Kings and Prophets · Lesson 6
God Chooses David
1 Samuel 16:1-13 Old Testament PrincipleHumility
God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king, and instead of the tall older brothers, God chose David, the youngest shepherd, because the LORD looks at the heart.
God is great and sees our hearts, so we don't need to make ourselves look great; humble hearts trust Him.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 BSB
Christ Connection · Promise
God anointed David as king and later promised that a King from David's family would reign forever. That King is Jesus, the Son of David, born in Bethlehem, who is God's Anointed One, the Christ. Like David, He came humbly, born in a stable rather than a palace.
Luke 1:32-33; Matthew 1:1; Philippians 2:5-8
The Big Story · Redemption
God chose David, a humble shepherd from Bethlehem, to be king, and promised that David's family would lead to a forever King. Jesus, the Son of David, is that King.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: What's inside?
- Bible Kitchen (taste the story): Taste the anointing oil
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Who's the king?
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
God sees my heart.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Big and little, Color David
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
God chose David, the youngest shepherd, because God looks at the heart. I can be humble and trust God.
Start here
Ask, "If you were picking a king, what would you look for?" Let kids answer (tall, strong, rich). Say, "Today God picks a king, and He looks for something totally different."
Bible story 6 min
King Saul did not obey God. So God told Samuel, "Fill your horn with oil. Go to Bethlehem. I have picked one of Jesse's sons to be the next king."
Jesse's oldest son was tall and strong. Samuel thought, "This must be the one!" But God said, "Do not look at how tall he is. People look at the outside. I look at the heart."
Jesse brought seven sons. God said no to each one. Samuel asked, "Is that all of them?" Jesse said, "There is one more. He is the youngest. He is out with the sheep." No one had asked David to come!
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Heart and outside 8 min
You’ll need: Paper, Markers
- Fold a paper in half. On the outside, kids draw how they look. On the inside, they draw something they love or a way they can be kind.
- Share a few. Say, "People see the outside. God sees the inside!"
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
God chose David, the overlooked youngest son, because the LORD sees the heart, and He calls us to humble hearts that trust Him.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: What people see, what God sees, Crown with a heart
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, online and on screens, with brothers and sisters
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
God chose the overlooked shepherd David and promised a forever King from his family, pointing to Jesus, the humble Son of David and God's Anointed One.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: The Son of David, Outside and inside
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: online and on screens, at school, in sports and games
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons from this story
Same Bible story, a different principle.
More lessons on Humility
The same principle in other Bible stories.
My Soul Magnifies the Lord: Mary Visits ElizabethLuke 1:39-56; 1 Samuel 2:1-10After the angel visited Mary, she hurried to the hill country to see her relative Elizabeth, who was going to have a baby in her old age. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby jumped for joy, and the Holy Spirit filled her. "Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" she said. Then Mary sang a song of praise – "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!" – because God had looked on her humble state and was keeping His promise to send a Savior. God lifts up the humble, and humble hearts praise Him.New TestamentHumility
With Building BricksGideon’s 300: HumilityJudges 7:1-22; James 4:10; 2 Corinthians 4:7The Midianites had a huge army, like a swarm of locusts. God chose Gideon to save Israel. Gideon gathered 32,000 men. But God said, "You have too many! Israel might brag that they saved themselves." So God sent men home until only 300 were left. One night, God let Gideon sneak down to the enemy camp. He heard a soldier tell a dream. A loaf of barley bread rolled into the camp and knocked a tent flat! The soldier said it meant God would give Gideon the victory. Gideon worshiped God. With trumpets, jars and torches, the 300 shouted, and God made the enemy run. Humility means knowing God is great and giving Him the glory.Old TestamentHumility
Just Say the Word: The Centurion’s ServantLuke 7:1-10A Roman army officer in Capernaum had a servant who was very sick. The town leaders told Jesus, "This man is worthy of Your help." But the officer sent word, "I am not worthy for You to come to my house. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed." Jesus was amazed at his faith, and the servant was healed. When we come to Jesus humbly, we can trust His powerful word.New TestamentHumility
In the BeginningThe Tower of BabelGenesis 11:1-9; Genesis 12:1-3People tried to make themselves great without God, but God brought their tower down and began His own plan to bless every nation.Old TestamentHumility
The Writing on the WallDaniel 5:1-31King Belshazzar of Babylon threw a huge party. He drank from the gold cups taken from God's temple and praised idols. Suddenly, the fingers of a hand appeared and wrote on the wall! No one could read it, until old Daniel came. Daniel said, "You knew how God humbled King Nebuchadnezzar, but you did not humble yourself." The words meant God had ended the king's rule. That very night, Babylon fell. God is the true King, and He wants us to walk humbly with Him.Old TestamentHumility
Make Way for Jesus: John the BaptistMark 1:1-8; John 1:19-34; John 3:26-30God sent John the Baptist to get people ready for Jesus. John lived in the wilderness, wore camel's hair and ate locusts and wild honey. Crowds came to hear him, and people turned from their sins and were baptized. Leaders asked, "Who are you? Are you the Christ?" John said, "No. I'm just a voice getting the way ready. I'm not even worthy to untie His sandals." When Jesus came, John pointed and said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" Later he said, "He must increase; I must decrease." Humility means making much of Jesus, not of ourselves.New TestamentHumility