Mephibosheth — Kindness at the King’s Table Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “David showed him the kindness of God.”
King David had a best friend named Jonathan. Jonathan loved David very much. Long ago, the two friends made a promise. David promised to always be kind to Jonathan’s family.
But Jonathan had died in a battle. David was very sad. He even made a sad song for his friend. Now David was king. And David still remembered his friend.
One day David asked, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul’s house?” He wanted to be kind to them, for Jonathan’s sake. Saul was Jonathan’s father. He had been king before David.
A servant named Ziba came to David. “Are you Ziba?” asked the king. “I am your servant,” said Ziba. The king asked, “Is there not yet any of Saul’s house, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” David showed him the kindness of God.
Ziba knew the answer. “Jonathan still has a son,” he said. “He is lame in his feet.” Lame means his feet did not work well. He could not walk or run like other people.
When the boy was five years old, his nurse picked him up and ran. But he fell, and his feet were hurt. His name was Mephibosheth. Can you say his long name? Me-fib-o-sheth!
“Where is he?” asked the king. Ziba told him. Mephibosheth lived in a little town far away, called Lo Debar. He lived in another man’s house. So David sent for him.
Mephibosheth came all the way to the king’s palace in Jerusalem. He bowed down low with his face to the ground. “Mephibosheth?” said David. “Behold, your servant!” he answered. Maybe he was afraid.
“Don’t be afraid,” David said. “I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake.” David showed him the kindness of God.
David said, “I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father.” Restore means to give back. “You will eat bread at my table continually.” Continually means always, every day!
Mephibosheth bowed down again. Maybe he could hardly believe it. “What is your servant,” he said, “that you should look at me?” David showed him the kindness of God.
Then David called Ziba. Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Fifteen sons! That is a lot of helpers! They would all work in Mephibosheth’s fields. They would plow and plant and bring in the harvest. Can you pretend to dig in the field? Dig, dig, dig!
And Mephibosheth would always eat at the king’s table. He ate there like one of the king’s sons. He was part of the king’s family now. Can you pretend to pass the bread around the table?
Mephibosheth had a little son too. His name was Mica. They lived in Jerusalem, near the king. Mephibosheth’s feet still did not work well. But every day, he had a place at the king’s table.
God is kind to us, too. He makes a place for us in his family. Sleep well, little one, in God’s kind care. David showed him the kindness of God.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Mephibosheth felt when David said, “Don’t be afraid”?
- What do you think it was like to eat at the king’s table every day?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw Mephibosheth eating at King David’s table.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Don’t be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness” — 2 Samuel 9:7 (Don’t be afraid → shake your head gently; I will surely show you → open your arms; kindness → give yourself a hug)
Dear God, thank you for your kindness to me. Thank you that I belong in your family. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God's kindness is for everyone
Memory verse: “Don't be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake.” — 2 Samuel 9:7 · WEB
The Bible story
A lonely young man who could not walk is invited to eat at the king's table every day. Discover how King David's kindness gave Mephibosheth a home and a family.
Talk about it
- Who had King David made a promise to? — Jonathan
- What did David want to show Jonathan's family? — Kindness
- Who told David about Mephibosheth? — A servant named Ziba
- What was different about Mephibosheth? — He could not walk
- Where was Mephibosheth living? — In Lo-debar
- How did Mephibosheth feel when he came to the king? — Afraid and trembling
Where is Jesus in this story?
Mephibosheth could not walk, yet King David gave him a seat at his table forever. Jesus told a story about a great feast where the master said, “Bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame” (Luke 14:21). Jesus invites people who know they cannot earn a place, and He gives them a seat at God's table.
What God wants to tell us
Mephibosheth thought he had been forgotten, but King David searched for him and welcomed him with open arms. God is just like that with us. He knows every one of us by name, even when we feel small or left out. We do not have to be perfect or earn His love first. God invites us to belong in His family, exactly as we are, and He treats us with gentle kindness every day.
Prayer
Father God, thank You for loving me even when I feel small or left out. Thank You for giving me a special place in Your family, just like Mephibosheth at the king's table. Please help me to be kind to others the way You are always kind to me. Amen.
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