Day 4 – Grumbling to Grateful

Enemy Territory in Dublin

Pastor Aaron:

Nice to see you again, lads and lasses! Are you enjoying your tour through the Emerald Isle so far?

Today we’re traveling into enemy territory.

SHOW MAP OF IRELAND

We’re heading to the city of Dublin.

SHOW DUBLIN / ENEMY TERRITORY IMAGE

Have you ever heard of the Vikings?

SHOW VIKING PICTURES

Long ago, Vikings came to Ireland and attacked cities like Dublin. The Vikings were fierce warriors who invaded, fought battles, and took over lands.

Now let me ask you something.

Would you want to face an enemy without protection?

(Allow responses.)

Probably not.

That reminds me of sheep.

Let’s see how much we remember.

Sheep sometimes stray away and get…

(Allow responses.)

That’s right—lost.

And sheep like calm still…

(Allow responses.)

Water.

And sheep get easily…

(Allow responses.)

Scared.

But today we’re going to learn something else about sheep.

Sheep really are not very good at protecting themselves.

SHOW ANIMAL ENEMIES PICTURES

Some animals have claws. Some have sharp teeth. Some move very fast. Some use camouflage. And some animals even use poison or terrible smells to defend themselves.

But sheep don’t really have much protection at all.

Sometimes they panic. Sometimes they huddle together. Sometimes they run around wildly.

The greatest protection sheep have is their shepherd.

The shepherd protects them from wolves, foxes, and other dangers.

Even tiny enemies like flies and bugs could bother sheep badly.

But the shepherd cared for the sheep even in the middle of danger.

And that reminds us of today’s verse in Psalm 23.

Let’s stand together and say Psalm 23:1–5.

SHOW MEMORY VERSE POSTERS

(Say verses together.)

Excellent job.

Now today we’re going to learn how the Lord leads us from grumbling to grateful.

Even when David faced enemies and difficult seasons in life, he still learned to focus on the goodness of God.

Let’s hear more.

Teach It!

Prepare a Table (10–15 Minutes)

Pastor Aaron:

By the time David wrote Psalm 23, he was king over Israel.

Kings often sat at large tables filled with food, guests, celebration, and abundance.

So when David wrote about God preparing a table before him, he may have been thinking about both his life as a shepherd and his life as a king.

Now imagine sitting at a giant king’s table overflowing with food, celebration, laughter, and guests.

Kings in Bible times often hosted large feasts to celebrate victories, welcome honored guests, or show kindness and generosity.

So when David wrote about God preparing a table before him, he may have been remembering both the tables of a king and the care of a shepherd providing safe pasture for sheep.

Psalm 23:5 says:

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

Even though sheep had enemies like foxes and wolves, shepherds still prepared safe pastures for the sheep to feed peacefully.

The shepherd would check the fields carefully to protect the sheep.

And David understood this personally.

David had many enemies during his life.

One of his greatest enemies was Saul.

For years Saul chased David and tried to kill him.

But after Saul died and David became king, David showed incredible kindness to Saul’s grandson, Mephibosheth.

READ 2 SAMUEL 9:3–7

The king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still has a son who is lame in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “Indeed, he is in the house of Makir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.” Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Makir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and bowed himself. David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!” David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather. And you shall eat bread at my table continually.”

SHOW DAVID AS KING POSTER POINT TO FIRST SECTION

Even though Saul had treated David like an enemy, David chose kindness instead of revenge.

David invited Mephibosheth to sit at the king’s table like family.

That’s an incredible picture of grace and kindness.

And it reminds us that God shows kindness to us too.

Now we also have a real enemy.

The Bible tells us we have an enemy named Satan.

But here’s the good news:

God is greater.

The Good Shepherd watches over His sheep.

He protects His people. He provides for His people. And He cares for His people.

That’s why we don’t have to live in fear.

We can rest peacefully knowing God is watching over us.

Now Psalm 23 also says:

“You anoint my head with oil.”

Back in Bible times, kings were anointed with oil.

David himself was anointed before he became king.

POINT TO SECOND SECTION OF DAVID AS KING POSTER

But shepherds also placed oil on sheep.

They would rub oil on the sheep’s heads to protect them from biting flies and bugs that would otherwise torment the sheep.

The shepherd cared for the sheep personally and lovingly.

And that reminds us that God lovingly cares for His children too.

Then Psalm 23 says:

“My cup runs over.”

POINT TO THIRD SECTION OF DAVID AS KING POSTER

As a shepherd, David probably remembered filling buckets of water for thirsty sheep until they overflowed.

And later as king, David experienced tables overflowing with food, provision, blessing, and goodness.

Even though David experienced hardship, enemies, fear, and suffering, he learned to focus on the goodness of God instead of living with a complaining spirit.

And honestly, we all have a choice too.

We can spend our lives grumbling about what we don’t have.

Or we can become grateful for all the good things God has already given us.

Every good thing we have ultimately comes from God.

Did you sleep in a bed last night?

(Allow responses.)

That’s a gift from God.

Did someone smile at you, laugh with you, or encourage you this week?

(Allow responses.)

That’s a gift from God.

Do you have clothes to wear and food to eat?

Those are gifts from God too.

Can you think of someone who loves you?

(Allow responses.)

Love itself is a gift from God.

And the greatest gift of all is Jesus coming to save us so we can become part of God’s family.

God fills the lives of His children with goodness.

Not halfway.

Overflowing.

That doesn’t mean life is always easy.

David’s life certainly wasn’t easy.

But even in difficult moments, David learned to focus on the goodness of God.

And we should too.

If we have God, we already have the greatest treasure possible:

His love. His care. His forgiveness. His presence. And His promise of eternal life.

That is something worth being grateful for.

“Good Luck” or Good God? (5 Minutes)

SHOW GOOD LUCK OR GOOD GOD POSTER

Pastor Aaron:

Now let me ask you an important question.

Do you think “luck” is what gives people good things?

(Allow responses.)

In Ireland and around the world, many people believe in lucky charms and superstitions.

Let’s look at some examples.

Discuss poster examples:

Blarney Stone

“Luck of the Irish”

Four-leaf clovers

Horseshoes

Leprechauns and fairies

Wishing wells

Lucky pennies

Wishbones

Some people believe these things bring “good luck.”

But the Bible teaches something very different.

There is no such thing as random luck controlling our lives.

God is in control.

Every truly good thing comes from our good Creator.

God is not a magical made-up character.

He is real.

He is sovereign.

And He lovingly cares for His creation.

So instead of trusting in luck, charms, wishes, or superstitions, we should trust and thank God.

And instead of constantly focusing on what frustrates us, God calls us to think about what is true, lovely, good, beautiful, and honorable.

That’s how the Lord helps move us from grumbling to grateful.

Review Game (Later in the Day)

Overflowing Cup Challenge

Pastor Aaron:

Alright, lads and lasses, let’s see how much you remember from today’s lesson!

Easy Questions

What city did the Vikings attack in Ireland?

Answer: Dublin

What animal enemies sometimes attacked sheep?

Answer: Wolves, foxes, bugs, etc.

Medium Questions

Who was Saul’s grandson that David showed kindness to?

Answer: Mephibosheth

What did shepherds sometimes put on sheep’s heads?

Answer: Oil

Hard Questions

What does it mean when Psalm 23 says, “My cup runs over”?

Answer: God fills our lives with overflowing goodness and blessings.

Why should Christians be grateful even during hard times?

Answer: Because God is still good, caring for us, and giving us His presence and promises.

EXTREMELY HARD QUESTION

Why did shepherds place oil on sheep’s heads?

Answer: To protect sheep from flies and bugs that would bother or torment them.

Close the game by reviewing the Main Truth together:

“God fills my life with His goodness.”

Then say Psalm 23:5 together as a group.