LDS Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Class - Lesson 22 - “The Lord Looketh on the Heart”

1. Old Testament Lesson 22:
1 Samuel 9-11; 13; 15-17“The Lord Looketh on the Heart”

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3. 52 Week Challenge Through The Old Testament - Week 24
1 Chronicles 2 to 1 Chronicles 12
• “Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel” the footnote states that
“Bath-shua is Bathsheba; and the name Eliam is the same as
Ammiel with its syllables transposed (1 Chronicles 3:5).
• The “mighties” are mighty men (1 Chronicles 11:12). “Mighty
Men likely indicates men of great size. Elsewhere mighty men
refers to valiant warriors, especially to the elite groups of three
and 30 who served David. Many of David’s elite forces were
mercenaries.” (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
• Next weeks reading: 1 Chronicles 13 to 1 Chronicles 29.

4. 1 Samuel 9-11; 13; 15-17

5. 1 Samuel 9-11; 13; 15-17

6. List the good qualities for each person:
1) An important priesthood holder to
you (father, husband, ministering brother, patriarch etc)
3) Your Stake President
2) Your Bishop
4) Our Prophet

7. The Israelites wanted a king like those of the
nations around them. Yielding to the Israelites’
request, the Lord told Samuel to anoint Saul as
Israel’s first king. Saul was “a choice young
man, ... and there was not among the children
of Israel a goodlier person than he” (1 Samuel
9:2).

8. • 1 Samuel 9:34 - He was diligent in his search for his father’s
donkeys.
• 1 Samuel 9:5-6, 10 - He was willing to listen to and follow the wise
counsel of his father’s servant.
• 1 Samuel 9:18-20, 25 - He trusted the prophet Samuel and
communed with him.
• 1 Samuel 9:20-21 - He was humble.
• 1 Samuel 10:6-10 - He was spiritually reborn, and he prophesied.
• 1 Samuel 11:11-13 - He forgave his critics.
• 1 Samuel 11:13 - He recognised the help of the Lord in Israel’s
victory over the Ammonites.
Saul’s good qualities:

9. • Two years after Saul was anointed as King, his son
Jonathan had some success against the Philistines (v1-4).
• The Philistines were preparing a mighty army to attack Israel
(v5).
• How did Saul’s army respond to this increasing threat?
(Read v6-7).
• Let’s backtrack - Read 1 Samuel 10:8
• Samuel instructed Saul to wait 7 days for him to visit.
Samuel would offer sacrifices on Saul’s behalf. Saul waited
seven days. What happened next (Read 1 Samuel 13:8-10).
1 Samuel 13

10. • Samuel arrives, and Saul goes out to greet him
(v10).
• When Samuel asked what Saul had done, how
did he respond? (Read v11-12).
• Samuel rebuked Saul. What was the
consequence of his actions? (Read v13-14).
• How had Saul’s heart changed? Why is this
story important?
1 Samuel 13

11. Elder James E. Talmage
“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.”

12. My Eureka Moment - 1 Samuel 13:12

13. Bishop Robert L. Simpson
Of the Presiding Bishopric
“Saul, the promising young ruler of Israel who had every
requirement of a great leader. Yet Saul disobeyed priesthood
principles. He was given specific instructions by a prophet of
God ... But Saul rationalized and compromised those instructions.
He acted on his own volition. He did that which he reasoned should
be done rather than that which the prophet Samuel had instructed
him to do.
[Saul] violated priesthood principles, but just as with Cain, these
misdeeds brought only tragedy and sorrow. Finally, Saul took his life
by falling upon his own sword during a battle with the Philistines.”

14. Time to Ponder…..
Q. Why did Samuel initially anoint Saul to be
a captain over Israel (1 Samuel 10:1) and
not a King?
Q. What are some of the commandments
that require our patience?
Q. How does your perception of others
change when you look upon their heart?

15. https://youtu.be/lw_PaBxNRME
The Pope and Emanuele (My voiceover)[03:09]

16. Elder L. Tom Perry
“The Lord has used the heart as a way of describing the
innermost nature of His children. The scriptures are filled with
references to the heart, such as the pure in heart, an
abundant heart, a cheerful heart, and so forth. In 1 Samuel,
we read, “For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man
looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on
the heart”. In our hearts do we feel a sense of gratitude and
devotion to the Father? Are we of one heart with Him to whom
we owe everything? The test of our devotion to the Lord
seems to be the way we serve Him.”

17. Closing thoughts...
It is tempting to feel sorry for Saul. He was caught in a difficult position,
an army was coming and his soldiers were fleeing.
Imagine all of the ward members are stranded on an island and the only
priesthood available to them are the Deacons of the Aaronic Priesthood.
Would it be right for the Deacons to act outside (or above) their authority
for the good of the members to prepare and bless the sacrament?
That’s what Saul did! He knowingly did what he knew to be wrong. He
didn’t show any sorrow, even after several other acts of disobedience.
He reasoned that he was doing what was right, even though he knew
otherwise.
Think of those people from our opening activity. Judge them by their
heart (good qualities), and judge yourself by your actions.

18. Lesson 23 - Online link
“The Lord Be Between Thee and Me For Ever”
1 Samuel 18-20; 23-24
Online link to today’s reverence music source
Next weeks reading assignment