Samuel Instructing Saul, by Ted Henninger

1 Samuel 8–10; 13; 15–16: Lesson 72

1 Samuel 15

“Striving to Keep All of God’s Commandments”

Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.

God gives commandments to guide us and bring us joy. Sometimes we might feel justified in disobeying some of His commandments because we are keeping others. The actions of Saul and his army in 1 Samuel 15 show some of the possible consequences of giving in to this temptation. This lesson can help you understand the importance of striving to obey all of God’s commandments.

Study the Scriptures

Imagine a table full of different foods from around the world. Which foods would you choose to eat? Which would you choose not to eat? Why?

Read or watch the following talk from President Russell M. Nelson. Look for how our approach to obeying God’s commandments should differ from how we choose our food:

[You] will encounter people who pick which commandments they will keep and ignore others that they choose to break. I call this the cafeteria approach to obedience. This practice of picking and choosing will not work. It will lead to misery. To prepare to meet God, one keeps all of His commandments. It takes faith to obey them, and keeping His commandments will strengthen that faith. (“Face the Future with Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 34)

Can you think of reasons why someone might not choose to keep certain commandments? Reflect on how you respond when you hear a commandment you might not want to keep. As you study today, seek the Spirit’s help in understanding the importance of striving to obey all of God’s commandments.

After the Lord told Samuel to let the Israelites have a king, the Lord directed Samuel to anoint a young man named Saul to be the king (see 1 Samuel 8–10). When threatened by an attack from the Philistines, Saul disobeyed the Lord by offering a sacrifice that he wasn’t authorized to make (see 1 Samuel 13:8–9). Samuel then taught Saul the consequences of his disobedience (see 1 Samuel 13:10–14). In 1 Samuel 15, we see a similar pattern when Saul doesn’t follow the Lord’s instructions with exactness.

Read 1 Samuel 15:1–3, 7–9, in which the Lord gave Saul and his army specific commandments. You might mark in one color which of the Lord’s commandments Saul and his army chose to obey. Then, in a different color, mark which commandments they chose not to obey.

Note: see Old Testament Scripture Helps.

After the battle with the Amalekites, Samuel spoke to Saul about his and his army’s disobedience.

Read 1 Samuel 15:13–24, marking the attitudes and excuses that influenced Saul’s choice to disobey God’s commandments. For example, in verse 13, Saul lied about his obedience.

Read and link Matthew 26:36–39 to 1 Samuel 15:22. Compare Saul’s attitudes and justifications with those of the Savior.

How did it end? There are consequences when we repeatedly reject God’s direction and commandments. Saul’s choices to reject God’s counsel led to God instructing Samuel to find another king to take Saul’s place (see 1 Samuel 13:14; 15:28).

Review the following study options. Complete one or more.

Option A

How does keeping the commandments lead to joy?

What are some commandments that young people today might choose to overlook or ignore?

Read Mosiah 2:41 and Alma 37:35 to see the counsel of King Benjamin and that of Alma. You might tag these passages as “commandments.”

You might also watch the video “To Be Happy, Keep the Commandments, Said President Nelson” (1:07).

Pick one commandment and write a brief scenario in which a person might be tempted to disobey the commandment. Include how trying to justify disobedience like Saul did in 1 Samuel 15 could be destructive.

After you have created a scenario, respond to two or more of the following questions in your notebook:

• How might someone in this situation be tempted to use the attitudes or justifications that Saul used?

• How could choices to obey or disobey this commandment eventually lead to joy or misery?

• Why is it important to learn to obey all of God’s commandments in your youth?

Option B

How are the commandments evidence of God’s love?

God has many loving reasons for giving commandments.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

His commandments are not grievous—just the opposite. They mark the path of healing, happiness, peace, and joy. Our Father and our Redeemer have blessed us with commandments, and in obeying Their commandments, we feel Their perfect love more fully and more profoundly. (“The Love of God,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 18)

Study one or more of the following accounts. Look for how the Lord’s commandments are evidence of God’s love.

1. “Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God” (5:41)

2. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “A Matter of a Few Degrees” (time code 2:14 to 4:00)

3. The following statement by Elder Von G. Keetch of the Seventy:

   

   True obedience, therefore, is giving ourselves entirely to Him and allowing Him to chart our course both in calm waters and in troubled ones, understanding that He can make more of us than we could ever make of ourselves. (“Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 117)

In your notebook, draw a picture that represents a truth you learned about the importance of striving to obey God’s commandments. Write that truth underneath your drawing.

Share Your Thoughts

Lesson Purpose: To help you understand the importance of striving to obey all of God’s commandments.

Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:

• The scenario you wrote, including what you learned about how striving to keep all of God’s commandments leads to joy.

• The drawing you made of the truth you learned about obeying all of God’s commandments.

• Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.

• Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?