The annointing of God’s Spirit abides within His people (1 John 2:27). One need not wait for the anointing to “hit” him in the service to sing spiritual songs. One releases the anointing by faith.
Ask God to Listen to our Heart: David so often was called 'a man after God's own heart.' Yes, David goes on to make several big mistakes during his time as king. But at his heart, David is a man of great faith, which is shown in his prayer. He recognizes that he is the Lord's servant; he recognizes that he would have nothing without God; he recognizes God is great and powerful. David's prayer is a prayer we should pray quite often ourselves. It is a praise prayer; it is humble; it is faithful. David really is a man after God's own heart.
If you were to ask a child today who David was as I recommend you do the answer would probally be "the boy who killed the giant" Yes this is one of the greatest events in the Bible indeed, and that is what we have taught our children through the years, the point we must make is that Faith casts away all fear. Children seem not to understand that David was chosen, King, shepherd, musician, anointed. So though we have spoken in this lesson below about David and Goliath we like to center more around Faith released the anointing and takes away fear. So please don't center on the killing of the giant, rather the release of faith in times of fear. It is like the shield craft we use, rather than the sword. In today's world everywhere their is talk of weapons, swords, killing. We must focus on FAITH. You can also use our Shield Craft in this Lesson series.
Like in all our programs we want children to understand that Faith conquers Fear. That through Faith we become the anointed of God. David was chosen indeed. But our children when they take upon the name of Jesus Christ and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour are now also the chosen? And thus through the Faith that David had he had no fear. Fear and Faith cannot occupy the same space? The words outlined in Red are the things that the teacher should stress on in this lesson series. The lessons should go over a month or even two.
Objectives: Prayer: teach children about prayer humble, simple and from the heart. Faith overcomes Fear/ Chosen people Christians/Shepherd/Anointed/Obedience listening to what God tells us/Praise God in all things even what we see as bad or hurts us/That God never leaves us even when we focus on other things and fall down/Music has more power than weapons/ Memory: The 23rd Song
Craft: The nylon harp craft will take some preparation. They must be drilled. Depending upon how many strings you choose to place on the harp. I use and recommend three. This deals with the number three in the Bible and also relates to the Holy Spirit. Father,Son,Holy Ghost.
David Bible Study and Harp Craft.
David, from the Hebrew word pronounced daw-veed, meaning beloved, is one of the best known people of all of the Scriptures (see Old Testament Fact File and Ne Testament Fact File). David was of the tribe of Judah (see Children of Jacob and The Chosen People), and is a direct physical ancestor of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17)
David was born about 1040 B.C., the eighth and youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem (see also Ruth). Little is recorded of David's parents - Jesse was apparently of modest means, and there is no record of David's mother's name.
David's appearance is not known in great detail, however we do know that he was described as handsome, had red hair (i.e. "ruddy"), and was relatively short in stature (1 Samuel 16:12, 17:42).
David was a Shepherd which out of necessity at the time also taught him fighting skills when defending the flocks from predatory wild animals, including lions and bears (1 Samuel 17:34-35). In quieter times, he also developed his musical skills with the flute and harp.
Shepherd: It is important that you take some time and talk about A Shepherd. Jesus used a Shepherd as in the days of David most everyman was a Shepherd. Moses, Noah, David, Abraham, they all were shepherds.Shepherds were, and are, those who tend, feed, and guard flocks of sheep. They are mentioned very often in The Bible. I like to teach the children the Hebrew for the word if it is not hard. The Hebrew word in the Old Testament is pronounced raw-aw. Like in all our programs we like to stress the tools or equipment. In this lesson we like to use THE STAFF or shepherds crook. We use candy canes if they are available for you. The other thing in our Music program is the flute.
Equipment typically carried by Biblical shepherds included: The last 2 items in the above list are referred-to in the beautiful 23rd Psalm, written by David, as translated here in the classic King James Bible of 1611 -
"The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
For Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of The Lord for ever."
After God rejected the foolish and corrupt Saul, Israel's first king, He sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint David as the successor (1 Samuel 16:1-13). The transition would be gradual however. David returned to caring for the sheep, but "The Spirit of The Lord came upon David from that day forward," (1 Samuel 16:13) and "The Spirit of The Lord departed from Saul" (1 Samuel 16:14).
David served King Saul from time to time as a musician and armor bearer (1 Samuel 16:21-23). It is quite certain that Saul did not yet know that his young harp player would soon take his place as king. If he had, he would have killed him - just as he actually tried to do over and over again later.
Then followed one of the most famous incidents of The Bible - David And Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-58) in the valley of Elah, about 15 miles / 24 kilometers southwest of Bethlehem. David's defeat of Goliath put the Philistines to flight and resulted in a great victory for Israel. The heroic act made David a favorite of the people, much to the disfavor and jealousy of Saul (1 Samuel 18:6-16). From then on, Saul wanted David killed, and personally made a number of attempts (1 Samuel chapters 18-30).
When Saul made his first attempt to kill David, the young shepherd fled to Samuel in Ramah where he was given refuge for a time among the prophets (1 Samuel 19:12-18). Some are of the opinion that David composed the 6th, 7th and 11th Psalms while he was there.
When Saul discovered David's whereabouts, David fled again, this time to Nob (1 Samuel 21:1-9), and then to Gath among the Philistines. The Philistine king refused him, so David continued over to Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1-4, 1 Chronicles 12:8-18) where 400 men joined him and accepted him as their leader.
In the mean time, upon the orders of Saul, Doeg the Edomite murdered 85 priests and their families who had innocently given refuge to David at Nob. The news of the massacre reached David by the sole survivor, Abiathar, a son of the high priest Ahimelech (1 Samuel 22:11-23)
For a while, David found himself in the rather bizarre situation of fighting Saul's enemies and fleeing Saul at the same time. David and his men drove the Philistines from Keilah (1 Samuel 23:1-14) and then moved to the hill country of Judah to escape Saul. While there, David met with Jonathan, Saul's son, who had been, and always remained, a loyal friend with David (1 Samuel 23:16-18). Jonathan was killed in battle with the Philistines not long after.
Although Saul would readily have killed David, David refused to lift his sword against Saul. David actually saved Saul's life on occasion during all the time that Saul was hunting him (1 Samuel 24:10, 26:9). David remained a fugitive until Saul was killed in battle against the Philistines near Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:1-6)
Upon Saul's death, David went to Hebron where he was anointed as king of Judah, according to The Lord's instructions, at about age 30 (2 Samuel 2:1-4). A seven and a half year civil war followed between the forces that supported David, and those that supported Ish-bosheth, Saul's only surviving son, for the kingship of all Israel. The military and political situation grew steadily in favor of David however, and when Ish-bosheth was assassinated, David was anointed king over all Israel (2 Samuel 4:1-12, 5:1-5).
David then moved his capital from Hebron to Jebus, an earlier name for Jerusalem: "The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here." Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David." (2 Samuel 5:6-7 NIV)
David then brought The Ark Of The Covenant to the new capital city of Jerusalem (2 Samuel chapter 6) (in illustration above) from the house of Abinadab (2 Samuel 6:3) at Kirjath-jearim, about 7 miles / 11 kilometers from Jerusalem, where it had been for many years. It was during this movement that The Lord put Uzzah to death for touching The Ark (only the Levites were permitted to touch it). David then became afraid to have The Ark in the City of David, so he left it in the house of Obed-Edom, a Philistine from Gath (2 Samuel 6:9-11). Three months later, David brought The Ark to Jerusalem where it was placed in a new tabernacle that David set up for it. It had been about seventy years since The Ark had been in the original Tabernacle In The Wilderness (see also What Happened To The Tabernacle?).
David's rise to greatness was characterized by great territorial gains for Israel (2 Samuel 8:1-14). Within a relatively short period of time, he ruled from The Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates River in the The Tigris-Euphrates Valley (2 Samuel 8:3-13) (see also Solomon's Kingdom).
As has happened with so many of the great, David's success was focused too heavily on material gains, and it corrupted him. His committing of adultery with Bathsheba, and the murder of her husband Uriah in an attempt to cover it up was perhaps the darkest event of his life. David truly repented of it, and God did forgive him.
David's troubles were far from over however. His many wives and children were constantly in fierce competition with each other within the family. One of David's sons, Amnon, assaulted his step sister Tamar, for which the girl's brother Absalom killed him. Absalom later attempted to take over the kingdom from his father David which triggered a civil war.
Despite his human faults, David was always a dedicated and repentant man of God who served God's purpose in that stage of Bible History. After a reign of forty years and six months (2 Samuel 5:5, 1 Chronicles 3:4) David died at the age of seventy, "and was buried in the city of David." (1 Kings 2:10-11)
David is chosen 
God withdraws his favor from King Saul and sends the prophet Samuel to Jesse, "for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." The choice falls upon David, the youngest son, who is guarding his father's sheep: "He was ruddy, and fine in appearance with handsome features. And the LORDsaid [to Samuel], 'Anoint him; for this is he.'" David was chosen of God. Anointed. His music was annointed.
This is the heart of the Lesson. That music is such a powerful tool especially when it is anointed of God. The promise is made that God’s people will sing new songs of victory unto the Lord in times of trouble as they confront the enemy and will not suffer defeat as did the Israelites. The Lord will “…break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely”. (Hosea 2:18). God has purposed victory and peace as we sing songs of victory.
David plays the lyre before Saul [The harp craft]1 Samuel 16:23. This passage records Saul as being in spiritual bondage to an evil spirit. David played an anointed song on his harp, and the evil spirit departed from Saul. Anointed music caused the power of the enemy to be broken and his spiritual bondage to be loosed. The same power of God accompanies anointed christian singers today whose spiritual songs can bring deliverance from the devil. This power can also be released through "songs without words" - not only ministry in song but deliverance ministered on musical instruments without words. It is the “anointing” which breaks the yoke (Isa.10:27).
Saul is tormented by an evil spirit. His servants suggest he send for David, "skillful in playing [the harp], a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence; and the LORD is with him." So David enters Saul's service, and finds favour in his sight, "and whenever the evil spirit was upon Saul, David took the harp and played it with his hand; so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." (1 Samuel 16:14-23)
Harps were most likely independently invented in many parts of the world in remote prehistory. It is often said that the harp's origins may lie in the sound of a plucked hunter's bow string; the converse is equally possible. A type of harp called a 'bow harp' is nothing more than a bow like a hunter's, with a resonating vessel such as a gourd fixed somewhere along its length. To allow a greater number of strings, harps were later made from two pieces of wood attached at the ends: this type is known as the 'angle harp'.
The oldest depictions of harps without a forepillar are from 4000 BCE in Egypt and 3000 BCE in Persia While most English translations of the Bible feature the word 'harp', especially in connection with King David, the Hebrew word is actually nevel, a type of lyre with 10 strings and not a harp at all. The kanun is a descendant of the ancient Egyptian harp and was introduced to Europe by the Moors during the Middle Ages
David and Goliath [ We like to use the fear toss and the craft of the Shield of Faith]
The Israelites are facing the army of the Philistines. David, the youngest of the sons of Jesse, brings food to his brothers who are with Saul. He hears the Philistine champion, the giant Goliath, challenge the Israelites to send their own champion to decide the outcome in single combat. David takes the challenge as an insult to the God of Israel and insists that he can defeat Goliath. Saul sends for him, and reluctantly allows him to make the attempt. David is indeed victorious, felling Goliath with a stone from his sling, at which the Philistines flee in terror and the Israelites win a great victory. David beheads Goliath with his own sword and brings it to Saul, who asks him whose son he is, and David replies, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite".
The enmity of Saul
Saul makes David a commander over his armies and gives him his daughter Michl in marriage. David is successful in many battles, and the women say, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." David's popularity awakens Saul's fears - "What more can he have but the kingdom?" - and by various stratagems the king seeks David's death. But the plots of the jealous king all proved futile, and only endear the young hero the more to the people, and especially to Saul's son Jonathan, one of those who love David. Warned by Jonathan of Saul's intention to kill him, David flees into the wilderness.
David in the wilderness
In the wilderness David gathers a band of followers and becomes the champion of the oppressed while evading the pursuit of Saul. He accepts Ziklag as a fief from the Philistine king Achish of Gath, but continues to secretly champion the Israelites. Achish marches against Saul, but David is excused from the war on the accusation of the Philistine nobles that his loyalty to their cause cannot be trusted. (In the Bible remember Jesus also went into the wilderness) Psalms 25:1, “Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul”. When David was downcast, he began to sing songs of praise unto the Lord. Even when David did not feel like singing, he had disciplined his spirit to sing praise unto the Lord. The result was that his soul was spiritually uplifted when he had sung unto the Lord. It is important to teach children that in all things give praise to God.
David is made king
Saul and Jonathan are killed in a battle with the Philistines and David mourns their death.Then David goes up to Hebron, where he is anointed (messiah) king over Judah; in the north, Saul's son Ish-Bosheth is king over the tribes of Israel.War ensues between Ish-Bosheth and David, and Ish-Bosheth is assassinated. The assassins bring forward the head of Ish-Bosheth to David hoping for reward, but David executes them for their crime against their king. Yet with the death of the son of Saul, the elders of Israel come to Hebron, and David is anointed King of Israel and Judah. Upon these events he is 30 years old.
Conclusson:The annointing of God’s Spirit abides within His people (1 John 2:27). One need not wait for the anointing to “hit” him in the service to sing spiritual songs. One releases the anointing by faith.
Holy Day Calendar
| Year | Passover |
Days of Unleavened Bread |
Pentecost | Feast of Trumpets | Day of Atonement | Feast of Tabernacles |
The Eighth Day |
| 2006 | April 12 | April 13 - 19 | June 4 | Sept 23 | Oct 2 | Oct 7 - 13 | Oct 14 |
| 2007 | April 2 | April 3 - 9 | May 27 | Sept 13 | Sept 22 | Sept 27 - Oct 3 | Oct 4 |
| 2008 | April 19 | April 20 - 26 | June 8 | Sept 30 | Oct 9 | Oct 14 - 20 | Oct 21 |
| 2009 | April 8 | April 9 - 15 | May 31 | Sept 19 | Sept 28 | Oct 3 - 9 | Oct 10 |
| 2010 | March 29 | March 30 - April 5 | May 23 | Sept 9 | Sept 18 | Sept 23 - 29 | Sept 30 |
1. There are the elements of prayer: David’s prayer was one of humbling himself that enabled him to accept God’s will, praying according to God’s promises, and asking for His blessing. He accepted God’s purpose, foregoing his own. His was a prayer of surrender to God’s will, gratitude and love. He abandoned himself to God’s providences and care.
All these are important in our own relationship with the Lord.
2. But also, we live downstream from this prophecy, a day when the Son of David, of whom the prophet spoke, has come. Jesus Christ, the anointed one, died for our sins, was raised, to the right hand of God. As He said to David, we can say of Him: "He is with us; He has destroyed our enemies; He came to prepare a place for us" To surrender and yield our lives to this King, as David did, is to come into His favor. This is the place of His blessing today, to come into the reign of Christ!
The early Christians saw it like this: if God himself were to come in the flesh and live with us, wouldn’t He live and act just like Jesus did?
Is there something you would like to surrender to Him today?
Would you like to pray to him, yielding your life and your future to him, asking for His ways in your life?
Would you like to give him your desires
This can` be hard: particularly if you have strong desire in an area and you’ve grown strong-willed and independent and capable, but humility sees our need for Him.
That anointed one is here today. The One who was with David and who destroyed all his enemies is here for us!
When we think of prayers of David, we may naturally think of the Psalms. The Hebrew name for this book is "The Book of Praises". Their honesty of heart and themes of praise and thanksgiving, trouble and trial and trust, repentance and so on are favorites for many of us.
Often need is the psalmist’s focus of our prayer. Need is a great motivator to pray!
- How many of you pray when you have needs?
- Pray better when you have needs?
- How many know why we have needs?
However, when I was asked to speak on prayer, I immediately thought of David’s prayer in 2 Sam. 7. I believe God has something to say to all of us in this passage. So what I want to do is to read this to you and then offer some comments and reflections.
2 Samuel 7 (& 1 Chron. 17) significant passage: Davidic covenant and promise of Messiah, God’s deliverer for a suffering people
There are 3 sections to this chapter:
- the exchange between David and Nathan the prophet.
- Then Nathan’s prophecy to David and
- then David’s prayer in response.
Vs. 1-3: David is at rest from his enemies, at this time. And he thinks to build a house, a temple for the ark and for honor of God. He’s living in a cedar palace, but God still dwells in a tent! Nathan says, Go for it, you are the king! And this was a good thought on David’s part: rather than indulge himself in luxury and ease, he considers how can I honor and serve God.
Vs. 4-17: But that night, God speaks to Nathan, and says, Not so!
Nathan is to remind David of the great things He has done for him:
God chose David from small beginnings, a shepherd to make him to make him judge and prince of Israel (vs. 10-11).
God was with him and God cut off all his enemies.
God would make his name great. And God would build him a house!
And towards the end of Nathan’s oracle, he speaks of a kingdom and a throne to be established for ever. Clearly some of this refers to David’s immediate son, Solomon.
But this word also became the hope for Messiah among the Jews! Nathan’s prophecy is crowned with God’s promise of an anointed one, the Messiah, one’s whose reign and kingdom would last forever. See vs. 12b-17.
The Messiah, the anointed one, who said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me…" (see Acts 2.30, Heb. 1.5) How often the crowds called Jesus "Son of David".
And by the way, "You would build Me a house? No, I will build you one!" What an astounding/astonishing response on God’s part! An example too of our giving to Him our little and He accepts it to bring about His own plan!
David wouldn’t forget this prophecy: Nathan’s prophecy is again cited in Psalm 89. 20-38.
How did David respond? His prayer: (Comments and observations:)
- David’s first response: he goes before the Lord, before the ark and prays: Who am I and who is my family (he begins in humility, always a good place to begin… like Gideon before his battle with the Midianites, "O valiant warrior") The Lord loves humility! The Lord reminded David of his lowly beginnings (vs. 8) and so David responds as he did (vs. 18).
It is good to remember our small beginnings. God favors the lowly (Mary); the poor in spirit see that all comes from Christ. There is no self-promotion or self-importance or self-centeredness in David or attributing to himself his position, but a yielding to God’s will.
Why does God favor humility? It’s truth! (What have you that you have not received?) What derives from humility?
A. Willingness to accept God’s will in a matter. Thank God David did not respond to Nathan:
- "Well, I’m the king; I do what I choose, what I will." David would write later: Unless the Lord builds the house, those who labor do so in vain. Ps. 127)
- Or he didn’t respond, well, let’s what are my options in the matter…what do I want to do here?
How many of us have come to know God’s ways are best for our life? When I was 18 and praying to understand God’s will for my life…
But what if we have strong desires for something and it seems so right! Are you willing to pray "Lord, if this desire is from you, please fulfill it. If not, You can take it away, and replace it with your desires for me."
What if you have no desire for the thing the Lord is apparently directing you to do? Will you, after testing it, go ahead and respond accordingly.
B> Another reason God favors humility: with humility comes a knowing God and an openness to His revelation: then knowing self: look at David’s prayer…vs. 22-3; Further down David speaks of God as "the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel." He is a God of exalted names and therefore exalted character and purposes. And He is our God!
C> humility allows the Lord to bring His favor into our life.
David authored Ps. 8: It begins by proclaiming God’s glory (how majestic is thy name in all the earth…) Then speaks of man’s honor (having dominion over the works of his hands) What is man that thou art mindful of him…
Pride blocks this and shuts us down to an encounter with His love; we’re imprisoned in self-sufficiency and our own adequacy. Humility accepts our need for Him and bows before Him and His ways and Love.
- Notice how David prays according to God’s promises
… vs. 28-29. This is another key to prayer. When we come to understand God’s promises and purposes for our life, it is right that we pray for Him to bring them to pass in our lives. Turn God’s promises into prayer (Lord, you said to seek you… You said ask and you shall receive…) What has the Lord promised you? Hasn’t He promised all of us: Forgiveness following repentance, fullness of life, peace, His presence, The Holy Spirit…Our future is as bright as His promises. Two kinds of people: those who say to God, Thy will be done. Those to whom God will say: Thy will be done. (C.S. Lewis).
- Lastly, David desires the blessing of the Lord; he yearns for God’s blessing upon his own life and that of his family. Blessing the bestowal of grace and favor that brings to us the power to succeed and prosper. See how he prays…vs. 29 and so should we. David knew without God’s blessing, all is nothing!
Perhaps Samuel taught David the importance of God’s blessing, as when Abraham blest Isaac and Isaac Jacob, and so the Covenant blessing continued from generation to generation.
David would later pen: "Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord!"
Perhaps David taught his son, Solomon, the proverb, the blessing of the Lord makes rich… Not simply a material wealth. But the grace and the unfolding of God’s providences and protection were also part of the blessing.* Biblical calendar days run from sunset to sunset, unlike Roman calendar days that run from midnight to midnight e.g. Pentecost in the Roman calendar year 2008 runs from sunset Saturday June 7 to sunse