Samuel Anoints David, the Shepherd Boy 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: “God sees what is in the heart.”
Saul was the king of God’s people. But Saul did not obey God. So God would choose a new king. Samuel was very sad about Saul. God said, “How long will you mourn for Saul?” To mourn means to be very sad.
The LORD said to Samuel, “Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided a king for myself among his sons.” A horn was an animal horn, used like a little bottle. One of Jesse’s sons would be the next king! But which one?
So Samuel went to the town of Bethlehem. He took his horn of oil with him. He took a young cow too, to give to God as an offering.
The leaders of the town came out to meet him. They were trembling. “Do you come peaceably?” they asked. “Peaceably,” said Samuel. That means: I come as a friend. He invited Jesse and his sons to worship God with him.
First came Eliab, the oldest son. He was tall. Samuel said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.” He meant: this must be the one God chose! Can you stand up tall like Eliab?
But the LORD spoke to Samuel. “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Stature means how tall you are. God sees what is in the heart.
Then came Abinadab. “The LORD has not chosen this one, either,” said Samuel. Then came Shammah. “The LORD has not chosen this one, either.”
Seven sons walked by. Jesse had eight sons in all. Let’s count them: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven! “The LORD has not chosen these,” said Samuel. God sees what is in the heart.
Samuel asked Jesse, “Are all your children here?” Jesse said, “There remains yet the youngest. He is keeping the sheep.” The youngest was out in the fields with the sheep. Baa!
Samuel said, “Send and get him. For we will not sit down until he comes here.” So everyone waited, standing up. Can you stand and wait very still?
Then they brought in David, the shepherd boy. He had rosy cheeks and a handsome face. The LORD said, “Arise! Anoint him, for this is he.” God sees what is in the heart.
Samuel took the horn of oil. He poured the oil on David’s head, right there among his brothers. That is called anointing. It showed that God had chosen David to be king one day. Can you pat your head, where the oil was poured?
And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily on David from that day on. Mightily means in a very strong way. God’s Spirit gave David God’s own power and help. Then Samuel went home to Ramah.
God did not choose the tallest or the oldest. God chose David, the youngest shepherd boy. God sees what is in the heart.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think David felt when Samuel poured oil on his head?
- What do you think his big brothers said after that?
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 Jesse’s 7 big sons and little David, the shepherd boy.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“The LORD looks at the heart” — 1 Samuel 16:7 (the LORD looks → hold your hand over your eyes; at the heart → put your hand on your heart)
Dear God, thank you that you see my heart. Thank you that you choose little ones too. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God Looks at the Heart
Memory verse: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7 · WEB
The Bible story
When God sends the prophet Samuel to find a new king, everyone looks at the tall, strong brothers—but God sees something special in the youngest shepherd boy.
Talk about it
- Who did God send to find a new king? — Samuel the prophet
- Which town did God tell Samuel to go to? — Bethlehem
- Whose sons was Samuel going to see? — Jesse
- What did Samuel bring to anoint the new king? — A horn of oil
- What did Samuel think when he saw tall, strong Eliab? — Surely this is the one
- What did God say is most important? — What is in your heart
Where is Jesus in this story?
Long after David, another Shepherd King would come from Bethlehem — Jesus. Just as God chose the little shepherd boy that no one expected, God sent Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to be the King who loves and rescues us. David was anointed with oil, but Jesus is God's forever King, whose gentle heart shows us just how much God loves each one of us.
What God wants to tell us
God does not choose people the way we sometimes do. We often notice who is tallest, strongest, or most grown-up, but God looks inside at what makes our hearts kind, brave, and loving. David was only a young shepherd boy, yet God saw his gentle, trusting heart and had big plans for him. That means God sees you too, exactly as you are, and loves what is inside you. You are never too small or too young for God to use in wonderful ways.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You that You see my heart and love me just as I am. Help me to be kind, brave, and trusting like David. Thank You for choosing me and for staying close to me. I know I am never too small for You. Amen.
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