David Becomes King: The Life of David Series
Today in Calvary Kids, we learned about David becoming King. It took him 15 years to actually get to this point! During that time, he was a shepherd, fought Goliath, served in the palace, ran from Saul, hid in caves, and even lived among the Philistines. At age 30, David became king over Judah, and seven and a half years later, all Israel made him their king.
This waiting wasn’t wasted because God was shaping David’s heart, building his character, and preparing him to lead. When David said his kingdom was “for the sake of His people” (2 Samuel 5:12), it showed a servant’s heart that points us forward to Jesus, the perfect King who rules with love.
Read 2 Samuel 2:1-7; 5:1-12; 1 Chronicles 11:1-3
After years of running from Saul and even hiding with the Philistines, David no longer had to run because Saul was dead. So what did David do next? He prayed and asked God for guidance. This time, instead of acting out of fear, David wanted to follow God’s direction.
God told David to go back home to Judah, the very place he was meant to be. And there, after 15 years of waiting since Samuel first anointed him, David was finally crowned king.
Fifteen years is a long time! But all that waiting wasn’t wasted—God was preparing David the whole time. In the same way, when we’re waiting for something we’ve prayed for, we can trust that God hasn’t forgotten us. He’s always at work, even when we can’t see it.
Even after waiting so long to be king over Judah, it would be another seven and a half years before all the tribes of Israel came to David. They remembered three important things: they were family, David had led them in battles even under Saul, and God had promised David would shepherd His people. The elders made a special promise of loyalty to David, and now, as king over all Israel, David took Jerusalem to make it the center of his kingdom and a place of worship.
Jerusalem was a stronghold, a very hard city to conquer. There was only one small, narrow way in, but David’s army, led by Joab, was able to take it. This reminds us that in God’s kingdom, sometimes the work is hard, but we can be brave and go out to share Jesus with others, breaking down strongholds in people’s lives. Even as king, David knew his job wasn’t for himself but to serve the people. He was called to shepherd them, and that’s a great reminder for us too: no matter what position we have, God wants us to serve others.
Now think about David's journey to the throne:
Age 15: Anointed by Samuel in secret
Ages 16-17: Killing Goliath, serving in Saul's court
Ages 18-23: Running from Saul, hiding in caves
Ages 24-29: Living among the Philistines, gathering mighty men
Age 30: Becomes king of Judah
Age 37: Becomes king of all Israel
That's over 20 years from promise to complete fulfillment! But look what God did during those years:
1. Taught David to trust Him completely
2. Gave David his mighty men who would help him rule
3. Showed David what NOT to do by watching Saul's failures
4. Prepared the people's hearts to receive David as king
5. Built David's reputation as a warrior and a man after God's heart
David was chosen and anointed by God to be king over Israel. In the same way, Jesus was chosen and anointed by God to be our Savior and eternal King. David began as a humble shepherd, and God raised him up to lead His people. Likewise, Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd, caring for His people before reigning as the King of Kings.
David united God’s people into one kingdom in Jerusalem, and Jesus brings together people from every tribe and nation into God’s eternal kingdom. David’s victories came because God was with him, and in an even greater way, Jesus defeated sin and death through His death and resurrection. While David ruled Israel for 40 years, Jesus is the perfect King whose reign will never end.
Here’s a quick look at how David points us to Jesus:
Discussion Questions:
1. How long did David wait from when Samuel anointed him until he became king of all Israel? (About 15 years, then 7/2 more years)
2.What did David understand about why God made him king? (It was for the sake of God's people, not for himself)
3. How did David's years of waiting prepare him to be a good king? (Learned to trust God, gathered mighty men, learned from Saul's mistakes)
4. How is Jesus' kingdom different from David's kingdom? (Eternal, perfect, spiritual not just physical)
5.What promises from God are you waiting for? How can David's story help you wait patiently?
Application Time:
1. Trust God's timing when you're waiting for something-He hasn't forgotten you.
2. Use any leadership roles to serve others, not to feel important.
3. Remember that God always keeps His promises, even if it takes time.
4. When you have to wait, use that time to prepare and grow like David did.
5. Look for ways to serve others in your family, class, and community.
6. Thank God for keeping His promises in your life
Memory Verse:
"So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel." - 2 Samuel 5:12
This waiting wasn’t wasted because God was shaping David’s heart, building his character, and preparing him to lead. When David said his kingdom was “for the sake of His people” (2 Samuel 5:12), it showed a servant’s heart that points us forward to Jesus, the perfect King who rules with love.
Read 2 Samuel 2:1-7; 5:1-12; 1 Chronicles 11:1-3
After years of running from Saul and even hiding with the Philistines, David no longer had to run because Saul was dead. So what did David do next? He prayed and asked God for guidance. This time, instead of acting out of fear, David wanted to follow God’s direction.
God told David to go back home to Judah, the very place he was meant to be. And there, after 15 years of waiting since Samuel first anointed him, David was finally crowned king.
Fifteen years is a long time! But all that waiting wasn’t wasted—God was preparing David the whole time. In the same way, when we’re waiting for something we’ve prayed for, we can trust that God hasn’t forgotten us. He’s always at work, even when we can’t see it.
Even after waiting so long to be king over Judah, it would be another seven and a half years before all the tribes of Israel came to David. They remembered three important things: they were family, David had led them in battles even under Saul, and God had promised David would shepherd His people. The elders made a special promise of loyalty to David, and now, as king over all Israel, David took Jerusalem to make it the center of his kingdom and a place of worship.
Jerusalem was a stronghold, a very hard city to conquer. There was only one small, narrow way in, but David’s army, led by Joab, was able to take it. This reminds us that in God’s kingdom, sometimes the work is hard, but we can be brave and go out to share Jesus with others, breaking down strongholds in people’s lives. Even as king, David knew his job wasn’t for himself but to serve the people. He was called to shepherd them, and that’s a great reminder for us too: no matter what position we have, God wants us to serve others.
Now think about David's journey to the throne:
Age 15: Anointed by Samuel in secret
Ages 16-17: Killing Goliath, serving in Saul's court
Ages 18-23: Running from Saul, hiding in caves
Ages 24-29: Living among the Philistines, gathering mighty men
Age 30: Becomes king of Judah
Age 37: Becomes king of all Israel
That's over 20 years from promise to complete fulfillment! But look what God did during those years:
1. Taught David to trust Him completely
2. Gave David his mighty men who would help him rule
3. Showed David what NOT to do by watching Saul's failures
4. Prepared the people's hearts to receive David as king
5. Built David's reputation as a warrior and a man after God's heart
David was chosen and anointed by God to be king over Israel. In the same way, Jesus was chosen and anointed by God to be our Savior and eternal King. David began as a humble shepherd, and God raised him up to lead His people. Likewise, Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd, caring for His people before reigning as the King of Kings.
David united God’s people into one kingdom in Jerusalem, and Jesus brings together people from every tribe and nation into God’s eternal kingdom. David’s victories came because God was with him, and in an even greater way, Jesus defeated sin and death through His death and resurrection. While David ruled Israel for 40 years, Jesus is the perfect King whose reign will never end.
Here’s a quick look at how David points us to Jesus:
- David was promised the throne → Jesus was promised the throne of David
- David was anointed with oil → Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit
- David became king at 30 → Jesus began His ministry at 30
- David was shepherd of the people → Jesus is the Good Shepherd
- David wore a crown of gold → Jesus wore a crown of thorns
- David ruled 40 years → Jesus will reign forever
Discussion Questions:
1. How long did David wait from when Samuel anointed him until he became king of all Israel? (About 15 years, then 7/2 more years)
2.What did David understand about why God made him king? (It was for the sake of God's people, not for himself)
3. How did David's years of waiting prepare him to be a good king? (Learned to trust God, gathered mighty men, learned from Saul's mistakes)
4. How is Jesus' kingdom different from David's kingdom? (Eternal, perfect, spiritual not just physical)
5.What promises from God are you waiting for? How can David's story help you wait patiently?
Application Time:
1. Trust God's timing when you're waiting for something-He hasn't forgotten you.
2. Use any leadership roles to serve others, not to feel important.
3. Remember that God always keeps His promises, even if it takes time.
4. When you have to wait, use that time to prepare and grow like David did.
5. Look for ways to serve others in your family, class, and community.
6. Thank God for keeping His promises in your life
Memory Verse:
"So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel." - 2 Samuel 5:12
Posted in Calvary Kids