King David's Awesome Thank You Prayer: A Lesson on Gratitude

A fun and creative exploration of King David's heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving in 2 Samuel 7:18-29, encouraging personal reflection and creative expression of gratitude tailored for a homeschool student.

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King David's Awesome Thank You Prayer!

Focus Passage: 2 Samuel 7:18-29

Hello! Get ready to dive into a very special moment with King David. Imagine getting the best news EVER from God – news about your family, your future, and how God sees you. How would you react? Today, we're going to see how King David responded with one of the most heartfelt 'thank you' prayers in the Bible!

What You'll Need Today:

  • Your Bible (or a way to read 2 Samuel 7:18-29)
  • Paper
  • Pens, pencils, colored pencils, or markers
  • Optional: Fun craft supplies like construction paper, glue, scissors, stickers!
  • Optional: A pretend crown to feel like royalty!

Let's Get Started!

1. Setting the Scene & Reading the Prayer (10 minutes)

Before David prayed this prayer, God, through the prophet Nathan, had just given David some HUGE promises. God told David that his family line would continue, and one of his descendants would have a kingdom that lasts forever! Wow! David was overwhelmed with gratitude and humility.

Now, let's read 2 Samuel 7:18-29 together. As you read or listen, try to imagine how David was feeling.

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a human being!

20 “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

22 “How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you.

27 “Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

Quick thought: What's one word that describes how David might be feeling?

2. Unpacking David's Heart (15-20 minutes)

David's prayer is packed with emotion and important ideas. Let's break it down:

  • "Who am I?" (Verse 18): David starts by recognizing how small he is compared to God's greatness and the amazing things God has done for him. He's filled with humility.
    • Have you ever felt super small but also super grateful for something big?
  • God's Amazing Deeds & Word (Verses 19-21): David praises God for His past actions and for making these incredible promises known to him. He knows this isn't about how great David is, but how great God is!
    • What are some "great things" God has done that you can think of (in the Bible, in the world, or even in your life)?
  • "There is no one like You!" (Verses 22-24): David declares God's uniqueness. He's the one true God who has done incredible things for His people, Israel.
    • What makes God unique and special to you?
  • Trust and Asking God to Keep His Promises (Verses 25-29): David asks God to fulfill His promises. He trusts God's words and wants God's name to be honored forever. He ends by asking for a continued blessing.
    • Why is it good to remind God (and ourselves!) of His promises? (Hint: It builds our faith!)

3. Your Creative "Thank You"! (20-30 minutes)

David expressed his thankfulness through a prayer. Now it's your turn to get creative and express gratitude! Choose ONE of the following activities:

Option 1: A Modern David's Prayer

  • Rewrite a few verses of David's prayer (like verses 18, 22, or 28-29) in your own words, as if you were saying it today. How would you express those same feelings of humility and gratitude?

Option 2: My Gratitude Journal/Art Piece

  • Think about something you are truly thankful for – it could be big or small. Create a special "thank you" to God for it. This could be:
    • A short prayer or poem.
    • A colorful drawing or painting showing what you're thankful for and how it makes you feel.
    • A comic strip of David praying, or you praying a thank you prayer.
    • If you have craft supplies, make a "Gratitude Box" or a "Thank You Card" to God.
  • Try to include some of the feelings David showed: humility (knowing it's a gift), awe (wow, this is amazing!), and joy.

Option 3: "God's Promises" Scroll

  • David was thankful for God's PROMISES. What are some promises from God that you know (e.g., He will never leave us, He loves us, He gives us strength)?
  • Write down 1-3 promises on a piece of paper. Decorate it like an ancient scroll. You can even roll it up and tie it with a string! This is a reminder of good things God has said.

Remember to make it personal and from your heart, just like David!

4. Sharing & Reflection (5-10 minutes)

Once you're done with your creative piece, let's talk about it!

  • Share what you created. What was your favorite part of making it?
  • How did David's prayer in 2 Samuel 7 help you think about thankfulness?
  • What is one way you can show gratitude this week, inspired by David?

Lesson Wrap-up

King David shows us an amazing example of how to respond to God's goodness – with humility, awe, and heartfelt thanks. He wasn't afraid to tell God how amazing He is and how much he appreciated God's promises. We can do the same! God loves to hear our thank yous, big and small.

Challenge for the Week: Try to be a "gratitude detective"! Look for things each day that you can be thankful for, and offer a quick "thank you" to God in your heart or out loud.