36 - Endurance - David and Shimei Son of Gera

References
2 Samuel 16.

Notes for Servants
- Shimei sinned against David when he was King; but David did not blame him. Do we endure
others even if they are sinners? Do we forgive those who insult us and pray that God may forgive
them too?
- David received the insult asifit were allowed by the Lord, and he controlled himself. Do we have
this attitude? Do we accept things as if has been allowed by God Himself.

Objectives
General: Love for others - Endurance.
Specific:
The children will be able to
A. endure insult from others and forgive them.
B. understand that nobody can do anything against them without permission from God.
C. learn that if God allow something to happen against us, it is to test our faith.

Bible Verse

"Do good to them that hate you."
(Matthew 5:44)

Teaching Aids
Felt figure and flannel board.

Instruction
(1) Review last week's lesson.
(2) Who remembers the verse?
(3) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.
(4) The children should practice to saying: I forgive you. or May the Lord forgive you.
(5) Teacher should prepare the appropriate questions to emphasize the objectives during the
lesson.

Story Time
David loved Jonathan deeply. Suppose that Jonathan annoyed David; would David be angry? Why?
David would endure Jonathan if he sinned against him, and he would reconcile withhim. What would you
do if a stranger annoyed you?
David was a great king. He ruled the people ofthe Lord, and he wasjust to all. The devil plotted
against David. He spoke in the ears of Absalom, David's son. "If you kill David your father, you will be
king instead of him." Absalom admired the devil's plan. He gathered soldiers round himself and said, "I
amthe king, not David myfather." The good people who loved David told David about it. They said, "We
will fight for you... Go away from the place of the battle so that you may not be injured. Go to the
mountains and when we winvictorywe will call you." David gathered his household and his servants and
went out to the mountains so that he might not be injured in the war.
David, surrounded with his soldiers and guards, went to the mountains. Suddenly, a man whose
name was Shimei, Son of Gera, an evil wicked man, appeared before them. He insulted David and called
him bad names. A soldier tried to silence him, "Don't you know that the manyouhave called bad names
is the King?" Shimei said, "I know that he is a wicked unjust king."
The soldiersaid, "Shut up." Shimei shouted louder and louder and called David bad names. Then
he took some stones and threw them at the soldiers. The captain of David's army became angry and told
the king about it. "Sire, why do you keep silent? Let me go and cut off his head..." David refused and
said, "Let him alone and let him do it. If he curses me because the Lord told him to, who has the right to
ask why he does it? Even if the devil wants to harm me and makesthis man curse me, the Lord ordered
us to forgive those who insult us.

Discussion
1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.
2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity.

Learning Activities
Activity Sheet.