Saul, Jonathan, and David "Bow and Arrow" Workshop

View and print the attached PDF of the lesson

This lesson was originally written for their Art Workshop, but we think it's better adapted to a Game Workshop that has the kids shooting their arrows at lesson-related targets. We also have several suggestions about making the arrows "safer."

Be sure to read the attached "doc" file which has many photos and "how to." One of the websites referenced in the Word doc file also has many photos and instructions/options: https://www.skiptomylou.org/diy-pvc-bow-and-arrow/

Summary:

• Scripture: I Samuel 17-20   A retelling is found in the lesson plan.
• Jonathan Warns David by shooting arrows. Jonathan and David depart friends.
  
  Excerpt from the retelling: 
  
  I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target. Then I will send a boy and say, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I say to him, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,' then come, because, as surely as the LORD lives, you are safe; there is no danger. But if I say to the boy, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then you must go, because the LORD has sent you away.
  
  Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; and he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father's shameful treatment of David. 
 In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for his meeting with David. He had a small boy with him, and he said to the boy, "Run and find the arrows I shoot." As the boy ran, Jonathan called out after him, "Isn't the arrow beyond you?" Then he shouted, "Hurry! Go quickly! Don't stop!" The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said, "Go, carry them back to town." 
 After the boy had gone, David got up from beside of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most. 
 Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD forever.” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.


Activities: After hearing a retelling of the story (which could be acted out), students construct a bow and arrow.  We've added the suggestion below to create a "target" game to enhance the life application of the story.

Additional Suggestions:  This is a lesson for 2nd graders and up. Please look at the alternative arrow tip suggestions to be safe. Hot Glue a styrofoam tip to the end of the arrow. 

Game Target Suggestion:  Create an "arrow target" option to this lesson to add life application. 

What "things or problems or people" should we be "warning" our friends about like Jonathan did for David?   Draw a "rock of Ezel" and tape to the back of a chair which is sitting 3 feet from a wall. Then place a "target problem" on the wall BEHIND the sheet of paper. This mimics Jonathan's "sign" to David that arrows shot beyond the rock are the warning to David.

Create a few "Saul jealousies and anger" targets to knock down. How do we resist becoming jealous of others popularity like Saul was of David's??

You are welcome to use it in part or entirely. In addition to printing the PDF, you can copy the text from the PDF by dragging it with your mouse and copying/pasting into your own document. You can quickly save the PDF to your computer, then upload the PDF to https://simplypdf.com/ and convert it to a Word doc for easy editing in Word.