Mesa Valley Church of Christ Grand Junction, Colorado
Illustration for David and Goliath

Old Testament people Ages 4–10 Story 10 of 25

1 Samuel 17 · ESV memory verse below

David and Goliath

Who is this?

David was a young shepherd from Bethlehem. God had already chosen him, but the army still looked at size and armor.

What happened?

Goliath mocked the living God. David trusted that the battle is the LORD’s—and God gave the victory.

The story

The Philistines sent out a champion named Goliath. Morning and evening he taunted Israel. Saul’s army heard him and were greatly afraid. Goliath was not only tall; he was mocking the living God.

David was still a shepherd. His father sent him with food for his brothers in the camp. When David heard Goliath’s words, he asked, “Who is this… that he should defy the armies of the living God?” David remembered how the LORD had delivered him from the lion and the bear.

Saul offered heavy armor, but David could not walk in it. He took his staff, chose five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand. He told Goliath, “You come… with a sword and with a spear… but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts.”

David ran quickly toward the battle line. He slung one stone and struck the Philistine on the forehead. Goliath fell on his face. Israel saw that the LORD saves—not by sword and spear alone. The battle is the LORD’s, and He still wants His people to trust Him more than what looks big and scary.

Memory verse (ESV)

And that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s.

1 Samuel 17:47

Talk about it

Ages ~4–7

  1. Who mocked God’s people?
  2. Whose battle did David say it was?

Ages ~8–12

  1. Why did David refuse Saul’s armor?
  2. What does “the battle is the LORD’s” mean when we are afraid?
  3. Who should receive the praise when God helps us?

Family activity

Stack pillows as a “giant.” Talk about trusting God more than what looks big and scary.

Parent take-home

Read 1 Samuel 17 in short sittings. Goliath mocked the living God; David trusted that the battle is the LORD’s. Practice naming one “giant” fear and giving it to God in prayer before bed.

Talk on the way home

  1. Why was the army afraid of Goliath?
  2. What did David say the battle belonged to?
  3. How can we trust God when something looks too big?

Longer family guide: Week 10 on the family page.

Print coloring and activities (PDF) All children’s stories

In the PDF: coloring page, memory verse with blanks, plus kid activities (sequence). Number the boxes 1–4 in story order, or cut and rearrange.

For parents and teachers

Avoid turning David into a mascot for self-confidence. The text says the battle is the LORD’s. David had already learned God in the field with the lion and the bear. Talk about trusting the living God, not about aiming better than the next boy.