In this lesson, children learn that God takes care of His people even when they are treated unfairly, and that He can turn a bad situation around. This lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God takes care of His people, even when other people say unkind things about them or push them away. We can trust Him when life feels unfair.
Memory Verse
1 Samuel 29:6
Then Achish called David, and said to him, “As the LORD lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight; for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords don’t favor you.
(WEB)
Hold both hands out in front of you, palms up, like you are receiving a gift. Then lift them up toward the ceiling as you say the words slowly together. Repeat it three times, making the motion bigger each time.
The Story: 1 Samuel 29 for Kids
David was a young man whom God had chosen to be the next king of Israel. But King Saul was still on the throne, and he was jealous and angry, so he chased David everywhere. David had to live far away from home, and for a long time he lived among the Philistines, who were enemies of Israel.
One day the Philistines gathered their armies to fight against Israel. David and his men marched along at the back of the group with a Philistine king named Achish. Achish trusted David and had watched him for a long time. He said, “I have found no wrong in you.”
But the other Philistine leaders did not trust David at all. They were angry and said, “Send this man back. He might turn on us in the middle of the battle!” Achish felt sorry, but he could not argue with his leaders.
So Achish called David and told him the hard news. He said, “You have been good to me. But the other lords do not want you to go to battle with us, so please go home in peace.” David was surprised and asked what he had done wrong, because he had done nothing to deserve this.
Achish told David to get up early in the morning and leave. So David and his men got up before sunrise and went back to their own land. The Philistines continued on to fight Israel without David.
Read It Together
1 Samuel 29:1
Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek; and the Israelites encamped by the spring which is in Jezreel.
(WEB)
Point out that the Philistines and the Israelites were getting ready to fight each other. Explain that Israel was camped near a spring, and that this was a big, tense moment for everyone.
1 Samuel 29:3
Then the princes of the Philistines said, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, “Isn’t this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell away to today?”
(WEB)
Show children how Achish spoke well of David. Ask them to notice that a person can be treated fairly by one friend and unfairly by another.
1 Samuel 29:9-10
9 Achish answered David, “I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God. Notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 Therefore now rise up early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you; and as soon as you are up early in the morning, and have light, depart.”
(WEB)
Help children see that Achish was kind and also had to obey his leaders. Point out how David was sent away early in the morning, showing that God was in charge of what happened next.
Talk About It
- How do you think David felt when he was sent away from the battle?
- What is something that felt unfair to you, and what did you do about it?
- Why do you think Achish said good things about David even though his leaders were angry?
- How can we remember that God is still with us when people treat us badly?
- What is one way you can show kindness to someone who is being treated unfairly?
Activity Ideas
Paper Plate Shield Craft
You will need paper plates, markers, crayons, and tape or glue. Let each child draw a picture of God protecting them on the front of a paper plate, like a shield. Tape a craft stick to the back so they can hold it. Talk about how God is our shield when we feel attacked or treated unfairly.
Follow the Leader Game
Choose one child to be David and another to be Achish. Have them stand at opposite ends of the room while everyone else gathers in the middle. Make the group march back and forth while the leader calls out “go in peace,” and then have everyone sit down quietly. Talk about how even when we must go a different way, God still knows where we are.
Trust Jar at Home
You will need a clear jar and some small slips of paper. Each day, have the family write down one thing that felt unfair or hard, then fold it and put it in the jar. At the end of the week, read the slips together and pray that God will help with each one. This helps children practice bringing their hard feelings to God.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God is faithful even when His people are rejected, misunderstood, or sent away from what they hoped to do. David’s story reminds us that God works through unexpected people and situations to keep His promises, even when we cannot yet see how.
With children, avoid suggesting that God will always make unfair situations turn out the way we want right away. Instead, focus on the fact that God is with us and cares for us, even when we do not understand what is happening.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You that You take care of us, even when people are unkind or things feel unfair. Help us trust You when we feel left out or sent away. Remind us that You are always with us and that You see everything. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
