Water from Bethlehem’s Well — The Three Mighty Men 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: “Three brave men and one drink of water.”
David had brave soldiers called the mighty men. Mighty means very, very strong. There were about thirty of them. The Bible tells us some of their names and the brave things they did.
One mighty man was named Eleazar. One day the enemy, the Philistines, came to fight. The other men went away. But Eleazar stayed and fought. He fought until his hand was so tired that it stuck to his sword! Can you make a tight, tight fist?
Another mighty man was named Shammah. There was a little field full of lentils. Lentils are little round beans. Everyone ran away from the Philistines. But Shammah stood right in the middle of the field. He guarded it. And the LORD worked a great victory. A victory means winning.
Three of the mighty men came to David at a cave called Adullam. A cave is like a big room of rock, inside a hill. It was harvest time.
But there was a problem. Enemy soldiers, the Philistines, were camping all around. They had even taken over Bethlehem. Bethlehem was David’s hometown! David grew up there as a shepherd boy.
David was thirsty. He thought about home. He remembered the well by the city gate. A well is a deep hole where people get fresh water. Maybe he remembered drinking from it as a boy.
“Oh that someone would give me water to drink,” David said longingly. “From the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” Longingly means wishing very much. Can you say it with David? “Oh that someone would give me water!”
The three mighty men heard David. Off they went! They broke right through the enemy army. Step, step, step – all the way to Bethlehem. Three brave men and one drink of water.
At the well they let down a bucket. Down, down, down. Splash! Then up, up, up came the cool water. Can you pull up the bucket with your hands?
The three men carried the water all the way back to David. Back through the enemy army. Back to the cave. They gave the water to David. Three brave men and one drink of water.
But David would not drink it. These men had put their lives in danger for this water. It was too precious to drink! Precious means worth very, very much. David said, “Be it far from me, LORD, that I should do this!” That means: I will not do this!
So David poured it out on the ground. He poured it out to the LORD, like a gift. Pour, pour, pour. Slowly, slowly, all the water was gone. Three brave men and one drink of water.
The Bible says, “The three mighty men did these things.” They were brave for their king. And David gave the most precious water to God.
God is worth more than anything, even the most precious water. Now rest, safe and sound, like David in his cave. Three brave men and one drink of water.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think the three men felt when David poured out the water?
- What is something special you could give to God?
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)
Color the 3 brave men and the 1 bucket of water.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Poured it out to the LORD” — 2 Samuel 23:16 (poured it out → tip a pretend cup slowly; to the LORD → point up high)
Dear God, thank you for brave friends. You are worth more than anything. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Give your best back to God
Memory verse: “He would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD.” — 2 Samuel 23:16 · WEB
The Bible story
Three brave soldiers risk everything to fetch King David a drink from home, but his surprising reply turns a cup of water into a gift for God.
Talk about it
- Where was King David hiding at the start of the story? — In a rocky cave
- Which town did David grow up in and miss so much? — Bethlehem
- What did David wish for out loud? — Water from Bethlehem's well
- What were David's three brave soldiers called? — The Three Mighty Men
- Why was getting the water so dangerous? — Enemy soldiers filled the town
- How did the Three Mighty Men get the water? — They went through the enemy camp
Where is Jesus in this story?
Just as the Three Mighty Men risked their lives out of love, Jesus gave His whole life for us because He loves us even more. And David poured out the water like a gift to God, pointing forward to Jesus, who poured out His life so we could be rescued and brought home to God's family forever.
What God wants to tell us
This story shows us how much God values love, loyalty, and bravery. The Three Mighty Men gave everything to serve their king, and David loved them so much that he gave their gift to God instead of keeping it for himself. God sees every kind and brave thing we do, even the small ones, and He treasures them. When something feels truly precious to us, one of the most beautiful things we can do is offer it back to God with a thankful heart.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for the brave men who loved their king. Help me to be loyal and kind, and to give my very best back to You. Thank You for loving me so much. Amen.
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