David and Jonathan

Our story:

Last time we saw David kill the giant Goliath	introduce David
Was Saul happy?	face without mouth, have child draw "happy"
Saul took David home with him to his palace & made him head of the army. He succeeded in whatever he did.	Saul (with crown) shakes David's hand
The Israelites loved David, especially the women, who would dance and sing songs praising him.	Have all girls/women dance with tambourine & noisemakers, singing: "Souloh saatsei chin, chin; Daaihwaih saatsei maahn, maahn."
Was Saul happy about that?	have child draw "unhappy" mouth on 2nd face
In those days Saul was often unhappy. Sometimes he would have David sit near him and play on his harp so that the music would make him feel better.	Saul on chair, David on stool with harp
But sometimes, even the music didn't help. Once or twice, when David was playing the harp for him, Saul lost his temper and tried to spear David! But David got away safely.	Still sitting together, Saul grabs spear and goes after David, who runs away.
Now, Saul had a son called Jonathan. Even though Jonathan knew that David was destined to be king, he wasn't jealous. He and David were very good friends.	introduce Jonathan (smaller crown)
Today they are out in a field together practicing their archery.	put quiver on David; let them both try shooting a few arrows at target
David tells Jonathan that he is afraid that sooner or later, Saul is going to kill him. Jonathan doesn't want to believe this. But David is afraid to go back to the palace. So they figure out a way for Jonathan to find out what Saul's attitude really is.	(someone can be helping them shoot while this is being explained)
Jonathan says to him, okay, don't come back yet. I will come back here in three days. You be hiding behind this rock here. I will do target practice like today, and bring a boy with me to pick up my arrows. If I tell him that the arrows are beside him, then you know it is safe to come home. But if I tell the boy, you have to go farther ahead, then you will know that you need to go away, because my father really does want to kill you.	Pull stacked stools covered with blanket out as indicated hiding place. Have boys repeat instructions until David can say what he is supposed to do. They shake hands & part
That night, everybody in the palace had dinner together. Saul noticed David was missing, but he wasn't too worried yet.	all but David sit around tables, pass out small crackers to all
The second night, they all ate together again, and again David wasn't there. This time Saul asked Jonathan where he was.	2nd round of crackers.
Jonathan answered, I told him he could go home & visit his family. Saul had a huge reaction: You and David are plotting things behind my back! You're planning to betray me! He grabbed his spear and tried to kill his own son in anger, but Jonathan got away.	Saul grabs spear and tries to throw it at Jonathan, who gets up & runs away.
So on the third day, Jonathan gois back to the field and does a little target practice.	Jonathan & another boy (wearing quiver). Jonathan shoots a couple of arrows.
He tells the boy to hurry and chase the arrows that are way out in front of him. Then he has the boy bring the bow and arrows back home while he stays there.	servant boy picks up arrows and leaves
David comes out from behind the rock and they embrace. Jonathan gives him some food for his journey into exile.	they hug, Jonathan gives him some food (the leftover crackers). David leaves.

Kevin had bought some toy bow & arrows a long time ago which we never used. They really came in handy for this story; thanks Kevin! The kids weren't very good at shooting them (neither am I, if you want to know the truth, even if my highest grade ever in gym was in archery!), but it was fun to try. Having David repeat the instructions for what to listen for turned out really well. We had a new (second-time) boy playing David, who is very much smarter than any of the other boys, but this little exercise showed up his particular difficulty in concentrating on instructions. Great practice for him!

Our game could have been a craft, but I couldn't think of another game. So I had sixteen hearts cut into two in various configurations. Half of each heart was pasted to a large sheet of paper at the front of the room. The kids took turns receiving a half heart & finding its mate. I was afraid it might be too easy, but I think it was just about right. This was to illustrate how good friends are like two halves of one heart.

For craft time we made quivers from paper towel rolls (I have been saving them up for such an occasion; now I'll have to start over!) and ribbon.

Bible study was on I John 4:8-12, loving one another. I ended the study by saying that, while the Bible does say we must love with our actions and not just with words, it is also good to say it in words. So I went around the circle & told each one a reason or two that I love them. (And I really do!!) They all were a little embarrassed, perhaps, but I think they all liked it anyway!