Create in Me a Clean Heart - Lesson 24

What doctrine if understood, would change our behavior to create in each of us a clean heart?


Attention Grabber: 1 Samuel 25 - The Story of Abigail, second wife of David

Read this chapter and compare Abigail's actions to the the Atonement. Abigail took upon herself the transgressions of her husband, although she herself was blameless.

Also, out of concern for the future king of the land, Abigail taught David a lesson convincing him that it was wrong to kill her husband, Nabal.

Today's reading material comes primarily from 2 Samuel 11–12; Psalm 51

Purpose of Today's Lesson

To encourage each of us to be chaste in thought and action and to repent of their sins.

Background

a. 2 Samuel 11. David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (11:1–5). David fails in his attempt to hide his sin (2 Samuel 11:6–13). He arranges for Uriah to die in battle (11:14–17). David marries Bathsheba, and they have a son (11:26–27).
b. 2 Samuel 12:1–23. The prophet Nathan teaches of the severity of David’s sins by telling David a parable (12:1–6). David is told that he will be punished because of his sins (12:7–14; note that in the Joseph Smith Translation of verse 13, Nathan states, “The Lord hath not put away thy sin that thou shalt not die”). The first son of David and Bathsheba dies in infancy (12:15–23).
c. Psalm 51. A repentant David seeks forgiveness.
d. 1 Samuel 25 through 2 Samuel 10 provide important information about the historical setting for this lesson. Since these chapters are not covered in this manual, here is a summary:

Soon after David spared Saul’s life, Saul sought David’s life one more time. Again David had the opportunity to kill the king, but he refused to do so.
Battles continued between the people of Judah and the surrounding nations, and Saul and Jonathan were killed in one of those battles.
David succeeded Saul as king and became one of the greatest kings in the history of Israel.
He united the tribes into one nation, secured possession of the land that had been promised to his people, and set up a government based on God’s law. However, the last 20 years of his life were marred by the sinful decisions that are discussed in this lesson.

1. David commits adultery with Bathsheba and arranges the death of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband.

2 Samuel 11.
• David was walking on his roof when he saw Bathsheba and was tempted to commit adultery with her (2 Samuel 11:2).
• What should David have done when he saw Bathsheba? What did David do that led him to sin with her? (See 2 Samuel 11:2–4.)
• What might lead people to be tempted to commit sexual sins? What can we do to avoid being tempted to commit sexual sins?


List Things to avoid and How to avoid them

Unclean or immoral thoughts
Fill your mind with uplifting thoughts.

Television shows, movies, magazines, books, and music that are pornographic or suggestive in any way
Choose media that will inspire you to do good.

Unwholesome dating activities
Follow the dating standards taught by latter-day prophets and outlined in For the Strength of Youth.

Flirting after marriage
Love your spouse with all your heart. Continue to “court” (develop your relationship with) your spouse.

Places or activities that will not enable you to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost
Ensure that the places you go and the activities you participate in will enable you to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.



• What did David attempt to do when he learned that Bathsheba was with child? (See 2 Samuel 11:6–13. He tried to get Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, to return home to her. Then it would appear that the unborn child was Uriah’s.)

• Why did David’s plan fail? (See 2 Samuel 11:11. Uriah would not return home at that time because he was true to his battlefield companions and felt that he should stay with them.)

• What more serious sin did David commit in an attempt to hide his immorality? (See 2 Samuel 11:14–17.)

• From whom do you think David thought he could hide his sin? How do people try to cover up sins today?

• What happens when we try to cover our sins?

Elder Richard G. Scott said:
“Do not take comfort in the fact that your transgressions are not known by others. That is like an ostrich with his head buried in the sand. He sees only darkness and feels comfortably hidden. In reality he is ridiculously conspicuous. Likewise our every act is seen by our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son. They know everything about us. …
“If you have seriously transgressed, you will not find any lasting satisfaction or comfort in what you have done. Excusing transgression with a cover-up may appear to fix the problem, but it does not. The tempter is intent on making public your most embarrassing acts at the most harmful time. Lies weave a pattern that is ever more confining and becomes a trap that Satan will spring to your detriment” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1995, 103; or Ensign, May 1995, 77).

2. David is told that he will be punished because of his sins.

Discuss 2 Samuel 12:1–23.

What parable did the prophet Nathan tell to illustrate how displeased the Lord was with David? (See 2 Samuel 12:1–4.)

What did David think about the rich man’s actions against the poor man in the parable? (See 2 Samuel 12:5–6.)

How had David’s actions been like the rich man’s? (See 2 Samuel 12:7–9.)

How did David react to the Lord’s rebuke? (See 2 Samuel 12:13.)

Why do you think David failed to recognize that he was represented by the rich man in the parable?

Why are we sometimes unable to recognize our own sinfulness?

What were the consequences of David’s sins? (See 2 Samuel 12:10–14.

The fulfillment of these prophecies can be found in 2 Samuel 12:15–23 and subsequent chapters of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings; see also D&C 132:39. Note that adultery is a serious sin, but David forfeited his exaltation because the Lord held him accountable for the murder of Uriah.)

President Marion G. Romney said: “David, … though highly favored of the Lord (he was, in fact, referred to as a man after God’s own heart), yielded to temptation. His unchastity led to murder, and as a consequence, he lost his families and his exaltation” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1979, 60; or Ensign, May 1979, 42).

What are some of the immediate consequences of immorality today?

What are some long-term effects for the unrepentant?

3. A repentant David seeks forgiveness.

Discuss Psalm 51.

In a psalm to the Lord, David expressed a desire to help others repent, saying, “I [will] teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee” (Psalm 51:13). Even though David forfeited his exaltation because he arranged the death of Uriah, we can learn from his repentant attitude as he sought forgiveness for the sin of adultery. His words in Psalm 51 teach many aspects of true repentance.

Discuss how we can apply David’s repentant example to our lives.

• In Psalm 51, David first acknowledged God and His mercy (Psalm 51:1). David also acknowledged his own sinfulness (Psalm 51:1–3). Why is it important that we recognize God’s greatness and our own sinfulness when we repent of our sins?

• What must we sacrifice in order to receive forgiveness of our sins? (See Psalm 51:16–17.) What do you think it means to have “a broken and a contrite heart”?


• How are our sins “ever before [us]” before we are forgiven? (Psalm 51:3). How does that change after we have been forgiven? (See Psalm 51:10; Alma 36:17–19.) How does God look upon our past sins after he has forgiven us? (See Psalm 51:9; Isaiah 43:25; D&C 58:42.)

• David described forgiveness as a cleansing (Psalm 51:1–2, 7, 9–10), a restoration (Psalm 51:12), and a deliverance (Psalm 51:14). Why are these appropriate descriptions of the blessing of God’s forgiveness?

Conclusion

No matter how successful or strong we may be, we are not above temptation. Encourage class members to make any necessary changes in their lives that will help them be chaste in thought and action. Express your love for Jesus Christ and your gratitude for his Atonement. Testify that because of the Atonement, we can be forgiven of our sins.

1. Dismissing unclean thoughts from our minds

Elder Boyd K. Packer taught about how to dismiss unclean thoughts that have entered our minds uninvited:

“The mind is like a stage. Except when we are asleep, the curtain is always up. There is always some act being performed on that stage. It may be a comedy, a tragedy, interesting or dull, good or bad; but always there is some act playing on the stage of the mind.

“Have you noticed that without any real intent on your part, in the middle of almost any performance, a shady little thought may creep in from the wings and attract your attention? These delinquent thoughts will try to upstage everybody. If you permit them to go on, all thoughts of any virtue will leave the stage. You will be left, because you consented to it, to the influence of unrighteous thoughts.
“If you yield to them, they will enact for you on the stage of your mind anything to the limits of your toleration. They may enact a theme of bitterness, jealousy, or hatred. It may be vulgar, immoral, even depraved. When they have the stage, if you let them, they will devise the most clever persuasions to hold your attention. They can make it interesting all right, even convince you that it is innocent—for they are but thoughts.

“What do you do at a time like that, when the stage of your mind is commandeered by the imps of unclean thinking, whether they be the gray ones that seem almost clean or the filthy ones which leave no room for doubt? If you can control your thoughts, you can overcome habits, even degrading personal habits. If you can learn to master them, you will have a happy life.
“This is what I would teach you. Choose from among the sacred music of the Church a favorite hymn, one with words that are uplifting and music that is reverent, one that makes you feel something akin to inspiration. Go over it in your mind carefully. Memorize it. Even though you [may] have had no musical training, you can think through a hymn.

“Now, use this hymn as the place for your thoughts to go. Make it your emergency channel. Whenever you find these shady actors have slipped from the sidelines of your thinking onto the stage of your mind, put on this record, as it were. As the music begins and as the words form in your thoughts, the unworthy ones will slip shamefully away. It will change the whole mood on the stage of your mind. Because it is uplifting and clean, the baser thoughts will disappear. For while virtue, by choice, will not associate with filth, evil cannot tolerate the presence of light.

“In due time you will find yourself, on occasion, humming the music inwardly. As you retrace your thoughts, you discover some influence from the world about you encouraged an unworthy thought to move on stage in your mind, and the music almost automatically began.
“Once you learn to clear the stage of your mind of unworthy thoughts, keep it busy with learning worthwhile things. Change your environment so that you have things about you that will inspire good and uplifting thoughts. Keep busy with things that are righteous” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1976, 99–100).


2. The danger of trying to cover our sins
In trying to hide his sin of adultery, David committed an even greater sin. To discuss the danger of trying to hide our sins, compare sin to a mound of dirt. Illustrate this concept on the chalkboard as shown in the first drawing on page 116.

• What will happen if we try to cover a small mound of dirt? (The mound will become larger and more visible.

• How is covering our sins like covering a mound of dirt? (Our sinfulness becomes greater and more serious when we try to cover our sins.)

• If we do not want people to see a mound of dirt, what should we do? (We should remove the mound rather than cover it.) How can we remove sin from our lives?

3. “Then Amnon hated her exceedingly” (2 Samuel 13:15)

2 Samuel 13 contains the story of David’s son Amnon and David’s daughter Tamar. Amnon was attracted to Tamar and forced her to commit fornication with him.

• 2 Samuel 13:1 says that Amnon loved Tamar. How did Amnon’s feelings for Tamar change after he had sinned against her? (See 2 Samuel 13:15.)

Why does hatred, rather than love, often result between people who violate the principles of morality?

President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “I heard Elder John A. Widtsoe … say, ‘It is my observation that a young man and a young woman who violate the principles of morality soon end up hating one another.’ I have observed the same thing. There may be words of love to begin with, but there will be words of anger and bitterness later” (“True to the Faith,” Ensign, June 1996, 5).

4. Hope for the repentant

Elder Boyd K. Packer: “The discouraging idea that a mistake (or even a series of them) makes it everlastingly too late, does not come from the Lord. He has said that if we will repent, not only will He forgive us our transgressions, but He will forget them and remember our sins no more. … Repentance is like soap; it can wash sin away. Ground-in dirt may take the strong detergent of discipline to get the stains out, but out they will come” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1989, 72; or Ensign, May 1989, 59)

Reading Assignment - Lesson 24 - Sunday June 27

Lesson 24: “Create in Me a Clean Heart”, Old Testament Class Member Study Guide, 16

2 Samuel 11–12; Psalm 51

Study the following scriptures:



a. 2 Samuel 11. David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (11:1–5). David fails in his attempt to hide his sin (11:6–13). He arranges the death of Uriah (11:14–17). David marries Bathsheba, and they have a son (11:26–27).


b. 2 Samuel 12:1–23. The prophet Nathan teaches of the severity of David’s sins by telling David a parable (12:1–6). David is told that he will be punished because of his sins (12:7–14; note that in the Joseph Smith Translation of verse 13, Nathan states, “The Lord hath not put away thy sin that thou shalt not die”). The first son of David and Bathsheba dies in infancy (12:15–23).


c. Psalm 51. A repentant David seeks forgiveness.

David succeeded Saul as king and became one of the greatest kings in the history of Israel. He united the tribes into one nation, secured possession of the land that had been promised to his people, and set up a government based on God’s law. However, the last 20 years of his personal life were marred by the consequences of his sinfulness.



• What did David do that led him to commit adultery? (See 2 Samuel 11:2–4.) What might lead people to be tempted to commit sexual sins? What can we do to avoid being tempted to commit sexual sins?


• What more serious sin did David commit in an attempt to hide his immorality? (See 2 Samuel 11:14–17.) From whom do you think David thought he could hide his sin? How do people try to cover up sins today? What happens when we try to cover our sins?

In a psalm to the Lord, David expressed a desire to help others repent, saying, “I [will] teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee” (Psalm 51:13). Even though David forfeited his exaltation because he arranged the death of Uriah, we can learn from his repentant attitude as he sought forgiveness for the sin of adultery. His words in Psalm 51 teach many aspects of true repentance. As you study the psalm, look for ways that you can apply David’s repentant example to your life.

Additional reading: 2 Samuel 2–10.

Lesson 23: “The Lord Be Between Thee and Me For Ever”

Lesson 23: “The Lord Be Between Thee and Me For Ever”, Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 107

1. Introduction

a) Last week, we saw some of the effects of Saul's disobedience of the instructions from the Lord, conveyed through the prophet, Samuel.

i) Saul began to have an evil spirit

b) After Saul's second serious act of disobedience, when he brought back prime sheep, cattle and oxen from the city of Amalek, purportedly for the purpose of sacrificing them to the Lord, Samuel gave Saul and us words to remember, "to obey is better than sacrifice" – 1 Samuel 15:22

c) After Saul's actions in Amalek, Samuel withdrew himself from Saul and we have no record that the prophet ever spoke with Saul again.

d) Samuel was directed to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem where he anointed the youth David as the king of the Jews, to begin serving in that capacity after Saul's death.

e) We had twin acts of amazing courage by two faithful young men of Israel

i) Jonathan, Saul's oldest son, and Jonathan's armor-bearer caused a huge Philistine army to retreat

ii) David slew Goliath

2. Jonathan and David make a covenant of friendship. Saul becomes jealous of David and tries to kill him

a) After David killed Goliath, he quickly became a hero throughout all of Israel. King Saul and the entire kingdom honored him.

b) At this time an inspiring friendship began between David and Jonathan

i) Reading 1 – 1 Samuel 18:1-4

1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.

3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

ii) David is surely one of the most charismatic people we meet in the Old Testament

(1) At a young age, Saul gives David charge over all of the armies of Israel and, as we will see, David will become one of the greatest military leaders in the history of Israel

iii) Jonathan never seems to have received recognition for his great military feat, certainly not as much as David received

iv) Jonathan would have been Saul's successor as king had David not been anointed the future king of Israel

v) Jonathan never seems to be jealous of David's success. He recognizes a very good person in David, one greatly blessed of the Lord.

vi) Because Jonathan is himself a faithful servant of the Lord, he becomes a loyal and immensely helpful friend to David.

vii) Reading 2 - Elder Neal A. Maxwell wrote: "When we are struggling to learn to love, we can have faith in God's developmental plans for others as well as for ourselves. Then we do not feel threatened by those who are our superiors or who are becoming such. The more unselfish we are, the more able we are to find joy in their successes, all the while rejoicing without comparing. In any case, our only valid spiritual competition is with our old selves, not with each other. True love and friendship enable us to keep that perspective. The things about other people that truly matter are their qualities such as love, mercy, justice, and patience, and their service to others." (Not My Will, But Thine, p70)

c) Saul's attitude toward David became much different.

i) Saul names David the head of the armies of Israel

ii) Reading 3 – 1 Samuel 18:5-12

5 ¶ And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10 ¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.

11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

12 ¶ And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.

(1) Verse 5 - Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people

(2) Verses 6-7

(a) Women of Israel celebrate a victory over the Philistines with singing

(i) Call and response form

(b) when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands

(3) Verse 8 - And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands

(4) Verse 8 - what can he have more but the kingdom?

(a) Saul understands that he is, in effect, an illegitimate king.

(i) After Saul's disobedience at Amalek, one of the last things that Samuel said to him was Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. (1 Samuel 15:23)

(b) Verse 10 - the evil spirit from God came upon Saul

(i) Joseph Smith Translation - which was not of God

(c) Verses 10-11 - David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. 11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it

(i) David was very talented at playing the harp. Because of Saul's guilty conscience over his disobedience, he had trouble sleeping. Saul had David come and play for him at night to help him sleep.

(ii) Saul tries to kill David for the first time and David avoided being killed.

(d) Verse 12 - Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.

(i) On its face, it's foolish for King Saul to fear David, a very young man

(ii) The fear of someone who has lost the Spirit in the face of someone who has the Spirit

(5) Reading 4 - President Ezra Taft Benson said: “Saul became an enemy to David through pride. He was jealous because the crowds of Israelite women were singing that ‘Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands’ (1 Samuel 18:7; see also 1 Samuel 18:6, 8).

“The proud stand more in fear of men’s judgment than of God’s judgment. … ‘What will men think of me?’ weighs heavier than ‘What will God think of me?’ …

“Fear of men’s judgment manifests itself in competition for men’s approval. The proud love ‘the praise of men more than the praise of God’ (John 12:42–43). Our motives for the things we do are where the sin is manifest. Jesus said He did ‘always those things’ that pleased God (John 8:29). Would we not do well to have the pleasing of God as our motive rather than to try to elevate ourselves above our brother and outdo another?

“When pride has a hold on our hearts, we lose our independence of the world and deliver our freedoms to the bondage of men’s judgment. The world shouts louder than the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. The reasoning of men overrides the revelations of God, and the proud let go of the iron rod” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1989, 4–5; or Ensign, May 1989, 5)

3. Saul Tries to Kill David Three More Times

a) Saul offered to let David marry Michal, one of his daughters, if David would kill 100 Philistines.

i) Saul hoped the Philistines would kill David for him

(1) "For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him" (1 Samuel 18:17).

ii) David killed 200 Philistines and married Michal, who loved him

b) READ 1 Samuel 18:28-29

28 ¶ And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.

29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.

c) Reading 5 - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, speaking of the resentment of the older son when the prodigal son returns and was welcomed by his father, said: "Who is it that whispers so subtly in our ear that a gift given to another somehow diminishes the blessings we have received? Who makes us feel that if God is smiling on another, then He surely must somehow be frowning on us? You and I both know who does this - it is the father of all lies. It is Lucifer, our common enemy, whose cry down through the corridors of time is always and to everyone, "Give me thine honor."

It has been said that envy is the one sin to which no one readily confesses, but just how widespread that tendency can be is suggested in the old Danish proverb, "If envy were a fever, all the world would be ill" (Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Other Prodigal," Ensign, May 2002, pp. 62,63).

d) Saul ordered all the servants in his palace to kill David, but Jonathan warned him so David could hide.

e) Jonathan spoke with Saul to persuade him not to kill David

READ - 1 Samuel 19:6

"And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain"

f) Breaking his oath, after David returns from another victory over the Philistines, Saul tries to kill him with a javelin again and David escapes

g) Saul then sends men to David's house to kill him as he sleeps, but David's wife, Michael, helps him to escape.

4. David and Jonathan renew their covenant of friendship, and Jonathan saves David’s life

a) David is mystified at Saul's behavior

i) Reading 6 – 1 Samuel 20:1

And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?

ii) David knows that he is in great danger

(1) READ 1 Samuel 20:3 - there is but a step between me and death.

b) Jonathan continues his support of David

i) Reading 7 – 1 Samuel 20:4, 16-17

4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.

(Skip to 16)

16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David’s enemies.

17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

ii) Jonathan explains the bond between himself and David

(1) READ 1 Samuel 20:23

23 And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord be between thee and me for ever.

(2) Reading 8 - Elder Neal A. Maxwell wrote: Can one expect human relationships to be deep and lasting sources of purpose and meaning without having truth at their center? Can there be friendships such as the friendship of Jonathan and David outside the context of absolute values? We read that "Jonathan was knit with the soul of David"; these two individuals "made a covenant." (See 1 Samuel 18:1-3.)

c) David fled from the household and presence of Saul for the final time. Future attempts to kill David would be made in locations of David's choosing.

5. Saul is consumed by hatred for David. David spares Saul’s life.

a) After inquiring of the Lord, David went to the town of Keilah to fight against the Philistines.

i) David "smote them with a great slaughter" and saved the inhabitants of Keilah (23:1-5).

b) Reading 9 – 1 Samuel 23:7-10

7 ¶ And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

9 ¶ And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.

10 Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

c) Before Saul can reach Keilah, David goes into the wilderness to hide from Saul

i) "And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand" 1 Samuel 23:14.

ii) Jonathan comes to support David in the wilderness

(1) "And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God" (1 Samuel 23:16).

d) David spares Saul's life

i) Saul comes out to chase David in the wilderness with 3,000 men

(1) READ 1 Samuel 24:3-7,10,12

3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily

.

5 And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.

6 And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

SKIP

10 [David speaking to Saul] Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed.

SKIP

12 [David speaking to Saul] The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

(2) Saul's response – 1 Samuel 24:17

17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

(3) Reading 10: President Spencer W. Kimball said: "The spirit of revenge, of retaliation, of bearing a grudge, is entirely foreign to the gospel of the gentle, forgiving Jesus Christ." (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p105)

6. Conclusion

Lesson 23: “The Lord Be Between Thee and Me For Ever” - Scriptures and Quotes

Reading 1 – 1 Samuel 18:1-4

Reading 2 - Elder Neal A. Maxwell wrote: "When we are struggling to learn to love, we can have faith in God's developmental plans for others as well as for ourselves. Then we do not feel threatened by those who are our superiors or who are becoming such. The more unselfish we are, the more able we are to find joy in their successes, all the while rejoicing without comparing. In any case, our only valid spiritual competition is with our old selves, not with each other. True love and friendship enable us to keep that perspective. The things about other people that truly matter are their qualities such as love, mercy, justice, and patience, and their service to others." (Not My Will, But Thine, p70)

Reading 3 – 1 Samuel 18:5-12

Reading 4 - President Ezra Taft Benson said: “Saul became an enemy to David through pride. He was jealous because the crowds of Israelite women were singing that ‘Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands’ (1 Samuel 18:7; see also 1 Samuel 18:6, 8).

1 Samuel 18:28-29

Reading 5 - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, speaking of the resentment of the older son when the prodigal son returns and was welcomed by his father, said: "Who is it that whispers so subtly in our ear that a gift given to another somehow diminishes the blessings we have received? Who makes us feel that if God is smiling on another, then He surely must somehow be frowning on us? You and I both know who does this - it is the father of all lies. It is Lucifer, our common enemy, whose cry down through the corridors of time is always and to everyone, "Give me thine honor."

It has been said that envy is the one sin to which no one readily confesses, but just how widespread that tendency can be is suggested in the old Danish proverb, "If envy were a fever, all the world would be ill" (Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Other Prodigal," Ensign, May 2002, pp. 62,63).

1 Samuel 19:6

Reading 6 – 1 Samuel 20:1

1 Samuel 20:3

Reading 7 – 1 Samuel 20:4, 16-17

1 Samuel 20:23

Reading 8 - Elder Neal A. Maxwell wrote: Can one expect human relationships to be deep and lasting sources of purpose and meaning without having truth at their center? Can there be friendships such as the friendship of Jonathan and David outside the context of absolute values? We read that "Jonathan was knit with the soul of David"; these two individuals "made a covenant." (See 1 Samuel 18:1-3.)

Reading 9 – 1 Samuel 23:7-10

1 Samuel 24:3-7,10,12

Reading 10: President Spencer W. Kimball said: "The spirit of revenge, of retaliation, of bearing a grudge, is entirely foreign to the gospel of the gentle, forgiving Jesus Christ." (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p105)

Don't You Quit

I can't connect the following to this week's lesson, but I thought it was an excellent reminder for all of us and a pure Elder Holland moment.

I can't embed the video in this blog without cutting some off, so you'll have to copy this link and paste it into your browser's address bar to view.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nczw6xHJ0I&feature=player_embedded

Lesson 22: “The Lord Looketh on the Heart” - Lesson Outline

Lesson 22: “The Lord Looketh on the Heart”, Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 101

1. Introduction

a) Last week, we spoke about honoring God above all other things

b) The children of Israel failed to honor God above the practices of other nations in the world

c) Told Samuel that they wanted a king so they could be like other countries.

d) This was a direct rejection of the Lord Jehovah as their king.

e) Under the Lord's commandment, Samuel listed some of the problems that a king would bring to them

f) The Israelites rejected the warnings of the Lord's prophet just as they had so frequently failed to hear and obey the words of Moses while they wandered in the wilderness.

g) We begin this lesson with Samuel searching for a king.

2. Saul seeks guidance from Samuel and is anointed to be king

a) Reading 1 – 1 Samuel 9:1-2

1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

b) Saul's father had lost some donkeys and sent Saul out to find them

c) After an unsuccessful search that takes them far from home, Saul's servant tells him that there is a man of God in the city where they find themselves.

d) As Saul is making a decision to search for Samuel, the Lord is telling Samuel that he will meet a man of the tribe of Benjamin who he will anoint to be the king of Israel.

e) Reading 2 – 1 Samuel 9:18-20

18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.

19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.

20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?

f) Samuel then takes Saul into his house, feeds him and honors him.

g) Samuel Anoints Saul to be King

i) Reading 3 – 1 Samuel 9:25-27,10:1

25 ¶ And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

Break – Chapter 10:1

1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

(1) Note the anointing – powerful symbol for kings and priests

(2) Reading 4 – Bible Dictionary – Anoint, page 609

To apply oil or ointment to the head or the person. Anciently anointing was done for reasons both secular and sacred. It is a sign of hospitality in Luke 7: 46, and of routine personal grooming in 2 Sam. 12: 20 and Matt. 6: 17. The maimed or sick were anointed with wine, oil, and/or ointment as medicine (Isa. 1: 6; Luke 10: 34; cf. Rev. 3: 18). The sick were also anointed with oil as part of the sacred procedure in healing of the sick by faith and the laying on of hands (Mark 6: 13; James 5: 14-15).

Kings were anointed to their office by the prophets (1 Sam. 10: 1; 1 Sam. 16: 13; 2 Sam. 5: 3; 1 Kgs. 1: 39; 1 Kgs. 19: 16; 2 Kgs. 9: 3, 6; 2 Kgs. 11: 12; 1 Chr. 11: 3; 1 Chr. 29: 22; 2 Chr. 23: 11). The anointing of the priests is outlined in Ex. 40: 15; of the high priest (Aaronic order) in Lev. 21: 10. Elisha was to be anointed a prophet by Elijah (1 Kgs. 19: 16).

The holy anointing oil used in the law of Moses was composed of olive oil mixed with spices and was to be restricted in use to certain specified ceremonies (Ex. 30: 22-33; Ex. 37: 29). Paul and John speak of an anointing of the Spirit (2 Cor. 1: 21-22; 1 Jn. 2: 20, 27), and Peter says that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power” (Acts 10: 38).

In the Church today holy consecrated olive oil is used in anointing persons in various sacred ceremonies, including administration to the sick. Although the scriptures do not specifically so state, we may confidently assume that anointing with oil has been part of true, revealed religion ever since the gospel was first introduced on this earth to Adam.

(3) READ – Exodus 40:12-13

12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.

13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

(4) READ – From the Bible Dictionary definition of "Anointed One" - The English word Christ is from a Greek word meaning anointed, and is the equivalent of Messiah, which is from Hebrew and Aramaic term meaning anointed.

(5) When we heal the sick, we anoint with olive oil.

(6) Cast your minds to the temple for another suggestion

h) Promises of Samuel and the Effects of Samuel's Anointing on Saul

i) Reading 5 – 1 Samuel 10:6-10

[Samuel speaking to Saul] 6 And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.

8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.

9 ¶ And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

i) Jehovah Dealing with His People

i) Remember that when Israel asked for a king, this was a rejection of Jehovah

ii) Despite this great affront, what sort of man does the Lord select to be king? – A very good man.

iii) What does the Lord give to this man, Saul, to help him be successful?

(1) The support of Samuel, the prophet

(a) Verse 8 – offerings and sacrifices performed by Samuel

(2) The direct support of God

(a) Verse 7 – God is with thee

(b) Verse 8 - God gave him another heart

(c) Verse 10 – The spirit of God - the Spirit of God came upon him

(d) Verse 10 – The spirit of prophesy - he prophesied among them

iv) Samuel Gathered all of Israel Together to Speak to Them

(1) READ 1 Samuel 10:24 –

24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.

v) Even though Israel rejected Jehovah when they asked for a king, the Lord gave them a very good man to be king and provided him with many blessings so he could be successful.

(1) He wanted Israel to succeed regardless of its prior sins

(2) Opportunity for Israel to repent and turn back to God

(3) Did not abandon Israel

3. Saul offers a burnt offering without the proper authority

a) Saul is initially successful as king

i) Leads Israel to a great victory over the Ammonites

(1) Acknowledges the hand of the Lord in the victory – 1 Samuel 11:13

b) Two years after Saul was anointed king, the Philistines gathered a mighty army to fight against Israel.

i) 30,000 chariots, and 6,000 horsemen, and soldiers "as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude"

ii) Saul’s men were so afraid that many of them hid and scattered.

iii) Saul expected Samuel to come and offer a sacrifice for the army and Samuel didn't arrive when expected.

iv) Reading 6 – 1 Samuel 13:9-14

9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

11 ¶ And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

(1) Verse 9 - Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering

(a) Great blasphemy – Saul not a prophet or priest

(2) Verse 11 - Samuel said, What hast thou done?

(3) Verse 11-12 – Saul's excuses - Because I saw that the people were scattered from me , thou camest not within the days appointed , the Philistines gathered themselves together , The Philistines will come down now upon me , I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering

(a) Saul not trusting the Lord

(4) Verse 13 - Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly

(5) Verse 13 - thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee

(6) Verse 14 - now thy kingdom shall not continue

(7) Verse 14 - Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart

(8) Verse 14 - thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee

v) Reading 7 - Elder James E. Talmage wrote, “Saul prepared the burnt offering himself, forgetting that though he occupied the throne, wore the crown, and bore the scepter, [he had] no right to officiate … in the Priesthood of God; and for this and other instances of his unrighteous presumption he was rejected of God and another was made king in his place” (The Articles of Faith, 12th ed. [1924], 185).

vi) Reading 8 - President N. Eldon Tanner: "We all know that there are many, many things in science which we do not understand, but which we must and do accept. Where would we be if the laws of nature and the laws of God were limited to man's understanding? We have been admonished: 'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding'." (CR, Apr 1969)

c) Samuel warned Israel about all the bad things that would happen if they were ruled by an earthly king. What we see here and will see with David is how the office of king can also destroy an otherwise virtuous person.

d) Saul was more afraid of the huge Philistine army than he was of God

e) Defeat of Philistines

i) After all of Saul's worries, it only required two Israelites who listened to the promptings of the Lord to defeat the Philistines

ii) Jonathan and his armor-bearer went among the Philistines

iii) READ - 1 Samuel 14:12 – Samuel said, "Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel."

iv) Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed about 20 Philistine soldiers and the rest of the Philistine army fled.

v) Saul could have had a victory such as this had he simply obeyed the Lord and the commandments of the Lord's prophet.

4. Saul disobeys the Lord in the battle with the Amalekites and is rejected as king

a) Samuel tells Saul to attack the Amalekites

i) Reading 9 – 1 Samuel 15:1-3

1 Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord.

2 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

(1) Verse 3 – Specific commandments

(a) utterly destroy all that they have

(b) Slay all the people

(c) Slay all the animals - ox and sheep, camel and ass

ii) Instead of obeying Samuel's commands, Saul spared the Amalekite king, Agag, and the best of " the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good" (verse 9)

iii) The Lord tells Samuel that Saul has violated the commandments

iv) Samuel confronts Saul with his disobedience

v) Saul says that his soldiers spared the best of the Amalekite animals and he brought the Amalekite animals back to sacrifice to the Lord

vi) Samuel's Response

(1) READ – 1 Samuel 15:22-23

22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

vii) We can't substitute something else for obedience

(1) Can't disobey commandments regarding chastity or honesty and pay more tithing to make up for it

(2) Reading 10 - Elder Neal A. Maxwell wrote: "At issue is our obedience to the Lord. Has he not said, 'To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams'? (1 Samuel 15:22.) Obedience is what is needed, because through obedience we can grow and become more like Him." (Meek and Lowly, pp15-16)

b) Saul has lost his legitimacy as king – Verse 23 - Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king

i) Samuel went away and would never see Saul again (1 Samuel 15:35)

ii) The Spirit of the Lord departs from Saul and is replaced by an evil spirit – 1 Samuel 16:14

5. The Lord chooses David as king

a) The Lord tells Samuel to take his horn of olive oil and go to Jesse in Bethlehem and that He will reveal a new king for Israel

b) Samuel looks at Jesse's oldest son, Eliab and thinks he looks like a king

i) READ – 1 Samuel 16:6-7

6 ¶ And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

ii) Samuel looks at a total of seven of Jesse's sons without finding the King of Israel

iii) Samuel asks if there are any other sons. The answer is that the youngest, David, is out taking care of the sheep.

iv) David is brought in and the Lord tells Samuel to anoint him King of Israel

(1) Although Samuel anointed David to be king, David did not become king until Saul died many years later.

6. David slays Goliath in the strength of the Lord

a) Time passes and the Philistine armies are again gathered in Judah and Saul has his armies gathered.

b) READ – 1 Samuel 17:4-11

4 ¶ And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span [somewhere between 6.5 and 9 feet].

5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.[120-150 lbs]

6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron:[14-18 lbs] and one bearing a shield went before him.

8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

i) Saul was also of large stature and was the obvious person to go fight Goliath, but he was afraid

(1) Saul was relying upon his own strength at this time, having lost the strength of the Lord

c) David comes to the camp and hears Goliath's challenge

i) David's question – 1 Samuel 17:26 – "who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

(1) Note that David identifies the Israelite army as the army of God, not the army of Saul

d) David goes out to fight Goliath and Goliath mocks him

e) David's response

i) READ – 1 Samuel 17:45-47

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.

ii) David had no physical armor, but he had the armor of God

7. Conclusion