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1 Samuel 16 · Grade 4

The Lord Looks at the Heart

Name Date

Read and Think

Samuel was still grieving for Saul when the Lord sent him to Bethlehem. Because Samuel feared Saul, the Lord told him to take a heifer and invite Jesse to a sacrifice. The elders of the town trembled, but Samuel came in peace.

Jesse's sons passed before Samuel one by one. Eliab looked like a king, just as Saul had. But the Lord said He had rejected Eliab, because He does not see as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. None of the seven sons was chosen.

David, the youngest, was out keeping the sheep. He was ruddy and handsome, but God chose him for his heart. Samuel anointed him, and the Spirit came mightily on David from that day forward. Meanwhile Saul was troubled by an evil spirit, and David, skillful on the harp, became his musician and armor bearer.

Show What You Know

  1. Why did the Lord tell Samuel to take a heifer?

  2. Why was Eliab not chosen?

  3. When did the Spirit come on David?

  4. What two jobs did David have for Saul?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

anointedGodheartJesseDavid
  1. Because Samuel feared Saul, the Lord told him to take a heifer and invite to a sacrifice.
  2. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the .
  3. , the youngest, was out keeping the sheep.
  4. He was ruddy and handsome, but chose him for his heart.
  5. Samuel him, and the Spirit came mightily on David from that day forward.

Think About It

  1. How do people today judge others by outward appearance?

  2. What do you think God saw in David's heart?

Memory Verse

But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for looking at my heart. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How did God prepare David for being king?
  • How can you look at people's hearts instead of their looks?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.