God Is Watching You: Lessons from David’s Anointing (1 Samuel 16)

Pray Before You Read

Dear friends, before reading this message, take a moment to pray sincerely. Ask God to open your heart, give you wisdom, and speak to you through His Word.

Stop Grieving, God Has a Plan

In 1 Samuel 16:1–2, God asked Samuel:
“How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him?”

Rejection is a serious thing. If God rejects someone, His purpose still goes on. We cannot hijack God’s work, because we are not the purpose—God is the purpose. We are only vessels chosen to fulfill His plan.

God told Samuel, “I have found someone. Take the horn of oil and anoint him.”
This reminds us: if you are at the center of God’s purpose, He will surely work through you. Don’t worry—you are in a safe place because God is with you.

Read also: Psalm 89:20, Psalm 78:70, and 2 Samuel 7:20–21 for how God chose David.

Psalm 89:20

I have found My servant David;
With My holy oil I have anointed him,

Psalm 78:70

He also chose David His servant,
And took him from the sheepfolds;

2 Samuel 7:20–21

Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord God, know Your servant. ²¹ For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them.

How God Chose David

Before David became king, he wasn’t in the palace. He was looking after his father’s sheep in the fields. Nobody was watching him—neither his parents, his brothers, nor his friends. But the One who placed him there was watching.

God’s eyes are always observing you. He looks at your heart, your thinking, your desires, and your character.

David was sincere where God placed him. He loved his sheep and cared for them faithfully. He never imagined he would be king one day, but his faithfulness in small things prepared him for greater responsibility.

Faithfulness in Hidden Places

God often tests us where nobody else can see.

When your parents ask you to wash dishes, clean your room, or cut the grass—how do you respond? Do you complain, give excuses, or get grumpy? Or do you do your work sincerely, as if for God?

You may think nobody cares, but God is watching.

David proved his love for the sheep when lions and bears came. He didn’t run away—he fought to protect them. That responsibility showed God he could be trusted with His people. If David could care for sheep, he could care for a nation.

You May Feel Overlooked, But God Sees You

In 1 Samuel 16:7–8, Samuel looked at David’s brothers, but God said: “I have rejected him.”
Finally, David—the youngest, least expected—was called in from the fields. The prophet said, “We will not sit down until he comes.”

You may feel like a nobody, but in God’s eyes, you are precious. Others may overlook you, but heaven is watching.

A Call to the Youth: Be Faithful and Trustworthy

Dear brothers and sisters, don’t waste your youth. Your faithfulness today can be a blessing to your future and even your nation.

• David loved God more than himself.
• That’s why he could write songs of worship and become “a man after God’s own heart.”
• But the question is: Does God love what He sees in your life?

It’s not just about saying, “I love God.” Heaven must see the proof through your actions, your character, and your faithfulness.

How to Please God Like David

• Be faithful wherever God places you.
• Take responsibility, even in small things.
• Love God more than anything else.
• Stand firm against temptation.
• Surrender your life daily, saying:
  “Lord, wherever You place me, I will be faithful.”

Final Encouragement

God is watching your heart. He sees how you treat your parents, siblings, friends, and even strangers. Every small act matters.

Like David, prove your love for God through your responsibility, your sincerity, and your devotion. Heaven is watching—and God is preparing you for something greater.

👉 Takeaway for Youth:

Don’t grumble where you are. Don’t waste your youth. Be faithful in little things, because the One who watches in secret is preparing you for His purpose.