In Need and in Abundance

2 Samuel 5:1-5 (NIRV)

5All the tribes of Israel came to see David at Hebron. They said, “We are your own flesh and blood. ²In the past, Saul was our king. But you led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will be the shepherd over my people Israel. You will become their ruler.’ 

³All the elders of Israel came to see King David at Hebron. There the king made a covenant with them in front of the Lord. They anointed David as king over Israel.

⁴David was 30 years old when he became king. He ruled for 40 years. ⁵In Hebron he ruled over Judah for seven and a half years. In Jerusalem he ruled over all of Israel and Judah for 33 years.

Visual Aids:

• Sticks to “clap” together to make rhythmic sounds (craft sticks, popsicle sticks, even two unsharpened pencils, or whatever musical instruments you might have on hand)
• Bible

Message:

Today is a special day for us in the United States of America. Does anyone know what day it is? (Allow children to respond.) That’s right. It is the Fourth of July, Independence Day. It’s a day made for celebration.

When we celebrate in the church, we may sing songs of praise to God. Praise songs are songs filled with honor and greatness to God. We praise God when we worship because we want God to know that we need God in our lives. We know that God loves us and helps us, and for that we celebrate.

Today’s Scripture is about King David. Did you know David was chosen to be king when he was just a child? His road to the throne was not an easy one. Along the way he had to fight a giant of a man named Goliath, escape from King Saul, and lead Israel’s army. He needed God’s help to succeed. He became king when he was thirty years old, and he was king for forty years!

Did you know that not only was David the king of Israel, but he was also a songwriter? That’s right. He wrote songs called psalms that praised God. God helped David throughout the events in his life, so David couldn’t help but worship God for being so good to him.

Did you know that David’s songs are in our Bible? (Open your Bible to the book of Psalms. Read the beginning of a psalm of praise, such as Psalm 145:1-2 to the children.)

Today, let’s celebrate and sing our own song of praise to God! (Hand out the sticks, two per child.) We are going to use these sticks to create a joyful noise and to make our own “praise music” for God. First, I will tap out a rhythm and then you try to repeat it. Okay? I will begin a line in the song, “We will praise you God for . . .” and we will take turns finishing the sentence. What can you say that will praise God? Sometimes we need to give God praise when we are concerned or worried in life. We can sing, “God we continue to pray for . . .” and finish that sentence. What can you say that concerns or worries you? We have a wonderful God who helps us! God deserves our praises. David praised God by singing, and you can praise God that way as well.

Let’s try it. (As you are tapping, create a song about the psalm you read.)

We will praise you, God, for . . . (Allow a child to complete the sentence.)

God, we continue to pray for . . . (Allow a child to complete the sentence.)

(Alternate the praise/concern a few times to allow multiple voices to be reflected.)

(End the psalm with A-men.)

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.