David and Jonathan Were Good Friends
1 Samuel 18:1-4
Our true story comes from the Bible. It is found in the book, or part, of the Bible called First Samuel (1 Samuel). It is the first of two books named after a man named Samuel.
The Bible tells us that there once was a young man named David.
David helped the king's army when the giant, Goliath, was trying to scare them. God kept David safe and helped him fight Goliath.
After Goliath was dead, David went to talk to King Saul. He told the king how God had helped him fight the giant.
When King Saul heard how brave David was, he told David to come and be a soldier for him. David didn't go back home to live. Instead he packed his things and went to live at the king's house. King Saul lived in a big house called a palace. The palace was far away from David's home.
David was happy to go to the king's palace and work there. But he probably felt a little sad, too, because he was leaving his father and friends at home.
David didn't know anyone at the palace.
But something special happened at the king's palace. David met Jonathan, the king's son. Right away, the two young men became good friends.
Jonathan wanted to show David how much he loved him as a friend. So, one day, Jonathan decided to give David a present. The present was a promise that he would always love David as a friend. Jonathan took off his beautiful coat and gave it to David. That wasn't the only gift. Jonathan knew that David liked his sword. So, Jonathan also gave his sword to David. Jonathan gave David his bow, too.
David didn't have any beautiful clothes, or a sword, or a bow to give to Jonathan. Instead, He thanked Jonathan for the gifts. David also said that he would always help Jonathan and love him as a friend.
David and Jonathan were good friends. They loved each other. We can love our friends too.
Bible Paraphrase: A friend loves at all times. (A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. – Proverbs 17:17 NIV)
Text Truth: Friends love each other.
In Ecclesiastes 4:1 0, we read,
First Samuel 1 8:1-4 details the beginning of a friendship between Jonathan, the king's son, and David, a shepherd boy. Throughout their relationship, Jonathan and David renewed their friendship even through the threat of danger. It even lasted beyond Jonathan's death.
David and Jonathan's friendship played an important role in their lives.
Jonathan put his friendship with David above family loyalty and the inheritance of a throne.
What would you do for your friend?
Together name things your child can do with a friend. Let your child pick one and talk through how your child can do it. Ask questions and give ideas leading your child to understand what to do, how to play together, and what to talk about. In this way, you can help your child be a friend showing love.
Sing this song to the tune of "Mulberry Bush" to remember how friends love each other. Replace the word Play for other ways friends can love each other to make additional verses.
Read books about friendship. Talk about how the friends in the story showed love to each other and how you can show love to your friends.
To review the Bible story, you and your child can pretend to be David and say, "I have no friend." Then pretend to be Jonathan and say, "I'll be your friend. A friend always loves you." Share this action poem together.
Let's be friends; let's be friends. (Shake hands.)
Come and clap with me. (Motion someone to come.)
Clap. Clap. Clap. (Clap hands.)
Substitute other action words such as march, smile, and hug.
You’ll Need: paper, safety scissors
Cut out a paper doll chain. Write the names of your preschooler's friends on them. Help your child name each friend in prayer time. Praying for friends shows you love them.
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The illustrations are the copyright of Sweet Publishing and licensed by FreeBibleimages for free download under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike 3.0 unported license. www.freebibleimages.org
Our true story comes from the Bible. It is found in the book, or part, of the Bible called First Samuel (1 Samuel). It is the first of two books named after a man named Samuel.
The Bible tells us that there once was a young man named David.
David helped the king's army when the giant, Goliath, was trying to scare them. God kept David safe and helped him fight Goliath.
After Goliath was dead, David went to talk to King Saul. He told the king how God had helped him fight the giant.
When King Saul heard how brave David was, he told David to come and be a soldier for him. David didn't go back home to live. Instead he packed his things and went to live at the king's house. King Saul lived in a big house called a palace. The palace was far away from David's home.
David was happy to go to the king's palace and work there. But he probably felt a little sad, too, because he was leaving his father and friends at home.
David didn't know anyone at the palace.
But something special happened at the king's palace. David met Jonathan, the king's son. Right away, the two young men became good friends.
Jonathan wanted to show David how much he loved him as a friend. So, one day, Jonathan decided to give David a present. The present was a promise that he would always love David as a friend. Jonathan took off his beautiful coat and gave it to David. That wasn't the only gift. Jonathan knew that David liked his sword. So, Jonathan also gave his sword to David. Jonathan gave David his bow, too.
David didn't have any beautiful clothes, or a sword, or a bow to give to Jonathan. Instead, He thanked Jonathan for the gifts. David also said that he would always help Jonathan and love him as a friend.
David and Jonathan were good friends. They loved each other. We can love our friends too.
Bible Paraphrase: A friend loves at all times. (A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. – Proverbs 17:17 NIV)
Text Truth: Friends love each other.
Family Devotional
In Ecclesiastes 4:1 0, we read,
If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
First Samuel 1 8:1-4 details the beginning of a friendship between Jonathan, the king's son, and David, a shepherd boy. Throughout their relationship, Jonathan and David renewed their friendship even through the threat of danger. It even lasted beyond Jonathan's death.
David and Jonathan's friendship played an important role in their lives.
Jonathan put his friendship with David above family loyalty and the inheritance of a throne.
What would you do for your friend?
Activities You Can Do at Home
Bible Rhyme
The Bible paraphrase is in the third line of the rhyme. Teach the words and actions a line at a time. Have your child repeat each line back to you.
One friend and one friend,
(Hold up one finger on each hand.)
Together they know
(Hold fingers together.)
A friend loves at all times,
(Hug yourself.)
For God made them so.
(Reach arms up.)
Show Love to a Friend
Together name things your child can do with a friend. Let your child pick one and talk through how your child can do it. Ask questions and give ideas leading your child to understand what to do, how to play together, and what to talk about. In this way, you can help your child be a friend showing love.
With My Friends, I Like to Play
Sing this song to the tune of "Mulberry Bush" to remember how friends love each other. Replace the word Play for other ways friends can love each other to make additional verses.
With my friends, I like to play,
Like to play, like to play.
With my friends I like to play.
Thank You, God, for friends!
Books about Friendship
Read books about friendship. Talk about how the friends in the story showed love to each other and how you can show love to your friends.
Be David and Jonathan
To review the Bible story, you and your child can pretend to be David and say, "I have no friend." Then pretend to be Jonathan and say, "I'll be your friend. A friend always loves you." Share this action poem together.
Let's be friends; let's be friends. (Shake hands.)
Come and clap with me. (Motion someone to come.)
Clap. Clap. Clap. (Clap hands.)
Substitute other action words such as march, smile, and hug.
Pray for Friends
You’ll Need: paper, safety scissors
Cut out a paper doll chain. Write the names of your preschooler's friends on them. Help your child name each friend in prayer time. Praying for friends shows you love them.
The illustrations are the copyright of Sweet Publishing and licensed by FreeBibleimages for free download under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike 3.0 unported license. www.freebibleimages.org
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