sacred story THE STORY OF KING DAVID

LESSON NOTES FOCUS: DAVID, THE IMPERFECT BUT BELOVED AND REPENTANT KING (1 SAMUEL 16–31, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1–2) ● Sacred Story ● Enrichment Presentation

THE MATERIAL ● Location: old testament sacred story shelves, bottom shelf, under both “Ruth” and “Samuel” ● Pieces: clear bottle of oil, harp, basket (containing 5 smooth stones, sling shot and shepherds staff), 2 People of God, crown, Ark of the Covenant, parable box (containing 3" x 3" green under- lay, two tan felt houses, one smaller than the other, and 5 small sheep), image of Jerusalem ● Control

● Underlay: purple felt strip, 42" x 11"

BACKGROUND David brings the tent of God into Jerusalem and sets up the possibility of a house for God. David was anointed king by Samuel when he was just a boy, but he would not become the king until King Saul was killed. As a boy he was known for his music and his courage, and later he became a great soldier in Saul’s army. As king he continued to fight important battles and made some great mistakes, but was repentant. He es- tablished the kingdom of Israel that lasted for 400 years and made the city of Jerusa- lem another city of David, like Bethlehem.

NOTES ON THE MATERIAL David’s story sits in a deep wooden or wicker tray (12" x 8" x 3"). The story icon (5" x 2.5") is “a crown.” It can be attached to the end or the side of the tray depending on the size of the shelves, the classroom or other considerations. The underlay is a strip of purple felt, 42" x 11". Each object in the story is approximately the same size (no more than 4" high and 4" wide). The story calls for the following

The Complete Guide to Godly Play: Sacred Stories 1 The Story of King David

© 2014 By Jerome Berryman. Published by Morehouse Education Resources, a division of Church Publishing Incorporated. www.churchpublishing.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only. objects: a clear bottle of oil, a basket (containing five smooth stones, a sling shot and a shepherd’s staff), two People of God, a crown (just like the one used in the Story of Samuel), the Ark of the Covenant, a small gold box similar to the other parable boxes (containing 3" x 3" green underlay, two tan felt houses, one smaller than the other and five small sheep), and an image of Jerusalem.

A control for the lesson is folded and placed in the tray for the children to use to check their work. The sequence of the story is important because when you change the sequence, you change the story.

SPECIAL NOTES The core stories about the People of God are placed on the top of the sacred story shelves. The enrichment stories about the key people in the core stories are placed on the lower shelves of the sacred story section in the room, under the core stories they enrich and extend (see diagram below).

When you introduce the story of King David, take care to set it in the larger context of the sacred story of which it is a part. You can accomplish this by: • presenting the top shelf story the week before and then following up with this, • presenting the top shelf story briefly on the same day you present this, or • standing by the shelf and reminding the children of the top shelf story before bringing this one to the circle.

As you tell the story of David’s life place objects on the underlay to remind you of each important event. Unroll the underlay slowly, just enough for each object, as if you are unrolling a life. At the end of the wondering, show the children the control card and then carefully place each object back in the tray saying something about each event like, “Here is the crown they put on David’s head after King Saul died,” and so forth. Lastly, model how to roll the underlay back up and place it in the tray.

The Complete Guide to Godly Play: Sacred Stories 2 The Story of King David

© 2014 By Jerome Berryman. Published by Morehouse Education Resources, a division of Church Publishing Incorporated. www.churchpublishing.org. All rights reserved. © 2014 By Jerome Berryman. Published by Morehouse Education Resources, a division of Church Publishing Incorporated. www.churchpublishing.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.