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

Lesson 22: “The Lord Looketh on the Heart” - Scriptures and Quotes

Reading 1 – 1 Samuel 9:1-2

Reading 2 – 1 Samuel 9:18-20

Reading 3 – 1 Samuel 9:25-27,10:1

Reading 4 – Bible Dictionary – Anoint, page 609

Exodus 40:12-13

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.

Reading 5 – 1 Samuel 10:6-10

1 Samuel 10:24

Reading 6 – 1 Samuel 13:9-14

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).

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)

1 Samuel 14:12

Reading 9 – 1 Samuel 15:1-3

1 Samuel 15:22-23

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)

1 Samuel 16:6-7

1 Samuel 17:4-11

1 Samuel 17:45-47

The Lord Looketh on the Heart

Lesson 22: “The Lord Looketh on the Heart”, Old Testament Class Member Study Guide, 15

1 Samuel 9–11; 13; 15–17

Study the following scriptures:

• a. 1 Samuel 9–11. Saul seeks guidance from Samuel (9:1–14, 18–24). The Lord reveals to Samuel that Saul is to be king (9:15–17). Samuel counsels Saul and anoints him as Israel’s first king (9:25–27; 10:1–8). Saul is spiritually reborn, and he prophesies (10:9–13). Samuel presents Saul to the people (10:17–27). Saul leads Israel to victory in a battle (11:1–11). He refuses to punish the men who had doubted his ability to lead the people (11:12–15).

• b. 1 Samuel 13:1–14. Saul offers a burnt offering without the proper authority.

• c. 1 Samuel 15. Saul is commanded to destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions, but he saves some of their animals for a sacrifice (15:1–9). The Lord rejects Saul as king, and Samuel tells Saul that obedience is better than sacrifice (15:10–35).

• d. 1 Samuel 16. The Lord chooses David to succeed Saul as king (16:1–13). The Holy Spirit departs from Saul, and an evil spirit takes possession of him (16:14–16; note that in the Joseph Smith Translation these verses show that the evil spirit was not from God). Saul chooses David to play the harp for him and to be his armor bearer (16:17–23).

• e. 1 Samuel 17. David slays Goliath in the strength of the Lord.

• • How did Samuel respond to Saul’s explanation for saving the Amalekites’ animals? (See 1 Samuel 15:22.) How can Samuel’s words apply to us?

• • What did Samuel learn while he tried to determine which of Jesse’s sons should succeed Saul as king? (See 1 Samuel 16:6–7.) What does 1 Samuel 16:7 teach about how the Lord evaluates us? What does the Lord look for in our hearts? How can we improve our ability and commitment to see beyond the outward appearance of others and look on the heart?

• • How did David get the courage to fight Goliath? (See 1 Samuel 17:32–37, 45–47.) How has the Lord helped you overcome “Goliaths” that you have encountered?

Additional reading: 1 Samuel 12; 14.

Lesson 21: God Will Honor Those Who Honor Him

“Lesson 21: God Will Honor Those Who Honor Him,” Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 96

1. Introduction

a) Books of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel

i) Part of a continuing history of Israel

ii) Rule of judges to the final years of King David

b) Have previously studied three virtuous women

i) Ruth

ii) Naomi

iii) Hannah

c) The prophet Samuel was, of course, the miraculous son of Hannah, was one of the great prophets in the Old Testament

i) Begin his story today and will continue it through coming lessons

d) Theme for today's lesson

i) Reading 1 – 1 Samuel 2:30

30 Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

2. Sons of Eli

a) Pursuant to her pledge, when Samuel is weaned, Hannah brings him to Eli, a high priest and judge who had blessed her, to minister to Eli

i) READ – Hannah's words – 1 Samuel 1:27-28

27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

28 Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.

b) There are problems in the House of the Lord at Shiloh

i) Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas were priests themselves

ii) Were corrupting the sacred temple ordinances

(1) Improperly taking temple offerings for themselves

(2) Seducing women assembled at the door of the tabernacle

iii) This was horrible behavior

(1) Only analog I could think of in our day would be if a counselor in the temple presidency was purposely changing temple ordinances and making improper approaches to women patrons.

iv) Consequences were bad

(1) READ 1 Samuel 2:17

17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.

(2) The son's behavior encouraged the people to commit transgressions themselves (1 Samuel 2:24)

c) Theme - God Will Honor Those Who Honor Him

i) One of the purposes of temple worship was and is to honor the Lord

ii) When Eli's sons improperly took temple offerings for themselves and propositioned women during the course of temple worship, were they honoring God?

iii) Who were they honoring?

(1) Satan

(a) Similarity between what Hophni and Phinehas were doing and what Satan told Cain to do when he made improper sacrifices

(i) Corrupting the temple ordinance

(2) The sons of Eli were also honoring themselves instead of their sacred responsibilities

iv) They were not honoring God nor were they honoring their father, Eli, the high priest

(1) Reminds us of Corianton, the son of Alma the Younger, and Corianton's abandonment of his missionary responsibilities to commit adultery.

d) Impact of righteous or unrighteous behavior on others

i) Reading 2 - President Spencer W. Kimball wrote: "One would have thought that all the pleadings and warnings the Lord has made through his prophets over the centuries would induce a high general level of righteousness. Unfortunately this is not so. Apparently it is easier for man to sin than to live a life of righteousness; therefore, greater effort needs to be put forth to avoid evil and conform our lives to the elevating principles of the gospel." (Miracle of Forgiveness, p135)

ii) Reading 3 - President Harold B. Lee said: "In almost every incident where a young man has been converted to the Church by our boys in military service, he has told us that he was drawn to the Church because of the clean, pure life of some Latter-day Saint boy with whom he was associated. This is a day of demonstration when we as Latter-day Saints by our lives will preach more the gospel of truth than by all the words that we may conjure up." (CR, Oct. 1945, p49)

iii) Reading 4 - Elder Neal A. Maxwell has written: "The natural man is actually at cross purposes with God's plans. The natural man really has different ends, seeks different outcomes, marches to different drummers. If unrepentant, such become 'carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them' (Mosiah 16:3)." (Men and Women of Christ, p8) "Heavenly power can be accessed only by those who are Christlike; it is a power whose continued availability is maintained by meekness along with the other virtues." (Meek and Lowly, p85)

3. Eli's Response to His Sons' Wickedness

a) Eli knows of his sons' behavior

i) Reading 5 – 1 Samuel 2:22-25

22 ¶ Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.

24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord’s people to transgress.

25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.

b) Eli receives a visit from a divine messenger, identified only as "a man of God" This visitor is either Jehovah or a representative of Jehovah authorized to speak in the Lord's name (1 Samuel 2:27-36)

i) Visitor warns Eli of the consequences of his sons' actions

ii) Tells him that he will lose his position

iii) His sons will both die

iv) READ – 1 Samuel 2:29

29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

c) Eli's Response

i) Accusation - honourest thy sons above me

ii) READ – 1 Samuel 3:13

"his sons made themselves vile, and he [Eli] restrained them not."

iii) Eli has two responsibilities here

(1) High Priest

(2) Father

iv) He speaks to his sons, which is good, but does nothing else when they fail to change

v) Reading 6 – Brother Arthur M. Richardson wrote: "Like most rebellious, wicked sons they refused to take counsel from their father. However, Eli's responsibility did not end with counseling his sons. He had a further responsibility to protect the people from their depredations. This he failed to do. Rather, he allowed them to continue in their priestly office taking advantage of the people physically, spiritually, and morally." (Improvement Era, Sep 1955)

vi) If a bishop has knowledge that his priest-age son is behaving in such a way as to make him unworthy to bless the sacrament, what is the bishop's responsibility if he sees his son go up to the sacrament table?

d) ASK – What are some of the reasons that Eli honored his sons more than he honored God?

i) Fear of damaging his relationship with his sons

ii) He treated his relationship with his sons as more important than his relationship with God

(1) Ended up losing his sons and damaging his relationship with God

e) Coercion and Force

i) If Eli is too permissive, other parents are too coercive and strict (see King Lamoni's father - Alma 20:8-20)

ii) Forcing things to happen in the way they think they should

iii) Example – Premortal Battle in Heaven

(1) Heavenly Father would not impair our premortal agency to achieve what we certainly agree would have been a right or righteous outcome!

(2) Lucifer's rebellious plan to force us to obey was allowed only by our Father's commitment to the fundamental principle of agency (Moses 4:3)

f) Keys to Parental Persuasion

i) Reading 6 – Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-44

41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;

44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.

(1) Note – Verse 43 – Sharpness means precision and clarity, not anger or harsh words

ii) Example – Alma the Younger and Corianton

(1) Alma was clear about what Corianton was doing wrong and its effects on himself and others (reproving betimes with sharpness)

(2) Alma taught Corianton about the elements of true doctrine that would apply to his behavior (pure knowledge which shall greatly enlarge the soul)

(3) After finishing their discussion, Alma sent Corianton back out on his mission so his son could repent and find success (showing forth an increase of love, love unfeigned)

iii) Example – The Prodigal Son

iv) Reading 7 - President Joseph F. Smith said: "Fathers, if you wish your children to be taught in the principles of the gospel, if you wish them to love the truth and understand it, if you wish them to be obedient to and united to you, love them! and prove to them that you do love them by your every word or act to them. For your own sake, for the love that should exist between you and your boys—however wayward they might be... when you speak or talk to them, do it not in anger, do it not harshly, in a condemning spirit. Speak to them kindly; get down and weep with them if necessary and get them to feel tenderly toward you. Use no lash and no violence... approach them with reason, with persuasion and love unfeigned.... You can't force your boys, nor your girls into heaven. [But] You may force them to hell, by using harsh means in the efforts to make them good, when you yourselves are not as good as you should be" (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 316-17).

g) READ – 1 Samuel 2:35

35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

i) This will be Samuel

4. Samuel Honors the Lord

a) Reading 8 – 1 Samuel 3:1-10

1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

4 That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

6 And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.

8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.

9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

b) ASK – How do we recognize the voice of the Lord?

i) When we watch General Conference is our attitude, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth"?

ii) When the bishop gives us an assignment, is our response, "Here am I"?

iii) When we get a tiny little feeling to call or visit someone who is having a difficult time, is our response to go, telling the Lord in silent prayer "for Thou calledst me"

c) Reading 9 – Elder Neal A. Maxwell has written: "There is an attitudinal and behavioral bridge that we need to build in order for us to draw closer to Him, and thus be ready to return Home - cum laude or summa cum laude - to receive of His loving fulness, we must want to do this more than we want to do anything else. Otherwise, even if we avoid wickedness, our journey will end in the suburbs, somewhere short of the City of God." (Neal A. Maxwell, All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience, p.4).

5. The Israelites honor the world

a) While Samuel was prophet, Israel was governed by judges, according to the instructions given by Moses

b) READ 1 Samuel 8:1-6

1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.

3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

6 ¶ But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.

i) Note – Samuel never made the mistake that Eli did in choosing his sons over the Lord

ii) The behavior of Samuel's sons was just a pretext for asking for a king

(1) Verse 5 - make us a king to judge us like all the nations

c) Israel already had a King – the Lord Jehovah

i) READ – the Lord's response to Samuel's prayer – 1 Samuel 8:7-9

7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

d) According to the Lord's commandments, Samuel told them all the bad things that kings would bring to them (1 Samuel 8:11-17):

i) There would be compulsory service to the nation (military and other duties).

ii) Taxes would be laden upon the people.

iii) The King would take of the lands and property of the people.

iv) Samuel issued a final warning, "And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day" (1 Samuel 8:18).

v) Similar to the warnings that Mosiah gave the Nephites when he recommended that they be governed by judges instead of a king.

e) The people responded to their prophet

i) READ 1 Samuel 8:19-20

19 ¶ Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

f) Reading 10 – Then-Elder Spencer W. Kimball wrote: "Samuel called the people together and explained to them that the people of the Lord should be different, with higher standards. 'We want to be like other peoples' they demanded. We do not want to be different'... Not so different are we today! We want the glamour and frothiness of the world, not always realizing the penalties of our folly... Others... indulge in their social drinking—'we must have a king like unto other nations.' Styles are created by the vulgar and the money-mad and run from one extreme to the other to date our present wardrobes and create business for merchants. We cannot be different. We would rather die than be 'not up to date.' If the dress is knee length, we must go a little above the knee. If shorts are short we must have the shortest... If bathing suits are skimpy, we must have the skimpiest. We must have a king like unto other nations. The Lord has said that he will have a peculiar people but we do not wish to be peculiar.... If intimate fondling is the pattern of the crowd, we will fondle. We must have a king like unto other nations.... When oh when, will the Latter-day Saints stand firm on their own feet, establish their own standards, follow proper patterns and live their own glorious lives in accordance with Gospel inspired patterns...Certainly good times and happy lives and clean fun are not dependant upon the glamorous, the pompous, the extremes" (Elder Spencer W. Kimball, "Like All the Nations," Church News, 15 October 1960, 14).

6. Conclusion

“Lesson 21: God Will Honor Those Who Honor Him” – Email Handouts

Reading 1 – 1 Samuel 2:30

1 Samuel 1:27-28

1 Samuel 2:17

Reading 2 - President Spencer W. Kimball wrote: "One would have thought that all the pleadings and warnings the Lord has made through his prophets over the centuries would induce a high general level of righteousness. Unfortunately this is not so. Apparently it is easier for man to sin than to live a life of righteousness; therefore, greater effort needs to be put forth to avoid evil and conform our lives to the elevating principles of the gospel." (Miracle of Forgiveness, p135)

Reading 3 - President Harold B. Lee said: "In almost every incident where a young man has been converted to the Church by our boys in military service, he has told us that he was drawn to the Church because of the clean, pure life of some Latter-day Saint boy with whom he was associated. This is a day of demonstration when we as Latter-day Saints by our lives will preach more the gospel of truth than by all the words that we may conjure up." (CR, Oct. 1945, p49)

Reading 4 - Elder Neal A. Maxwell has written: "The natural man is actually at cross purposes with God's plans. The natural man really has different ends, seeks different outcomes, marches to different drummers. If unrepentant, such become 'carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them' (Mosiah 16:3)." (Men and Women of Christ, p8) "Heavenly power can be accessed only by those who are Christlike; it is a power whose continued availability is maintained by meekness along with the other virtues." (Meek and Lowly, p85)

Reading 5 – 1 Samuel 2:22-25

1 Samuel 2:29

1 Samuel 3:13

Reading 6 – Brother Arthur M. Richardson wrote: "Like most rebellious, wicked sons they refused to take counsel from their father. However, Eli's responsibility did not end with counseling his sons. He had a further responsibility to protect the people from their depredations. This he failed to do. Rather, he allowed them to continue in their priestly office taking advantage of the people physically, spiritually, and morally." (Improvement Era, Sep 1955)

Reading 6 – Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-44

Reading 7 - President Joseph F. Smith said: "Fathers, if you wish your children to be taught in the principles of the gospel, if you wish them to love the truth and understand it, if you wish them to be obedient to and united to you, love them! and prove to them that you do love them by your every word or act to them. For your own sake, for the love that should exist between you and your boys—however wayward they might be... when you speak or talk to them, do it not in anger, do it not harshly, in a condemning spirit. Speak to them kindly; get down and weep with them if necessary and get them to feel tenderly toward you. Use no lash and no violence... approach them with reason, with persuasion and love unfeigned.... You can't force your boys, nor your girls into heaven. [But] You may force them to hell, by using harsh means in the efforts to make them good, when you yourselves are not as good as you should be" (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 316-17).

1 Samuel 2:35

Reading 8 – 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Reading 9 – Elder Neal A. Maxwell has written: "There is an attitudinal and behavioral bridge that we need to build in order for us to draw closer to Him, and thus be ready to return Home - cum laude or summa cum laude - to receive of His loving fulness, we must want to do this more than we want to do anything else. Otherwise, even if we avoid wickedness, our journey will end in the suburbs, somewhere short of the City of God." (Neal A. Maxwell, All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience, p.4).

1 Samuel 8:1-6

1 Samuel 8:7-9

1 Samuel 8:19-20

Reading 10 – Then-Elder Spencer W. Kimball wrote: "Samuel called the people together and explained to them that the people of the Lord should be different, with higher standards. 'We want to be like other peoples' they demanded. We do not want to be different'... Not so different are we today! We want the glamour and frothiness of the world, not always realizing the penalties of our folly... Others... indulge in their social drinking—'we must have a king like unto other nations.' Styles are created by the vulgar and the money-mad and run from one extreme to the other to date our present wardrobes and create business for merchants. We cannot be different. We would rather die than be 'not up to date.' If the dress is knee length, we must go a little above the knee. If shorts are short we must have the shortest... If bathing suits are skimpy, we must have the skimpiest. We must have a king like unto other nations. The Lord has said that he will have a peculiar people but we do not wish to be peculiar.... If intimate fondling is the pattern of the crowd, we will fondle. We must have a king like unto other nations.... When oh when, will the Latter-day Saints stand firm on their own feet, establish their own standards, follow proper patterns and live their own glorious lives in accordance with Gospel inspired patterns...Certainly good times and happy lives and clean fun are not dependant upon the glamorous, the pompous, the extremes" (Elder Spencer W. Kimball, "Like All the Nations," Church News, 15 October 1960, 14).

Lesson 21: God Will Honor Those Who Honor Him - Reading Assignment

“Lesson 21: God Will Honor Those Who Honor Him,” Old Testament Class Member Study Guide, 14

1 Samuel 2–3; 8

Study the following scriptures:

a. 1 Samuel 2:12–17, 22–25. The sons of Eli commit transgressions and are counseled by their father.

b. 1 Samuel 2:27–36; 3:12–14. A man of God warns Eli about the consequences of the wickedness in his family.

c. 1 Samuel 3. The Lord calls Samuel, and Samuel responds.

d. 1 Samuel 8. The Israelites want a king so they can be “like all the nations.” Samuel warns them about the dangers of such a choice.

• What did the actions of Eli’s sons suggest about whom they chose to honor? (See 1 Samuel 2:12–17, 22–25.) In what areas of our lives do we sometimes honor and please ourselves rather than the Lord?

• A man of God came and chastised Eli, saying that Eli honored his sons more than God (1 Samuel 2:27–29). In what way had Eli honored his sons more than God? How do we sometimes honor other people more than God?

• How did Samuel honor the Lord? How did the Lord honor him? (See 1 Samuel 3:19; see also 1 Samuel 2:30.) How do you think the Lord will honor us if we honor Him?

Lesson 21: God Will Honor Those Who Honor Him - Reading Assignment

“Lesson 21: God Will Honor Those Who Honor Him,” Old Testament Class Member Study Guide, 14

1 Samuel 2–3; 8

Study the following scriptures:

a. 1 Samuel 2:12–17, 22–25. The sons of Eli commit transgressions and are counseled by their father.

b. 1 Samuel 2:27–36; 3:12–14. A man of God warns Eli about the consequences of the wickedness in his family.

c. 1 Samuel 3. The Lord calls Samuel, and Samuel responds.

d. 1 Samuel 8. The Israelites want a king so they can be “like all the nations.” Samuel warns them about the dangers of such a choice.

• What did the actions of Eli’s sons suggest about whom they chose to honor? (See 1 Samuel 2:12–17, 22–25.) In what areas of our lives do we sometimes honor and please ourselves rather than the Lord?
*

• A man of God came and chastised Eli, saying that Eli honored his sons more than God (1 Samuel 2:27–29). In what way had Eli honored his sons more than God? How do we sometimes honor other people more than God?
*

• How did Samuel honor the Lord? How did the Lord honor him? (See 1 Samuel 3:19; see also 1 Samuel 2:30.) How do you think the Lord will honor us if we honor Him?