Adventurers with Jesus: October- December 2020

By R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

Adventurers with Jesus (Ages 9-11) is an age-appropriate Christian quarterly lesson guide. Lesson presentations are easily taught and understood and show students how to find salvation through Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Sep 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781681677682

Book preview

Lesson #1:

October 4, 2020

Stand By Me

Lesson Passage:

1 Samuel 19:1–7

NRSV

SAUL spoke with his son Jonathan and with all his servants about killing David. But Saul’s son Jonathan took great delight in David.

2 Jonathan told David, "My father Saul is trying to kill you; therefore be on guard tomorrow morning; stay in a secret place and hide yourself.

3 I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you; if I learn anything I will tell you."

4 Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him, "The king should not sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been of good service to you;

5 for he took his life in his hand when he attacked the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced; why then will you sin against an innocent person by killing David without cause?"

6 Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan; Saul swore, As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.

7 So Jonathan called David and related all these things to him. Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.

Today’s Lesson Story

Have you ever had a true friend? There are good friends and even great friends; but a true friend will stick up for you, even when the situation is sticky! In today’s lesson, the powerful King Saul wanted to kill David. However, Jonathan, the King’s son, loved David. Jonathan stuck up for David and ultimately saved his life. Jonathan is an example of a genuinely true friend.

Saul was jealous of David. David had served Israel well as a great warrior for the king, but Saul feared that David was more popular and could eventually take his place on the throne. So one day, the king told his son Jonathan and all his royal attendants that David must be killed. This saddened Jonathan, so he warned his friend David. He told David to be on guard, to hide in the field where he currently was, and to stay there until he had a chance to try to change his father’s mind.

Jonathan told David to hide in the field where he currently was because he would go to that same field the next morning with his father. Quite possibly, he wanted David to be present, so that he could overhear his conversation with the king. Saul surely knew that David was Jonathan’s friend, so why would he let him in on his plans? The reason is because God wanted Jonathan to know what his father was about to do! Otherwise, he could not have protected David.

The next morning, Jonathan met with his father, on behalf of his friend, just as he had promised; and the Bible says he spoke well of David. He begged Saul not to hurt David, who had been a faithful servant to the King. He reminded Saul that David had not done any wrong and he had helped Saul in many ways. When David killed Goliath, he could have himself died, as he had been only a young shepherd boy and Goliath a fierce soldier; but he was willing to go into battle anyway. Saul was glad when Goliath was defeated, so why would he want to kill his greatest warrior (an innocent man), for no reason?

Thankfully, Jonathan changed Saul’s mind! He took an oath and made a promise to Jonathan: As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death. Jonathan was surely overjoyed to have convinced Saul to spare his friend’s life! He went to David and told him what Saul had said. Then, he brought David to the palace to reconcile with his father; and David was with Saul as before. Saul accepted David back into the kingdom, and everything was as it had always been.

In our lives today, there are two emotions that are extremely powerful. One is jealousy and the other, love. Jealousy comes from a selfish attitude, which can ruin friendships. Remember that Saul had loved David in the beginning. However, Saul’s jealousy turned to hatred when he saw how popular David had become. On the other hand, David remained respectful to Saul, in spite of how he had treated him. David could have refused to come back and work for the king, knowing that he had planned to kill him; but instead, he remained in love and chose to