2 Samuel 5–7; 11–12; 1 Kings 3; 8; 11

 2 Samuel 5–7; 11–12; 1 Kings 3; 8; 11

 

King David’s reign started out with so much promise. His undaunted faith in defeating Goliath was legendary. As king, he secured Jerusalem as his capital and united Israel (see 2 Samuel 5). The kingdom had never been stronger. And yet David gave in to temptation and lost his spiritual power.

The reign of David’s son Solomon likewise started out with so much promise. His divinely received wisdom and discernment were legendary. As king, he extended Israel’s borders and built a magnificent temple to the Lord. The kingdom had never been stronger. And yet Solomon foolishly allowed his heart to be turned away to other gods.

These stories show us that Israel’s true hope—and ours—is not in David, Solomon, or any other mortal king, but in another “son of David”: Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1), the Eternal King who will “forgive the sin of [His] people” if we “turn again to [Him]” (1 Kings 8:33–34).

 

How are you seeking the Lord’s direction in your life? How are you being blessed by acting on the revelation you receive?

 

 2 Samuel 5: All Israel anoints David king—He takes Jerusalem and is blessed of the Lord—He conquers the Philistines.

2 Samuel 5  King David

David was anointed king over the tribe of Judah (2 Samuel 2:1-4), and later became king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-3); about fifteen years from the time he was anointed to become king by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 16:6-13).

• 2 Samuel 5:4 says, “David was thirty years old when he began to reign,” meaning he was about fifteen years old when he was first anointed by Samuel (and likely still a teenager when he defeated Goliath).
• Note that the Lord’s command for the Israelites to drive out all the heathen nations from the land of promise was still in effect, even though it had been between 300 and 400 years since the children of Israel first entered Canaan under the leadership of Joshua.
• Verse 10 states, “David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.”
• Regarding David’s many wives and concubines (verse 13), the Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith that they “were given unto him of me” (D&C 132:39).

 

2 Samuel 6: David takes the ark to the city of David—Uzzah is smitten for steadying the ark and dies—David dances before the Lord, causing a breach between him and Michal.

2 Samuel 6  Do Not Touch the Ark

Having taken Jerusalem from the Jebusites and established it as his home and capital city for the land of Israel, David now determines to move the ark of the covenant there (verses 1-2). Evidently, David wanted all Israel to know that the Lord Jehovah (whose presence was represented by the ark) was with Israel. But a problem occurs:

• Read Numbers 1:51; 4:15, regarding the Lord’s strict instructions for moving the ark of the covenant.
• Along the way, at “Nachon’s threshingfloor,” the oxen “shook” the ark; presumably meaning the oxen stumbled, causing the ark to shift (verse 6).
• How did Uzzah react to the danger of the ark falling off the cart? (verse 6).
• What was the consequence for Uzzah’s disobedience? (verse 7).

This can be considered a harsh penalty against Uzzah, who was trying to help in an important endeavor. But the Lord’s declarations in Numbers 1 and 4 were clear, and at a time of spiritual reformation among Israel, the people needed to understand the supreme importance of obedience to God. Their history to this point has shown their tendency to take lightly or to ignore the law of Moses, constituting a rejection of the Lawgiver.

In 1831-32 the Prophet Joseph Smith was dealing with a difficulty within the Church, partially created by the Missouri misdeeds of Bishop Edward Partridge (see D&C 64:17). In D&C 85:8, Joseph wrote that Bishop Partridge’s behavior was like unto one who “putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God.” God’s work is His, and His commandments and instructions are to be followed, without setting forth to correct our leaders or otherwise take it upon ourselves to do things our own way (happily, Bishop Partridge repented and remained faithful and obedient the rest of his life).

Back to the ark: The incident with Uzzah made David “afraid of the Lord” and ponderous over how to continue forth (2 Samuel 6:9-10). What followed, in verses 11-15, 17? How can you better bring the “presence” and blessings of the Lord into your life, your household, and your community?

 

2 Samuel 7: David offers to build a house for the Lord—The Lord, through Nathan, says He has not asked David to do so—The Lord will establish David’s house and kingdom forever—David offers a prayer of thanksgiving.

2 Samuel 7  The House of God

David’s desire was not only to showcase the ark of the covenant as a symbol of God’s presence among the Israelites, but also to build a “house,” a temple of God:

• Read verses 1-3, regarding the conversation between king David and the prophet Nathan.
• What did the Lord tell Nathan, in verses 4-7? Note that the Lord emphasized that He had not called upon any of the previous leaders in Israel to build a temple, and that He was not calling David to do so.
• Read 1 Chronicles 22:5-8 to find why the Lord did not want David to build the temple.
• Instead, the Lord tells Nathan to say to David, “the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house” (verse 11).
• The “house” the Lord promised to David is to be through David’s posterity, which will include the Savior, Jesus Christ (verses 12-13, 16).
• Read the sweet, humble reply of David to the Lord, in verses 25-29.
• We can—and should—offer our best to the Lord. But in the end, His blessings upon us far exceed anything we can do.

 

2 Samuel 11: David lies with Bathsheba, and she conceives—He then arranges for the death in battle of her husband, Uriah

2 Samuel 11  David’s Adultery and Murder

What helps you to stay morally clean? When you are tempted, what do you do to resist? Like King Saul, David tumbles tragically. Read verses 1-15, and consider the following commentary:

• Verse 1: David was in the wrong place, for rather than leading Israel to battle, he sent Joab in his place, then continued to tarry at Jerusalem.
• Verse 2: David was likely not guilty for noticing the beauty of Bathsheba (whose name means “daughter of the covenant”), but between verses 2 and 3 he had to make a supremely important decision.
• Verse 3: Unfortunately, David made a very poor decision, choosing to find out more about Bathsheba.
• Verse 4: At this point, David could still turn back and avoid catastrophe, but he went further by having Bathsheba brought to him. It is reasonable to conclude that Bathsheba was innocent in this ordeal, for David was the king and because the prophet Nathan referred to Bathsheba as a “little ewe lamb” (2 Samuel 12:3). The consequences of David’s actions led him to subsequently break the 6^th, 7^th, 9^th, and 10^th commandments (murder, adultery, bearing false witness, and coveting a neighbor’s wife; it may also be said that heviolated the 1^st commandment by putting something else before God). Read James 1:14-15, about what lust can do to a person.
• Verse 5: Because Bathsheba’s husband Uriah (whose name means “The Lord is my light”) was away doing battle in the service of David’s army, Bathsheba’s being “with child” could not be attributed to Uriah. (Being a “Hittite,” Uriah was likely a non-Israelite who had convert to the belief in and worship of Jehovah.)
• Verse 6: David demanded to have Uriah sent home from the battlefield, in hopes he would have relations with his wife, thus shielding David from suspicion.
• Verses 7-13: David constructed a false pretense to Uriah, then sent him home in hopes that he would sleep with Bathsheba, but Uriah’s honor and loyalty repeatedly prevented him from going home.
• Verses 14-15: David, void of the Spirit, takes steps to make matters even worse. Though not performed by his hand, David is clearly guilty of murder and should have been stoned to death for this great sin (see Genesis 9:6; Leviticus 24:17, 21; Numbers 35:30; 2 Nephi 9:35).
• The Lord said that those who lust “shall deny the faith, and shall not have the Spirit” (D&C 42:23). He also said about adulterers, “they shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith and shall fear” (D&C 63:16).

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2 Samuel 12: Nathan tells David the parable of the ewe lamb—The Lord gave many wives to David, who is now cursed for taking Bathsheba—David fasts and prays for his son, but the Lord takes him—Solomon is born—David conquers the royal city of the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 12  The Prophet Nathan Visits David

Perhaps David thought that his sins were not known, but of course the Lord knew:

• Read the parable told by the prophet Nathan to David, in verses 1-6, plus the first sentence of verse 7. How do you think David must have felt?
• Read Nathan’s continued admonitions from the Lord, in verses 7-9. Perhaps a contributing factor to some of our sins is a failure to remember the tremendous blessings the Lord has given us.
• What are the consequences that Nathan said would come upon David, in verses 10-12?

In verse 13, David finally confesses, but it is better to confess without being confronted. Then Nathan tells David in this verse that “the Lord also hath [not] put away thy sin; thou shalt not die” (JST change inserted; the Lord is saying that David would not be put to death). 2 Samuel  The Rest of the Book

The remaining chapters of 2 Samuel relate the following:

• 2 Samuel 13:1-6, 11-29—some of the evils that Nathan foretold would come upon David and his family begin to happen; first with David’s son Amnon forcing himself upon his half-sister Tamar; then Absalom (another son of David) has Amnon put to death.
• 2 Samuel, chapters 14-19 chapter headings—more of the of the horrible things prophesied by Nathan for David and his family.
• 2 Samuel, chapter 22 heading—a psalm of David, expressing praise and thanksgiving to the Lord; evidencing David’s humble-hearted repentance and return to the Lord.

•  

 

1 Kings 3: Solomon loves the Lord and keeps His commandments—The Lord appears to Solomon and promises him a wise and an understanding heart—He judges between two harlots and determines who is the mother of a child.

1 Kings 3  A Wise and Understanding Heart

In 1 Kings 1, David declared that Solomon (his son with Bathsheba) is to succeed him as king (see 1:5-13, 28-41). Then in 2:1-3, just before dying, David counseled Solomon to be strong and to walk in the Lord’s ways:

• Solomon becomes a righteous king, and the Lord appeared to him in a dream. Read 3:7-13. What did Solomon ask of the Lord? What things did the Lord promise to give him?
• What gifts do you feel the Lord has given you? Read D&C 46:7-12 and consider other gifts you would like to seek.
• 1 Kings 3:16-28 is the well-known account of two women who each claimed to be the mother of the same child. Solomon’s resolution of the problem showed that the Lord had indeed given him wisdom. Has there been a time in your life when you needed wisdom from God to make an important decision?
• In chapters 4-7, Solomon reigns over a large, prosperous, peaceful kingdom of Israel, and he builds the temple in Jerusalem (more than 400 years after the entry into the promised land).

 

1 Kings 8: The ark, containing the two tablets of stone, is placed in the holy of holies—The glory of the Lord fills the temple—Solomon offers the dedicatory prayer—He asks for temporal and spiritual blessings upon repentant and prayerful Israel—The people sacrifice and worship for fourteen days.

1 Kings 8  The Dedication of the Temple

Solomon prepared for the temple dedication by moving the ark of the covenant and the rest of the items from the ancient tabernacle into the new temple, followed by innumerable burnt sacrifices to the Lord (verses 1-9, 62-64).

• What happened next, in verses 9-10? Have you attended a temple dedication? What was your experience?
• Verses 22-53 contain the dedicatory prayer, offered by Solomon. In his prayer, Solomon presented to the Lord various future possible scenarios in which the Lord’s people would need His mercy and care, pleading that the Lord would answer their petitions (for example, read verses 23, 28-30, 33-36, 51-53).
• Some have interpreted verses 41-43 to be a prophecy of the 1841 visit of Apostle Orson Hyde to the land of Israel, where he prayed from the Mount of Olives (overlooking the Temple Mount) for the Lord to bring to pass the return of the Jews to their land of promise.
• Read verses 54-58, wherein Solomon bore testimony to his people of God’s goodness.
• In 1 Kings 9:1-9, the Lord again appeared to Solomon and promised blessings for Israel’s obedience, but warned of the consequences if Israel were to return to the worship of false gods.
• 1 Kings 10:23-24 tells that Solomon exceeded all other kings of the earth in riches and in God-given wisdom.

 

1 Kings 11: Solomon marries non-Israelite women, and his wives turn his heart to the worship of false gods—The Lord stirs up adversaries against him, including Jeroboam, the son of Nebat—Ahijah promises Jeroboam that he will be the king of the ten tribes—Solomon dies and Rehoboam reigns in his stead.

1 Kings 11  Solomon’s Fall

Like Saul and like David, Solomon also foolishly falls:

• Read verses 1-11, 33, and list why and how Solomon and his people fell.
• Then, in verses 14, 23, 26, the Lord “stirred up” adversaries against Solomon; Hadad and Rezon “abhorred Israel” (verse 25) and became enemies.
• Jeroboam “lifted up his hand against the king” (verse 26) and Ahijah prophesied to Jeroboam that he would become ruler of ten of the twelve tribes (all but Judah and Benjamin; verses 29-31); therefore, Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam (verse 40).
• This is the genesis for the division of the united kingdom of Israel that David had established; the ten tribes will become the northern kingdom, and Judah (with Benjamin) is to become the southern kingdom.
• Solomon died and his son Rehoboam became king (verse 43).

 

 

1 Samuel 8–10; 13; 15–18

 1 Samuel 8–10; 13; 15–18

 

1 Samuel 8: Samuel’s sons take bribes and pervert judgment—The Israelites seek for a king to rule over them—Samuel rehearses the nature and evils of kingly rule—The Lord consents to give them a king.

In order to receive the Lord’s help, we must place our faith in Him and obey His commandments.

 

If we choose to follow the world instead of the Lord, then we will experience sorrow and regret as a result.

President Ezra Taft Benson explained why the Lord granted the Israelites’ request: “Sometimes [God] temporarily grants to men their unwise requests in order that they might learn from their own sad experience. … Samuel gave them the warning. But they still insisted on their king. So God gave them a king and let them suffer. They learned the hard way. God wanted it to be otherwise, but within certain bounds He grants unto men according to their desires. Bad experiences are an expensive school that only fools keep going to” (“Jesus Christ—Gifts and Expectations,” New Era, May 1975, 17–18).

 

 

1 Samuel 9: Saul, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, is a choice and goodly person—He is sent to seek his father’s asses—The Lord reveals to Samuel the seer that Saul is to be king—Saul goes to Samuel and is entertained by him.

One principle we can identify from Saul’s experience is that if we seek the Lord’s direction through His prophets and seers, they will show us the way we should go.

 

1 Samuel 10: Samuel anoints Saul to be captain over the Lord’s inheritance—Samuel manifests the gift of seership—Saul prophesies among the prophets, and the Lord gives him a new heart—He is chosen king at Mizpeh.

From this experience we learn that God will be with those He calls to serve Him as they act in righteousness.

From Saul’s example we learn that when we experience success, we should acknowledge the hand of the Lord.

 

 

1 Samuel 13: Saul offers a burnt offering—The Lord rejects him and chooses another captain over His people.

One principle that we can identify from 1 Samuel 13:10–14 is that even though we may try to justify our disobedience to the Lord’s commandments, He will hold us accountable.

Elder Bruce A. Carlson of the Seventy on reasons people may give to try and justify disobedience to the Lord’s commandments. “At times we may rationalize that the Lord will understand our disobedience because our special circumstances make adherence to His laws difficult, embarrassing, or even painful. However, faithful obedience, regardless of the apparent size of the task, will bring the Lord’s guidance, assistance, and peace” (“When the Lord Commands,”Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 39).

 

 

1 Samuel 15: Saul is commanded to smite and destroy the Amalekites and all that they have—He saves some animals to sacrifice—Saul is rejected as king and told that to obey is better than sacrifice—Samuel destroys Agag.

The following principles can be identified from 1 Samuel 15:7–24: The greatest offering we can give to the Lord is our complete obedience to Him. Seeking to please others rather than the Lord can lead us to disobey His commandments.

 

1 Samuel 16: The Lord chooses David of Bethlehem as king—He is anointed by Samuel—Saul chooses David as his companion and armor bearer.

One truth we can identify from 1 Samuel 16:7 is that God judges us by our hearts rather than our outward appearance.

 

1 Samuel 17: Israel and the Philistines engage in war—Goliath of Gath, a giant, defies Israel and challenges any Israelite to personal combat—David goes against him in the name of the Lord—David slays Goliath with a sling and a stone—Israel defeats the Philistines.

From David’s example in 1 Samuel 17:34–37, we can learn that remembering how the Lord has helped us in the past will strengthen our faith to endure or overcome our present challenges.

From the account of David slaying Goliath, we can learn that as we exercise faith in the Lord, He will help us with our challenges.

 

 

1 Samuel 18: Jonathan loves David—Saul sets David over his armies—David is honored by the people, and Saul becomes jealous—David marries Michal, a daughter of Saul.

From 1 Samuel 18:10–11 we can learn that when we are jealous and angry, we allow the influence of the adversary into our lives.

From 1 Samuel 24:8–15 we can learn that because the Lord is a perfect judge, we do not need to seek revenge against those who have hurt us.

 

 

 

Ruth, Samuel 1-3

 Ruth Samuel 1-3

 

Ruth 1 - ordinary people  living in difficult times

Ruth and Orpah Moabites (Naomi from Judah)

"Ruth the Moabitess" (Israel enemy with Moab) Naomi's(husband Elimelech (my God is King), took his Israelite family to Moab (must have been a time of peace)

A time of famine in Judah

Women of faith, obedience Ruth (friend), Naomi (my delight) , Orpah (gazelle)

Levirate Law - after the death of husband, allows women to raise up children to their first husband) The Mosaic law required that a brother or near male relative of a deceased man marry his widow in order to save or redeem the woman from the devastating consequences of widowhood. By marrying her, the kinsman agreed to protect her, provide progeny for the deceased man, and ensure property remained in the family. This was called the levirate law of marriage.  The man who married her was called a "Kinsmen-redeemer"

 

Naomi returns to Judah (to hopefully find family that will care for her, and the famin was over) When Naomi's husband and 2 sons die, Naomi pleads with daughters to leave and go find husbands in their homeland, Orpah leaves, Ruth 1:16-17 will not leave Naomi. A woman of great conversion.

Ruth, great-grandmother of King David.

Ruth and Naomo symbols of the Savior, raising children in the covenant

 

Boaz noticed Ruth among the gleaners and asked who she was. His servant not only told Boaz who Ruth was but also added that she had worked hard since the morning and had stopped only for a short rest in the shelter.

Boaz sought Ruth out and told her not to go to other fields but to do all her gleaning in his fields. He explained that he had instructed his servants to protect her and that she could even drink from the vessels set aside for his servants.

When Ruth bowed to Boaz and asked why she was being so favored, Boaz told her that he had been impressed by her faithfulness to Naomi and her conversion to the God of Israel.

At mealtime Boaz invited Ruth to share his food. He let her eat until she was full and even permitted her to take home what was left.

After Ruth returned to gleaning, Boaz instructed his servants to let Ruth glean among the sheaves, which meant she didn’t have to wait until the grain had been transported to the threshing floor to glean. In addition, he told the servants to purposefully leave grain for her and not to rebuke her.

After her day of gleaning, Ruth threshed her grain and had an ephah of barley. An ephah is about three-fifths of a bushel (about twenty-three quarts) and is an unusually large amount for one day’s gleaning.

That evening Ruth returned to Naomi and gave her the barley and the food left from her meal with Boaz.

Surprised at how much Ruth had gathered in such a short time, Naomi asked where she had gleaned that day. When she found out it was in Boaz’s fields she praised God, recognizing His tender mercies: not only was Boaz a rich man but he was also a close relative of her husband Elimelech, making him eligible to be a go‘el according to the levirate law of marriage. This was the turning point for Naomi, whose emptiness was beginning to be filled with hope.

Naomi acknowledged that as a near relative, Boaz should fulfill his role as go‘el, and so she proposed a plan to make that happen to secure Ruth’s future.

 

Naomi instructed Ruth to prepare herself like a bride (see Ezekiel 16:9–12) and told her that when Boaz was done celebrating the day’s harvest with food and wine and had gone to sleep on the threshing floor, she should enter, uncover his feet, and lay down at his feet. Lying at his feet suggests the position of a humble supplicant.

 

At midnight Boaz was startled awake and found Ruth lying at his feet. Ruth identified herself and said, “Spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman,” requesting that Boaz marry her and become her protector according to the levirate law. 

 

The word translated as “kinsman” is go‘el. Using the metaphor of a wing covering Ruth brings a symbol of the Atonement into the story. The Hebrew word for atonement is kawfar, which means “to cover.” Thus Ruth is calling on the go‘el to cover and protect her just as the Atonement of Jesus Christ covers and protect us.

 

After the marriage, Ruth gave birth to a son named Obed (meaning “servant”). Obed was the grandfather of King David and a direct ancestor of Jesus Christ.

The story ends with Naomi’s friends proclaiming the great blessings Naomi had been given by the Lord. Earlier in the story, Naomi thought God had abandoned her, and thus she felt emptied. But now the Lord had filled her with posterity, protection, and love. Her friends’ pronouncement that her life had been restored brings the theme of being emptied and then filled to a conclusion.

Enzio Busche "The pain of sacrifice last only one moment. It is the fear of the 

pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it." 

 

Hannah - Samual's mother 

1 Samuel 2:1-10 Hannah's prayer of thanksgiving

 

Samual - the son of Elkanah and Hannah. He was born at Ramathaim-zophim, among the hills of Ephraim (see Ramah, 2). Before his birth he was dedicated by his mother to the office of a Nazarite, and when a young child, 12 years old according to Josephus, he was placed in the temple and “ministered unto the Lord before Eli.” It was while here that he received his first prophetic call (1 Samuel 3:1-18).

 

Saul - The first king of Israel, the son of Kish, and of the tribe of Benjamin. His character is in part illustrated by the fierce, wayward, fitful nature of the tribe and in part accounted for by the struggle between the old and new systems in which he found himself involved. 

 

David - (well-beloved), the son of Jesse. His life may be divided into three portions: His youth before his introduction to the court of Saul. His relations with Saul. His reign.

That Hannah had been unable to have children and her rivalry with Elkanah’s other wife, Peninnah, reminds us of other great women—Sarah and Rachel from the Old Testament and Elizabeth and Mary from the New Testament—known for becoming the mothers of God’s servants. Since Hannah didn’t have children, people of the time interpreted that to mean that she would be cut off from the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant. Another possibility, however, is to interpret Hannah’s lack of children as a biblical motif of righteous women who, for a time, were unable to have children. 

 

Hannah made a covenant that if she were to have a son, he would be completely dedicated to serving the Lord. Among the covenant people, all firstborn children and animals belonged to the Lord.

Because Hannah was a righteous woman and had fulfilled her oath to the Lord to fully dedicate her son to His service, the Lord blessed Hannah with other children, emphasizing that she was indeed one of the covenant people who were blessed with a posterity.

 

The Lord called to Samuel three times in the night before Samuel understood and answered. This motif of speaking three times was repeated on other occasions when the Lord wanted to open communication with His people. In 3 Nephi 11, Jesus spoke three times to the remaining Nephites before they were able to understand him. Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith three times in one night to repeat the message the Lord had for him.

 

The Lord told Samuel that the chain of authority had been broken because of Eli’s disobedience and because of the sins of Eli’s sons. Through Samuel, the Lord would “do a thing in Israel,” meaning that He would speak to Israel through a new order of prophets starting with Samuel. Eli’s household and the power of the priests would decrease.

 

it was with Samuel that the biblical prophetic tradition started. Jewish tradition also considers Samuel to be the first prophet.