and violent moment in the story. Tell children that the Bible shows real events honestly, and that God’s plans continue even through terrible things.
2 Samuel 18:33
The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate, and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
(WEB)
Show how David was very sad and wept for his son. Help children see that it is good to share our feelings with God, and that God comforts those who are hurting.
Talk About It
- How do you think David felt when he heard the news about his son?
- Why did the people ask David to stay safe in the city?
- What can we do when we feel sad about something that has happened?
- How can we remember that God is still in charge, even when things are hard?
- Who are some people in your life who care about keeping you safe?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Safe Place
You will need paper, crayons, and markers. Ask each child to draw a picture of a place where they feel safe, such as home, a grandparent’s house, or a church. Talk about how God is with us in every safe place and in every hard place too.
Bow and Rise Movement Game
Have children stand in a circle. Call out “Bow” and everyone bends down low, then call out “Rise” and everyone stands tall again. Play a few rounds, speeding up each time. Explain that bowing shows we trust God, and rising shows that He lifts us up.
Take-Home Prayer Card
You will need index cards, a pen, and a pencil. Write “God is in charge” on the front of each card and ask the child to decorate it. On the back, have them write one thing that makes them feel safe. Encourage them to read the card with their family at bedtime.
Teacher Notes
This chapter shows that David’s family was broken by sin and that David grieved deeply over his son. Adults can see that God’s sovereignty does not mean life is always easy or that God approves of every action. The chapter reminds us that God works through even painful and complicated situations to accomplish His purposes.
Avoid overstating to children that every bad thing is part of God’s plan in a simple way. Instead, teach that God is with us in sad times and that He is good, even when we do not understand what is happening.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, we thank You that You are always in charge. When things are sad or hard, help us to remember that You are with us. Help us trust You and talk to You about our feelings. Thank You for loving us and taking care of us every day. Amen.
