David Slays Goliath, by Gary L. Kapp
1 Samuel 17–18; 24–26; 2 Samuel 5–7
The Israelites faced the Philistines in battle, and Goliath challenged them. King Saul and his army feared the giant. When David came to deliver supplies to his brothers in the army, he heard Goliath’s challenge and volunteered to fight him. Armed with his faith in God, a sling, and five stones, David defeated Goliath. Years later David had to flee from King Saul into the wilderness. While there, David and his men were kind to a man named Nabal. When Nabal refused to help them, David sought revenge. But Nabal’s wife, Abigail, interceded on behalf of her husband and pacified David.
Additional Resources
Scripture Helps: Old Testament, “1 Samuel 17–18; 24–26; 2 Samuel 5–7”
Note: The “Introduction to the Course” provides guidance on how to use the standard lesson elements that follow.
Encouraging Personal Study
Before class, consider sending students one or more of the following messages or some of your own:
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As you study 1 Samuel 17, consider how the Lord can help you overcome the “Goliaths” in your life.
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How can the Lord help you avoid contention or feelings of jealousy or resentment? Consider this as you study the interactions between David and Saul in 1 Samuel 18 and 24.
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As you study the account of David, Nabal, and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25, look for what Abigail does that reminds you of Jesus Christ.
Questions and Sharing
Provide time for students to ask questions and share insights and truths they discovered in their personal study of 1 Samuel 17–18; 24–26; 2 Samuel 5–7.
Skill Training
The learning activity for 1 Samuel 25 might be a helpful place to use the skill “Focusing on Jesus Christ in the Scriptures” in Scripture Study Skills.
Learning Activity Options
Multiple learning options are provided for you and your students. Prayerfully choose which option or options will be most meaningful for your class. You could also seek input from your students.
Improving Our Teaching and Learning
Focus on truths that lead to conversion and faith in Jesus Christ. When the Savior taught, He focused on truths that pointed His listeners to Him and His Father. Examples of converting truths include a focus on Heavenly Father’s plan, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the commandments to love God and our neighbors. When we teach these simple truths of the gospel, we help others build their faith in Jesus Christ and become converted to Him. To learn more, see “The Savior Taught Truths That Lead to Conversion and Build Faith” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 22).
How can the Lord help me face the Goliaths in my life?
Consider writing David on one side of the board and Goliath on the other. You could display the image from the beginning of the lesson and invite students to write on each side of the board details they remember about what led to the battle between David and Goliath. (If needed, students could briefly search 1 Samuel 17:1–25 for details.)
Point out that we can learn important truths from the account of David and Goliath that can help with the challenges we face. Invite students to think about a trial they are currently facing. Encourage them as they study today to pay attention to promptings from the Holy Ghost that can help them face their challenges with the Lord’s help.
Invite students to read 1 Samuel 17:26, 32–37, looking for how David responded when he heard Goliath’s threats toward the army of Israel. Then consider asking questions like the following:
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What did you find in these verses that reflects David’s faith in God?
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What are some truths we can learn about the Lord from David’s response? (Students could identify a truth like this: As we rely on the Lord, He will help us face our challenges.)
Invite students to read 1 Samuel 17:38–51 and mark ways David relied on the Lord. After sufficient time, you could ask students to share their insights with a partner or small group. They could also discuss the following questions:
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What role did David’s relationship with the Lord play in his victory?
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What are some ways we can show that we rely on the Lord when we face challenges?
Invite a few students to share insights from their discussions with the class. Then consider asking the following question:
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When has relying on the Lord in your challenges helped you experience His help? (As part of this discussion, you could show a video from the “His Grace” collection, such as “I Didn’t Feel Good Enough, But I Was Good Enough for God” [5:08].)
5:9
Invite students to recall the personal challenge they thought about at the beginning of the learning activity. Remind them that David chose five stones to prepare to face Goliath. Encourage them to write down five ways they could rely on the Lord as they face their specific challenge.
You could conclude by sharing the following testimony from Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus of the Young Women General Presidency:
Christ is eager to accompany us on the journey of our lives. … He will be guiding you, and He will be teaching you. By His hand, you will be able to bring down every Goliath that appears in your life. (“Faithful to the End,” Liahona, May 2024, 61)
How can I avoid contention, resentment, and jealousy?
You could write words like contention, resentment, and jealousy on the board. Ask students to consider the last time they experienced one of these things. Then ask a question like the following:
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Why can these sometimes be difficult to avoid?
Encourage students as they study today to ponder what they can learn from David and Saul that can help them with contentious situations they face in their lives.
Explain that after David defeated Goliath, King Saul placed David in charge of his army. Later, Saul became jealous of David’s success and repeatedly sought to take David’s life. To help students learn from the interactions between David and Saul, you could distribute the handout “Learning from the Account of David and Saul.” Invite students to complete either the first or second study activity of the handout with a partner or small group. It may be helpful to have students appoint one person in their group to be a discussion leader.
After students have had sufficient time to complete their portion of the handout, invite them to share the truth they identified with the class. Examples of such truths include these: When we are jealous or resentful, we allow the adversary to have influence in our lives. The Lord will be with us as we strive to behave wisely in contentious situations. Because the Lord is a perfect judge, we do not seek revenge against those who have wronged us.
You could share and discuss the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson:
Today, I am asking us to interact with others in a higher, holier way. …
Contention drives away the Spirit—every time. Contention reinforces the false notion that confrontation is the way to resolve differences; but it never is. Contention is a choice. Peacemaking is a choice. You have your agency to choose contention or reconciliation. I urge you to choose to be a peacemaker, now and always. (“Peacemakers Needed,” Liahona, May 2023, 99–100)
Consider discussing the following questions:
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What are teachings or examples from the life of Jesus Christ that can help us respond appropriately to conflicts we face?
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How have you been blessed by people who chose to be peacemakers?
Encourage students to ponder their lives and relationships. Invite them to create a plan to better respond to contentious situations they might experience. Encourage them to pray for the Lord’s help to overcome contention or feelings of resentment or jealousy.
What can the story of Abigail teach me about Jesus Christ?
Consider asking students to think of someone they know who reminds them of the Savior in some way. Have students in groups or with a partner share a description of that person, including a photo if they would like. They could discuss some of the following questions:
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What is it about this person that reminds you of the Savior?
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How have you been blessed by their Christlike actions?
Explain that 1 Samuel 25 contains the account of a conflict that arose between David and a man named Nabal. In this account, Nabal’s wife, Abigail, can be seen as a powerful example of a type or symbol of Jesus Christ. (This could be a good place to introduce the skill “Focusing on Jesus Christ in the Scriptures” in Scripture Study Skills.) Invite students as they study this account to consider ways that Abigal reminds them of Jesus Christ.
To help students understand the context related to this account, you or a student could share the following summary:
After the death of the prophet Samuel, David and his men fled into the wilderness to escape King Saul, who wanted to kill David. During their time in the wilderness, David and his men protected the flocks and shepherds of a wealthy man named Nabal, who was married to Abigail. Later, David and his men needed food and supplies and asked Nabal for help. However, Nabal insulted David and refused to offer any assistance. David was offended and prepared his men to attack Nabal and his household. When Abigail learned of the conflict between David and her husband, she acted quickly to help bring peace.
Invite students to read 1 Samuel 25:18–35 and consider ways that Abigail’s actions and words remind them of Jesus Christ. You could use a table like the following for students to record their findings. If students need help, invite them to study the entry for 1 Samuel 25 in Scripture Helps: Old Testament.
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Abigail |
Jesus Christ |
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After students finish studying, consider asking questions like the following:
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What are some ways Abigail reminds you of Jesus Christ? (As students respond, they may identify truths about the Savior like the following: Jesus Christ can help us forgive those who hurt us.)
To help students better understand this truth, consider sharing the following statement by Sister Kristin M. Yee of the Relief Society General Presidency:
Just as Abigail was willing to take Nabal’s sin upon herself, so did the Savior—in an incomprehensible way—take upon Him our sins and the sins of those who have hurt or offended us. In Gethsemane and on the cross, He claimed these sins. He made a way for us to let go of a vengeful heart. That “way” is through forgiving—which can be one of the most difficult things we ever do and one of the most divine things we ever experience. On the path of forgiveness, Jesus Christ’s atoning power can flow into our lives and begin to heal the deep crevasses of the heart and soul. (“Beauty for Ashes: The Healing Path of Forgiveness,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 37)
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Why might forgiving someone who has hurt us feel difficult or even impossible at times?
Invite students to imagine they know someone who is having a difficult time forgiving another person. Give them time to find one or more scriptures or statements from Church leaders that could help that person forgive. When students have finished, invite them to share what they found with a partner or small group. You could also have a few students share their scripture or statement with the class.
To help students learn about modern-day examples of Jesus Christ helping people forgive, consider showing “Forgiveness after Betrayal Is a Process” [5:21] or “Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?” (from time code 5:49 to 7:44).
Invite students to reflect on any thoughts and impressions they received today that can help them in their personal lives. Encourage them to write down plans they have to act or spiritual impressions they received from the Holy Ghost.