Free Bible lesson for kids · The Kings
Samuel Anoints David
God sent Samuel to Bethlehem with a horn of oil to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the next king. Seven of Jesse’s sons passed before Samuel, but God said, “The LORD looketh on the heart.” The youngest, David, was out keeping the sheep; when he was brought in, Samuel anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.
- Bible passage
- 1 Samuel 16:1–13
- Big idea
- God does not look at the outside; He looks on the heart.
- Memory verse
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
The LORD sent Samuel with a horn of oil to Jesse in Bethlehem, for He had chosen a king among Jesse’s sons (1 Samuel 16:1). Seeing Eliab, Samuel said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him” (1 Samuel 16:6). But the LORD said not to look at his face or height, for “the LORD looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
Seven of Jesse’s sons passed before Samuel, but the LORD had not chosen them (1 Samuel 16:10). The youngest, David, was keeping the sheep, so Samuel sent for him (1 Samuel 16:11). When David came, the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him: for this is he” (1 Samuel 16:12). Samuel anointed him in front of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward (1 Samuel 16:13).
Read it in the Bible: 1 Samuel 16:1–13 (KJV)
1And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. 3And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 4And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 5And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. 6And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him. 7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 10Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 11And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
Questions to ask
Where did God send Samuel?
To Jesse the Bethlehemite, because God had provided a king among his sons (1 Samuel 16:1).
What does the LORD look on?
Not the outward appearance, but the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).
What was David doing when Samuel came?
He was keeping the sheep (1 Samuel 16:11).
What this story teaches
- God looks at the heart, not at how we look (1 Samuel 16:7).
- God chooses people others might overlook (1 Samuel 16:11–12).
- God provides the leaders His people need (1 Samuel 16:1).
- God’s Spirit gives His people what they need to serve Him (1 Samuel 16:13).
- Obeying God means trusting Him even when we are afraid (1 Samuel 16:2–4).
Jesus Is God’s Anointed One
Samuel anointed David, and the Spirit came upon him. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and with power, and He went about doing good.
Acts 10:38
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to give us a heart that loves and pleases Him. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “God does not look at the outside; He looks on the heart.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say 1 Samuel 16:7 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · activity · indoors · about 10 minutes
Pick the Box
You need: A fancy wrapped box with rocks inside, a plain paper bag with treats inside
- Show both and let the kids vote for one.
- Open the fancy box: rocks! Open the plain bag: treats for everyone.
- Talk: what did God look at when He chose David?
“Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
For youth group · game · indoors · about 20 minutes
Hidden Talents
You need: Leaders with surprising talents, prepared ahead
- List a few surprising talents and facts about leaders (juggling, a state championship, speaks three languages).
- Teens guess which leader matches each one.
- Talk: what did Jesse and Samuel miss about David?
David was the youngest, out with the sheep, but God saw his heart. God sees what others miss.
Pray
Ask God to give us a heart that loves and pleases Him.