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