Refuse Revenge

KEY VERSE

Romans 12:21

STICKY STATEMENT

Let God handle it!

LESSON OBJECTIVE

Children will learn that “getting even” with someone is not a God-honoring response and will choose to let God handle revenge.

CHECKLIST

1. A PowerPoint is available for this lesson.

2. A small scrap of fabric to represent Saul’s garment (Body)

3. A toy sword. (Body)

4. Visuals 1-3

5. Items for the Younger Adaptation

a. Tray

b. Two glass jars with lids

c. Vinegar

d. Water

e. Baking soda

f. Paper towels for clean-up

LESSON OVERVIEW

The story of David’s refusal to seek revenge will teach the children that we should never seek to get even with someone who has wronged us.

Younger Adaptation

Teacher’s Note: This demonstration is used in the Introduction and in the Application. A description of the object lesson is found at: https://teachersource.wol.org/videos/oly18/17-1/

Prior to class, have everything set up for the object lesson. Be sure to note which jar has pure vinegar and which has the water-vinegar solution. Both jars should appear identical to the students. Place the jars on the tray and have the paper towels ready. The second part of this demonstration is described in the Application section of the lesson.

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What is the first thing you would want to do if someone came up and grabbed a toy you were playing with? Your first reaction would probably be to grab it right back. If someone hits you, you’d probably want to hit them too! Most of us have something deep inside us that just makes us want to get even with someone who is treating us badly.

What happens when someone is mean to us? [Drop a heaping spoonful of soda into the vinegar only container.] It makes something just kind of “fizz” up inside us, doesn’t it? We feel angry. What happens if we fight back? [Add another spoon of baking soda.] Watch how things just get worse and worse if we both continue to want our own way. [Continue adding the baking soda until you’ve created a big mess.] The more we argue and say unkind things, the bigger and bigger the mess gets.

It is hard to learn not to strike back! Today’s lesson is about how David let God handle something in his life instead of trying to get even with someone who was trying to kill him. [Proceed to teaching from the Body of the lesson and do the rest of the activity.]

INTRODUCTION

Teacher’s Note: You may use the object lesson for the Younger Adaptation or tell the following story.

Tiffany and Leah had been great friends, but then Tiffany moved away. After a few years, Tiffany moved back to their home town and came back to the same school. When her friend Tiffany moved back, their friendship wasn’t the same. In fact, you could pretty much say they didn’t even have a friendship anymore. Tiffany acted like she was better than Leah and that really hurt Leah’s feelings. Leah was very disappointed.

One night though, in a basketball game, Tiffany fouled out. [Show Visual 1.] As Tiffany left the court in tears, Leah jumped up from the bench, put her arm around Tiffany’s shoulder, and walked out comforting her. This would have been a perfect opportunity for Leah to get even by laughing at Tiffany. Instead of trying to get back at Tiffany, Leah let God handle it to show love and real friendship to Tiffany.

BODY

At some time in our lives, all of us have felt like we have had enemies. Maybe someone said untrue things about you or did something to hurt you. They may have been jealous of you and treated you unkindly. Worse yet, they may have just ignored you completely. Today, I want to share with you from the Bible about how David and King Saul solved their problems. To find out what caused their bad relationship, open your Bibles to 1 Samuel 18.

[Show Visual 2.] The Bible says that David had become very popular with the people of Israel. God allowed David to kill Goliath the giant, and also gave him many other victories in battle. If we were to compare it to today, it would be like the person you know who becomes popular because they scored the most points on the team. In David’s case, the women of Israel even began singing songs about him. Well, how do you think King Saul felt about that? King Saul became very jealous because David was getting all the attention.

[Show Visual 3.] Let’s find out how bad Saul’s jealousy got. [Read 1 Samuel 18:11.] Not just once but twice Saul tried to kill David by throwing a javelin at him! King Saul didn’t understand that trying to get rid of David would not make his jealousy go away.

When Saul’s first plan failed, he decided to send David out to the frontlines of the battle. [Read 1 Samuel 18:17.]

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Surely, Saul thought, David would be killed by the Philistines, and he would be rid of David once and for all. But David was a brave soldier, and he killed two hundred more of their enemies. God protected David through each battle.

Since Saul failed to get rid of David, he decided to send his servants to kill David. When they got to David’s house, David’s wife made the bed to look like David was sleeping. But instead, she helped David escape through a window. You can imagine how angry that made King Saul. He felt betrayed by his own family since David’s wife was actually Saul’s daughter. Saul failed again in getting rid of David or his own jealousy.

For this part of the story, I want you to close your eyes and pretend that you are in a dark cave. Keep them closed until you hear me say, “Look.”

One day as David and his men were hiding in a cave, Saul came into the same cave. Since the cave was so dark, Saul didn’t realize David and his men were in there already. David’s soldiers whispered to David, “Look! Here is your chance to kill King Saul before he kills you.” This was the perfect opportunity for David to get his revenge and kill Saul.

Teacher’s Note: Act this next part out, carrying a sword, tip-toeing up toward the imaginary king. At this point students will not know whether David is going to kill Saul or not! Quietly bend down to cut off the robe, then sneak away.

Instead of killing the king, David cut off a small piece of Saul’s robe and then slipped back into his hiding place. Sometime later, Saul and his soldiers left the cave not knowing what David had done. Once outside, David and his men stepped out of hiding. [Hold up the piece of cloth to represent the piece of Saul’s robe.] Let me read what David said to King Saul. [Read 1 Samuel 24:12.]

Saul’s heart was changed. Even though David had the opportunity to kill him, he chose to spare his life. Saul said David was more righteous than him because David returned good to Saul not evil. King Saul finally realized that David would be the king of Israel instead of him. Saul asked David to promise him that he would always be kind and good to Saul’s family. As long as he lived, David kept that promise to Saul.

What an amazing story! So many times, Saul tried to kill David, but when David had a chance to kill Saul, he just let God handle it.

APPLICATION

Teacher’s Note: If you chose to do the Younger Adaptation object lesson in the Introduction, continue with the demonstration instead of the game activity below.

Do you think you could be like David and let God handle it? I know that each one of you has probably been in situations where your first impulse is to strike back at someone who has hurt you. Have you ever been made fun of for wearing glasses or having braces or freckles? Maybe someone on the playground called you names. That really, really hurts, doesn’t it? Listen to what the Bible says that we should do. [Read Romans 12:21.]

Remember our illustration from the beginning? Watch what happens this time when someone does something to hurt you and instead of fighting back, you let God handle it. [Add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to the jar that is mostly water. Then put the lid on the jar and watch how quickly the fizzing reaction settles down.] When you refuse to add to the problem, things don’t get out of hand and create big messes.

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Teacher’s Note: If you are not using the Younger Adaptation, use the following game. For this game, divide the class into four groups. Name each group either A, B, C, or D.

Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Let’s play a quick game to help you practice overcoming evil with good. I’m going to read a sentence to you and give you four choices. If you believe that your group’s letter is the right choice, stand up.

1. Someone calls you a hurtful name. Should you:A. Call him a name backB. Run and tell your momC. Go sit in the corner and cryD. Say something kind back to him

2. You’re watching your favorite TV program when your brother comes in, grabs the remote, and changes the channel to something he wants to watch. Should you:A. Grab the remote and change it backB. Stand in front of the TV so he can’t seeC. Say, “I’m going to let God handle this,” and walk awayD. Remove the batteries from the remote

3. Your friend says another classmate started a rumor about you. Should you: A. Stop talking to that classmate foreverB. Go to her first to find out if she really did start the rumor and try to resolve the matterC. Start an even nastier rumor about herD. Walk right up to her and call her a liar

4. You’re standing in line waiting your turn. Someone in front of you calls out to their friends and lets several of them cut in line ahead of you. Should you:A. Let God handle it. Stay calm, smile, and stay in lineB. Just leave because you’ve been treated unfairlyC. Get out of line and get back in line in front of themD. Scream out, “Go to the back of the line”

Whether you’re four years old, in fourth grade, or forty years old it’s hard to let God handle it when you really want to get even. David had to decide how he would respond when King Saul was trying to kill him. Ask God to help you respond with kindness when you want to take matters in your own hands. Listen again to what Romans 12:21 says. [Read Romans 12:21.] Remember always to let God handle it! [Close in prayer.]

PERSONAL TRAINING TIME

Goal of this Personal Training Time

Help students learn how to let God handle situations that arise in their lives, learning not to strike back before thinking things through.

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Discussion Questions

1. Explain what the word ‘revenge’ actually means. (Getting even, punishing someone who has hurt you; carrying out a bitter desire to hurt another, pay back)

2. Which one of the four situations in our game have you seen recently? How was the situation handled? (1. Someone calls you a hurtful name. 2. You’re watching your favorite TV program when your brother comes in, grabs the remote, and changes the channel to something he wants to watch. 3. Your friend says another classmate started a rumor about you. 4. You’re standing in line waiting your turn. Someone in front of you calls out to their friends and lets several of them cut in line ahead of you.)

3. What could you say to someone who has just called you a hurtful name? (I forgive you. I hope no one ever calls you names. You know that makes me feel bad when you call me that, but I’m going to forgive you anyway. Let’s see if we can think of more kind words that we can use to overcome evil with good.)

PARENT CONNECTION

Probably every parent on earth has heard these words, “She started it.” Or, “He hit me first.” Take the opportunity this week in your home to watch for situations to remind children that it is not their responsibility to get even or seek revenge on siblings. Discuss with your children when situations have come up at home, school, or on the playground when they wanted to take matters into their own hands and seek revenge. Be a good example when you might be faced with the temptation to “lose it” so that your children can see you living out this principle in real life. Instead of trying to get even, let God handle it.

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Visual 1

Visual 2

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Visual 3

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