Set Up: Prepare this skit by asking for volunteers from the audience. Do this beforehand, however, so that the skit can be done without interruptions. Tell the volunteers to jump into the story when their character is mentioned by the narrator. The actors must be willing to spontaneously embellish their acting parts and to repeat their lines when cued by the narrator. If desired, this story can also be performed without a narrator. Costumes are optional but helpful. A Bible can be used to tell the story if the paraphrased story below is not adequate.

The actors can be asked to repeat their lines verbatim or to ad-lib their lines in order to make them more modern. For example, the narrator can read Samuel's line in verse 8, saying, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." This can be repeated verbatim or paraphrased by the actor to say, "Yo dude, hit the road! You're not the one!" The purification act could be acted out with a bucket of water just for fun. The horn of oil could be just about anything. Use your imagination and creativity!

Notes for the Narrator: It is recommended that the narrator be an adult or youth leader who is able to discern when to pause or position actors. The narrator must pause at the appropriate places to allow the characters to act out their parts and say their lines. Before beginning the story it is helpful for the narrator to give a brief background to this story. This could address God's rejection of Saul as king, who Samuel was, and the type of society in which the people were living.

The Skit: (Read by the Narrator) 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 selected a king for Myself among his sons."

But Samuel said, "How can I go? When Saul hears of it he will kill me."

The Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you must do. You will anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you."

So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came out to meet Samuel trembling with fear. They said, "Do you come in peace?"

Samuel said, "I come in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." So the elders purified themselves that day. Samuel also purified Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.

When Jesse and his sons entered, Samuel looked at Eliab who was tall and handsome. Samuel thought, "Surely this is the Lord's anointed one."

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have not chosen him. For God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

So Samuel said, "The Lord has not chosen him."

Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. Now Abinadab was extremely strong and brave. Samuel thought, "Surely this is the Lord's anointed one." But the Lord said, "This is not the one."

So Samuel said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one."

Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. Now Shammah was extremely intelligent and wise. Samuel thought, "Surely this is the Lord's anointed one."

But the Lord said, "This is not the one."

So Samuel said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one."

So Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these. Do you have any more children?"

Jesse said, "There is one more, my youngest son, but he is out in the field tending sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him, for we will not sit down until he comes here."

So Jesse sent for his youngest son, David, who was out in the field tending the sheep. When David arrived, he was a fine looking boy, ruddy-faced, and with pleasant eyes. The Lord said to Samuel, "Arise, anoint him, for this is the one."

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in front of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward."

Biblical Emphasis: I Samuel 16:1-13, Galatians 5:22-23. God is looking past the physical to what's inside us. There's more important things besides physical appearance, athletic ability, or intelligence. Certain personal characteristics and qualities are repulsive to God. We are called to develop positive characteristics and qualities in our lives.

Discussion Starters:

1. What characteristics do you think God saw in David?
2. Why do you think God passed up all of David's brothers?
3. With what physical things are you or the people you know most preoccupied?
4. Why is it difficult to get past the physical and focus on spiritual things?
5. List a few spiritual qualities that you can work on developing.