Free Bible lesson for kids · The Kings
David and Jonathan
After David beat Goliath, the soul of Jonathan, King Saul’s son, was knit with the soul of David, and the two friends made a covenant. When Saul grew jealous and sought David’s life, Jonathan warned him with a secret sign: arrows shot beyond a little lad in the field. The friends kissed one another and wept, and Jonathan sent David away in peace, trusting the LORD to be between them for ever.
- Bible passage
- 1 Samuel 18:1–4 · 20:1–42
- Big idea
- A true friend is loyal and loves at all times.
- Memory verse
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
After David defeated Goliath, the soul of Jonathan, King Saul’s son, “was knit with the soul of David” (1 Samuel 18:1). They made a covenant, and Jonathan gave David his robe, his sword, his bow and his belt (1 Samuel 18:3–4). Later Saul wanted to kill David, and David asked Jonathan, “What have I done?” Jonathan promised to warn him (1 Samuel 20:1, 12–13).
The friends agreed on a secret sign with arrows (1 Samuel 20:20–22). When Jonathan saw that his father truly meant to kill David, he went to the field, shot an arrow beyond a little lad, and cried, “Is not the arrow beyond thee?” (1 Samuel 20:33–37). David came out, and the two friends kissed one another and wept (1 Samuel 20:41). Jonathan said, “Go in peace,” for they had sworn in the name of the LORD to be friends for ever (1 Samuel 20:42).
Read it in the Bible: 1 Samuel 18:1–4 (KJV)
1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. 3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
Questions to ask
What did Jonathan give David when they made a covenant?
His robe, his garments, his sword, his bow and his girdle (1 Samuel 18:4).
What secret sign did Jonathan use to warn David?
He shot an arrow beyond the lad and cried, “Is not the arrow beyond thee?” (1 Samuel 20:36–37).
What did Jonathan say when David went away?
“Go in peace,” because they had sworn friendship in the name of the LORD (1 Samuel 20:42).
What this story teaches
- True friends love each other at all times (Proverbs 17:17).
- Friends who love God keep their promises to each other (1 Samuel 20:42).
- Real love is willing to give good things to others (1 Samuel 18:4).
- A loyal friend stands up for what is right (1 Samuel 20:32).
- Friends can trust the LORD to be between them for ever (1 Samuel 20:23).
Jesus Calls Us Friends
Jonathan loved David as his own soul. Jesus showed even greater love, laying down His life for His friends.
John 15:13–15
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank God for our friends, and ask Him to help us be a faithful friend. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “A true friend is loyal and loves at all times.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Proverbs 17:17 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · outdoors · about 10 minutes
Friends Stick Together
You need: Soft scarves or strips of cloth to tie ankles, cones for a finish line
- Pair everyone up and gently tie the inside ankles of each pair together.
- Pairs race to the cone and back. If they fall, they help each other up and keep going.
- Mix up the pairs and race again, so everyone gets a new friend.
Jonathan stuck with David even when it was hard. “A friend loveth at all times” (Proverbs 17:17).
For youth group · game · indoors · about 20 minutes
Arrow Signals
You need: Paper, pens
- Jonathan used arrows as a secret signal. Teams invent a set of secret signals.
- One teammate sends a message across the room using only the signals while the other team tries to crack the code.
- Most messages sent without being cracked wins.
Jonathan protected his friend at great cost to himself. That’s the kind of friend Jesus is to us.
Pray
Thank God for our friends, and ask Him to help us be a faithful friend.