Character Needed - Bible Sketches 18

CHARACTER NEEDED – BIBLE SKETCHES

Character Needed, by Robert Allen, published by Regular Baptist Press, includes 33 skits illustrating the truths of each of the verses in Proverbs 15.  These Character Needed – Bible Sketches are designed to accompany those contemporary plays, illustrating the same character traits by use of a Bible story. 

CHARACTER NEEDED

SAUL LOSES HIS TEMPER

Proverbs 15:17

I Samuel 18:6-16

Character Trait: Self-control

Cast of Characters

                                    Narrator

                                    Women

                                    King Saul

                                    Servant

                                   

NARRATOR:             King Saul sat in a beautiful golden chair under a purple tent watching the army of Israel march past.  They had just won a tremendous victory over the Philistine army and were celebrating with a parade.  Down the street in front of him marched the soldiers and on each side of the road stood the women and children, cheering and shouting.  When Saul had led the parade into town earlier that morning they had made up a special cheer just for him.

WOMEN:                   Saul has slain his thousands!

                                    Saul has slain his thousands!

NARRATOR:             That made Saul feel so good to have the people shout and cheer for him.  He knew he had done a great job in defeating the Philistines.  Of course, he wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help of young David, who had killed the giant Goliath.  But he was the king and he deserved the honor for the victory.  As  he sat in his chair he heard a great yell come up from the street. 

KING SAUL:             What is it?  What’s going on? 

SERVANT:                It’s David, sir.

KING SAUL:             David?  Coming in with the soldiers?  He’s not a part of the army.  What’s he doing in the parade?

SERVANT:                But he killed Goliath, your honor.

KING SAUL:             Sure.  But that doesn’t mean he can march right into town along side my regular army men.  Who does he think he is?

SERVANT:                Can I go see him, sir?

KING SAUL:             No!  You stay right there.  It looks like they are all coming this way anyway.  Listen!  They’re giving that new cheer for me again.

WOMEN:                   Saul has slain his thousands!

                                    Saul has slain his thousands!

                                   

SERVANT:                Listen, sir.  I think they’re adding more to the cheer.

WOMEN:                   Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands!

                                    Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands!

SERVANT:                Now they’re cheering David, sir.

KING SAUL:             I hear them.  I hear them.  How can they do this to me?  I’m the one who led them into battle, not that young whippersnapper.

SERVANT:                But he killed Goliath, sir.

KING SAUL:             Just a lucky shot.  Who does he think he is?  Why, they’re calling him the killer of ten thousands.  What more can he have except my kingdom?  I think he wants to be king.

NARRATOR:             King Saul was so mad he didn’t even stay to watch the rest of the parade.  For the next week he fumed whenever David walked across the courtyard.  And then, one day, David was in the throne room playing his harp for the king.

KING SAUL:             Guard!   Bring me my javelin!

SERVANT:                Yes sir, but what do you want with you javelin, sir?

KING SAUL:             Don’t question me.  Just do as I command.  Bring me my javelin.

SERVANT:                Here it is, sir.

KING SAUL:             Good.  Now, you may leave the room.  And take everyone else with you, except David.

NARRATOR:             As soon as everyone had left the room, while David was still playing the harp, Saul picked up the javelin and threw it right at David.  He threw it so hard that it surely would have killed David, if it had hit him.  But King Saul was so mad that he couldn’t throw straight.  The javelin hit the wall and stuck fast right over David’s head.  David didn’t wait for the king to try again.  He picked up his harp and ran.

KING SAUL:             Come back here you scamp.  You can’t do this to me.  Guards!  Come quickly!

SERVANT:                What is it, sir?

KING SAUL:             David has run away.  He didn’t even finish his song.  I told you he was up to no good.  He wants to take my kingdom from me.  He has already stolen the hearts of my people.  They say that I have killed a thousand, and he has killed ten thousand.  Stop him!

NARRATOR:             The guards rushed out and found David.  They persuaded him to come back and play the harp again.  But when King Saul tried a second time to kill David with the javelin, he left the palace.  He knew he couldn’t trust the king any longer.  But what was even more important, God knew he couldn’t trust King Saul.  Before many years went by, God took the kingdom away from Saul and David did become king.  Because Saul lost his temper and disobeyed God, he also lost his kingdom.