Week 301 · about 45 minutes
1 Samuel 26
1 Samuel 26 · Memory verse 1 Samuel 26:17
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Queues the lesson plan, this story’s coloring page (1 Samuel 26), the matching word search and answer key (1 Samuel 26 word search), the memory-verse tracer, and a parent slip.
Five-minute object lesson
Prop: a wooden spoon
Hold a wooden spoon. Read 1 Samuel 26 in about four minutes, stopping at 1 Samuel 26:17: “Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.”” Ask, “What does this prop have to do with 1 Samuel 26?” Let two children answer, then say the memory verse together.
Story script
1 Samuel 26 is a real chapter from the Old Testament. It starts, “The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?”” That is not a motto invented for a poster. It is the first sentence a family hears when this page is opened at night.
Keep going a little further. The chapter also says, “Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain afar off; a great space being between them;” 1 Samuel 26 opens with these words: “The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?”” The line to keep is 1 Samuel 26:17: “Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.”” Carry the word “saul” from that verse into the rest of the day.
The line worth learning out loud is 1 Samuel 26:17: “Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.”” If the rest of the chapter feels crowded, hold that one sentence until the room is quiet.
What happens first in 1 Samuel 26? Then try this: Read “Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord,…” once more. What does it show you about God? You do not have to finish every verse. You can close the book after the memory verse and still have read the Bible together.
Group game
Walk the room as if you are moving through 1 Samuel 26. Every time you freeze, a child says one word from 1 Samuel 26:17. The last child says the whole verse.
Craft
On a US Letter sheet, draw one picture from 1 Samuel 26 and write 1 Samuel 26:17 under it. Send it home as tonight’s reminder, not as a decoration contest.
Memory verse
1 Samuel 26:17
“Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.””
Take-home prayer
Father, thank you for 1 Samuel 26. Help us remember 1 Samuel 26:17 when we wake up, and teach us to notice you in an ordinary night. Amen.