Another of the many [tag]Sunday school lessons[/tag] on [tag]King David[/tag] is the lesson of repentance. David made some serious mistakes as King and they almost cost him his kingdom. However, he was also one of history’s greatest apologizers. (Teacher words in BOLD.)
His great Psalm 51, “Create in Me a Clean Heart,” is a great testament of his ability to want to make all things right again. Children have a great opportunity to learn through King David that mistakes are forgivable. Children can learn almost subconsciously these days that to apologize is a sign of weakness. However, asking God’s forgiveness and the forgiveness of others is a freeing, releasing exercise that brings us great relief from guilt and restores us to wholeness.
David was generous, loyal, and deeply loving. He was everything from poet to musician to great warrior, which is rare. Most artists aren’t very good fighters, and most wrestlers of today can’t write poetry. Historically, he was almost one of a kind. But he was not a perfect king. He made some pretty enormous mistakes.He came to the Lord for help and forgiveness.
Go and get a large heavy book.”Accidentally” trip over somebody’s foot.
“Ooops! I’m sorry [student]! Did I hurt you?”
Coming back, trip over somebody else.
“[Student]! I’m so sorry! I’m having a klutzy day! Are you all right?”
Accidentally drop the book
“I apologize if that scared everyone. Forgive me?”
Yes.
What did I just do three times in less than a minute? You apologized.
Some people – especially children – don’t like to apologize. They feel weak or embarrassed or like somebody could take advantage of them if they say “I’m sorry.”
Do I look any worse for having said “I’m sorry” three times? No.
I actually feel a lot better. It’s kind of awful to think that a friend you love might be mad at you. Saying “I’m sorry” when you hurt somebody actually keeps friends from being mad at you.
Sometimes it’s hard to say “I’m sorry” to God. We feel that He is very huge and very perfect, and maybe he’ll get annoyed when we did something wrong, so we should hide from Him.
Problem: God knows everything. You can’t hide from Him. If you apologize to Him for something you did wrong, He forgives you right away. The biggest damage we do is when we don’t apologize.
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