King Saul’s Jealousy of David 1 Samuel 18
Hey kids! Have you ever felt a little jealous when your friend got a new toy or won a game?
Our Bible story today is about a very powerful king named Saul who felt so jealous of our hero, David, that he made some really bad choices! David was a big star after beating Goliath, and everyone loved him. But when King Saul saw all the attention David was getting, he got super angry.
This story teaches us a big lesson about jealousy and how to have a kind heart, even when it’s hard. Let’s find out what happened and how David handled this tough situation! Use this retelling of 1 Samuel 18-19 to teach children about jealousy. It has a short Bible story, three takeaways, five discussion questions and two coloring pages.
Free coloring pages: two David and Saul pages to download, lower on this page.
Bible Passage: 1 Samuel 18-19
Key Truth for Today: How God works through ordinary people and difficult situations to bring about His purposes.
Key Verse: “A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” (Proverbs 14:30) (BSB)
NOTE: READ TO YOUR OWN BIBLE
Why Was Saul Jealous of David?
Saul was jealous because the women of Israel sang that David had won more than he had, and Saul feared David would take his kingdom. Saul said so himself in 1 Samuel 18:8:
“They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” (BSB)
What Saul Did, in Order (1 Samuel 18-19)
- Saul grew furious at the song and kept a jealous eye on David (1 Samuel 18:8-9).
- The next day, while David played the harp, Saul hurled his spear at him, and David got away (18:10-11).
- Saul became afraid of David, because the LORD was with David (18:12 and 18:15).
- Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David, but Jonathan warned David to hide (19:1-2).
- Jonathan spoke well of David, and Saul promised that David would not be put to death (19:4-6).
- When war came again, Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spear, and David fled that night (19:8-10).
- Saul sent messengers to watch David’s house, and David’s wife Michal lowered him out of a window (19:11-12).
David was a good king, but Jesus, who came from David’s family, is the perfect King, and no one can take his place.
King Saul’s Jealousy to David
After David courageously defeated the giant Goliath, he became a hero in all of Israel. King Saul loved him at first and gave him a high position in his army. David was a wonderful leader and won many battles for Israel, and the people cheered for him everywhere he went.
But one day, something happened that changed everything. As Saul and David were returning from a great victory, the women of the towns came out to celebrate. They sang a song that said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” (BSB)
When King Saul heard this, he became very, very jealous. He felt angry that the people loved David more than him. From that day on, Saul looked at David with suspicion and resentment.
Saul’s jealousy was so strong that it made him do terrible things. Twice, while David was playing his harp for him, Saul became so angry that he threw his spear at David, trying to pin him to the wall! But God was with David, and he was able to escape both times.
Saul tried to get rid of David in other ways, but David always remained kind and faithful to God and the king. Eventually, David had to run away to be safe. Saul’s jealousy made him miserable and turned him from a good king into a mean one, while David chose to trust God and stay kind, even when he was treated unfairly.
Key Takeaways for Kids
- Jealousy is a dangerous feeling. It can make us feel angry and make us act in unkind ways.
- Celebrate others’ successes. Instead of being jealous when a friend does well, we should be happy for them.
- God wants a kind heart. David stayed kind and faithful, even when Saul was mean. God cares more about our hearts than our popularity.
Discussion Questions
- How did King Saul feel when he heard the people’s song?
- What did Saul do because of his jealousy?
- How did David respond to Saul’s unkindness?
- Have you ever felt jealous of a friend? What did you do? What should you have done?
- How can we choose to be happy for others when they do something great?
Want a full teaching plan for the next part of the story? Ministry-to-Children has a lesson on King Saul tries to kill David, but David won’t kill Saul.
COLORING PAGE OF DAVID
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