1 Samuel 17-18,24-26, 2 Samuel 5-7 Teaching Activities and Insights
- Benjamin Wilcox
- May 31
- 38 min read
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
LESSON #1 GOD IS BIGGER: DEFEATING OUR “GOLIATH’S” (1 Samuel 17)
TRUTH:
The “Giants” of our lives can be defeated through faith, obedience, courage, and the power of God.
FIRE IN THE BONES:
To help you get some fire in the bones for this lesson, keep in mind that your students are probably all facing their own form of “Goliaths”. Most of us are never going to stand across from a nine-foot-tall warrior armed with a spear and sword, but we all face intimidating challenges that can leave us feeling dismayed and afraid. For some students, that giant may be temptation, anxiety, loneliness, addiction, doubts, strained relationships, fear of failure, or pressure from the world around them. David’s story gives us an opportunity to help our students recognize that with God on their side, no giant is truly unbeatable, no matter how large.
ICEBREAKER/OBJECT:
For an icebreaker, one very effective visual is to create a life-sized outline or image of Goliath. Warning, that does take a little preparation and a good chunk of time to do, so this is definitely optional, but I have found it effective. Using a projector, butcher paper, or even just tape markings on a wall, help students visualize just how massive Goliath may have been. I’ll provide a template for this in this week’s downloads. You could also display weights totaling around 150 pounds to represent the estimated weight of his armor or attach a 15-pound weight to the end of a pole to demonstrate the size of his spearhead. The point is simply to help students feel the intimidation factor of the story. Then contrast all of that with David’s simple sling and stones. If possible, bring in a sling and a few smooth stones to display. I personally like doing this because it creates such a striking visual contrast between Goliath’s intimidating armor and David’s simple tools of faith. You could make a simple sling yourself out of cloth or leather and string, or purchase one online fairly inexpensively if you prefer. I’ll include an Amazon link if you’re interested in that (https://amzn.to/3xhIXQI)
Then invite students to quietly identify one “Goliath” that they feel they’re facing in their own lives right now and encourage them to keep that challenge in mind throughout the lesson.
SEARCH ACTIVITY/GAME:
Like I explained in the insight video, the story of David and Goliath has so many great principles in it, that it almost seems impossible to narrow it down to just one or two. So I created an activity that allows you to cover many principles and then lets your students choose which ones they wish to ponder and apply most. You can do this lesson as an activity as well. Put the following slide up on the screen or write the following principles on the board and then allow your students to choose which principle best matches the message of those verses. To turn it into a game you could even throw out a treat to the student who identifies the principle correctly first.
So the principles and their matches are:
1. G Anyone can defeat a Goliath. It doesn’t matter who you are.
2. E There are great rewards from our Heavenly King for defeating our Goliaths.
3. J If we are motivated by pure motives and our love for God, we will be more likely to have the strength to face our Goliaths.
4. F Don’t listen to the skeptics or let them cause you to give up.
5. B Have a cause worth fighting for.
6. H Earlier, smaller decisions and experiences provide the strength needed for future, larger battles.
7. A God Provides us with seemingly small and simple weapons that truly have the power to defeat Goliaths.
8. I Trust in the Lord. With God on your side, you can’t lose, no matter how big or intimidating the problem.
9. C Defeating your Goliaths can provide strength and courage to others to face their own.
For more insight and commentary on those principles, I encourage to review the insight video.
TAKE IT TO HEART:
This lesson works especially well as a reflective one. Invite students to quietly think again about the “Goliath” they identified earlier in the lesson. Then ask them to consider which principle from David’s story feels most helpful or meaningful for their current situation. Then ask them to consider: How could that truth help you face your “Goliath” differently?
I WILL GO AND DO/HANDOUT:
For an “I Will Go and Do” activity, one idea I really like is using this simple “Five Smooth Stones” handout. Invite them to write down five “smooth stones” that they feel can help them to face the giants of their lives. Encourage them to think broadly about the kinds of spiritual tools, habits, experiences, or sources of strength that help them stay faithful and courageous. Their stones might include things like prayer, scripture study, good friends, seminary, temple worship, music, family support, priesthood blessings, or remembering past spiritual experiences. Then invite them to circle one of their “smooth stones” that they would like to strengthen or begin using more deliberately this week.
TAKEAWAY:
For the takeaway slide, display the image of David standing small in the valley while Goliath towers in the distance. The message of the lesson is simple but powerful. The story was never really about how big Goliath was, it was about how much bigger God was. As you conclude the lesson, encourage students not to spend so much time focusing on the size of their fears, problems, temptations, or challenges that they forget the power of the God who stands with them. Remind them that David did not defeat Goliath because he was stronger, bigger, or more experienced. He overcame him through faith, trust, preparation, and the power of God. Then invite students to face their own giants with that same confidence and courage, trusting that God is still bigger than fear, bigger than doubt, and bigger than any Goliath they may face.
OPTIONAL LESSON ENHANCEMENTS:
VIDEO:
One possible video you may wish to use with this lesson is “The Lord Will Deliver Me,” featuring President Dallin H. Oaks retelling the story of David and Goliath alongside dramatized scenes from the account. This video works especially well because it emphasizes that David’s real strength came not from himself, but from his trust in God. I think it fits best near the conclusion of the lesson after students have identified their own “Goliaths” and discussed the spiritual “smooth stones” God gives us to face them.
QUOTE:
I like this quote from a talk given by Sister Andrea M. Spannaus from the April 2024 general conference. You could use it in conjunction with the application handout if you like. She said:
“While David used only one stone to kill Goliath, he was prepared with five. With five! This makes me think about how I can prepare myself to face the world.
What if each of David’s stones represented a strength we need to be triumphant in our lives? What could those five stones be?”
(Conference Report, Apr. 2024, “Faithful to the End”)
LESSON #2 THE JONATHAN SOLUTION (1 Samuel 18-20)
So this is actually a new lesson this time around because the schedule has been rearranged a bit from four years ago. Since we’ve been given a little more time in 1 and 2 Samuel, I decided to create a lesson around a lesser-known Bible character that I’ve always loved—Jonathan, the son of Saul—and the powerful lessons his life can teach us.
TRUTH:
Jealousy destroys relationships, but true friendship rejoices in the success of others.
FIRE IN THE BONES:
I feel a fire in the bones for teaching this lesson because it feels especially relevant in a world where we are constantly aware of other people’s successes, talents, appearance, and popularity. Social media has made that possible. But comparison quietly turns relationships into competitions. In this story, Saul becomes consumed by another person’s success, while Jonathan chooses love, loyalty, and selflessness instead. So this lesson is really about two ways of responding when someone else shines: the Saul solution or the Jonathan solution.
OBJECT:
For an object lesson and possible icebreaker, bring in a large candy bar and a student of the year certificate with one of your student’s names on it. I’ll provide you with a template in this week’s downloads. Then, you could call out that student’s name, bring them to the front of the room, hand them the candy bar or small prize, and announce them as the “Student of the Year.” Lead the class in a round of applause and then simply let the moment sit for a few seconds. You’ll probably notice a few smiles, laughs, confused looks, or even comments like “Why them?” Then ask: “Did you notice how you felt when somebody else received recognition?” Now the key here is that nobody needs to answer out loud. The purpose isn’t to call anyone out or to set anybody up. It’s just a quiet moment of self-awareness to get them thinking about how they feel when somebody else gets recognition. And you as the teacher just kind of narrates what possibly may have been going on inside them. Some may have felt genuinely happy for them. Others may have immediately started comparing, questioning, or feeling like it wasn’t fair. And that’s human nature. One of the central truths of this lesson is that another person’s success often reveals what is in our own hearts. Saul became threatened by David’s success. Jonathan chose to rejoice in it.
ICEBREAKER:
Another possible icebreaker, if you don’t like the object lesson could be to just tell a joke. And this is how it goes. It starts with two boys, best friends fishing by a lake. All of a sudden, a game warden jumps out from the trees and says, “You boys had better have valid fishing licenses.” At the moment the boys see him, one of them looks at the other and then takes off running as fast as he can in the other direction. At that, the warden takes off running until he finally reaches out and catches the running boy by his collar and says, “You’re in a lot of trouble young man”. To that, the boy promptly reaches into his pocket and pulls out a fishing license. The warden says, “Son, you must be crazy! Why on earth would you run if you had a valid fishing license.” The boy looks back and says, “Well, because my friend back there, he doesn’t have one and he’s long gone by now.” But then you say: “See, now that’s friendship. A real friend looking out for his buddy. That kind of loyalty and friendship is actually pretty rare.” Then to transition to the scriptures you tell them that in today’s lesson you’re going to study two very close friends in the book of 1 Samuel: David and Jonathan.
SEARCH ACTIVITY(SAUL SOLUTION):
To get your students into the scriptures invite them to compare and contrast the relationship between Saul and David in 16:21-23 and 18:28-29 and to just see what they notice. And what they should see is that in the first verses, Saul loves David. They’re friends. David plays his harp for him, and it refreshes Saul. But then in the latter set of verses we see that Saul is afraid of David and he becomes his enemy continually. And so you ask, what happened? In just two chapters, David goes from being loved by Saul, to being hated by Saul. From friend to foe. How did that happen?
Now invite them to read 1 Samuel 18:5-12 to discover why. What destroyed their friendship? And the answer is jealousy. David has a great victory against the Philistines and the people begin chanting, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” And that displeases Saul to no end. He can’t handle somebody else getting more praise than him. It eats away at him. And so what does he do? For the rest of the book of 1 Samuel, he tries to kill David. He makes him his enemy. He starts hucking javelins at him whenever he gets the chance, David has to escape out the window after his wife puts a fake dummy in his bed, he chases him with his army, he ends up killing innocent people and priests trying to get at David, he loses the Spirit and even ends up turning to witchcraft. His life completely unravels. Sad, right? That’s the Saul solution to somebody else getting praise or success. Compare, get jealous, and hate. He allowed comparison to destroy his peace. Even though he had so much. He had power, a kingdom, honor, and wealth, yet he allowed comparison and jealousy to make him miserable.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
Why is comparison so dangerous?
Why is it hard to celebrate someone else’s success?
Have you ever seen jealousy damage a friendship?
SEARCH ACTIVITY (JONATHAN SOLUTION):
Now you tell your students that you’re going to look at a different solution to others getting praise and success. It’s the Jonathan solution. And begin by explaining that Jonathan had far more reason to resent or oppose David than Saul did. Jonathan is Saul’s son. He’s the prince. He’s the next heir to the throne. He’s supposed to be the next king. That’s kind of how monarchy works. But during the whole David and Goliath episode, it’s David who is anointed to be the next king, not Jonathan. But that makes sense right? I mean David does this incredibly faithful and brave thing in facing Goliath. Has Jonathan done anything like that? Actually, YES! You could make the argument that Jonathn has just as much a potential and faith to be a good king as David. Take your students back to chapter 14 and either summarize or read to your students the story in verses 1-18. And it’s such a fun story. There’s an entire garrison of Philistines on the hill and Saul’s army is sitting around wondering how on earth they’re going to defeat them. But Jonathan has such great faith in God, that he turns to his armorbearer and says in verse 6
“Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.”
And so they sneak off together and climb up the cliff, and then jump out and start attacking the entire garrison and they defeat them. Just these two guys, who have incredible faith in the Lord’s power to deliver them. So, I guess you could ask yourself who did the greater thing? Would you rather face just one really big guy all by yourself like David did? Or face 20 guys, but you get a friend to help out? I don’t know. But I would argue that Jonathan does something every bit as great and faithful as David did.
And yet, how does he respond to David’s praise, success, and promotion? What’s his solution to the comparison?
Invite them to examine the following verses:
1 Samuel 18:1-4, 19:2, 19:4, and 20:17.
And he loves David. As his own soul. He gives David his robe as a sign in front of everyone that David would be the next king—and he was OK with that. He wasn’t going to stand in the way of the will of God. He defends David, stands up for him, and tries to help him. He does not allow jealousy and pride and comparison destroy his friendship with David. He rejoices in his friend. The solution to Saul’s problems was right in front of him the whole time—in the attitude of his own son. Well, we too can be like Jonathan when people around us triumph. Instead of becoming jealous, we can rejoice in their good fortune, help them to succeed, be loyal friends.
TAKE IT TO HEART:
The take it to heart section gives your students a chance consider this principle in real life scenarios that they may have encountered. With any of these you could ask them to consider, “What would Saul do?” or “What would Jonathan do?”
Here are the scenarios. Some are more geared towards youth, and others, adults.
What do you do when your brother gets praised for getting a 4.0 and you got a 3.6?
What do you do when your best friend gets the starting position you wanted and you get benched?
What do you do when your friend gets asked to the dance by the boy/girl you like and wanted to go with?
What do you do when a coworker gets the promotion you hoped for?
What do you do when a family member seems far more financially successful than you?
What do you do when your neighbor gets the church calling you wanted to have?
What do you do when someone else’s prayers seem to get answered while yours feel delayed?
I WILL GO AND DO:
How could you be more of a “Jonathan” this week?
Suggestions:
· Support someone instead of competing with them
· Pray for someone you feel jealous of
· Celebrate another person’s success this week
· Express gratitude for your own gifts
TAKEAWAY:
Jonathan to me, is one of the clearest examples of true Christlike love in the Old Testament. Jonathan embodies one of the key attributes of charity. Charity seeketh not her own. So he protects David, defends David, strengthens David, sacrifices for David. And perhaps the most amazing part is that he does all of that while David is taking the throne that he could have claimed for himself. And I don’t believe that’s weakness. That’s charity. And charity is more powerful and accomplishes far more than jealousy ever can.
OPTIONAL LESSON ENHANCEMENTS:
VIDEO:
As a possible video suggestion, you could show the Church video “A True Friend: Tanya and Lada.” In the video, a young woman from Ukraine explains the role that good friendships have played in her life. As students watch, invite them to look for qualities of a true friend and compare those qualities to the way Jonathan treated David.
QUOTE:
A quote you could share from the prophet Joseph:“I don’t care what a man’s character is; if he’s my friend—a true friend, I will be a friend to him, and preach the Gospel of salvation to him, and give him good counsel, helping him out of his difficulties.
“Friendship is one of the grand fundamental principles of ‘Mormonism’; [it is designed] to revolutionize and civilize the world, and cause wars and contentions to cease and men to become friends and brothers. …
Joseph Smith Jr.
(History of the Church, 5:517; first set of bracketed words in original; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on July 23, 1843, in Nauvoo, Illinois; reported by Willard Richards; see also appendix, page 562, item 3.)
HANDOUT:
For a brief handout activity suggestion that you could for the application portion of your lesson, you could include this “True Friendship” exercise. It invites your students to complete a few simple statements that can help them to reflect on the kind of friend they aspire to be. The statements are
A true friend _________.
One relationship in my life that could use more Jonathan-like friendship is _________.
One way I can celebrate another person’s success this week is _________.
I can be a better friend this week by _________.
This makes for a simple but meaningful reflection activity and can help students personally connect the principles from Jonathan’s life to their own relationships.
LESSON #3 STEADY YOURSELF, NOT THE ARK (2 Samuel 6)
TRUTH:
When I put my trust in God’s wisdom instead of my own understanding, I invite blessings into my life and home.
FIRE IN THE BONES:
For some fire in the bones, I feel that this lesson works especially well nowadays because “steadying the ark” is still a very modern temptation. We live in a world that constantly encourages people to question, criticize, and publicly challenge authority. And while thoughtful questions and sincere wrestles can absolutely be part of faith, there is a difference between humbly seeking understanding and presuming that we know better than God how His kingdom should be run. The story of Uzzah is memorable because it’s so shocking. But I believe that’s intentional. It helps us to understand the danger of placing our own wisdom above His.
OBJECT:
As a possible object lesson, you could place some kind of object on a table at the front of the room covered with a cloth and a large sign that simply says: “DO NOT TOUCH.” I’ll include a printable one in this week’s downloads. Now don’t explain it. Just leave it there while students enter the room. What’s funny is that the sign itself almost creates the temptation. Students will often stare at it, speculate about it, or eventually try to touch it themselves. Especially teenagers. But then you can ask: “Why is it so hard for human beings to simply leave certain things alone once we’re told not to touch them?” And that creates a natural transition into the story of Uzzah and the ark. One of the deeper principles behind the story is that human beings often struggle to trust boundaries they do not fully understand. I’d keep the tone light and reflective rather than turning it into a “gotcha” moment. The point isn’t to embarrass anyone. The point is to help students recognize something very natural about human behavior that connects directly to the lesson.
ICEBREAKER:
For an icebreaker, I like to ask students what they think would happen if they touched certain objects. You could show images on the screen or actual examples if you have them available. So I show pictures of poison ivy. A hot stove. Sulfuric acid. A cactus. An electric fence and the crown jewels. Then ask: “What would happen if you touched the ark of the covenant?” This usually creates curiosity right away. Explain briefly that the ark represented the very presence of God and was only to be handled in very specific ways. That sets up the Uzzah story very naturally. Transition to the scriptures by explaining that at this time in Israelite history, King David decides to move the ark to Jerusalem with the intended plan to build a temple there. The ark is placed on a cart drawn by oxen and a man named Uzzah is walking alongside it. And something happens.
SEARCH ACTIVITY:
Invite your students to read this short story in 2 Samuel 6:6-11 with just one simple question in mind. Why do you think the Lord does this?
Then discuss their thoughts afterward. I can almost guarantee that they are going to have a strong reaction to the story, especially if they’ve never heard it before.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
Just let them share their ideas, and then here are a couple of questions that might help guide them to our truth for this lesson:
· What do you think Uzzah may have been assuming in that moment?
· What might he have forgotten about God?
· If the ark symbolized God’s authority and presence, what deeper message might this story teach?
· What does it mean to ‘steady the ark’ today?
QUOTE:
Then I would be sure at some point in that discussion to share the following quote from President David O. McKay regarding the story of Uzzah. He said:
"However well-meaning his intentions, Uzzah approached casually what could only be approached under the strictest conditions. He had no faith in God's power. He assumed that the ark was in danger, forgetting that it was the physical symbol of the God who has all power. What man can presume to save God and his kingdom through his own efforts? . . .
In modern revelation the Lord referred to this incident to teach the principle that the Lord does not need the help of men to defend his kingdom (see D&C 85:8). Yet even today there are those who fear the ark is tottering and presume to steady its course. . . .These are ark-steadiers. The best intentions do not justify such interference with the Lord's plan."
David O. McKay
(Gospel Ideals, p. 258)
SEARCH ACTIVITY:
But I don’t suggest you just end it there. Next tell them that when David hears of this incident, he gets scared of the ark, and he sends it to stay at the house of a man named Obededom. He’s like, “If people are dying because of this thing, I don’t want it near my city.” But invite them to read 2 Samuel 6:11-13 and ask: Do you see a principle taught by this part of the story?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
And here are some additional discussion questions to help them interpret this part of the story.
Was the ark actually something to fear?
Then what made the difference between Uzzah and Obededom?
What does that teach us about God’s commandments and authority?
How can trusting God eventually become a blessing rather than a burden?
And the point that we want them to understand from the Obededom story is that when we put our trust in God’s wisdom and counsel then that allows God’s church and authority to bless us.
TAKE IT TO HEART:
Invite students to quietly consider whether there are any areas in their lives where they are struggling to trust God’s wisdom, timing, commandments, or appointed servants. Encourage them not to think about other people during this part of the lesson, but themselves. Are there areas where frustration, pride, cynicism, or overconfidence may be causing them to resist rather than trust? Then invite them to consider what it might look like to “steady themselves” instead. Sometimes faith means learning to trust God even before we fully understand everything He is doing.
I WILL GO AND DO:
One simple “I Will Go and Do” invitation could be to ask students to identify one way they can practice greater humility and trust in God this week.
Some suggestions:
· Choose to pray with more sincerity about a question they’ve been wrestling with
· Spend time studying prophetic counsel instead of reacting to criticism online
· Speak more respectfully about church leaders and spiritual matters.
· Spend some time this week praying specifically for a more humble and teachable heart.
TAKEAWAY:
Our takeaway slide reminds our students to steady themselves and not the ark. And as you conclude, I would encourage students not to leave this lesson thinking merely, “Don’t criticize your church leaders.” The deeper invitation is to trust God and trust his plan. God is not fragile. His Church is not hanging by a thread waiting for us to rescue it. He is aware of His kingdom, His leaders, His timing, and His purposes far better than we are. Our responsibility is not to steady the ark, but to steady ourselves through humility, faith, patience, and trust. If we approach the ark (or God’s plan) correctly, like Obededom did, it becomes a tremendous blessing in our lives and homes.
OPTIONAL LESSON ENHANCEMENTS:
VIDEO:
One possible video you may wish to use with this lesson is the Church video “Trust in the Lord.” I think this video pairs especially well with the story of Uzzah because it emphasizes the principle of trusting God’s wisdom even when we don’t fully understand everything He is doing.
INSIGHTS
DAVID AND GOLIATH
ICEBREAKER
All right, on to one of the most well-known and loved stories in the entire Old Testament. David and Goliath. Now the icebreaker this week does take some time to prepare, but I’ve found to be well worth it and very effective at teaching the lesson. It requires you to create a life-sized drawing of what Goliath may have looked like. The way to do this requires you to have access to some kind of projector and a large sheet of butcher paper. This is available at most hobby or office supply stores. Be sure you measure at least 10 feet before cutting it. Then, you can take the following picture or one of your own finding and project it up on a wall with the piece of paper taped to it. You may have to accomplish this in sections as you move the paper and the projected image up or down to complete the entire image. Be sure that the image, when complete, measures about nine feet, nine inches or just about fills in the entire length of the piece of paper. Tell your students that this is perhaps what Goliath would have looked like if we take the scriptures literally. Also, Goliath’s armor alone would have weighed around 150 pounds. If you wanted to bring in some weights from a weightlifting set, you could display how much 150 pounds would be. Then, it says the end of his spear weighed six hundred shekels which would have been between 12 and 20 pounds in weight. You could attach a 15-pound weight to the end of stick and challenge someone to try and lift it from the other end. That would be very difficult to nigh impossible for anyone in your class. Well, this should help them to visualize just how massive an opponent Goliath would have been and just how intimidating it must have been to face him. No wonder all the Israelite men were too afraid to go out and face him. Now to consider what David used to face Goliath doesn’t appear like much. Now I have a sling that I bought in Israel when I visited years ago and five smooth stones that are from the actual valley of Elah where David fought Goliath that I like to show. You probably don’t have that option, but what you can do is either make your own sling out of cloth or leather and some string, or you could purchase one fairly cheaply on Amazon if you prefer. I’ll put a link to that in the video description below if you’re interested. (https://amzn.to/3xhIXQI)
TRANSITION
But with that as an icebreaker you can introduce the story. The Israelites at this time are arrayed in battle against the Philistines. The Israelites were encamped on one hill overlooking the valley of Elah while the Philistines were camped on the other hill. Every day, the Philistine giant named Goliath would come down into the valley to taunt and slander the Israelites and their God. He would say, “Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”
And how did this taunting make the Israelites feel? Verse 11 tells us that they were dismayed and greatly afraid. Now to make this lesson more relevant to ourselves, can we imagine something that makes us feel the same way in our own lives? More than likely, we’re never going to have to face 9-foot-tall giants armed to the teeth, but we will face giant problems and challenges that may dismay us and make us greatly afraid. We’ll all face Goliath’s in our lives. They’re certainly out there. And to make this lesson more meaningful, I want all of you to identify at least one Goliath you are facing right now. Is there anything in your life at this point that intimidates you, challenges you, or seems impossible to overcome.
Some possible answers to that question:
Temptation
Health issues
Persecution
Mental health issues
Addiction
Strained relationships
Doubts
Financial problems
Depression
or
a challenging calling or task.
Whatever your Goliath may be, today, we’re going to learn some giant slaying skills from the great giant killer himself. David.
SEARCH
Now the story of David and Goliath has so many powerful principles in it, that it almost seems impossible to narrow it down to just one or two. So I gave up trying to choose which ones to prioritize and instead have created an activity that allows you to cover many principles and lets your students choose which ones they wish to ponder and apply most. You can do this lesson as an activity as well. Put the following slide up on the screen or write the following principles on the board and then allow your students to choose which principle best matches the message of those verses. You could even throw out a treat to the student who identifies the principle correctly first.
Principle #1-1 Samuel 16:7
The Lord does not judge on the outward appearance, but the heart. So should we.
After Saul fails his two tests of obedience, the Lord directed Samuel to choose a new king from amongst Jesse’s sons. Now when Samuel comes into Jesse’s home he immediately assumes that his oldest son Eliab would be the obvious choice. But the Lord stops him and says:
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
What’s the principle: Giant slayers are not chosen based on their outward appearance, but on their hearts.
That’s a profound truth for us all to consider. In a world where image is everything, and a person’s value, especially for women, is often calculated by the outward appearance, God reminds us that that just doesn’t matter to him. He is not bound by some worldly judgment of beauty or attractiveness. It’s the content of a person’s character that matters. That’s what he means by the heart. And while we often use this scripture to make the point that we should not judge a person negatively based on perceived unattractiveness from a worldly perspective. However, this situation is just the opposite of that. We should also be careful not to judge a person positively based on an attractive outward appearance. Someone who appears attractive to us on the outside may be spiritually dangerous or harmful to us on the inside. A striking physical presence does not indicate value any more than an average physique indicates insignificance. The outward appearance is not what matters. A great example of this the Red Sea. I had the opportunity to visit the resort city of Elat at the southernmost point of Israel that sits right at the northernmost tip of the Red Sea. Now the landscape surrounding the beach is desolate, barren, and brown. You couldn’t imagine a more lifeless scene. However, how amazed I was when I donned a snorkeling mask and some diving fins and submerged my head just a few inches below the surface of the water. An entire world of color and life teemed in the coral reef right there just hiding beneath the surface. It was astounding. People can be like that too. There is an entire world of complexity, uniqueness, and magnificence hiding in their character. We just have to look past the surface to find it. We should also be careful about judging ourselves by our outward appearance. Love your spirit and character for what they are, and be grateful for the body that houses them, regardless of how worldly eyes may value or view it.
Principle #2-1 Samuel 17:14, 33, 42, 49.
Anyone can defeat a Goliath. It doesn’t matter who you are.
I chose this particular chain of verses to make the point that anyone can defeat a Goliath. It doesn’t matter who you are or what it appears you can do. David was the youngest of the boys in his family. He was but a youth. He was not a man of war. He was of a fair countenance. In other words, he looked too boyish to be considered a warrior. In fact, the only responsibility his father felt comfortable in trusting him with at this point was to deliver cheese to his brothers. But David is the one that gains the victory that day. Anyone can defeat a Goliath. Don’t count yourself out.
Principle #3-1 Samuel 17:25
There are great rewards from our Heavenly King for defeating our Goliaths.
The men of Israel tell David that whoever is able to defeat Goliath will be enriched with great riches and will get an opportunity to marry the king’s daughter. There are also rewards to any individual who defeats their spiritual Goliaths. Our Heavenly King will enrich him with the riches of eternity and the treasures of heaven. Oh, and an eternal companion too!
Principle #4-1 Samuel 17:26
If we are motivated by pure motives and our love for God, we will be more likely to have the strength to face our Goliaths.
This acts as a balancing principle to the last. Should the rewards of conquering be our main motivation for fighting evil or choosing the right? Hopefully not. The men of Israel were definitely focused on the rewards for defeating Goliath because it’s the first thing they bring up when asked. On the other hand, David is more concerned with God’s good name and the Philistine’s audacity to defy the armies of the living God. We too are more likely to have the strength to face our Goliath’s when we do the right things for the right reasons.
Principle #5-1 Samuel 17:28
Don’t listen to the skeptics or let them cause you to give up.
Realize that in your fights with Goliath, that not everyone will always be on your side. There are certain to be those who doubt your abilities, suspect your motives, and mock your determination. Don’t listen to the naysayers. They may call you a goody-goody, a holier-than-thou, or an idealist, but just ignore them. Usually those that are trying to put you down are only doing it because they themselves wish they had the courage to try what you are trying.
Principle #6-1 Samuel 17:29 Have a cause worth fighting for.
Speaking of motives. What’s yours? What gets you up in the morning? What gives you the strength to fight? Is there not a cause in defeating your Goliath? I love Joseph Smith’s rousing words in Doctrine and Covenants 128:22 where he exclaims: “22 Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice and be exceedingly glad.” As disciples of Christ, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have the greatest causes of all to fight for. The building up of Zion in preparation for the return of Christ. The gathering of Israel. Exaltation in the presence of our Father in Heaven. Eternal families. The redemption of the dead. And so on. The slaying of your Goliath can only add to the glory of God’s kingdom here on earth. Find courage in the cause!
Principle #7-1 Samuel 17:32-37 Earlier, smaller decisions and experiences provide the strength needed for future, larger battles.
I also call this principle, “Facing the lion and the bear first”. Where did David get his courage to face such a foe as Goliath? He had had previous experiences with smaller challenges that gave him the confidence to face the giant. He had defeated a lion and a bear while watching his father’s flocks. Well, which would you rather face first? A lion or a Goliath? God had shown David that he was able to deliver him from such things. David basically says, “God helped me once, and I know he can do it again.” How does this relate to us? I take this as a reminder that there is no such thing as a “small” commandment. The adversary suggests that small deviations from the strait and narrow path don’t matter. However, those early memories and victories provide a foundation for later challenges and strengthen us against future, larger temptations. Somebody may call into question the importance of daily scripture study or prayer, following the dating standards of the church, dressing modestly, treating others kindly, or expressing gratitude, but keeping these “smaller” commandments can make it far easier to keep the “bigger” ones. Paying your ten-cent tithing on your dollar allowance as a child may seem trivial but can help to form a foundation that will makes it far easier to continue to give 10% as an adult when the sums are much larger. Helping our children to choose good media in their youth can help them to avoid pornographic and overly violent content when they are older. Not dating before you are 16 may seem like an insignificant bit of counsel. But if youth can maintain their integrity with that instruction, they are more likely to conquer the Goliath of immorality as they grow. Some feel that the lion and the bear choices are not that critical. But following these seemingly smaller commandments provides us with confidence and strength needed for future battles with greater Goliaths. Strength can also come in the form of spiritual experiences or answers to prayers. These experiences don’t have to be grand or miraculous to have strength. Some of the simple answers to prayers that came in my youth have helped to create a foundation of faith from which greater understanding and conviction could be built. Lion and bear experiences can also come in the form of scripture or family stories from parents, grandparents, or ancestors. The experiences of one generation can provide strength to future generations. So let’s be sure to pass those things on.
Principle #8- 1 Samuel 17:40 God Provides us with seemingly small and simple weapons that truly have the power to defeat Goliaths.
Alma taught us that “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6) God’s weapons may appear simple, but they can have a profound effect on our spiritual success. What are some of our smooth stones? Daily prayer. Scripture study. Church attendance. Seminary. Temple worship. Love. Humility, just to name a few. These may not seem like much to the world, but they have a devastating effect on evil and temptation. I know we seem to make a lot out of David using a slingshot to kill Goliath and stand in awe of that fact. That’s probably because we consider a slingshot to be more of a child’s toy than anything. However, the fact of the matter is that back in David’s day, the sling was indeed a formidable weapon. Those who were skilled in its use could sling a stone up to 200 mph and kill from hundreds of yards away. Some slingers could kill a bird in flight. Maybe we view the small and simple weapons that God has given us with the same skepticism. Oh, those things are for children. I’m more mature now and need more complicated solutions. Not so. These things are profoundly effective in their own right. Don’t underestimate the power of our small spiritual stones.
Principle #9-1 Samuel 17:45-51 Trust in the Lord. With God on your side, you can’t lose, no matter how big or intimidating the problem.
Notice who David gives all the credit to as he faces Goliath. He says he comes not representing himself but in the name of the Lord of hosts. He says that this day will the Lord deliver him into his hands. He says that God will give him the victory so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. This whole thing is not about David. He doesn’t really care about his own reputation, or strength, or success. It’s all about God and his glory. If we approach our problems with that same kind of faith and trust in God, no giant stands a chance against us.
Principle #10-1 Samuel 17:52 Defeating your Goliaths can provide strength and courage to others to face their own.
As soon as David defeats Goliath, the rest of the army of Israel rallies behind him and chases after the Philistines in attack. And they defeat them. I believe they had the power in them to do this all along, but they just needed some inspiration. They needed a good example. David gave them that. When they saw what God could do through this young shepherd boy, they had the strength and courage to face their own battle. Sometimes all that is needed in a peer group is a David to inspire the rest. Courage is contagious.
TRUTH/LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
Well, these are just some of the truths that this incredible story can teach us. As you ponder that list of principles, which stands out to you as the most critical in facing your own giant you identified earlier?
Take a moment to write down how you would conclude the following sentence. Because of this lesson, I will . . . If you have a scripture journal, write it down there. If not, perhaps teachers, you could provide your students with a piece of paper to write down their thoughts and encourage them to place it in their scriptures in 1 Samuel 17.
CONCLUSION
David did not defeat Goliath that day with a rock and a slingshot. He defeated him with faith, courage, obedience, purity of intent, and most importantly, the power of God. The Lord was with him, and therefore it didn’t matter how big Goliath was, God was bigger. It didn’t matter how strong he was, God was stronger. It didn’t matter how great a warrior he was; God was greater. The conclusion of that dispute was a foregone certainty. God wins. Goliath loses. I bear witness that that same power lies within you to overcome all the trials, doubts, challenges, and difficulties you may face in your life. Put your trust in God and his smooth stones, and you too will one day stand victorious over your giants!
STEADY YOURSELF, NOT THE ARK
BACKGROUND
To begin this week, I need to give you a little bit of background. Last week we talked about King Saul. In the final chapter of 1 Samuel, Saul and all his sons are killed in battle, paving the way for David to become the new king. This of course came as a result of Saul’s failure to follow the Lord’s commandments and his subsequent descent into outright wickedness at the latter end of his life. So now David is the king and he’s anointed such by the people in 2 Samuel chapter 5. One of the first things David does as King is conquer Jerusalem from the Jebusites and establish it as Israel’s capitol, which it remains to this day, I might add. So it’s David that really puts Jerusalem as a holy city on the map. And in this chapter, right away we see David including the Lord in all his decisions. He does not have Saul’s problem of honoring the people over the Lord. A very promising beginning for the reign of King David. But, so did Saul. We’ll come back to that.
2 Samuel 6 is where I’d like to spend a little additional time with a very short but significant story.
ICEBREAKER
As an Icebreaker, I like to ask my students What they think would happen if they decided to touch one these specific items?
Poison Ivy—You’d get a rash
Sulfuric Acid-This is a very corrosive substance, so it would start to eat away at your flesh.
Hot stove-You’d be burned
Cactus-That would hurt. Quick story. When I moved to Arizona, I noticed that in the fall, the cactus in my front yard lost all it’s spines. And I thought, cool, just like trees, they lose their “leaves” so to speak in the fall and I took the opportunity to feel the rough skin of the cactus. That was a mistake. Because later my hand started to hurt. I looked up closely and my hand was covered in hundreds of tiny little spines. I learned a very painful lesson about living in Arizona. Don’t touch the plants, ever! Every plant in Arizona is trying to hurt you. No touchy.
Electrical fence-You’d’ be electrocuted
Crown Jewels-What if you broke the glass and reached out to touch these? Alarms would go off and those guys in red jackets and the tall furry hats will come in and arrest you.
The Ark of the Covenant-But what about this? What were the consequences of touching this? This, of course, is the ark of the covenant, and like some of these other objects we just talked about, there were some very specific rules as to their handling and some consequences for touching it.
TRANSITION
Unless you were specifically authorized to move or handle it, it was strictly forbidden to touch it. As the sacred container of the tablets of the ten commandments, the ark represented the very presence of God. The message behind that, I believe, was to communicate the principle that no unclean thing could dwell in the presence of God. Nobody was permitted to touch the ark, and only the Levites were authorized to even carry it. And that was only with sticks that were attached by rings to the outer corners. Even they weren't permitted to touch the actual ark itself. Well, at this time in Israelite history, King David decides to move the ark to Jerusalem with the intended plan to build a temple there. Which is eventually going to happen when his son Solomon takes power. The ark is placed on a cart drawn by oxen and a man named Uzzah is walking alongside it. And something happens. I’d like to invite you to read this short story with just one simple question. Why do you think the Lord does this? Also, with what happens afterwards to the ark. Is there a message in that too?
2 Samuel 6:6-11
6 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
8 And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.
9 And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?
10 So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
So . . . wait, what? Uzzah dies? Yeah. As they're walking along, the cart passes over a rut or a pothole and it shakes the ark. Well, Uzzah, when he sees this, reaches out his hand to steady the ark, worried that it might fall. But as soon as he touches the ark . . . zap! He falls over dead. The end. That's it!
Now you just let your students react and I can almost guarantee you that somebody is going to say: That’s not fair, he was just trying to help! My students are often shocked by the story (pun intended). Now the question: Why would God do that to him? The punishment doesn't seem to fit the crime. Let your class wrestle with that story a little bit.
Well, there is one conclusion about this story that we must not come to. The lesson is not that God is a capricious and vengeful God, just waiting to strike dead those who don't happen to do what he likes. There are too many other stories in the scriptures that would refute that conclusion. We know that God is loving, and forgiving, and merciful. So if that's not the message, what is the moral of the story?
I believe that God wished to make a very important point with the story of Uzzah. I don't man to steady my ark. I don't mortals to keep my affairs in order. I am well able to take care of my own things. Yes, I do give mankind a measure of my power and authority, but I’m in charge here. I don't need man's puny arm to manage my kingdom. Instruction and counsel come from the top-down, not vice versa.
That's what we mean by steadying the ark. We steady the ark when we presume to counsel God or feel we have a better plan for managing his world and kingdom. President David O. McKay said it best:
"However well-meaning his intentions, Uzzah approached casually what could only be approached under the strictest conditions. He had no faith in God's power. He assumed that the ark was in danger, forgetting that it was the physical symbol of the God who has all power. What man can presume to save God and his kingdom through his own efforts? . . .
In modern revelation the Lord referred to this incident to teach the principle that the Lord does not need the help of men to defend his kingdom (see D&C 85:8). Yet even today there are those who fear the ark is tottering and presume to steady its course. . . .These are ark-steadiers. The best intentions do not justify such interference with the Lord's plan."
David O. McKay
(Gospel Ideals, p. 258)
I personally believe the Lord allowed this to happen to Uzzah to give us a strong visual to help us remember that principle. The story needed to be “shocking” so that it would be more memorable and stick in our minds. Don’t seek to steady the ark of the church. "Steadying the ark" is going to be a phrase that will help a lot of future disciples understand the principle of respecting God’s wisdom in running his kingdom. Now I'm kind of joking here, but perhaps even God and Uzzah had a good laugh about it afterwards. I can just see the Lord up there afterwards saying, "Thank you Uzzah, for letting me use your life as a powerful object lesson to all the members of my church for the rest of time". And perhaps Uzzah would say, "Ah, don't mention it, any time. Glad to help out." I really doubt this incident would have affected Uzzah’s exaltation. Additionally, I feel the story has added power in the very fact that Uzzah WAS well-intentioned. Now, if he had pridefully reached out, or was deliberately looking for an opportunity to do so, so that he could boast about it later, well, in that case, the punishment maybe seems a bit more justified. But I personally believe that Uzzah sincerely was trying to help. Latter-day ark-steadiers probably fall into the same category. They probably feel very passionately and sincerely about their ideas as to how the Church should function. Still, steadying the ark is a spiritually hazardous proposition.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
Let’s put this idea into some more concrete terms. Can you think of any possible examples of ark-steadying today?
Perhaps there are members of the Church who vocally voice their opinion that they feel the church is getting certain things wrong—that they're not up to date with their policies on social issues or administrative matters. Some may voice their disapproval of the church's handling of women's issues, LGBTQ policies, abortion, marijuana use, or the way the church manages its financial affairs. Perhaps there are people who feel the church is tipping and needs their help to "right" it. On a more local level, perhaps they complain about the decisions or actions of their bishop, relief society president, or youth leaders. I believe that in most cases these members are well-intentioned. And I'm not saying that this feedback is always totally inappropriate. Sometimes leaders can use counsel, and benefit from critique and relevant information that they might have missed. Leaders aren't perfect and not even the Church itself is infallible in all regards. But the spirit in which that counsel is offered makes all the difference. If it's offered as something for leaders to consider in the spirit of constructive criticism or information, then I think that can be appropriate and helpful at times. But if it's a blatant declaration of wrongdoing or a demand of change or a public outcry of disapproval to others around them, then that's ark-steadying. And unfortunately, just like with the story of Uzzah, what is often the result of this ark-steadying? These individuals often die. Now God doesn't strike them physically dead, like with Uzzah, but they often separate themselves from the Church, or they lose faith, or they get offended and drift into inactivity. They die spiritually. I know of a fellow seminary teacher who began to publicly criticize some of the brethren's statements and church policies. He eventually not only removed himself from church education, but the church itself. He allowed his political opinions on just a few topics topple his entire testimony. His ark steadying was his downfall. His faith died, his commitment to the restored gospel died. This is so often the fate of ark-steadiers. As a result, their names are removed from the records of the church, often at their own request.
But, there is one more principle that I wish to highlight here. After this event with Uzzah happens, David fears the ark and decides not to bring it into the city. He leaves it at the house of a man named Obededom. And what happens? Read the next three verses.
D
Do you see a principle in this? Was the ark something David needed to fear? No. As long as you respected the simple rules that governed it, it blessed you. Obededom didn’t touch the ark. He followed the instructions. Therefore, he and his household were blessed! To me this says that when I put my trust in God’s wisdom and counsel, and lean not to my own understanding, this allows God’s church and its authority to bless me. We never want to put ourselves in an adversarial position to the authority and understanding of God. I know the world and the adversary are constantly putting pressure on us to question and resist all kinds of authority—even when it’s benevolent. That can often be a dangerous proposition when it becomes a way of life.
TRUTH
When I seek to counsel, criticize, or correct God or his appointed leaders, I put myself in danger of spiritual death. But, when I respect the Lord and his wisdom, then me and my household will be blessed.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
A personal question to ponder. Are there any areas in my life where I am seeking to "steady the ark"?
What can I do instead?
CONCLUSION
My friends, I hope that we can all avoid the dangers of steadying the ark. I've unfortunately seen this kind of scenario play out on more occasions than I wish to admit. I invite us to be very careful about fault finding and criticizing the way that God runs his universe, his world, and his Church. There is nothing wrong with wrestling with some of these issues and doubts within in our own minds as our testimonies are challenged and strengthened by adversity and trials of faith. But those wrestles should probably be more private than public. Let's seek to steady ourselves rather than steadying the ark. If we respect that ark and the rules governing it, then that ark will bless us immensely and bring glory and joy to our households. Uzzah, up there in heaven, would eagerly approve of this. “Please,” he whispers, “learn from my mistake.”
SUMMARIZE 2 SAMUEL 7
In the following chapter, after David brings the ark into the city, he desires to build a permanent structure to house it. A temple of stone, rather than just curtains. I think it’s interesting to note that this idea to build a temple did not come from God as a revelation to David. The Lord didn’t come down and say, “Build me a house.” It was David’s idea, and the Lord approved of that desire. And I think that may reveal something about the way in which God runs his kingdom or Church. He doesn’t micromanage his leaders. I believe he allows them to make decisions and act on their own ideas. He trusts them and allows them to lead and learn. Last year as we studied the Doctrine and Covenants, I think it became abundantly clear that that’s how he worked with Joseph Smith. He allowed Joseph to live and learn as a leader, and even make some mistakes along the way. Often the direction of inspiration did not come top-down first, but bottom-up. Joseph recognized an issue, had a question, and even proposed a solution and brought it to the Lord. Then the Lord offered counsel, or revelation, or a “OK Joseph, why don’t you try that, and let’s see what happens.” And he learned. And the church learned and was better off because of it. I believe that’s the way the Lord continues to run his Church. And we’re still learning and developing as a people. With David here, the inspiration to build a temple of stone for God’s ark came from the bottom-up. And the Lord blesses David for his righteous desire, and in the following chapters, David experiences great success, political and spiritual victories, and blessings. That is, until we reach chapter 11. Everything is going to change after that. So let’s turn their now.
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