1 Samuel 15

Lord of Hosts

LORD of hosts — Jehovah Sabaoth, Lord of the armies of heaven and Israel

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 1 Samuel 15:2

Samuel delivers the words of Jehovah, the Lord of Hosts, who remembers how Amalek attacked Israel in the wilderness. The Lord of Hosts is a title of the premortal Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• alludes to Exodus 17:14-16 — The Lord's sworn remembrance of Amalek's attack.
• the same title in D&C 98:37 — The Lord who fights His people's battles.

Jehovah

Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, 1 Samuel 15:10–11

Jehovah speaks to Samuel in the first person about Saul turning back from following Him. The Lord who calls kings to follow Him is Christ.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

Sacrifice as a similitude of Christ

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22

Animal sacrifices pointed to the Savior, but offering them while disobeying missed their purpose. Adam offered sacrifice simply because he obeyed, and was then taught it was a likeness of the Only Begotten; after Christ's Atonement the offering He asks is a broken heart and contrite spirit.

• alludes to Moses 5:5-7 — Adam obeyed first; the angel then explained sacrifice is a similitude of the Only Begotten.
• alluded to by Hosea 6:6 — 'I desired mercy, and not sacrifice' — the same principle.
• alluded to by 3 Nephi 9:19-20 — Christ ends blood sacrifice and asks for a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

Strength of Israel

Strength of Israel — Hebrew Netzach Yisrael, the Eternal One / Glory / Victory of Israel

And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. 1 Samuel 15:29

Samuel uses a rare title for the Lord: the Strength (Eternal Glory) of Israel, who never lies and does not change His word. This is Jehovah, the unchanging premortal Christ; 'he is not a man' speaks of Him before He took mortal flesh.

• alludes to Numbers 23:19 — 'God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent.'