Free Bible lesson for kids · The Kings
David Dances Before the LORD
King David heard that the LORD had blessed the house of Obed-edom because of the ark of God, so he went and brought the ark up to the city of David with gladness. David danced before the LORD with all his might, and all Israel brought up the ark with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. When the ark was set in its place, David blessed the people in the name of the LORD and gave every one bread, meat and wine before they went home.
- Bible passage
- 2 Samuel 6:12–19
- Big idea
- We can worship God with all our heart and with gladness.
- Memory verse
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Psalm 100:2 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
The LORD blessed the house of Obededom while the ark of God stayed there (2 Samuel 6:11). When King David heard it, he brought the ark up to the city of David with gladness (2 Samuel 6:12). David danced before the LORD with all his might, wearing a linen ephod (2 Samuel 6:14).
All Israel brought up the ark “with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet” (2 Samuel 6:15). Michal, Saul’s daughter, watched from a window and despised David in her heart as he leaped and danced before the LORD (2 Samuel 6:16). They set the ark in the tent David had pitched for it, and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings (2 Samuel 6:17). Then he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts and gave each one bread, meat and a flagon of wine (2 Samuel 6:18–19).
Read it in the Bible: 2 Samuel 6:12–19 (KJV)
12And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness. 13And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. 14And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
Questions to ask
What did David bring up into the city of David?
The ark of God (2 Samuel 6:12).
How did David dance before the LORD?
With all his might, girded with a linen ephod (2 Samuel 6:14).
What did David give to every one of the people?
A cake of bread, a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine (2 Samuel 6:19).
What this story teaches
- God blesses those who honor His presence (2 Samuel 6:11–12).
- We can worship God with all our might (2 Samuel 6:14).
- Praising God can be loud and joyful (2 Samuel 6:15).
- We worship for the LORD, not to impress people (2 Samuel 6:21).
- Worship leads us to bless and share with others (2 Samuel 6:18–19).
Jesus Is God with Us
David rejoiced to bring the ark of God into his city. In Jesus, God Himself came to be with us: Emmanuel, God with us.
Matthew 1:23
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Praise God with all our heart, and ask Him to fill us with gladness when we worship. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “We can worship God with all our heart and with gladness.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Psalm 100:2 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · activity · indoors · about 10 minutes
Worship Parade
You need: A box decorated as the ark, streamers, shakers
- Two kids carry the “ark” at the front.
- Everyone else parades behind with streamers and shakers, singing and dancing.
- Set the ark in its place and give everyone a snack, like David gave the people bread.
David danced before the LORD with all his might. Worship is joyful!
For youth group · activity · indoors · about 30 minutes
Joy Night
You need: A speaker, clean line-dance or game songs
- Play group dance games and line dances, where nobody is a spectator.
- Mix in a worship song or two.
- Talk: David didn’t care how he looked. What keeps us from worshipping freely?
David said, “It was before the LORD… therefore will I play before the LORD.” Joy belongs in worship.
Pray
Praise God with all our heart, and ask Him to fill us with gladness when we worship.