King David Shepherd: Anointed and Appointed

King David was anointed by the prophet Samuel as the future king of Israel, making him a shepherd before he was a king. This anointing occurred when David was just a young boy.

The Bible describes David's anointing as a significant moment in his life, marking the beginning of his journey to the throne. It's a powerful example of how God can use even the most ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.

David's appointment as king was not just a random occurrence, but rather the fulfillment of a divine plan. God had chosen David to succeed King Saul, and David's anointing was the first step in that process.

As a shepherd, David was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the next king of Israel. He was chosen for his humility and willingness to serve others.

David's anointing was a pivotal moment in his life, setting him on a path to become one of the most beloved leaders in Israel's history.

We have some fun activities to help kids learn about King David and his story as a shepherd boy. You can use these activities to teach kids about trust and service to God.

Word Scramble and Large Jigsaw Puzzle are great options to get kids engaged and learning. These activities will help kids remember that God protects us when we serve and follow Him.

David Was A Shepherd Boy Hidden Pictures are a great way to engage kids with the Bible story. David was a brave, obedient shepherd boy who worked for his father.

In these hidden pictures, kids can learn about David's life before he became a king. Before David was a giant-slaying king over the nation of Israel, he was a brave, obedient shepherd boy.

David's time as a shepherd boy played a significant role in shaping his character and faith. It was in the sheep fields that David learned valuable lessons about trust, obedience, and service to God.

Kids can have fun searching for hidden pictures and learning about David's story.

Explore further: Show Me a Picture of German Shepherds

A Boy Paints a Picture can be a fun and creative activity for kids. This is evident in the teaching picture for David Was a Shepherd Boy, which is a full-color illustration designed for use in teaching the lesson.

The picture is available for viewing and downloading as a PDF file. Clicking the Get Activity button will provide access to the teaching picture.

Kids can learn about art and creativity while exploring biblical stories. The teaching picture for David Was a Shepherd Boy is a great starting point for this type of activity.

The Hour A and Hour B lesson plans for King David's story are designed for Older Preschoolers.

Each lesson plan includes reproducibles and is available for viewing by clicking the Get Activity button.

The Hour A lesson plan is specifically designed for Older Preschoolers and includes the plan and needed reproducibles.

The Hour B lesson plan is also available and includes the plan and needed reproducibles, just like the Hour A lesson plan.

These lesson plans are part of the God's Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers curriculum.

God delivers Israel from bondage to the Egyptians in the book of Exodus, and they spend the next forty years wandering in the desert. This period is covered in the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Moses dies, and Joshua takes over to conquer the Promised Land, as described in the book of Joshua. Joshua's conquest is a significant turning point in Israel's history.

About 400 years after the Exodus, Samuel is born and dedicated to God. He trains as a priest under Eli and becomes the last Judge of Israel.

In 2 Samuel 5, David is anointed king over all Israel, a position he will hold for 40 years.

David becomes king of Judah after the death of King Saul, but it's not until he defeats the Jebusites that he gains control of Jerusalem.

The Jebusites are a group of people living in the area, and David's victory over them allows him to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.

David's reign is marked by significant military victories and the expansion of Israel's borders.

He also begins to organize the people of Israel into a more formal administrative system, with officials and judges to govern the land.

David's leadership is characterized by his military prowess and his commitment to establishing a strong and stable government.

The Philistines were a major threat to David's kingdom, and their presence is felt throughout the early chapters of his story. They were a powerful and well-organized force that had been a thorn in the side of Israel for many years.

David's first encounter with the Philistines was when they heard about his anointing as king and came to search for him. They spread out in the Valley of Rephaim, a strategic location that would have given them a significant advantage.

David, however, was not intimidated, and he inquired of the Lord for guidance. He asked if he should go up against the Philistines, and the Lord gave him a clear answer: "Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand."

The Philistines were defeated at Baal-perazim, and David was able to claim victory. However, they did not stay defeated for long, and they came up again to spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

This time, the Lord gave David a different strategy, instructing him to go around to the Philistines' rear and attack them from behind. David followed the Lord's instructions, and he was able to strike down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.

David, a shepherd boy, likely spent a lot of time meditating on and memorizing God's Word.

He ultimately wrote some of the Psalms, showing the significance of remembering scripture.

David's experiences as a shepherd boy likely influenced his writing style and the importance he placed on God's Word.

This is evident in the coded word challenge, Psalm 119:11 Coded Word Activity, which helps kids remember the importance of memorizing God's Word.

By doing so, kids can develop a strong foundation in scripture and understand its significance in their lives.

Israel spent 40 years wandering in the desert after being delivered from bondage to the Egyptians in the book of Exodus. This period is covered in the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Moses died at the end of this time, and Joshua took over to conquer the Promised Land, as told in the book of Joshua.

The Israelites were then ruled by either foreign powers like the Philistines or by Judges, who were women and men raised up by God for specific purposes.

Israel's worship of God was decentralized and led by itinerant Levitical priests during this time.

The anointing of David as king is a powerful story that sets the tone for his future role. God sends Samuel to the house of Jesse of Bethlehem to anoint one of his sons as the next king of Israel.

Samuel's mission is treasonous to the current government led by Saul, but he comes in peace, seeking to sanctify the village and Jesse's family for a holy work. To sanctify means to set apart for God's special use or purpose, to make holy.

A sacrifice is given to God as an outward display of worship, and through it, Samuel makes God known to the village. In the Church, sanctification and sacrifice come through Jesus, and we see this bi-part action in the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

The question for Samuel is who did God choose, and the key verse is God's statement that "the Lord sees not as a mortal sees, they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks in the heart." This theme will play out throughout the Scriptures, particularly in the person of Jesus.

God rejects Jesse's seven eldest sons, and instead chooses the most lowly and humble of Jesse's sons, David, who is performing the menial task of watching the sheep. This section ends with the observation that the Spirit of the Lord came upon David.