Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Old Testament Scriptural Summaries and Commentary
2 Samuel, Chapters 11, 12, 13; Psalm 51
Supplemental; 1 Samuel 25-30; 2 Samuel 1-10
Gospel Doctrine Class, Sunday School Lesson 24
"Create in Me a Clean Heart"

"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" (Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual, (2001), Lesson 24, pp. 111-116).

2 Samuel, Chapter 11 — David’s Fall
The war with the Ammonites and Syrians is still plodding along but David has not gone to battle.  He has remained in Jerusalem while Joab and his army are sent to fight the war.  The scriptures say, “And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house; and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon” (v. 11:2).  David sent messengers to find out who she was.  And one said that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.  Then David sent for her “and he lay with her” (v. 11:4).

From this encounter, Bathsheba conceived and was with child.  David sent for Uriah to come home to be with Bathsheba so all the kingdom would think that Uriah was the father of the child.  But Uriah refused to stay with Bathsheba out of respect for his troops who were sleeping in open fields in battle (v. 11:11) and he slept with the servants of the king.  Then David sent Uriah back to Joab with a note telling Joab to put Uriah into the front of the battle and to retire the troops around him so he would be fighting alone.  Joab didn’t understand the message, but did as he was commanded and Uriah was killed in battle.  When Bathsheba heard that her husband had been killed, she mourned. “And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife and bare him a son.  But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD” (v. 11:27).

2 Samuel, Chapter 12 — Nathan tells David the parable of the ewe lamb
The Lord sends the prophet Nathan to David to expose David’s sins.  Nathan tells David a parable about a rich man and a poor man who lived in the same city.  The rich man has many flocks and herds but the poor man has nothing but one little ewe lamb that he loved and nourished and cared for as if it were his child.  When a traveler came to the rich man, he was so selfish that he refused to take one of his own flock to prepare a meal for the wayfaring man, but took the poor man’s lamb and dressed it for the stranger.  As David listened to the story, he became angry at the rich man and said, “As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die;” (v. 12:5).  “And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity” (v. 12:6). 

And Nathan said to David, "Thou art the man” (v. 12:7).  Then he lists all the blessings the Lord has given David and says, “thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite, …and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon” [in battle with the Ammonites] (v. 12:9).  And Nathan prophecies of three terrible future events:  (1) “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house;” (2) “Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house;” and (3) “I will take thy wives before thine eyes and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun” [it will become public knowledge] (vv. 12:10-11). And when Bathsheba’s child was born, on the seventh day, it died (12:18).  After mourning for the dead child, Bathsheba conceives again and bore a son and named him Solomon, who was loved by the Lord (v. 12:24).

Now, Joab [captain of David's army] had taken the royal city of the Ammonites and sent to David for help.  When the war was won, they took all the spoils of the city and put the people in bondage to David.  And that was the last of the Ammonite wars (vv. 12:26-31). 

Note: David is guilty of murder and did not receive resurrection at the time of Christ’s resurrection.  He remains in spirit prison until the time that he will be redeemed and given a place in a lower kingdom.  See a change in verse 13: "And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD, And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath not put away thy sin; thou shalt not die" (see JST - Joseph Smith Translation; also 2 Nephi 9:35).

From the Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual — "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).


Psalm 51 - David's Psalm of forgiveness for his sin of adultery and murder
David writes: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies."  He pleads with the Lord to "blot out my transgression;…Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity; and cleanse me from my sin."  He tells the Lord that he "acknowledge"/s his transgression and his sin is ever before [with] him—that when judgment comes the punishment will be justified by the Lord (vv. Psalm 51: 1-4).  He knows that the Lord "desirest truth in the inward parts:" and in his "hidden part" the Lord will teach him wisdom (v. 51:6).  David cries "Purge me with hyssop and I will be clean" [hyssop was an herb used for cleansing and medicine; Internet].  Two more times he asks the Lord to forgive his sins and iniquities (v. 51:7-9).

Now David asks the Lord, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (v. 51:10).  He begs not to be "cast away" from the Lord's presence [spiritual death]; and not to take the Holy Ghost away from him. David pleads, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit" (v. 51:11-12).  And he promises the Lord that he will teach "transgressors" and "sinners" the ways of the Lord; and he will "sing aloud" of his righteousness  
and praises to the Lord (v. 51:13-15).

Although the Law of Moses has not yet been fulfilled, David knows the Lord does not delight in unrighteous sacrifices of burnt offerings.  And he explains what sacrifice is required: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart" (v. 51:17).  Finally, he asks God for his "good pleasure" for Zion" that the walls of Jerusalem will be built. Then the Lord can again accept the "sacrifices of righteousness" of burnt offerings on the Lord's altar (vv. 51:18-19).

2 Samuel, Chapter 13 — Tragedy in David’s house
Amnon was David’s oldest son born to Ahinoam at Hebron.  He was the crown prince and natural heir to David’s throne.  Amnon becomes infatuated with Tamar, his half-sister, whose brother was Absalom.  When she refuses his advances, he rapes her.  "Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; …And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone" (v. 13:15). 

And Tamar went to Absalom and told him what had happened and he hated Amnon for the deed (v. 13:22).  When David heard about Tamar he was filled with rage also, but did nothing about it (v. 13:21).  After two years passed, Absalom invites David and all his sons to a party in celebration of sheep shearing time several miles north in the mountains of Ephraim.  David declines to go but agrees to send Amnon and all his sons.  During the feast, Absalom commands his servants to wait until Amnon "is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him…" (v. 13:28). And when the brothers saw what happened to Amnon, they hurried back to Jerusalem.  "So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.  And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead" (vv. 13:38-39).


See following supplemental reading 1 Samuel, chapters 25-31; 2 Samuel, chapters 1-10.  
Old Testament Scriptural Summaries and Commentary
Supplemental; 1 Samuel, Chapters 25-31; 2 Samuel, Chapters 1-10
Gospel Doctrine Class, Sunday School Lesson 24
"Create in Me a Clean Heart"

1 Samuel, Chapter 25 — Samuel the Prophet dies
"And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah."  And David went to the wilderness of Paran (v. 25:1) where he and his band of men chase away thieves and bandits who are tormenting the people, and they restore law and order.  In return, David asks the men of wealth in the area to help sustain their needs.  A rich man named Nabal is asked for help, but refuses and his servants call him "a son of Belial" [wicked, worthless, servant of the devil] (v. 25:17).  His wife, Abigail, hears David's request and she sends many asses loaded with food to David and his men.  When Abigail tells Nabal what she has done, his heart fails him and he dies.  Abigail is described in the scriptures as a woman of understanding and of beautiful countenance and David takes her for his wife (v. 25:3, 18).  "David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives" (v. 25:43).  In a final note, we are told that Saul had already given Michal, Saul's daughter and David's first wife, to Phalti, son of Laish of Gallim (v. 25:44).

1 Samuel, Chapter 26 — David spares Saul for the second time
Once again Saul takes his three thousand soldiers on the hunt for David.  When David learn from his spies where Saul is camped, he takes Abishai, his nephew, and sneaks into the camp.  They find Saul and his guard, Abner, sleeping in a trench.  And, for the second time, David refuses to kill Saul, the anointed of the Lord.  He takes Saul's spear and his water and no one sees them because "a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them" (v. 26:12).  Then David goes to a "hill afar off" and shouts to Abner, "now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water" (vv. 26:13, 16).  And Saul knew David had been close enough to kill him, but was restrained in his heart.

1 Samuel, Chapter 27 —David flees to the Philistine king Achish
Now David and his men flee to Gath where the Philistine king Achish welcomes both the men and their families (v. 27:3).  And the king gave David the village of Ziklag to live in (v. 27:6).  David and his six hundred men wage war on the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites and left neither man nor woman alive (v. 27:8).  When David returns to King Achish, the king asks him where he has been, and David tells him "against the south of Judah" (v. 27:11).  And Achish assumes that David has been fighting against the Israelites which was David's pretense.  And they were with the Philistines for "a full year and four months (v. 27:7).

1 Samuel Chapter 28 — Saul consults a "familiar spirit"
Saul is about to enter his great and final conflict with the Philistines and "his heart greatly trembled" (v. 28:5).  When he tries to receive help from the Lord, he gets no answer and decides to consult "a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor" (v. 28:7).  Saul asks the woman to bring up Samuel and the woman tells Saul, "the LORD will deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shall thou and thy sons be with me" [supposedly Samuel speaking] (v. 28:19).  Note: this woman was undoubtedly an imposter as the Lord had shut the heavens to Saul and would not allow any holy entity such as Samuel to "speak" to Saul through any medium.  And the woman made food for Saul and his servants and they left (v. 28:25).

1 Samuel, Chapters 29-30 — David and his men persue the Amalikites
The Philistines gather together in their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitch their tents opposite by a fountain in Jezreel (v. 29:1).  And the Philistines send David and his men back to Ziklag where he finds the village burned, their possessions taken and their wives and children kidnapped by the Amalekites (vv. 30:1-2).  David and his army pursue the Amalekites and "smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day" (v. 30:17).  And they recover their wives and children, and take back all their possessions as well as all that had been taken from other villages.  And they shared the spoils with all the people round about (vv. 30:26-31).

1 Samuel, Chapter 31 — The sad ending of the reign of Saul
The Philistines mass all their might and go to war against the Israelites in the valley of Esdraelon (Skousen, Vol. III, p. 68).  And the army of Israel is overcome and many are slain along with all three of Saul's sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-suha.  Saul realizes the war is lost and flees with his bodyguard to the mountains of Gilboa.  As the Philistines pursue them, an arrow from one of their bows hits Saul "and he was sore wounded" (v. 31:3).  Saul did not want to be captured alive and he asks his bodyguard: "Draw thy sword and thrust me through."  But the bodyguard refuses.  "Therefore, Saul took a sword and fell upon it" (v. 31:4).  When the Philistines find Saul's body they cut off his head and display it to their people and in the house of their idols (v. 31:9).  Then, they take his body and also the bodies of his three dead sons and fasten them to the wall of Beth-shan.  Later the valiant Israelites take the bodies and burn them at Jabesh and bury their bones under a tree (vv. 31:11-13).  And that is the sad ending of the first king of Israel.

Introduction – The Second Book of Samuel otherwise called the Second Book of the Kings.
2 Samuel Chapters 1—12 David’s reign; consolidation of the empire
2 Samuel, Chapter 1 —The death of Saul and Johathan
David was in the Philistine city of Ziklag when an Amalekite comes to him with the news that Saul and Jonathan are dead.  The Amalekite thinks that David will reward him for the deed that he professed to have done by killing Saul (which he lied about), but David instead knew the man’s motive of reward and said to him, “Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed” (v. 1:16).  And David told his men to “fall upon him” (v. 1:15), and he was killed.  And David lamented the death of Saul and Jonathan with a poem of sorrow (see vv. 1:19-27).

2 Samuel, Chapter 2 — David is made king over Judah
David enquired of the Lord asking what he should do.  And the Lord told him to go to the capital city of Hebron in Judah with all his men and their households.  The elders of Judah quickly anointed him king over Judah (v. 2:7).  Meanwhile, Abner, Saul’s cousin and commander-in-chief, installed Saul’s son, Ishbosheth, as the new king over the northern tribes in the city of Mahanaim on the eastern side of the Jordan (Trans-Jordan).  After a period of two years, Abner crosses the river into Gibeon of Benjamin where he is met by Joab, the nephew of King David.  It is decided by Abner and Joab that twelve men will “play before us” (v. 2:15).  However, the play soon becomes deadly and the men of Abner are beaten and fled (v. 2:17).  Asahel, the younger brother of Joab and Abishai, all nephews of David, goes after Abner.  When Abner sees that he can’t outrun the younger man, he turns and kills Asahel with his sword and Asahel died there (v. 2:23).  When the killing stopped, nineteen of Joab’s men were dead, and 360 of Abner’s forces had been killed (v. 2:29-32). 

2 Samuel, Chapter 3 — Civil war between the tribes
“Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker” (v. 3:1).  David has six sons born to six different wives: (1) Amnon, born of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; (2) Chileab, born of Abigail, the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; (3) Absalom, born of Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; (4) Adonijah, born of Haggith; (5) Shephathiah, born of Abital; and (6) Ithream, born of Eglah (3:2-4).  When Abner has an affair with one of Saul’s concubines, he makes Ishbosheth (Saul's son) angry.  Then Abner  tries to make an alliance with David to help him unite the tribes.  David agrees to see Abner on the condition that he brings with him Michal, Saul’s daughter, David’s first espoused wife, when he comes.  And Michal is taken from her husband and sent back to David. 

When Joab learns that Abner has been received by King David, he meets him at the gate of the city Hebron and kills him with a sword “for the blood of Asahel his brother” (v. 3:27).  Then David makes a great show of mourning for Abner and puts all the blame for his death on Joab and Abishai.  “And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people” (v. 3:36). 

2 Samuel, Chapter 4 — Ishbosheth (Saul’s son) is slain
After Abner was killed, Ishbosheth was in jeopardy.  He was a weak king whose “hands were feeble” (v. 4:1) in knowing how to rule the people.  Two brothers, who were Saul’s captains, knew the king and went to his bedchamber and killed him and cut off his head (v. 4:7).  Thinking they had “avenged” (v. 4:8) David, they took the head to the king.  But David, again (as was the case of the messenger of Saul and Jonathan’s death) was not pleased.  David said to the men, “wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed.  Shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?” (v. 4:10-12).  And the two men were killed by David’s young men and their bodies were put on display over the Pool in Hebron to show that David did not condone what was done to Ishbosheth.  And the head of Ishbosheth was buried in the sepulcher of Abner in Hebron.

2 Samuel, Chapter 5 — The tribes are united with David as their king
“So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them …before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel” (v. 5:3).  “David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years” (v. 5:4).  He was king of Judah in Hebron for seven years and king over all the tribes in Jerusalem for thirty-three years.

Now David needs a new, more centralized capital city.  So he and his soldiers go to Jerusalem.  General Joab enters the city by way of the “gutter” which is a cave-like structure of water ways from a spring. With David’s warriors, they penetrate the city and “smiteth” the Jebusite [Jerusalemite] inhabitants (v. 5:8).  And they take the city which is named “the city of David” (v. 5:9).  Then Hiram, King of Tyre (an important Phoenician port city) sends David masons, carpenters, and cedars from Lebanon, to build David’s palace in Jerusalem (vv. 5:11-12).  David takes more wives with political alliances and concubines and has more children (vv. 5:13-16). 

The Philistines come to battle against David.  He relies on the Lord and the Lord delivers the Philistines into his hand.  David is given specific instructions from the Lord for his successful victories (vv. 5:17-25).

2 Samuel, Chapter 6 — David brings the ark to the city of David
At this time, the Ark of the Covenant was at Kirjath-Jearim some twelve miles from Jerusalem (1 Samuel 7:1).  David decides to bring it to his capital city.  The Ark is placed on a new cart drawn by oxen (instead of being carried with poles on the shoulders of the priests) with Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, the Levite priest, as caretakers.  At some point the oxen stumble and Uzzah puts forth his hand to steady the Ark and is struck dead.  “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God” (v. 6:7).  (Only those authorized by the Lord were allowed to touch the Ark.) 
David was afraid so he left the ark there in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.  After three months, with much celebration, David was successful in bringing the Ark into the city of David.  And David made a tabernacle for it and there “offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD” (v. 6:17).  In one final twist to the story of David and Michal, Saul’s daughter and David’s first wife, “as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal … looked through a window and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart” (v. 6:16).

2 Samuel, Chapter 7 — David is not allowed to build a house to the Lord
Now that the Ark of the Covenant was in Jerusalem, David desires to build a house for the Lord.  He talks to Nathan, the prophet, about it and Nathan agrees.  However, that night, “the word of the LORD came unto Nathan” (v. 7:4) that David’s seed, not David, would be the one to build the house.  “He shall build an house for my name, and I will ‘stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever” (v. 7:13).  Then David was made to understand “only one person can sit upon the throne of David (rule over the house of Israel) forever and ever, and that one is Christ, a descendent of David” (OT Student Manual p. 290).  And David praises the Lord with a prayer—“Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever:" (v. 7:29).

2 Samuel, Chapter 8 — David’s kingdom expands and fulfills the Abrahamic Covenant
David has successfully subdued the Philistines and he continues to expand the kingdom.  Next, he conquers Moab and makes the Moabites his servants.  David’s next victory was over king of Zobah (Syria) and 22,000 Syrians are slain (v. 8:5).  “And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went” (v. 8:6).  Then king Toi of Hamath sent David gifts of silver, gold, and brass for defeating the Syrians who had been tormenting his country as well.  And David took the treasure along with the spoils of his conquests and dedicated it the Lord (v. 8:11).  “And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people” (v. 8:15).  Then the scripture names the officers and priests who are over his people (vv. 8:16-18).  Note:  David had successfully occupied all the lands from the Nile Delta in Egypt to the Euphrates in Mesopotamia and the covenant made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses was finally fulfilled (see Genesis 15:18) (Skousen, The Fourth Thousand Years, p. 124).

2 Samuel, Chapter 9 — David restores all the lands of Saul to the son of Jonathan
David is seeking to honor the promise he made to Jonathan years ago.  They both agreed that when the conflict with Saul was over, that neither would harm any member of their families (1 Samuel 20:14-16).  And David sends for Ziba, the steward of Saul’s property, and asks him if any of Jonathan’s sons were still alive.  Ziba tells him of a son, Mephilbosheth, who is lame and lives with a man in Lo-debar of Trans-Jordan.  David sends for the son who is fearful of David.  “And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake. And will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father” (v. 9:7).  And David told Ziba that he, his sons and servants would now be servants to Mephilbosheth as he had commanded the restoration of all of Saul’s property to Jonathan’s son.  And Mephilbosheth lived in Jerusalem and “did continually eat at the king’s table”(v. 9:13) and David treated him as he did his own sons.

2 Samuel, Chapter 10 — David’s Ambassadors to the Ammonites are abused and dishonored;
War follows
When the king of the Ammonites died, David wants to show his kindness to the son Hanun, who is now the king, as the father once showed kindness to David.  And he sends his servants to comfort the king.  But Hanun treats the men as spies and disabused them in front of the people.  When David hears about the bad treatment of his servants, he is angry but did nothing.  The Ammonites, however, prepare for war and even hire Syrians to fight for them.  “And when David heard of it, he sends Joab, and all the host of the mighty men” to fight the Ammonites (v. 10:7).  As the battle begins, Joab divides his forces and is victorious against the Ammonites and the Syrians.  When the Syrian king heard of his paid soldier’s poor showing, he gathers up a huge army to fight against Israel.  Then David “gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan” to fight the Syrians (v. 10:17).  When the Syrians “saw that they were smitten …they made peace with Israel and served them.  So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more” (v. 10:19).


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Old Testament Scriptural Summaries and Commentary
1 Samuel, Chapters 18, 19, 20, (21-22) 23-24
Gospel Doctrine Class, Sunday School Lesson 23 -
"The Lord be Between Thee and Me For Ever"

1 Samuel 18  Saul becomes jealous of David
After David kills Goliath and comes before King Saul with the severed head of the slain Philistine, Jonathan, Saul's son, made a covenant [of friendship] with David, "because he loved him as his own soul" (vv. 18:1, 3).  "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" (v. 18:4). And Saul set David over the "men of war" [his army].  When next David and the king returned from the slaughter of the Philistines, the women of all the cities of Israel came out singing and dancing saying, "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands!" (v. 18:7).  This saying displeased Saul [made him jealous], "And Saul eyed David from that day and forward" (v. 18:9).  The next day an evil spirit came over Saul and he threw a javelin at David as he sat playing his instrument, but David escaped and left Saul's presence (vv. 18:10-11).

"And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul" (v. 18:12).  Saul saw that David "behaved himself very wisely"  and that all Israel and Judah loved David because "he went out and came in [victoriously] before them" (vv. 18:14-16).  Then Saul's daughter Michal encountered David and loved him from the first (v. 18:20).  Once again Saul plotted against David saying, "I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him" (v. 18:21). 

And he gave David permission to marry Michal.  However, since David had no dowry, Saul required that he bring him "one hundred foreskins of the Philistines" that he kills in the next battle; [hoping that David would be killed].  And according to the scripture, "David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and they gave the full tale [number] to the king that he might be the king's son in law.  And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife" (v. 18:27).  "And Saul became David's enemy continually…but David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul" and the people knew and loved him (vv. 18:29-30).

 1 Samuel 19  Saul seeks to kill David
Now Saul gave his servants and  his son, Jonathan, a command that they should kill David (v. 19:1).  Jonathan was a covenant friend of David.  The same night that he heard Saul's command, he warned David to hide himself "in a secret place."  The next day Jonathan went to his father in the field where David was hiding and reminded him of all the good that David had done for Israel and Saul softened and said, "As the LORD liveth he shall not be slain."  And David returned to the kings house (vv. 19:2-7).

And when there was another battle with the Philistines, David once again "slew them with a great slaughter" (v. 19:8).  After the battle David was playing his lyre for the court and Saul again took a javelin and threw it at David but it missed him and hit the wall.  David fled and escaped with the help of his wife, Michal, and went to Samuel at Naioth where the prophets schooled in Ramah (v. 19:9-18).  Three times Saul sent messengers to "take David" but the spirit of God came upon them and each time they prophesied with the prophets.  Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah and he too was momentarily overcome with the spirit of the Lord and stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel…"all that day and all that night" (vv. 19:19-24).

1 Samuel 20  David looks for help from Jonathan
David left Samuel at Ramah and went to Jonathan for help.  David said to his friend, "What have I done? What is mine iniquity? And what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?" (v. 20:1).  David and Jonathan make a covenant and form a plan that David will wait for three days while Jonathan tries to determine a course of action (vv. 20:16-17).  As David hides by the stone Ezel, as a sign to David, Jonathan will shoot three arrows as though shooting at a mark.  He will send a lad to fetch the arrows and say to him "there is peace to thee, and no hurt" if David is safe, but if he says to the lad "Behold the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away," David will hear and know to flee.  And Jonathan said to David, "behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever" (vv. 20:20-23).

On the second day, Saul asks why David hasn't come to eat and Jonathan said he had gone to Beth-lehem to see his brethren.  And Saul was angry that Jonathan had seen David and let him get away (vv. 20:27-29).  And, Saul cursed Jonathan and threw a javelin at him and it missed its target.  Jonathan "in fierce anger" was ashamed of his father and left him (vv. 20:33-34). And Jonathan went to the field and shot the arrows beyond the mark.  When the lad had gathered the arrows, Jonathan sent him into the city.  Then Jonathan met David near his hiding place and told him; "Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD saying, the LORD be between me and thee and my seed and thy seed for ever."  So David departed and Jonathan went back into the city (vv. 20: 35-42).

1 Samuel 21-22 David goes to Nob and Gath/Saul kills all prophets and people of Nob 
And David escapes to the Tabernacle in Nob to Ahimelech, the priest.  David asks him for food and a sword.  Ahimelech gives him shew bread and the very sword of Goliath which was at Nob.  A man named Doeg, the Edomite, recognizes David and leaves to tell King Saul.  David realizes his peril and decides to hide in Gath the city of Goliath where Achish is king.  When he is recognized, he pretends to be crazy.  The scripture states, he "scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard." Achish, seeing "the man is mad," sends him away(vv. 21:13-15). 

David escapes to the cave Adullam and his family came to him there.  The people of Israel who were "discontented" began to join with David—numbering about four hundred men; and he was captain over them (v. 22:2).   Now David knew his family was in danger from Saul, so he takes them to Moab to the king whose hatred for Saul made him sympathetic to David and his family; and they stay there in safety.  [David is the great-grandson of Ruth, who had been a Moabite woman.]  And David was joined by "a seer" named Gad who remained with him for many years (see 1 Chronicles 21:9) (v. 22:5). 

Meanwhile, the man Doeg had gone to Saul and told him that David received bread and a sword from Ahimelech, the priest, at Nob.  Saul brought all the priests and all of Ahimelech's family to Gilbeah.  In a rage of anger he told his servants to kill all of them, but they refused.  Then he commanded Doeg, and he killed all of the prophets and Ahimelech and his family [eighty-five people] (v. 22:18).  Then, Doeg and his servants go to Nod and kill all the people and all the animals there.  But one of Ahimelech's son, Abiathar, escapes and goes to David with the terrible story.  David tells Abiathar to "fear not" as he is safe with him (vv 22:19-23) 

1 Samuel 23-24 David hides from Saul/David refuses to kill Saul 
David has gathered a small army of about six hundred men who are with him.  He goes to Keilah [in the lowlands of Judah (http://biblehub.com)] and fights the Philistines.  "So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah" (v. 23:5).  Jonathan meets David in the woods and makes another covenant with him saying, "Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel" (vv. 23:17-18).  And David hides in the wilderness of Ziph and the wilderness of Maon, south of Jeshimon and Saul chased after him.  But Saul was summoned away to war against the Philistines.  And David went…and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi (v. 23:29).

When Saul returns from war, he learns that David is in En-gedi.  And he takes three thousand men and goes there to search for him.  Saul enters into a cave to relieve himself not knowing that David and his men are hiding in the hollows of the cave.  "David arose and cut off the skirt [hem or corner] of Saul's robe," but refuses to kill Saul "seeing that he is the anointed of the LORD" (vv. 24:1-6).  David follows Saul out of the cave and when he is a distance away he holds up the piece of cloth from Saul's robe.  He tells Saul that he was close enough to kill him, then he said, "There is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it" (vv. 24:9-11). 

Now Saul has a moment of humility and said to David, "Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.  And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me; forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not" (vv. 24:17-18).  And he tells David he knows that he will surely be king of Israel and he asks him to swear that he will not cut off his seed or destroy his name out of his father's house.  "And David sware unto Saul; but David and his men gat them [went] up unto the [strong] holds" [to hide in the caves] (v. 24:22).

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Old Testament Scriptural Summaries and Commentary
1 Samuel, Chapters 9-17
Gospel Doctrine Class, Sunday School Lesson 22 - 
"The Lord Looketh on the Heart"

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

1 Samuel Chapters 9 – 10 The anointing of King Saul, the first king of Israel
The scriptures describe Saul as “a choice young man,… and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he” (v. 9:2).  By every indication, he was honest, reliable, selfless and caring—an all around promising candidate for king.  He was tall ("higher than any of the people") and comely or handsome of face.  He was of the tribe of Benjamin; his father was reputed to be “a mighty man of power” (v. 9:1-3).  While on an errand looking for his father’s donkeys in the country [near Bethlehem], he and his servant come close to a place where he knew Samuel the prophet [also called seer, v. 9:9] was often found as he traveled about the country.  Because they had not found the donkeys Saul said to his servant, "there is in this city a man of God,…peradventure he can shew [show] us our way that we should go."

They ask maidens drawing water from the well if Samuel is in the city and they said, “As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him…” (v. 9:13).  As Samuel was walking toward the altar of the “high place” to officiate at a sacrifice blessing, he saw Saul and his servant coming through the city gate.  The previous day, the Lord had spoken to Samuel and said: “To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people of Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines” (v. 9:16).  The Spirit of the Lord told Samuel, “Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! This same shall reign over my people” (v. 9:17) and he recognized Saul as that man.  Saul asked Samuel where the seer’s house was and the old man replied that he was the seer and he invited Saul to accompany him; and he told him his father’s lost asses had been found. Out of the blue, Samuel said to Saul, “And on whom is all the desire of Israel [for a king]? Is it not on thee and on all thy father’s house?
(vv. 9:18-20). 

Saul was stunned and asks Samuel why he is speaking to him in that way. Saul answered Samuel asking, "Am I not Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?" (v. 9:21).  And Samuel takes Saul with him to the “high place” and they eat and talk together the rest of the day.  When they returned to the city, the next morning about dawn, Samuel walked to the city gate with Saul and his servant.  He told Saul to send the servant on ahead and said to Saul, “…stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the word of God” (v. 9:27). 

Chapter 10 – Then Samuel took a vial of oil and anointed the head of Saul [to be the first king of Israel] (v. 10:1).  Samuel told Saul that when he departed that day, he will meet two men who would tell him the asses had been found; as he traveled he will then meet three men "going up to God to Beth-el" and they will give him two loaves of bread; finally, as he approaches "the hill of God" he will meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place "and they shall prophesy."  Samuel continues, "and the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man."  And when Saul turned to leave “…God gave him another heart” and all those signs came to pass that day (vv. 10:2-9).

Now as Saul and his servant near the hill, a company of prophets meet him as prophesied by Samuel.  The Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesies among them.  And the people who knew him exclaim, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" And when he finished prophesying, he went to the high place (vv. 10: 10-13).

So Samuel calls all the children of Israel together to Mizpeh [in Benjamin].  He reminds them that they have rejected God and demanded a king.  He called the tribes to present themselves before the Lord (v. 10:19-20).  When the tribe of Benjamin came forward, Saul was not with them but the Lord told them he had hid himself.  And the Benjamites found him and brought him to Samuel who presented him to the people as the one "whom the Lord had chosen" [to be king].  And all the people shouted, and said, "God save the king” (v. 10:17-24).  And Samuel sent the people away and he went home to Gilbeah. "The children of Belial despised him" but Saul ignored them. "The term Belial means “worthless” or “wicked” (see Bible Dictionary, “Belial,” 620).

1 Samuel Chapters 11 – 12  Saul defeats the Ammonites
Nahash, king of the Ammonites, and his army attack the tribes of Israel who live east of the Jordan River.  The Israelites agree to make a covenant of peace in exchange for their service.  And the cruel king agrees on the condition that every man let them blind their right eye.  They ask for a seven day truce and send word to Saul pleading for him to come and rescue them.  Saul takes two oxen, cuts them into parts and sends them to all of Israel with this message: “Whoso ever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen” (v. 11:7).  And thirty thousand men come from Judah and three hundred thousand come from all the other tribes and they unite together in one body.  The next day they take the Ammonite army by surprise, and slay them “into the heat of the day” and those who remain are scattered (v. 11:11).  The people want those who opposed Saul "put them to death," but Saul said, "There shall not a man be put to death this day; for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel" (v. 11:13).  “And all the people went to Gilgal and there they made Saul king before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly” (v. 11:15). 

1 Samuel  Chapter 12  Samuel speaks to the people 
At the victory celebration in Gilgal, Samuel, being an old man, comes before all Israel and says to them, “Behold here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you” (vv. 12:1-3).  Samuel had served this people practically from his birth and they have rejected him in favor of a king.  The people said to him, “Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand” (v. 12:4).  Then he tells them if they serve and obey the Lord they will keep his commandments, but if they don’t the hand of the Lord will be against them (vv. 12:14-15).  Then Samuel shows them the power of the Lord by calling down “thunder and rain” in the harvest season when it never rains (v. 12:17) because they ask for a king.  “And the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel” (v. 12:18).   And they knew that they had sinned.  Samuel tells them if they “do wickedly” both they and their king “shall be consumed.”  He is really telling them it doesn’t matter whether or not they have a king; what matters is that they live righteously and serve God (vv. 24-25).

1 Samuel Chapters 13-15  Saul wrongly offers sacrifices/ War with the Philistines/ The downfall of Saul  
The Ammonite nomads had been beaten.  However, in the southern coastal areas, the Philistines have become a strong military force.  Now Saul has been king for two years.  He divides his army of three thousand men into one group of two thousand under his command at Michmash, and one thousand under his son, Jonathon’s command at Gilbeah.  Jonathan is successful and takes over his garrison in Geba but the Philistines take it as the signal for a full-scale war and start to gather all their chariots and horseman at Michmash.  When the Israelites saw the strength of the Philistines, they become afraid and hide themselves in caves and rocks, high places and pits (v. 13:6).   

Now Saul makes the first of three bad mistakes 
Saul waited for seven days in Gilgal for Samuel to come and make a peace offering to the Lord. But when Samuel didn’t come when he was supposed to, Saul made the burnt offering himself (v. 13:9).  When Saul assumed the unrighteous role of the Priest, the Lord rejected Saul; and Samuel said to him, “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.  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” (v. 13:14).  

The Lord delivered into the hand of Saul's son, Jonathan, a garrison of the Philistines.  And, the scriptures say there was great "trembling" in the field, and among the people of the Philistines so much so that "the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another" (v. 14:15-16).  "So the LORD saved Israel that day; and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven" (v. 14:23).

Saul’s second mistake occurs when all the men of Israel are distressed for Saul had "adjured" [commanded] the people saying, "Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food” (v. 14:24).  But Jonathan, Saul’s son, who didn’t know of the command, while he was in the woods saw a hive of wild honey.  Being tired and hungry, he dipped his rod into the honey and ate as he went along.  Some of the men saw him eat and told him about his father’s command.  And Jonathan was angry with his father as he believed they could have killed more Philistines had they been nourished during the day.  After a victory over the Philistines due to Jonathan’s cunning and strategy, that night the people take the cattle of the Philistines and eat the meat without draining the blood (which is against the Lord’s law) because they are so hungry.  When Saul found out that Jonathan had unwittingly tasted the honey, he determined to fulfill his oath by slaying Jonathan.  But the men of Israel said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel?  God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day.  So the people rescued Jonathan that he died not.” (v. 14:45). The scripture states, “And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul” (v. 14:52). 

1 Samuel 15  Saul disobeys the Lord’s command to destroy the Amalekites
Saul’s final mistake is the result of disobedience.  Samuel 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."  And Samuel  tells Saul to go smite the Amalekites and to destroy everything they have.  And Saul gathers two hundred thousand footmen and ten thousand men of Judah to do battle (vv. 15:1-4).  Yet, when he finds Agag, the king of the Amalekites, he keeps him alive (v. 15:8).  He also does not destroy the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, and the lambs 
(vv. 1-9).

That night the word of the Lord came to Samuel that Saul had not obeyed his commandments.  When Samuel confronts Saul in the morning, Saul answers," "Blessed be thou of the LORD; I have performed the commandment of the LORD."  When Samuel hears the bleating of the sheep, Saul told him that he had been obedient but the people had saved them for a great sacrifice.  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” (v. 15:22).  Then Samuel deals the final blow: “For rebellion is as the sin of iniquity and idolatry.  Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (v. 15:23).  Samuel already knows that the Lord is about to give “the kingdom of Israel” to another who is Saul’s neighbor [David] (vv. 15:28-29). 

 And Samuel asks for Agag, the Amalekite king, to be brought to him.  And he kills the evil king with a sword before the Lord in Gilgal (vv. 15:32-33).  The scripture states, “Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented [regretted] that he had made Saul king over Israel” (v. 15:35).

1 Samuel Chapter 16  David is anointed king/Saul is possessed with an evil spirit
Chapter 16  David anointed in secret
The Lord tells Samuel to "fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite; for I have provided me a king among his sons" (v. 16:1).  He tells Samuel to do it in the guise of going there to sacrifice to the Lord because if Saul knew, he would kill Samuel.  As he saw the seven sons of Jesse, he thought that surely Eliab was the one, but none were chosen by the Lord, and the Lord said to Samuel, "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature;…for the LORD seeth not as a man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (v. 16:7).  So Jesse's eighth and youngest child, David, a shepherd boy, is called in from tending his father's sheep.  Then Samuel takes the oil and anoints him to be king, "and the spirit of the LORD came upon him, [David] from that day forward" (v. 16:13).

The Lord has completely left Saul and he becomes possessed with an evil spirit.  As the years pass, Saul's servants tell him about a "player on an harp" they know about who might help make him well (v. 16:16).  "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse, the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him" (v. 16:18).  David is summoned to the king's house where he plays the harp to soothe King Saul; "so Saul was refreshed and was well; and the evil spirit departed from him" (v. 16:23).  And David finds "favour" in the king's house and becomes the armor bearer to the king (v. 16.21).

Chapter 17  David slays Goliath
The Philistines have again come out of the plains into Judah to war with King Saul and the Israelites.  Each army was on opposite mountains with the valley of Elah in the middle.  The Philistines challenge the Israelites to a "duel of the champions" that would avoid total bloodshed and the expense of war.  Both sides agree in advance to be bound by the result of the combat between two individuals who represent their side.  The Philistines had already chosen a "giant" man named Goliath who was over nine feet tall and a fierce warrior (v. 17:4).  The question was who would represent the Israelites.  And Goliath said, "Why are ye come 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.  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.  I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together!" (vv. 17:8-10).

Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine" (v. 17:32).  Saul protested that David was but a youth and Goliath a man of war.  But David knew the Lord would protect him as he had when his father's sheep were attacked by a lion and a bear.  David told Saul that he killed both of them; "and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God" (v. 17:36).  And Saul said, "Go, and the LORD be with thee" (v. 17:37).

So David took only his shepherd's sling that he had spent long hours practicing and perfecting his aim while tending his father's sheep, and went up against the giant.  And he said, "This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee and take thine head from thee;…that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,…for the battle is the LORD's and he will give you into our hands" (v. 17: 46-47).  And David with his sling, and stone to the forehead, killed and cut off the head of Goliath with his own sword.  And the men of Israel and Judah chased the Philistines all the way back to the gates of their cities and there was a great slaughter.  And the Israelites returned to the abandoned tents of the Philistines and gathered up all their spoils. (v. 17:53).  

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Old Testament Scriptural Summaries and Commentary
1 Samuel, Chapters 2:12-17; 22-25; 27-36; 3; 8; 12:9-12
Gospel Doctrine Class, Sunday School Lesson 21 -
God Will Honor Those Who Honor Him

Book reference, The Old Testament Made Easier, Part 2, by David J. Ridges
Publisher, Cedar Fort, Springville, Utah

1 Samuel 2: 12-17; 22-25; 27-36  Eli puts his  sons above the Lord
Eli, the high priest, has two sons, named Hophni and Phinehas who "were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD" (v. 12).

"The term Belial means “worthless” or “wicked” (see Bible Dictionary, “Belial,” 620). They were men of greed and lust. They used their authority as priests to extort from the people the best of the meat brought before them for sacrifice (see 1 Sam. 2:13–16). In essence they were taking their portion before giving a portion to God! They were also committing immoral acts with the women who gathered at the tabernacle (see 1 Sam. 2:22). Eli knew what they were doing, and when the people saw that the priesthood at Shiloh was corrupt, they 'abhorred the offering of the Lord' (1 Sam. 2:13-17). What was a father to do?" (Ensign, "Eli and His Sons," By Elder Paulo R. Grahl, Area Authority Seventy,  June 2002.)

Thus Hophni and Phinehas were stealing from the sacrifices made by the Israelites.  "Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD; for men abhorred the offerings of the LORD" ["The people began to hate offering sacrifices," Ridges, pt. 2, p. 353] (v. 2:17). 

Eli was now very old and had heard all that his sons did to Israel; "and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation" [who came to worship] (v. 2:22).   And Eli spoke to his sons saying, " Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear; ye make the LORD's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat [entreat; plead] for him?"   But they refused to listen to the voice of their father (vv. 2:22-25).

 A man of God comes to Eli and tells him that if his sons continue their corruption, he will destroy both him and his sons in one day (v. 2:34). 

Ridges comments: "A man of God (we don't know who it was) came to Eli and warned him to do something about his sons, telling him that he was placing his wicked sons above the Lord in his priorities" (pt. 2 p. 353).

And the man speaking for the Lord asks Eli "[why] kick ye at my sacrifice and at my offerings which I have commanded…; and honourest thy sons above me to make yourselves fat [wealthy] with the chiefest [best] of all the offerings of Israel my people?" (v. 2:29).  "Wherefore,…I [the Lord] said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father [the sons of Aaron, see Ex. 27:21], 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" (v. 2:30).  He tells Eli “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” (v. 2:35).  And all the house of Eli will be cut off from the Lord (vv. 2:31-36). (See Eli, Bible Dictionary, p. 663.)

1 Samuel 3:1-9; 10-13; 19  The Lord appears to Samuel in a vision concerning Eli
 While Samuel was still just a young boy (similar to Enoch, Jeremiah, Mormon and Joseph Smith) the Lord calls him to be a prophet.  We are told in the first verse of chapter 3, “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” [meaning there was no prophet who could receive revelation].  The scripture tells us, “Now, Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him” (v. 3:7).  One night when Samuel was asleep, he heard a voice calling him and he answered, "Here am I."  He thought it was Eli and ran to him. Eli said it wasn’t him calling and told him to lie down again. This happened two more times. The third time, Eli recognized that the Lord had been the one calling to Samuel and he told Samuel to answer: “Speak LORD; for thy servant heareth” (vv. 3:1-9). 

And the Lord came and stood before Samuel.  He tells him that Eli’s house was about to come to an end "for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not” (vv. 3:10-13).  In the morning Eli ask him what the Lord had said to him.  Samuel "feared to shew Eli the vision" but told Eli everything that was told him by the Lord.  And from that time, Samuel grew and “the LORD was with him” and all Israel knew that Samuel was a prophet of the Lord (3:19).

President Joseph F. Smith taught: “There should [not] be any of us so unwisely indulgent, so thoughtless and so shallow in our affection for our children that we dare not check them in a wayward course, in wrong-doing and in their foolish love for the things of the world more than for the things of righteousness, for fear of offending them” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 286).

1 Samuel 8  The Israelites demand a King 
From the time that Moses led them out of Egypt, the children of Israel lived under the direction of God through the guidance of prophets, high priests, priests and judges.  This type of government is called a theocracy.  A theocratic government will be restored during the millennial era when Christ comes to reign once more upon the earth. 

"When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel." These sons, Joel and Abiah, were not righteous and "turned aside after lucre" by taking bribes and perverted [unrighteous] judgment.  And the people are again, as in the time of Gideon, clamoring for a king.  The elders of Israel gathered and went to Samuel in Ramah, and said to 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" (vv. 1-5).

Samuel was displeased but prayed to the Lord concerning the desire for a king by the people. And the Lord said to him: “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.”  The Lord told Samuel to “protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them” (vv. 8:6-9). 

Samuel told the people all the Lord said in a warning about the consequences of having a king:  (1) "He [the king] will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots;" (2) "And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear [cultivate] his ground; and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots;" (3) "And he will take your daughters" to work in his kitchens; (4) And he will take your fields, vineyards, and oliveyards…"and give them to his servants;" (5) "And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants;" (6) "And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work;" (7) "He will take the tenth of your sheep; and ye shall be his servants."  And Samuel warns them that they will "cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen"…but in that day the Lord will not hear them (vv. 8:10-18).

“Nevertheless, the people refuse to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said: "Nay; but we will have a king over us; 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." (vv. 8:19-20).  And when he repeated the people's words to the Lord, the Lord told Samuel, "Hearken unto their voice and make them a king” (v. 8:22).

"For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding" (Psalm 47:7).
"For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king" (Psalm 89:18).
"Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King" (Psalm 149:2).

1 Samuel 12:9-12
"And when they forgat the Lord their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
"And they cried unto the Lord, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth [idol gods]: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
"And the Lord sent Jerubbaal [Gideon], and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, [judges] and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
"And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the Lord your God was your king."