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

1 Samuel 9:2 A choice young man

‘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.”  ^{1 Samuel 9:2} Saul was personally chosen by God to be king. ^{See  1 Samuel 9:17} He had every advantage—he was physically imposing,^{See  1 Samuel 10:23}and he came from an influential family.^{See  1 Samuel 9:1}

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,^{See  1 Samuel 10:7} give him another heart,^{See  1 Samuel 10:9} and turn him into another man.^{See  1 Samuel 10:6}

When he had the Lord’s help, Saul was a magnificent king. He united Israel and defeated the Ammonites, who had invaded their land.^{See  1 Samuel 11:11} 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.”^{1 Samuel 13:5} The Israelites were so terrified of the Philistines that they hid “themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks.”^{1 Samuel 13:6}

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.”^{1 Samuel 13:13–14}

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.’ (Dieter F Uchtdorf, General Conference, April 2008)

‘The scriptures indicate that “there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he” (v. 2). The word goodly seems to indicate many of the qualities that made Saul a logical candidate to be Israel’s first king. All that the Bible reveals indicates that Saul was honest, reliable, considerate of his parents, and altogether a very promising person for the great task ahead.

Goodly also described Saul’s physical attributes. In this regard, Saul was potentially the hero and man of valour all Israel sought. He was about a foot taller than those of his generation. Yet subsequent events show that the Lord was teaching Israel a lesson about people and about kings when He chose Saul. For the Lord certainly knew the end of this thing from the beginning, as He does in all things. Though Saul had, at first, a great regard for the law of Moses and for God, yet “the consciousness of his own power, coupled with the energy of his character, led him astray into an incautious disregard of the commands of God; his zeal in the prosecution of his plans hurried him on to reckless and violent measures; and success in his undertakings heightened his ambition into a haughty rebellion against the Lord, the God-king of Israel.” (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary, 2:2:79.)’ (Institute Old Testament Manual)

1 Samuel 9:21 Am not I a Benjaminite?

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

‘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.’ (Institute Old Testament Manual)

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

1 Samuel 15:1-3 Slay both man and woman

‘Nothing could justify such an exterminating decree but the absolute authority of God. This was given: all the reasons of it we do not know; but this we know well, The Judge of all the earth doth right. This war was not for plunder, for God commanded that all the property as well as all the people should be destroyed.’ (Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible)

1 Samuel 15:1-31

‘A Chinese proverb says that a man wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package. As we have already seen with the incident of unauthorised sacrifice at Gilgal, when Saul was under pressure, he couldn’t maintain personal discipline. He was always trying to excuse himself, blame others, or cover up; he was not honest with himself. Again, at the command to annihilate the Amalekite peoples in the Negev region, Saul’s tragic flaw became apparent. Instead of utterly destroying as he was instructed, he thought it best to spare some of the animals and even the king. Samuel listened to saul’s feeble excuses and then made it clear to him that the Lord had rejected him as Israel’s king. ‘To obey is better than sacrifice’ – the Lord wants exact obedience.

Verse 22 is one of the greatest lessons of the Old Testament. Saul himself recognised the root cause of his disobedience: ‘I feared the people, and obeyed their voice’ (v24.) Pride overtook him and contributed to his downfall. Do we worry, at times, more about what others think of us than what God thinks of us? Though Saul admitted he had sinned, the Lord did not seem to wipe the slate clean; he didn’t forgive the king. That is because there was no true repentance. Saul admitted his misbehaviour for the sake of appearances: ‘I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people’. (v 30). (Andrew C Skinner and D Kelly Ogden, Verse by Verse – The Old Testament)

4. The Lord chooses David as king.

1 Samuel 16:6-7 Look not upon his countenance

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

‘About 3,000 years ago when the king of Israel was Saul, and he proved himself unworthy of his high position, the Lord sent the prophet Samuel to find a successor for him. The prophet went to the home of Jesse, the father of eight sons. He called Jesse’s sons to him to interview them. When the proud father brought Eliab, the older son, he said to himself, “Surely this is the man” [see  1 Sam. 16:6]

“But the Lord said unto Samuel, look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”  (1 Sam. 16:7)

Then the proud father called a second, and he was not accepted. Seven fine, handsome sons came one after the other before the prophet Samuel, who said to the father, Jesse, “Are these all thy children?” And then Jesse admitted, “Yes, except the youngest, David, and he is out with the sheep.” And Samuel said, “Go fetch him.” (See  1 Sam. 16:11)

Now when the youngest son came in, he was ruddy and handsome and a delightful personality, and perhaps sunburned, for he was the shepherd and spent much of his time out in the open with the sheep. The Lord inspired Samuel and he said, “This is he.”  (1 Sam. 16:12) And as the father and the sons gathered around him, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David to become the king of Israel.

At this time the Philistines, a bitter enemy of Israel, had come up to conquer Israel, and they were lined up on one ridge and Israel was lined up on the other ridge, and a little valley was in between.

As the armies faced each other preliminary to the battle, a great giant named Goliath came out into the no-man’s-land and challenged the Israelites, saying:

“Why have you come out to battle us? I am a Philistine, and you are the servants to Saul. Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

“If he be able to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall you be our servants, and serve us.” (See  1 Sam. 17:8–9) He added: “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”  (1 Sam. 17:10)

Now this man was a giant; he was fearsome. About nine feet tall, he stood high above them all; and he had a helmet of brass on his head and a heavy metal coat of mail. With the strips of brass on his legs and brass between his shoulders, his coat of mail was very, very heavy. His spear was long like a weaver’s beam, and his sword sharp as a razor. He had a man to carry his shield.

He was certainly a formidable antagonist. Little wonder that the warriors on Israel’s side feared him. None seemed to have the courage or the foolhardiness to accept his challenge, so it was quite understandable that all the Israelite soldiers fell back and trembled.

It happened at this pivotal time that the father, Jesse, was concerned with the welfare of his three eldest sons who had been inducted into the army of Saul. Apparently when these sons were defending Israel, it fell to the lot of David, the youngest, to herd the sheep.

The kindly father called David from the sheep and gave to him a quantity of parched corn and some loaves and sent him to the army camp to take these to his brothers, and ten cheeses to the captain.

David arose very early and started his journey to Elah. He made full arrangements for someone to look after his father’s sheep so that they would not be driven away nor destroyed nor eaten by wild animals.

As David arrived at the scene of battle, the army was just going forth to the fight and were shouting for the battle.

David left his carriage in the hands of the keeper of the carriage and ran to the army and saluted his brethren.

Again the Philistine shouted his challenge, as he had done during 40 days of warfare.

As David came into the ranks, the men said to him, “Have you seen this giant that defies Israel? Do you realize that the man who kills him will be enriched by the king? To that man who can kill the great Goliath, freedom will come to his family.” (See  1 Sam. 17:25)

David was not well received by his eldest brother either, who was angry with him and said, “Why did you come down here? with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know you were curious and proud and naughty in your heart, and you have come down out of curiosity to observe the battle.” (See  1 Sam. 17:28)

David seemed to be disturbed at his brother’s denunciation and said, “Now what have I done? Isn’t there a reason why I came?” (See  1 Sam. 17:29) He knew that inspiration had brought him here for a good purpose to save Israel.

David’s inspiration or revelation was repeated to King Saul, who called the young man to him, and David said, “Don’t let this bully worry you and bring you fear. I will go and fight this Philistine.” (See  1 Sam. 17:32 But Saul was shocked and said to David:

“[You] art not able to … fight … this Philistine … for you are but a youth, and he a man of war. …

“And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

“And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

“Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.”  (1 Sam. 17:33–36)

He then repeated: “The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, go, and the Lord be with thee.” (See  1 Sam. 17:37)

Saul placed the king’s armor upon David, but it was so heavy he couldn’t bear it and threw it off.

“I cannot go with these; for I am not used to them,” said David. (See  1 Sam. 17:39

As he crossed the brook, David, the boy, stooped over and picked out five small stones and put them in his shepherd’s bag; and his sling was in his hand, and he moved toward the giant Philistine.

The great giant apparently was shocked and angered at such an affront. He saw this young man, ruddy and of a youthful, fair countenance, and in his anger and disgust, the Philistine said:

“Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David … and … said to [him], Come to me, and I will give [your] flesh … [to] the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.”  (1 Sam. 17:43–44)

Then David rose in his majesty and said to the Philistine:

“[You come] to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to [you] in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom [you have] defied.

“This day will the Lord deliver [you] into [my] hand; and I will smite [you], and take [your] head from [you], and I will give the carcases of the [army] of the Philistines this day [to] the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

“And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.”  (1 Sam. 17:45–47)

The Philistine and the shepherd boy approached each other, both with confidence:

“And David put his hand in his bag, and took out a stone, put it in his sling, aimed it, and sent it at terrific speed, and smote the Philistine in his forehead; perhaps the only unprotected spot, and the stone sunk deep into the forehead of the great, bragging bully who fell upon his face to the earth.” (See  1 Sam. 17:49)

I wonder how many of you young men have ever owned and used a sling. When I was a little boy, we made our own slings, and we found our own rocks and we discovered our own targets, and we became quite proficient in slinging the rocks. We would take a little piece of leather about the size you would use for a flipper, maybe two inches long and in an elliptical shape. And at each end a little hole was cut, and then a long thong of leather was fastened to each end, one of which had a knot in the end through which we put one finger. Then, with a rock in the sling, we would throw it around our head until we had great momentum, and then would turn loose one of the thongs and the rock would sail toward its destination.

We used to make all our own playthings: our slings, our whistles, our flippers, our play balls, and we learned to use them well.

“So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; … there was no sword in the hand of David [but only a sling].”  (1 Sam. 17:50)

All he used was a little pebble and a sling and inspiration and revelation. He had courage, he had strength, he had faith in himself, but especially faith in his Heavenly Father, to whom he offered his prayers.

The 40 days of challenge and of egotism and boasting had ended for this Philistine in death!

Evidently to put fear in the minds of the enemy, David went to the prone body of his antagonist lying on the ground and cut off his head. This act seemed to have its desired effect. And the enemy fled, and thus one inspired boy defeated an entire army. Israel’s army pursued the escaping Philistines and won the battle.

The king inquired as to who the lad was who had performed such a miraculous feat, and then Jonathan gave him his sword, his bow, and his girdle. And the scripture says: “And David behaved himself wisely in all … ways; and the Lord was with him.”  (1 Sam. 18:14)

Now, my young brothers, remember that every David has a Goliath to defeat, and every Goliath can be defeated. He may not be a bully who fights with fists or sword or gun. He may not even be flesh and blood. He may not be nine feet tall; he may not be armor-protected, but every boy has his Goliaths. And every boy has his sling, and every boy has access to the brook with its smooth stones.

You will meet Goliaths who threaten you. Whether your Goliath is a town bully or is the temptation to steal or to destroy or the temptation to rob or the desire to curse and swear; if your Goliath is the desire to wantonly destroy or the temptation to lust and to sin, or the urge to avoid activity, whatever is your Goliath, he can be slain. But remember, to be the victor, one must follow the path that David followed:

“David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.”  (1 Sam. 18:14)

David had integrity and kept his father’s sheep. David did not leave his sheep without a caretaker when he filled another assignment from his father.

David was responsible. His sheep were in his hands; he killed the bear and he killed the lion to save his father’s sheep, even at great danger to himself. He took the little lamb out of the mouth of the beast and restored it to its mother. David took five stones to kill Goliath. He needed only one. David was honorable and had faith in his Heavenly Father, and he feared no man so long as he had the confidence of his Lord. He taunted the Philistine giant, saying, “You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield, with a coat of mail, with an armor bearer: But I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” (See  1 Sam. 17:45) (Spencer W Kimball, General Conference, October 1974)