Lesson 24: “Create in Me a Clean Heart”

  When I was a junior at BYU,  I read Dostoevsky's novel, Crime and Punishment.   While I was reading it, one night I dreamed that I was Raskolnikov, and had killed the old women.  I didn't dream the murders themselves, but the terrible feelings of guilt that followed.  I kept thinking, I have to go tell my bishop, and I was so ashamed.  The sick feeling was so intense, and seemed so real.  When I remember that dream, I can still feel those overwhelming, terrible feelings.

Background --
David had unified Israel, had taken Jerusalem and set it up as his capital city, had built a  beautiful palace there, had prepared to build a temple, had been told he would not be allowed to, but did receive revelation concerning the blueprint for that temple and concerning his posterity, and the coming of Jesus Christ.

From the Old Testament Institute Manual:
(26-1) Introduction
“If the Latter-day Saints ever hope to make any headway with the Jewish people, they must stop talking about King David as a tragic, sinful figure, for we view him as one of the great figures of our history.” So spoke a Jewish youth to his Latter-day Saint neighbor.
“Was David a good man?” Ask this question among Old Testament scholars, and you will likely be immediately embroiled in a vigorous debate.
Under David Israel reached its golden age, the zenith of its power. For the first time, under his direction the chosen people controlled the whole land promised to Abraham’s seed nearly a thousand years earlier. Israel had not achieved such heights before, nor did they ever again.
Do we emphasize the David who killed Goliath, or the David who killed Uriah? Should we view him as the servant who refused to lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed, or as the Lord’s anointed who lifted his hand against a faithful and loyal servant? Was his life a tragedy, or a triumph?
If a triumph, why, then, has “he fallen from his exaltation” ( D&C 132:39 ) and lost “the greatest of all the gifts of God”? ( D&C 6:13 ). If a tragedy, why is the Messiah prophesied to sit “upon the throne of David” ( Isaiah 9:7 ), and be called “David their king”? ( Jeremiah 30:9 ; see also 23:5–6 ; 30:15–17 ; Ezekiel 37:24–25 ). Why are we told that Jesus shall receive “the throne of his father David” ( Luke 1:32 ) and that He has “the key of David”? ( Revelation 3:7 ).
In this chapter we read of David as king of Israel. We have already seen him as the shepherd boy turned warrior and as the king’s armor-bearer turned king’s outlaw by Saul’s own madness. Then Saul was dead, and David was king in fact as well as name.
Study his life carefully in this chapter and the next to see if you can answer these questions. Is it an injustice to treat David as a tragedy? How shall we view this great man of history?
_____________________________________

? (2 Samuel 11:2). What should David have done when he saw Bathsheba?
? What did David do that led him to sin with her? (See 2 Samuel 11:2–4.)
? What might lead people to be tempted to commit sexual sins? What can we do to avoid being tempted to commit sexual sins?

+  Create chart -- scribe?

? What did David attempt to do when he learned that Bathsheba was with child? (See 2 Samuel 11:6–13. ? ? Why did David’s plan fail? (See 2 Samuel 11:11. 
? What more serious sin did David commit in an attempt to hide his immorality? (See 2 Samuel 11:14–17.) ? From whom do you think David thought he could hide his sin?
? How do people try to cover up sins today?
? What happens when we try to cover our sins?
" " Elder Richard G. Scott said:

? What parable did the prophet Nathan tell to illustrate how displeased the Lord was with David? (See 2 Samuel 12:1–4.)
? What did David think about the rich man’s actions against the poor man in the parable? (See 2 Samuel 12:5–6.)
? How had David’s actions been like the rich man’s? (See 2 Samuel 12:7–9.)
? How did David react to the Lord’s rebuke? (See 2 Samuel 12:13.)

?Why do you think David failed to recognize that he was represented by the rich man in the parable?
? Why are we sometimes unable to recognize our own sinfulness?

? What were the consequences of David’s sins? (See 2 Samuel 12:10–14. The fulfillment of these prophecies can be found in 2 Samuel 12:15–23 and subsequent chapters of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings; see also D&C 132:39. Note that adultery is a serious sin, but David forfeited his exaltation because the Lord held him accountable for the murder of Uriah.)

" " President Marion G. Romney said:

? What are some of the immediate consequences of immorality today?
? What are some long-term effects for the unrepentant?

? (Psalm 51:1–3). Why is it important that we recognize God’s greatness and our own sinfulness when we repent of our sins?

? What must we sacrifice in order to receive forgiveness of our sins? (See Psalm 51:16–17.)

? What do you think it means to have “a broken and a contrite heart”?

? How are our sins “ever before [us]” before we are forgiven? (Psalm 51:3).
? How does that change after we have been forgiven? (See Psalm 51:10; Alma 36:17–19.)
? How does God look upon our past sins after he has forgiven us? (See Psalm 51:9; Isaiah 43:25; D&C 58:42.)

? David described forgiveness as a cleansing (Psalm 51:1–2, 7, 9–10), a restoration (Psalm 51:12), and a deliverance (Psalm 51:14). Why are these appropriate descriptions of the blessing of God’s forgiveness? 

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Lesson 24: “Create in Me a Clean Heart”, Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 111

2 Samuel 11–12; Psalm 51

My addition -- See also 2nd Nephi 22 (whole  chapter)  Verse 1: AND in that day thou shalt say: O Lord, I will praise thee; though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me. 

Institute manual -- David had too much leisure at this time.

(26-18) 2 Samuel 11:3–27 . What Great Lesson Can We Learn from These Verses?

“Things were getting too easy for David; he had leisure to stay at home while Joab and his men were out fighting Ammonites and Syrians. In his leisure he looked from his rooftop at his neighbor’s wife. Leisure and lust led to adultery and then to murder, which sins had eternal repercussions, as well as tragic earthly results. It is one of the shocking and serious warnings of the Old Testament that a man may be ever so good and great and eminent and still have weaknesses which can lead to deeds that entirely overshadow and defeat the better self!” (Rasmussen, Introduction to the Old Testament, 1:185.)

Prepare -- 
Upload  Psalm 51 from http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ps/51 to play.
Music -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YBadw4G2VA 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiJme76-W3I  Boys' choir about 4 minutes (3:49) into the segment, they sing
This one is in English: 
Kings College: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pNk4AiaPn8&feature=related
From Wikipedia: Miserere, full name "Miserere mei, Deus" (Latin: "Have mercy on me, O God") by Italian composer Gregorio Allegri, is a setting of Psalm 51 (50) composed during the reign of Pope Urban VIII, probably during the 1630s, for use in the Sistine Chapel during matins, as part of the exclusive Tenebrae service on Wednesday and Friday of Holy Week.
Print some of pictures.

Background as stated in  the lesson manual:

1 Samuel 25 through 2 Samuel 10 provide important information about the historical setting for this lesson. Since these chapters are not covered in this manual, you may want to summarize them as follows:
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.

 Lesson manual:
1. David commits adultery with Bathsheba and arranges the death of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband.
Teach and discuss 2 Samuel 11.
 verse 1 " . . . at the time when kings go forth to battle, . . .  David tarried still at Jerusalem."
He saw.
He enquired.
He took her.
He tried to cover up his sin.  Uriah's  virtue foiled his planned deception, so
He arranged Uriah's death to cover his sin.

• David was walking on his roof when he saw Bathsheba and was tempted to commit adultery with her (2 Samuel 11:2). What should David have done when he saw Bathsheba? What did David do that led him to sin with her? (See 2 Samuel 11:2–4.) What might lead people to be tempted to commit sexual sins? What can we do to avoid being tempted to commit sexual sins?
You may want to list class members’ answers on the chalkboard using a chart like the one below. Answers may include the following:

Things to avoid	How to avoid them
Unclean or immoral thoughts	Fill your mind with uplifting thoughts.
Television shows, movies, magazines, books, and music that are pornographic or suggestive in any way	Choose media that will inspire you to do good.
Unwholesome dating activities	Follow the dating standards taught by latter-day prophets and outlined in For the Strength of Youth.
Flirting after marriage	Love your spouse with all your heart. Continue to “court” (develop your relationship with) your spouse.
Places or activities that will not enable you to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost	Ensure that the places you go and the activities you participate in will enable you to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.

• 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).
  
  
  In trying to hide his sin of adultery, David committed an even greater sin. To discuss the danger of trying to hide our sins, compare sin to a mound of dirt. Illustrate this concept on the chalkboard as shown in the first drawing on page 116.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• • What will happen if we try to cover a small mound of dirt? (The mound will become larger and more visible. Illustrate this concept as shown in the second drawing above.)
  
• • How is covering our sins like covering a mound of dirt? (Our sinfulness becomes greater and more serious when we try to cover our sins.)
  
• • If we do not want people to see a mound of dirt, what should we do? (We should remove the mound rather than cover it.) How can we remove sin from our lives?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  2. David is told that he will be punished because of his sins. 
  Jacob 2:9,35  hearts died
  
  
   D&C 132:39 
    39 ^aDavid’s wives and concubines were ^bgiven unto him of me, by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets who had the ^ckeys of this power; and in none of these things did he ^dsin against me save in the case of ^eUriah and his wife; and, therefore he hath ^ffallen from his exaltation, and received his portion; and he shall not inherit them out of the world, for I ^ggave them unto another, saith the Lord. 
  
  
  
  
  
   From The Old Testament Student Manual  Genesis - 2 Samuel  -- Seminaries and Institutes of Religion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
  

  (26-21) 2 Samuel 12:13 . David Is Still Paying in Hell for His Sins

  The Joseph Smith Translation says, “The Lord also hath not put away thy sin” ( JST, 2 Samuel 12:13 ).
  Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, commenting on David’s sin, said: “David committed a dreadful crime, and all his life afterwards sought for forgiveness. Some of the Psalms portray the anguish of his soul; yet David is still paying for his sin. He did not receive the resurrection at the time of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter declared that his body was still in the tomb, and the Prophet Joseph Smith has said, ‘David sought repentance at the hand of God carefully with tears, for the murder of Uriah; but he could only get it through hell: he got a promise that his soul should not be left in hell.’ Again we ask: Who wishes to spend a term in hell with the devil before being cleansed from sin?” ( Answers to Gospel Questions, 1:74.)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  POINTS TO PONDER

  (26-22) Let us now return to the questions raised in the introduction to this chapter. Should we view David’s life as a triumph or as a tragedy? The answer is not a simple yes or no for either alternative.
  Certainly David must be viewed as one of the greatest royal administrators. He never took to himself authority that was not his nor practiced unrighteous dominion. He never lost his perspective, as Saul did. His refusal to lift his hand against Saul because he was the Lord’s anointed is one of the finest examples of loyalty anywhere in the scriptures.
  Perhaps Jesus, in His office of Messiah, is constantly tied into David and his reign because David did three things for temporal Israel that typify what Christ will do for spiritual Israel. David united the twelve tribes into one nation under the ultimate leadership of God. For the first time in history, David succeeded in winning the whole extent of the promised land for the covenant people (see Reading 26-14 ). And David established Zion or Jerusalem as the spiritual and political center of Israel.
  Nevertheless, no success can compensate for failure in our personal lives or in our families. Consider that David was destined for exaltation, destined to rule in heaven forever and ever as a Creator and a God to his future children. As the Lord said, there is no greater gift that He could offer a man than eternal life (see D&C 6:13 ). David had it within his grasp, and then, in a foolish attempt to hide his sin, sent a man to his death. Had he even come to himself after his transgression with Bath-sheba and sought repentance as sincerely and earnestly as he did after Nathan’s parable, there is every indication that he could have come back and received forgiveness. It would have been difficult, but not impossible. But he did the very thing of which so many are guilty—he compounded his sin by trying to cover it up. Elder Spencer W. Kimball indicated that there is no restitution possible for murder.
  “As to crimes for which no adequate restoration is possible, I have suggested . . . that perhaps the reason murder is an unforgivable sin is that, once having taken a life—whether that life be innocent or reprobate—the life-taker cannot restore it. He may give his own life as payment, but this does not wholly undo the injury done by his crime. He might support the widow and children; he might do many other noble things; but a life is gone and the restitution of it in full is impossible. Repentance in the ordinary sense seems futile.
  “Murder is so treacherous and so far-reaching! Those who lose their possessions may be able to recover their wealth. Those defamed may still be able to prove themselves above reproach. Even the loss of chastity leaves the soul in mortality with opportunity to recover and repent and to make amends to some degree. But to take a life, whether someone else’s or one’s own, cuts off the victim’s experiences of mortality and thus his opportunity to repent, to keep God’s commandments in this earth life. It interferes with his potential of having ‘glory added upon [his head] for ever and ever.’ ( Abraham 3:26 .)” ( Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 195–96.)
  Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained the limits of David’s eternal inheritance:
  “Murderers are forgiven eventually but only in the sense that all sins are forgiven except the sin against the Holy Ghost; they are not forgiven in the sense that celestial salvation is made available to them. ( Matt. 12:31–32 ; Teachings, pp. 356–357.) After they have paid the full penalty for their crime, they shall go on to a telestial inheritance. ( Rev. 22:15 .)” ( Mormon Doctrine, p. 520.)
  From celestial to telestial—that is tragedy. Although David was brave and had great intellect, administrative ability, and faithfulness early in life, he failed in one important thing—to endure to the end.
  David was a great example in his fulfillment of his calling as king, and a tragic example in his falling from glory. We can learn from both aspects of his life.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  

3. A repentant David seeks forgiveness. 

 

David pleads for forgiveness after he went in to Bath-sheba—He pleads: Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me.

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID, WHEN NATHAN THE PROPHET CAME UNTO HIM, AFTER HE HAD GONE IN TO BATH-SHEBA.

  1 Have ^amercy upon me, O God, according to thy ^blovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies ^cblot out my ^dtransgressions.

  2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and ^acleanse me from my sin.

  3 For I ^aacknowledge my transgressions: and my ^bsin is ever before me.

  4 Against thee, thee only, have I ^asinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be ^bjustified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

  5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother ^aconceive me.

  6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

  7 Purge me with ^ahyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

  8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

  9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

  10 Create in me a ^aclean heart, O God; and ^brenew a right spirit within me.

  11 Cast me not away from thy ^apresence; and take not thy ^bholy spirit from me.

  12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

  13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be ^aconverted unto thee.

  14 ^aDeliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

  15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

  16 For thou desirest not ^asacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

  17 The ^asacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a ^bcontrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

  18 Do good in thy good ^apleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

  19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

http://www.wmcwels.com/clipart/101.gif

 

 

 http://www.jesuswalk.com/greatprayers/images/carolsfeld_davids_punishment420x376.gif

 http://www.mainlesson.com/books/hurlbut/bible/zpage317.jpg

 

Link to J.S. Bach's Psalm 51 

 See also 2nd Nephi 4

 27 And why should I ^ayield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to ^btemptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my ^cpeace and afflict my soul? Why am I ^dangry because of mine enemy?

28 Awake, my soul! No longer ^adroop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the ^benemy of my soul.

  29 Do not ^aanger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.

  30 Rejoice, O my ^aheart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the ^brock of my salvation.

  31 O Lord, wilt thou ^aredeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of ^bsin?

  32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my ^aheart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may ^bwalk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!

  33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy ^arighteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine ^benemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.

  34 O Lord, I have ^atrusted in thee, and I will ^btrust in thee forever. I will not put my ^ctrust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his ^dtrust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

  35 Yea, I know that God will give ^aliberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ^bask ^cnot amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the ^drock of my ^erighteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

2 Nephi 9: 35 Wo unto the ^amurderer who deliberately ^bkilleth, for he shall ^cdie. 

Suicide:  The late Elder Bruce R. McConkie, formerly of the Quorum of the Twelve, expressed what many Church leaders have taught: “Suicide consists in the voluntary and intentional taking of one’s own life, particularly where the person involved is accountable and has a sound mind. … Persons subject to great stresses may lose control of themselves and become mentally clouded to the point that they are no longer accountable for their acts. Such are not to be condemned for taking their own lives. It should also be remembered that judgment is the Lord’s; he knows the thoughts, intents, and abilities of men; and he in his infinite wisdom will make all things right in due course.” (Mormon Doctrine, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966, p. 771; some italics added.)

See this talk by Elder Ballard: http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=6efa71ec9b17b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

L. Whitney Clayton, “Blessed Are All the Pure in Heart,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 51–53

James E. Faust, “It Can’t Happen to Me,” Liahona, Jul 2002, 51–54  

Bruce D. Porter, “A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 31–32

David E. Sorensen, “You Can’t Pet a Rattlesnake,” Liahona, Jul 2001, 48–50  

http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2010/06/ot-gospel-doctrine-lesson-24-create-in.html

Jacob 1:15 And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.

 

 

Things as they really ARE

C. S. Lewis once said, “Nearly all vices are rooted in the Future. Gratitude looks to the Past and love to the Present; fear, avarice, lust and ambition look ahead” (The Screwtape Letters, New York: Macmillan, 1951, p. 69).
The Prophet Jacob put it another way. He spoke of the necessity of understanding “things as they really are, and … things as they really will be.” He described the Jews as searching for things that they could not understand and being blinded because of “looking beyond the mark” (Jacob 4:13–14).

from F. Burton Howard, “On Giving and Getting,” New Era, Oct 1985, 44

New Link

Here is someone else who likes to prepare lessons online!
joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2010/06/gospel-do...

Lesson Plan for Lesson 22 -- Saul and David

Lesson Plan for Lesson 22  -- Saul and David

Israel requests a king
Israel has a prophet.  Their king is the Lord.  They, wanting to be like other nations, desire to have a king at the head of their earthly government. 

1 Samuel 8: 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 ^awalk not in thy ways [Samuel's sons were wicked, perverting judgment and taking bribes] : now make us a ^bking 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.

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

The Lord instructed Samuel to warn the people about what would happen with a king, but they insisted that was what they wanted.


Looking  into  the hearts of Saul and David (and Samuel) -- and into our own hearts.
? What positive qualities did Saul have at the time he was chosen to be king?

Saul is Selected to be the King
His father's name was Kish.  He was a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. (History of Benjamin)
1 Samuel 9:2 And he had a son, whose name was ^aSaul, a choice young man, and a ^bgoodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was ^chigher than any of the people.
Goodly:

Gen. 39: 6	Joseph was a goodly person.
Ex. 2: 2	a goodly child, she hid him three months.
1 Sam. 9: 2	Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly.
1 Sam. 16: 12	a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to.
James 2: 2	man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel.
Rev. 18: 14	dainty and goodly are departed from thee.
1 Ne. 1: 1	Nephi, having been born of goodly parents.

 Saul is persistant in looking for his father's property (the lost asses), considerate of his father, not wanting him to begin worrying about Saul being gone so long,
?  Does Saul, or does the servant suggest that they go to the Prophet?  the servant


? How does Samuel know the Saul is the one to be anointed?
 15 ¶ Now the ^aLord had ^btold Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

  16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt ^aanoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their ^bcry is come unto me.

  17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.

Samuel honors Saul and invites him to eat.

Saul is humble:
21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? [See Judges: All of the tribe except 600 men had been wiped out.]  and my family the ^aleast of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou ^bso to me?

 In the morning, Samuel walks with Saul and tells him to send the servant ahead. 9:27 but ^astand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

Saul anoints Samuel
1 Samuel 10:  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 ^aanointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

? What do we know about anointings?
? What happened to Saul as he traveled home?

 Samuel prophecies to Saul about what will happen as he travels on.
He will meet messengers from his father, then men who will give him food, then a company of prophets.  Saul will join them and will prophecy.

  6 And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt ^aprophesy with them, and shalt be ^bturned into another man.   b. Gift of the Holy Ghost  --  Spiritually Reborn

Saul becomes a new man
  9 ¶ And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another ^aheart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

Saul returns home, but does not tell about his anointing.

?What happens when Saul is presented to the people?
Saul chosen in front of the people
Samuel gathers Israel.  Saul hides when he is to be presented to Israel.

1 Samuel 10: 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.

  25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the ^akingdom, and ^bwrote it in a ^cbook, and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 

 Saul goes home, has a following, but leaves alone those who despise him.

? What happens when Saul first leads his people against enemies?
Saul fights the Ammonites

The Ammonites come up and threaten Jabesh-gilead.   Word comes to Saul.  He cuts up an oxen and sends it to all the tribes, inviting them to come with him to battle.  They defeat the Ammonites and Saul is made king.

The people want to kill those who stood against Saul, but Saul refuses.  11:12

1 Samuel 12:  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.

  25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the ^akingdom, and ^bwrote it in a ^cbook, and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 

? What event shows that Saul is turning away from following the Lord?
Good excuses? Samuel says he will come.  Saul waits 7 days -- the people afraid of the Philistines, army hiding, running away

1 Samuel 13:9  Saul offers the burnt offering when he did not have the authority to do so and is rejected of the Lord

13:12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I ^aforced 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 ^akingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath ^bsought him a ^cman after his own ^dheart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “A Matter of a Few Degrees,” Ensign, May 2008, 57–60 

When Samuel arrived, he was brokenhearted. “Thou hast done foolishly,” he said. If only the new king had endured a little longer and not deviated from the course of the Lord, if only he had followed the revealed order of the priesthood, the Lord would have established his kingdom forever. “But now,” Samuel said, “thy kingdom shall not continue.”12

On that day, the prophet Samuel recognized a critical weakness in Saul’s character. When pressured by outside influences, Saul did not have the self-discipline to stay on course, trust the Lord and His prophet, and follow the pattern God had established.

Small Errors Can Have a Large Impact on Our Lives

The difference of a few degrees, as with the Antarctica flight or Saul’s failure to hold fast to the counsel of the prophet just a little longer, may seem minor. But even small errors over time can make a dramatic difference in our lives.. . .

 Jeffrey R. Holland, “Amazed at the Love Jesus Offers Me,” NewEra, Dec 2008, 2–7
Saul offered sacrifice without comprehending the meaning of his sacrifice. Latter-day Saints who faithfully go to sacrament meeting but are no more merciful or patient or forgiving as a result are much the same. They go through the motions of the ordinances without an understanding of the purposes for which these ordinances were established. Those purposes are to help us be obedient and gentle in our search for forgiveness of our sins.

 Saul foolishly declares that his army will fast before and during the battle.  Jonathan doesn't hear about it, and is almost killed, but the people convince Saul not to kill Jonathan.
 

? In what ways might we be impatient with the Lord or his servants?
Is Saul given a second chance?

The Lord commands Saul (through the Prophet Samuel) to destroy Amalek and leave none alive.
15: 3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly ^adestroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 

These are the people who had attacked the Israelites after they had come out of Israel -- when Aaron and Hur held up Moses' arms.
Exodus 17: 14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a ^abook, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of ^bAmalek from under heaven.

1 Samuel 15:  9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

  10 ¶ Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying,

  11 ^aIt ^brepenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night. 

  13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.

  14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

  15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. 

 17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord ^aanointed thee king over Israel? 

0 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

  21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal. (Justifying our sins -- making excuses)

? What excuses do we make to not obey with exactness? 
It’s just a little sin,” “I’m obeying the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law,” “It won’t hurt anyone,” “I’ll try it just once,” “Other people are doing it,” or “That commandment doesn’t apply to me.”

  22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great ^adelight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the ^bvoice of the Lord? Behold, to ^cobey is better than ^dsacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of ^erams.

  23 For ^arebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and ^bstubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast ^crejected the word of the Lord, he hath also ^drejected thee from being king.

  24 ¶ And Saul said unto Samuel, I have ^asinned: for I have ^btransgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I ^cfeared the people, and obeyed their voice.

  25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.

  26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. 

Saul hews Agag into pieces.  

 35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord ^arepented

[JST. . . . rent the kingdom from Saul whom he had made king over Israel.]

that he had made Saul king over Israel.  

Saul as the classic tragic  character -- Hubris
 Richard G. Ellsworth, “The Tragic Dimensions of Saul,” Ensign, Jun 1990, 36

Saul’s tragic flaw was pride, often manifested as a fear of criticism and a love of popular approval. This flaw resulted in a tendency to make significant errors in judgment that consistently resulted in complication and misfortune. But Saul also had great strength and courage. Faced with God’s condemnation, Saul did not duck or hide but turned toward his future with violent and almost foolhardy bravery, yet without repentance, and determined to fight the Lord’s condemnation. In his attempt to force God to reverse the divine decision against him, Saul changed from one who was humble and pure, chosen of the Lord to receive great promised blessings, to one who stood angry, alone, and impenitent.

The Lord now chooses David to be king 
  ? What qualities does David have?

1 Samuel 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 ^aseeth not as ^bman seeth; for man looketh on the outward ^cappearance, but the ^dLord looketh on the ^eheart. 

 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a ^abeautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

  13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and ^aanointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the ^bSpirit of the Lord came upon ^cDavid from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

• • Elder Marvin J. Ashton said:
    
  • “We … tend to evaluate others on the basis of physical, outward appearance: their ‘good looks,’ their social status, their family pedigrees, their degrees, or their economic situations.
    
  • “The Lord, however, has a different standard by which he measures a person. … 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” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1988, 17; or Ensign, Nov. 1988, 15).
    
    
• ? Why is it important that in our relationships with others, we see beyond the outward appearance and look on the heart? How can we improve our ability and commitment to do this?
  

 David plays for Saul

  14 ¶ But the ^aSpirit of the Lord ^bdeparted from Saul, and an evil spirit ^cfrom the Lord troubled him.

[In losing his way, he wandered among evil spirits, who enticed him to hang onto the power and the belief that he could remain king by his own skill and cunning. That is definitely a sign of insanity, when one attempts to defeat God at his own game. Satan also tried to do this, and still tries to this day to defeat God for the kingdom of Israel.-- Gerald Smith --http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2010/06/gospel-doctrine-ot-22-lord-looketh-upon.html]

  15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit ^afrom God troubleth thee.

  16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit ^afrom God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

  17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

  18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, 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 ^aprudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him. [Qualifications to be a leader]

  19 ¶ Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

  20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

  21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

  22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.

  23 And it came to pass, when the ^aevil spirit ^bfrom [ JST 1 Sam. 16: 14 . . . which was not of the Lord . . .] God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

? What outside sources do people today sometimes turn to as they try to find relief from their sins? What is the Lord’s way for us to find relief from our sins?? 
Matthew 11:28–30
 28 ¶ ^aCome unto me, all ye that ^blabour and are heavy laden, and I will give you ^crest.

  29 Take my ^ayoke upon you, and ^blearn of me; for I am ^cmeek and ^dlowly in ^eheart: and ye shall find ^frest unto your souls.

  30 For my yoke is ^aeasy, and my burden is light. 

 

D&C 58:42     Behold, he who has ^arepented of his ^bsins, the same is ^cforgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.

 I Samuel 17   David fights Goliath
?What could the Israelites gain or lose in the fight with Goliath?   verse 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.
 ?How did David get the courage to fight Goliath?


37 David said moreover, The Lord that ^adelivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will ^bdeliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

  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 ^aname of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 

 47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the ^abattle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.

____________________________________________________________

• “There are Goliaths all around you, hulking giants with evil intent to destroy you. These are not nine-foot-tall men, but they are men and institutions that control attractive but evil things that may challenge and weaken and destroy you. Included in these are beer and other liquors and tobacco. Those who market these products would like to enslave you into their use. There are drugs of various kinds which, I am told, are relatively easy to obtain in many high schools. For those who peddle them, this is a multimillion-dollar industry, a giant web of evil. There is pornography, seductive and interesting and inviting. It has become a giant industry, producing magazines, films, and other materials designed to take your money and lead you toward activities that would destroy you.
  
• “The giants who are behind these efforts are formidable and skillful. They have gained vast experience in the war they are carrying on. They would like to ensnare you.
  
• “It is almost impossible to entirely avoid exposure to their products. You see these materials on all sides. But you need not fear if you have the slingshot of truth in your hands. You have been counseled and taught and advised. You have the stones of virtue and honor and integrity to use against these enemies who would like to conquer you. Insofar as you are concerned, you can hit them ‘between the eyes,’ to use a figurative expression. You can triumph over them by disciplining yourselves to avoid them. You can say to the whole lot of them as David said to Goliath, ‘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.’
  
• “Victory will be yours. … You have His power within you to sustain you. You have the right to ministering angels about you to protect you. Do not let Goliath frighten you. Stand your ground and hold your place, and you will be triumphant” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1983, 66; or Ensign, May 1983, 46, 51).
  
  The following quotation from Elder Spencer W. Kimball may be helpful as you discuss Saul’s disobedience with regard to the Amalekites:
  “Saul rationalized. It was easy for him to obey as to the disposition of the kings, for what use were conquered kings? But why not keep the fat sheep and cattle? Was not his royal judgment superior to that of lowly Samuel? …
  “How like Saul are many in Israel today. One will live some of the Lord’s revelation on health except that he must have his occasional cup of coffee; she will not use tobacco nor liquor for which she has no yearning anyway but must have the comforting cup of tea.
  “He will serve in a Church position, for here is activity which he likes and honor which he craves, … but rationalization is easy as to tithepaying which he finds so difficult. He cannot afford it. … He is not sure it is always distributed as he would have it done, and who knows anyway of his failure?
  “Another will attend some meetings but Saul-like rationalize as to the rest of the day. Why should he not see a ball game, a show, do his necessary yard work, or carry on business as usual?
  “Another would religiously attend his outward Church duties but resist any suggestions as to family frictions in his home or family prayers when the family is so hard to assemble.
  “Saul was like that. He could do the expedient things but could find alibis as to the things which countered his own desires” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1954, 51).
  
  

Posters for Lesson 22 Saul and David

Lesson 22: “The Lord Looketh on the Heart”

Lesson 22: “The Lord Looketh on the Heart”, Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 101

1 Samuel 9–11; 13; 15–17 

1. Saul seeks guidance from Samuel and is anointed to be king. 

2. Saul offers a burnt offering without the proper authority. 

3. Saul disobeys the Lord in the battle with the Amalekites and is rejected as king. 

4. The Lord chooses David as king. 

5. David slays Goliath in the strength of the Lord. 

 

 

Absalom Kane

Death of King Saul", 1848  Elie Marcuse (Germany and France, 1817-1902)

 

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “A Matter of a Few Degrees,” Ensign, May 2008, 57–60

Saul, the King of Israel

The story of Saul, the king of Israel, illustrates this point. Saul’s life began with great promise, but it had an unfortunate and tragic end. In the beginning, Saul was “a choice young man, … and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he.”2 Saul was personally chosen by God to be king.3 He had every advantage—he was physically imposing,4 and he came from an influential family.5
Of course, Saul had weaknesses, but the Lord promised to bless, uphold, and prosper him. The scriptures tell us that God promised to always be with him,6 give him another heart,7 and turn him into another man.8
When he had the Lord’s help, Saul was a magnificent king. He united Israel and defeated the Ammonites, who had invaded their land.9 Soon a much greater problem faced him—the Philistines, who had a terrible army with chariots and horsemen “and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude.”10 The Israelites were so terrified of the Philistines that they hid “themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks.”11
The young king needed help. The prophet Samuel sent word for him to wait and that he, the prophet, would come and offer sacrifice and seek counsel from the Lord. Saul waited seven days, and still the prophet Samuel had not arrived. Finally, Saul felt he could wait no longer. He gathered the people together and did something he had no priesthood authority to do—he offered the sacrifice himself.
When Samuel arrived, he was brokenhearted. “Thou hast done foolishly,” he said. If only the new king had endured a little longer and not deviated from the course of the Lord, if only he had followed the revealed order of the priesthood, the Lord would have established his kingdom forever. “But now,” Samuel said, “thy kingdom shall not continue.”12
On that day, the prophet Samuel recognized a critical weakness in Saul’s character. When pressured by outside influences, Saul did not have the self-discipline to stay on course, trust the Lord and His prophet, and follow the pattern God had established.

Small Errors Can Have a Large Impact on Our Lives

The difference of a few degrees, as with the Antarctica flight or Saul’s failure to hold fast to the counsel of the prophet just a little longer, may seem minor. But even small errors over time can make a dramatic difference in our lives.. . .

Our Heavenly Father knew before we came to this mortal existence that negative forces would tempt us to drift from our course, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”19 That is why He prepared a way for us to make corrections. Through the merciful process of true repentance and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our sins can be forgiven and we will “not perish, but have everlasting life.”20
Our willingness to repent shows our gratitude for God’s gift and for the Savior’s love and sacrifice on our behalf. Commandments and priesthood covenants provide a test of faith, obedience, and love for God and Jesus Christ, but even more importantly, they offer an opportunity to experience love from God and to receive a full measure of joy both in this life and in the life to come.
These commandments and covenants of God are like navigational instructions from celestial heights and will lead us safely to our eternal destination. It is one of beauty and glory beyond understanding. It is worth the effort. It is worth making decisive corrections now and then staying on course.
Remember: the heavens will not be filled with those who never made mistakes but with those who recognized that they were off course and who corrected their ways to get back in the light of gospel truth.
The more we treasure the words of the prophets and apply them, the better we will recognize when we are drifting off course—even if only by a matter of a few degrees.

Autn:reference - Magazine_22652150a447b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____ The Tragic Dimensions of Saul Richard G. Ellsworth When Saul overreached his place as vassal to the real king, God rejected him. Saul himself captured the Amalekite king, Agag, and proudly brought him back alive. Gospel Library > Magazines > Ensign > June 1990 Autn:reference - Magazine_f7a1ef960417b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____ The Peaceful Life through Reconciliation: Five Stories from the Old Testament Keith Meservy The nation’s king, Saul, exulted along with everyone else, little realizing that within this experience the seeds of his own destruction had been planted. The women attributed to Saul thousands of the fallen Gospel Library > Magazines > Ensign > July 1986 Jeffrey R. Holland, “Amazed at the Love Jesus Offers Me,” NewEra, Dec 2008, 2–7 Samuel, a prophet in Israel, commented on how futile it is to offer a sacrifice without honoring the meaning of the sacrifice. When Saul, king in Israel, had defied the Lord’s instructions by bringing back from the Amalekites “the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord [his] God,” Samuel cried: “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” (1 Samuel 15:15, 22). Saul offered sacrifice without comprehending the meaning of his sacrifice. Latter-day Saints who faithfully go to sacrament meeting but are no more merciful or patient or forgiving as a result are much the same. They go through the motions of the ordinances without an understanding of the purposes for which these ordinances were established. Those purposes are to help us be obedient and gentle in our search for forgiveness of our sins. ----------------------- Notes:  Saul began as a humble young man who would seek counsel of the prophet when his father's livestock was lost.  And he hid when Samuel was selecting the next king. __________________________________ Questions and Comments:  1 Samuel 16  In verse 1, Samuel had been mourning about Saul. In verse 4, why did the elders of the town tremble at Samuel's coming? Verse 13 -- David received the Holy Ghost from that day (his anointing) forward. Verse 23 -- the power of music  From institute manual -- But Samuel anointed Saul to be “captain” even though he was later called king (see 1 Samuel 10:1 ). This title should have served as a reminder that the Lord was still king.  More from the institute manual: 24-30) 1 Samuel 13:5–14 . Why Did Saul Seek to Assume Samuel’s Priesthood Duties? It was not long before Saul began to have an exaggerated opinion of his power and importance. This tendency is natural to men who forget the Lord and trust in themselves. The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion” ( D&C 121:39 ). It is true that this was a time of great crisis. The Philistines were amassed in great strength and the people were deserting from Saul’s army (see 1 Samuel 13:6 ). When Samuel was late in coming, Saul took things into his own hands and offered the sacrifices. This action was a great sin. “Think also of Saul who had been called from the field to be made king of the nation. When the Philistines were marshalled against Israel in Michmash, Saul waited for Samuel, under whose hand he had received his kingly anointing and to whom he had looked in the days of his humility for guidance; he asked that the prophet come and offer sacrifices to the Lord in behalf of the people. But, growing impatient at Samuel’s delay, Saul prepared the burnt offering himself, forgetting that though he occupied the throne, wore the crown, and bore the scepter, these insignia of kingly power gave him no right to officiate even as a deacon 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.” (Talmage, Articles of Faith, pp. 184–85.) The circumstances were critical, but one of the purposes of mortality is to demonstrate that one will remain faithful and obedient under all circumstances (see D&C 98:14–15 ). Saul failed that test and thereby lost his right to be God’s representative of the people. Throughout his early life, David stayed close to the Lord. In all his military ventures, in the face of threats against his life, and despite numerous opportunities to slay Saul, David was true to his chosen cause. “And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him” ( 1 Samuel 18:14 ). (25-6) 1 Samuel 17:4–11 . How Big Was Goliath and How Heavy Was His Armor? According to this passage, Goliath’s height was six cubits and a span. The most widely accepted opinion of the length of a cubit is about eighteen inches or, roughly, the distance from the elbow to the tip of the extended middle finger. A span is said to be one-half the distance from the thumb to the end of the little finger when the fingers are spread as wide as possible. These measurements would make the height of Goliath approximately nine feet, nine inches! It is not too surprising that the Philistines would have picked such a champion or that no man in Israel wanted to be Saul’s champion. It is unusual that anyone today is over seven feet tall, but it is commonly believed there were men in ancient times whose height far exceeded seven feet. There are references in the scriptures to giants in the earlier periods of history: in the time of Enoch (see Moses 7:15 ), in the days of Noah (see Moses 8:18 ; Genesis 6:4 ), and in the time of the Israelites (see Numbers 13:33 ; Deuteronomy 2:10–11 ; Joshua 15:8 ). Called Anakim (meaning “long-necked” or “tall” in Hebrew) by the Israelites, this race of giants seems to have been virtually destroyed in the conquest of Canaan under Joshua (see Joshua 11:21 ). In fact, it is recorded that none of the Anakim were left except in Gaza, Ashdod, and Gath (see Joshua 11:22 ), which was Goliath’s hometown (see 1 Samuel 17:4 ). Experts have estimated the weight of Goliath’s armor to be about 150 pounds (see Clarke, Bible Commentary, 2:261). A weaver’s beam is a strong, thick piece of wood on which thread is strung in preparation for weaving. The weight of Goliath’s spearhead has been estimated from twelve to twenty-six pounds, depending on which authority is consulted and what weight he selects for a shekel. (See the table on weights and measures in Maps and Charts .) A greave is a protective piece of armor that fits on the front of the leg and extends from just below the knee to the ankle. http://institute.lds.org/manuals/old-testament-institute-student-manual-1/ot-in1-08-sam-psa-25.asp

Samuel

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

Hushed was the evening hymn;
The temple courts were dark;
The lamp was burning dim
Before the sacred ark;
When suddenly a voice divine
Rang through the silence of the shrine.
The old man, meek and mild,
The priest of Israel slept;
His watch the temple child,
The little Levite kept;
And what from Eli’s sense was sealed,
The Lord to Hannah’s son revealed.
O give me Samuel’s ear,
The open ear, O Lord,
Alive and quick to hear
Each whisper of thy word,
Like him to answer at thy call
And to obey thee first of all.
O give me Samuel’s heart,
A lowly heart, that waits,
Wherein thy house thou art
Or watches at thy gates,
By day and night a heart that still
Moves at the breathing of thy will!
O give me Samuel’s mind,
A sweet unmurmuring faith,
Obedient and resigned
To thee in life and death,
That I may read with childlike eyes,
Truths that are hidden from the wise!”
( Hymns [1948], no. 252.)