**ou Were Created for This!** | Elevated Faith Fellowship | 1/11/26

First Samuel 16 is reframed as a portrait of divine intentionality: God selects not by outward stature but by the posture of the heart. The narrative shows Samuel scanning for the obvious choice—tall, battle-ready sons—while God has already fixed his gaze on the one hidden in the fields. That hiddenness is not neglect but formation; David’s shepherding life becomes the very preparation God requires. Being unseen in the lineup does not mean disqualification. Instead, it often marks the season when character, faithfulness, and readiness are quietly cultivated.

The passage stresses three clarifying truths. First, God’s criteria differ from human criteria—appearance and applause are unreliable indicators of calling. Second, faithfulness in ordinary, private duties matters more than public recognition; while brothers waited to be noticed, David tended the flock and proved dependable. Third, anointing can precede promotion: God equips and anoints in private before causing public confirmation. The oil that marks God’s favor must not be poured onto an unprepared life; timing safeguards both the gift and the one who receives it.

The preacher emphasizes pastoral consolation: being overlooked by people is not the same as being forgotten by God. Seasons in the field are reframed as protection and storage, not punishment—valuable things are sometimes put away to be preserved until the right moment. Opposition, doubt, or shade cannot cancel what heaven has decided; when God says yes, His declaration stands against any human or demonic resistance. The anointing that falls at the appointed hour will not miss its mark.

The tone calls listeners into patient intentionality: keep working where placed, worship without applause, and steward daily responsibilities as sacred training for future public purpose. The promise is both practical and theological—God is actively watching hearts, honoring faithfulness when no one else notices, and preparing hidden ones for visible commission. Ultimately, the narrative invites confidence: when God has chosen and positioned someone, the final word is yes—an affirmation that carries through opposition, delay, and obscurity.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God chooses by the heart God’s selection is not a reaction to appearance but a recognition of inner alignment. The Lord evaluates motive, character, and readiness—qualities formed in seasons of ordinary obedience—so visible excellence can be hollow while hidden faithfulness is substantial. This reframes perceived delays as focused cultivation of what truly matters. [02:54]
• 2. Faithfulness when unnoticed matters Steadfastness in small, unseen tasks trains a soul for larger trust. Remaining faithful without applause reveals whether vocation is convenience or calling; consistent obedience forms character that public success cannot. God prizes the reliability demonstrated in the field over the theater of performance. [18:25]
• 3. Prepared in private for public Anointing often precedes promotion; preparation happens behind the scenes so grace can be sustained in exposure. God secures and develops the person so the gift will not be wasted or misapplied when the door opens. The private season is a strategic investment, not a sidelining. [21:02]
• 4. Called intentionally — already approved Being omitted by people does not negate divine approval; God’s yes is definitive and unassailable. When God has positioned someone, no human opposition can revoke that appointment—timing and destiny remain under divine authority. Confidence rests in God’s intentionality, not in human validation. [10:00]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:36] - Scripture Read: 1 Samuel 16:1–13
• [02:54] - God Looks at the Heart
• [06:26] - David Overlooked, God Chose
• [07:22] - People Judge, God Counts Hearts
• [18:25] - Faithfulness in the Field
• [20:36] - Anointed but Not Promoted
• [23:30] - Stored, Not Ignored
• [27:38] - Encouragement to Remain Faithful
• [30:14] - Closing Prayer and Send-off

Bible reading

1 Samuel 16:1–13 (ESV)
1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Observation questions

1. In verses 6 and 7, what was Samuel’s immediate reaction when he saw Eliab, and what specific warning did the Lord give him about how humans evaluate others?
2. When Samuel asked if all the sons were present, where did Jesse say the youngest was, and what specific job was he doing? [03:50]
3. According to verse 13, who was present to witness David being anointed with oil, and what happened to David spiritually from that day forward? [04:40]
4. How did the elders of Bethlehem react when Samuel first arrived in their town, and what does their reaction suggest about the weight of Samuel’s presence? [02:04]

Interpretation questions

1. God tells Samuel that He looks at the heart rather than outward appearance or height. What kind of "heart posture" or inner qualities do you think God saw in a shepherd boy that He didn't find in the "battle-ready" older brothers? [15:09]
2. David was "excluded before the moment" and wasn't even invited to the room where the selection was happening [07:22]; yet God interrupted the entire process for him. What does this teach us about the relationship between human invitations and divine appointments?
3. David was anointed by Samuel but he wasn't immediately promoted to the throne; he was "chosen but not crowned" [21:02]. Why does God often allow a gap of time between the "anointing" (the call) and the "promotion" (the public position)?
4. Samuel was mourning for Saul when God told him it was time to move on [01:12]. How can being stuck in grief over a "rejected" situation or a past failure prevent us from seeing the new thing God is intentionally preparing?

Application questions

1. There is a significant difference between being ignored and being "stored" because you are too valuable to be left exposed [23:30]. Have you ever felt like you were in a "field" season where you were overlooked? How does it change your heart to view that time as God’s protection rather than His punishment? [26:27]
2. God’s intentional calling is based on who you are becoming in private, not how much exposure you have [15:32]. What are some "ordinary" or "unseen" responsibilities in your life right now where you need to be more intentional in your faithfulness? [16:00]
3. David stayed in "formation" with the sheep while his brothers stood in line to be noticed [18:25]. When you see others getting "picked" or recognized while you are still working in the background, how do you keep yourself from becoming discouraged or giving up? [19:11]
4. When God has already said "yes" to your life, no amount of human opposition or "shade" can reverse what heaven has decided [22:22]. Is there a specific area where you have been seeking human validation instead of resting in God’s approval? [22:57]
5. Oil poured too early can ruin a life, but oil poured at the right time can change a generation [26:44]. In what ways are you currently being "refined" in private so that you don't waste the "oil" when your public moment finally arrives?
6. You were created for this, and the same God who started the work in you is the one who will complete it [28:27]. What is one practical step you can take this week to "keep worshiping without the applause" while you wait for God’s timing? [27:38]