First Lesson: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Theme: Human perspective versus God’s perspective

Exegetical Note
This account of Samuel’s choosing and anointing of David as Saul’s successor is very rich, but a key element is the distinction it makes between Samuel’s human perspective, which focuses on outward appearance and to which several of the candidates looked promising, versus God’s perspective, which looks upon the heart and thus finds regal potential in the least likely and last considered of all, a very young shepherd boy.

Call to Worship
Leader: God has taught us again and again to look upon the world and one another through different eyes.
People: FOR OUR HUMAN TENDENCY IS TO TRUST OUTWARD APPEARANCE.
Leader: But God looks beyond the apparent and sees the heart, of situations and of people.…