God Sees David’s Heart

1 Samuel 16:6-13


Our story comes from the Bible. It is found in the part of the Bible called 1 Samuel ("First Samuel"). It is the first of two books in the Bible named after Samuel.

Samuel was a prophet of God. One day, God gave Samuel a special job.

God said, “Go to Jesse’s house. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

Samuel went to Jesse’s house. Jesse had many sons. One by one, the sons came before Samuel.

The first son looked tall and strong. Samuel thought, “This must be the one!”

But God said, “No. I do not look at people the way you do. People look at the outside, but I look at the heart.”

One by one, each son came forward. But God did not choose any of them.

Samuel asked, “Are these all your sons?”

Jesse said, “There is one more. His name is David. He is out in the field taking care of the sheep.”

So, they brought David in.

David was the youngest. He did not look like a king. But God said, “This is the one.”

Samuel poured oil on David’s head. This meant David was chosen by God.

David loved God and trusted Him. God saw David’s heart.

Jesus helps us see this clearly.

Jesus sees our hearts too. He knows us, loves us, and cares for us.

Key Takeaway for Preschoolers

God sees our hearts and loves us.
 


Dear God,

Thank You for loving us and knowing our hearts. Thank You for choosing David and caring for him. Help us to love You and trust You every day. We love you, God.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.





Bible Verse: “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.” — John 13:34, BSB

Paraphrase: Jesus says, “Love each other the way I love you.”



Activities

These activities help preschoolers engage with the story through movement, crafts, music, and storytelling, making the lesson fun and memorable.


1. Heart Craft

Objective: To help children understand that God sees and cares about our hearts.

Materials: Construction paper, Crayons or markers, Scissors (if appropriate) 

Activity: Give each child a paper heart or help them cut one out. Ask them to draw things inside the heart that show love—such as helping, sharing, or praying.

Talk About It: “God looks at our hearts. What are some ways we can show love in our hearts?”


2. Who Did God Choose? Game

Objective: To reinforce that God chose David, even when others did not expect it.

Materials: None 

Activity: Have several children stand in a line. Pretend to “choose” different children, saying, “Is this the one?” Then say, “No, not this one.” Finally, choose the last child and say, “Yes! This is the one God chose!” Repeat with different children.

Talk About It: “God chose David. Does God know and love you too?”

 
3. “God Sees My Heart” Song (Musical Activity)

Tune: Are You Sleeping? (Frère Jacques) (Public Domain)

Objective: To help children remember that God sees and loves their hearts.

Materials: None

Activity: Teach the children the song. Encourage them to gently place their hands over their hearts while singing.

Song Lyrics:

        God can see me,
        God can see me,
        Yes, He can,
        Yes, He can.
        He can see my heart now,
        He can see my heart now,
        He loves me,
        Yes, He can.

Talk About It: “What does God see? What does God love about you?”


4. Little and Big Sorting Activity

Objective: To show that God can choose anyone, no matter their size or appearance.

Materials: Small and large objects (blocks, toys, or items) 

Activity: Have children sort objects into “big” and “small.” Then explain that even though David was smaller and younger, God chose him.

Talk About It: “Do you think God only chooses big or strong people? Or does God choose anyone He wants?”

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Story illustrations are the copyright of James M. Thomas. All rights reserved.
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