Gospel Doctrine OT c22 Look on the Heart
1 Samuel 9-16
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Israel wants a King. Samuel tells them it is not God’s way but
they want one anyway. God gives them a king: Saul.
Who was
Saul?
1 Sam 9:2- a choice, young man, goodliest of all and head and
shoulders above all others.
9:21- not of high standing or prestige
Seeking his father’s lost livestock, he goes to Samuel the prophet
for counsel (9:6).
The Lord told Samuel the day before that Saul would come. The day
Saul arrived, Samuel was expecting him (9:17).
Samuel anointed Saul (10:1). He was accepted as king (10:24).
There were those who despised him, but Saul held his peace (10:27). Saul went
away with a changed heart (10:9).
Focus of the
lesson is the HEART.
??What
is God’s concern with the heart?? What is it about the heart that is so
important??
Physical
implications- it keeps us alive, constant, strongest muscle
Spiritual implications-
true desires, spirit speaks to it/through it, capacity to love
Marvin J. Ashton- “When the Lord measures an individual, He does
not take a tape measure
around the
person’s head to determine his mental capacity, nor his chest to determine his
manliness, but He measures the heart as an indicator of the person’s capacity and
potential to bless others.
“Why the
heart? Because the heart is a synonym for one’s entire makeup. We often use
phrases about the heart to describe the total person. Thus, we describe people
as being “big-hearted” or “goodhearted” or having a “heart of gold.” Or we
speak of people with faint hearts, wise hearts, pure hearts, willing hearts,
deceitful hearts, conniving hearts, courageous hearts, cold hearts, hearts of
stone, or selfish hearts. (Gen Conf Oct. 1988)
What was the
condition of Saul’s heart?
Based off of what we know from the beginning, his heart was
humble. Humble enough to ask guidance from the prophet. His heart was not
bothered by those who despised him. He didn’t care about the worldly cares of
men.
Was that good enough? Once a good heart, always a
good heart?
Story:
Saul was a good, righteous and courageous king. He led his people
well, protected them and defended them. Nahash the Ammonite came against Jabesh
of Israel. Saul waged war and won victory. The people loved him as their king.
(C11)
In Chapter 12, Samuel
gives a discourse and warns the people about being ruled by a king again. God then
shows his great power by sending thunder and rain during the harvest, causing
the people to repent and acknowledge God. In response, Samuel says,
12:20-21 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye
have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but
serve the Lord with all your heart; And turn ye not aside: for then should ye
go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
12:24 Only fear
the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great
things he hath done for you.
??What
is Samuel’s warning and what is his counsel??
Serve with all your heart
2x Turn not aside (after vain things)
Vain things cannot profit nor
deliver you
Those two things mean - Keep your heart right and your perspective
right.
??What
are we turning aside to? How does
that affect our hearts?
SITUATION #1
Battle with
the Philistines (C13).
The Philistines were as numerous as the sands of the sea. Israel
was scared and began to scatter and hide. Samuel was going to bless and offer a
sacrifice by the priesthood power but on the 7th day, when he was
supposed to come, he wasn’t there, so Samuel offered the sacrifice instead
(13:8-10).
Read 1 Sam
13:10-12
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).
?? What is unrighteous presumption? Have you
experienced unrighteous presumption?
Read 1 Sam
13:13-14 A warning for us all. God would have established the kingdom on
Saul and Israel forever but he lost it all. We have similar great blessings
promised to us. We are required to make the same decisions Saul made. What decisions were/ are those?
Will we turn
aside from the Lord and His ways?
Will we serve
with our hearts?
He was impatient,
failed to trust God and disobeyed.
The Lord seeks men and women after his own heart. Just like Samuel
counseled in 12:24 serve with all your heart and turn not aside after vain
things.
Jonathan and his armour-bearer (14)
14:6 Jonathan and his friend will take on the Philistines on their
own
14:7 armour-bearer believes in Jonathan’s heart
14:14-16 they were victorious, they feared not man and knew that
god would be with them
SITUATION #2
Saul turns
aside…
(good example of church discipline)
Going to battle against Amalek, Samuel tells Saul – read 15:2-3.
Read 15:9 Saul spared
some things.
Read 15:10-11 Samuel is
sad about what is coming…
Read 15:13 ?How can Saul
be so confident in what he had done?
Read 15:14-15
rationalizing, presuming, pride, not trusting that God is in charge (I know
that this is what God said, but it makes more sense if…. I just thought I could
still…. But did the prophet think about this….?) I think often we fall into the
trap of not remembering who God really is. He is the supreme creator. It is His
power that created everything we see and experience. This is God’s church and
He is in charge, not us. If we do not accept that, then we reject Him.
Read
15:15-21 Discussion takes place
Keypoint- 15:22-23 - 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. 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.
?What is the value of obedience?
Listen and obey is the best we can give! Stubbornness is as
iniquity and idolatry.
?How is stubbornness like idolatry?
Read
15:24-29 And it wasn’t just Saul. He was the leader, the king. People
followed him. And when he wasn’t obedient to the Lord, neither were his
followers. His influence and example made his actions and his rejection that
much more tragic.
We can be at risk of losing our eternal blessings.
15:30-31 Love and
open arms are still available to those who repent.
1 Sam 16:1 – And the
Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul? Tender hearted
Samuel….
Samuel finds
David
God directs Samuel to the house of Jesse to find the new king. Remember
when Samuel found Saul, Saul was head and shoulders above everyone else. Maybe
Samuel was still stuck on Saul a little.
Read 1 Sam 16:7 – 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.
After seeing 7 sons, Samuel asks Jesse if there are any more.
1 Sam
16:11-12 And Samuel said unto
Jesse, Are here all they children? And he said, There remaineth yet the
youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send
and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was
ruddy, and wthal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the
Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
Two final
scriptures:
D&C137:9 – For I,
the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire
of their hearts.
D&C 64:34 – Behold,
the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient
shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.
The final question
for us is found in Alma 5:26 – If ye have
experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of
redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
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