This week it is the well-known story of David and Goliath. Obviously, this calls for some home-time drama. This story is begging to be acted out! But maybe don’t use real stones! Here’s what you need to know:
- The passage: 1 Samuel 16-17
- key verse: Psalm 47:7-8.
- Theme: God gave David power to defeat Goliath.
- The big picture question: “Who Is Our King?”
- The big picture answer: “Jesus is our King forever, and He rules over the world.”
The other part of the story is God choosing David as king. What a wonderful story of God’s view of people. 1 Sam 16:7 says
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
It is easy to be impressed by how people look. But God is unimpressed. When Samuel saw David’s oldest brother he thought “surely this is the one,” but God had other plans. God wasn’t looking for someone that was impressive on the outside, he was looking for someone impressive on the inside.
You can see why the older brothers were rejected as king. In the next chapter, while the Philistine champion Goliath is disrespecting God and His people, the brothers do nothing but complain about David. David, on the other hand, stands up for God and His people. He trusts God and obeys him without consideration of the danger. Now that is an impressive heart.
My hope for my kids is that they would have impressive hearts. Do you fall into the trap that I do sometimes, especially with my daughter. She’ll be wearing some new outfit, or put her hair in a certain way and I say “you’re cute.” Now, of course I think she’s cute. Even after she’s made mud pies, I think she’s cute. But when was the last time I noticed something about her heart and said “you’re kind,” or “you’re generous,” or “you cared for that person.” When was the last time I complimented my son, not for some activity he was in, but because he stood up for someone else, or because he was a help to someone, or because he was courteous.
Just as God looks on the heart, let me encourage you…and myself…to look at the heart of your kids this week, and point out when they have an impressive heart. Use that as a teaching tool too. When you see your son or daughter doing something kind or loving, point it out, and remind them again that God looks at our hearts.
Have a great week!
