Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 2:34-35

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 2:34-35

" Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.

And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife; and she bare him Attai."

I didn't realize they could do this? I know Abraham was given Hagar by Sarah to have seed, but in this case a father gives his daughter to a servant to have a son. I couldn't find anything that explained this so I pondered on it. I thought of families when there were no male heirs to carry on the name. That they have asked their son-in-laws to take on their family name. Then the family name is continued through them. I think is this situation, Sheshan needed to carry on the family line. Who better to get to do this than his servant. One that would stay with him. I thought of other situations where kings have given their daughters to build alliances. So as I thought this over what once sounded odd was no longer. In fact it made sense.

Day 2499

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 1:4, 24-28

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 1:4, 24-28

"Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,

Eber, Peleg, Reu,

Serug, Nahor, Terah,

Abram; the same is Abraham."

Even though this chapter doesn't give the ages when each father begat a son, and how long they lived, I finally sat and worked it out by other places in the scriptures. Until today, I had never thought about the fact the Noah was still alive when Abraham was born. I knew Shem was alive, but now realize he didn't die until after Abraham's grandson Jacob was born. What incredible things Noah witnessed and heard. His grandfather Methuselah heard Adam's testimony, witnessed his father Enoch and the city of Zion being translated, and didn't die until right before the flood. He would have heard about all these things directly from grandfather who was an eyewitness. Noah witnessed the flood and then lives to see Abraham and the covenant that God will make with him. I am struck on how important families and witnesses are to God.

Day 2498

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 25:7

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 25:7

"And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon."

Not all the sons of Zedekiah were killed. Mulek came to the America's after Lehi and his family. This was a witness to Lehi descendants that Jerusalem had been destroyed as prophesied.

"And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem? But behold, this is not all—"

(Helaman 8:21)

I also found this commentary on this verse and it's interesting to see how prophesy works, and how you should never dismiss what a prophet says.

"Josephus recorded an interesting story about Zedekiah and hearkening to the prophets: “Now as to Zedekiah himself, while he heard the prophet [Jeremiah] speak, he believed him, and agreed to every thing as true, and supposed it was for his advantage; but then his friends perverted him, and dissuaded him from what the prophet advised, and obliged him to do what they pleased. Ezekiel also foretold in Babylon what calamities were coming upon the people, which when he heard, he sent accounts of them unto Jerusalem. But Zedekiah did not believe their prophecies, for the reason following: It happened that the two prophets agreed with one another in what they said as in all other things, that the city should be taken, and Zedekiah himself should be taken captive; but Ezekiel disagreed with him [Jeremiah], and said that Zedekiah should not see Babylon [see Ezekiel 12:13], while Jeremiah said to him, that the king of Babylon should carry him away thither in bonds [see Jeremiah 34:3]; and because they did not both say the same thing as to this circumstance, he disbelieved what they both appeared to agree in, and condemned them as not speaking truth therein, although all the things foretold him did come to pass according to their prophecies, as we shall show upon a fitter opportunity.” (Antiquities, bk. 10, chap. 7, par. 2.)

As recorded in 2 Kings 25:7, both prophets were vindicated by subsequent events. After chastising Zedekiah for his unfaithfulness and treachery, Nebuchadnezzar “commanded his sons and his friends to be slain, while Zedekiah and the rest of the captains looked on; after which he put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him, and carried him to Babylon. And these things happened to him, as Jeremiah and Ezekiel had foretold to him, that he should be caught, and brought before the king of Babylon, and should speak to him face to face, and should see his eyes with his own eyes; and thus far did Jeremiah prophesy. But he was also made blind, and brought to Babylon, but did not see it, according to the prediction of Ezekiel.” (Antiquities, bk. 10, chap. 8, par. 2.)"

(Old Testament Student Manuel, "Judah's Return to Wickedness", (19-20)

Day 2497

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 24:2, 17

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 24:2, 17

"And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.

And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah."

Was Lehi one of the prophets being referenced here?

"For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi, having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.

Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard."

(1 Nephi 1:4, 18)

Day 2496

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 23:2, 24-25

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 23:2, 24-25

"And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.

 Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.

And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him."

Before Josiah cleanses Judah from all its abominations it's important that he read the book of the covenant to the people. They needed to be reminded of the covenants they had made and how they had strayed from them. Then all the signs of their pagan worship to false gods could be removed. Yet this wasn't enough to turn the hearts of the people back to God. The king's heart was right, he did what was right, the people did not. I thought about how Josiah was able to stand clean before the Lord with no accountability for the sins of the people on his head. This was all on theirs.

Day 2495

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 22:8, 11, 19

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 22:8, 11, 19

"And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.

Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.

The book of the law, which could have been the book of Deuteronomy or the Pentateuch, covering the five books of Moses, had been found. That suggests that they had been lost. Not surprising given the wickedness in Judah, and Israel. I pondered on the blessing of reading the scriptures and how it keeps us on the covenant path. There is also a protection in them to keep us humble and a heart that is turned to God. He will then watch over us, and hear our prayers.

Day 2494

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 21:12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 21:12-13

"Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.

And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down."

I was fascinated in the meaning of "ears that tingle". I don't think my ears have ever tingled. I know I've heard of itching ears when men will not hear sound doctrine. I had to ponder on what it would mean to have your ears tingle. There are a couple of footnotes.

"And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle."

(1 Samuel 3:11)

This happens when Samuel is told this ears will tingle when what the Lord spoke concerning Eli house happens. Which isn't a good thing.

Then again to Jeremiah it's a voice of warning.

"And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle."

(Jeremiah 19:3)

It's also mention in the Doctrine and Covenants.

"Yea, and again, when the lightnings shall streak forth from the east unto the west, and shall utter forth their voices unto all that live, and make the ears of all tingle that hear, saying these words—Repent ye, for the great day of the Lord is come?"

(Doctrine and Covenants 43:22)

As I reflect on ears that tingle I think of the physical sensation that comes with it. Almost like when your spin tingles when something is scary. I think seeing Jerusalem wiped clean and turned upside down like a dish would be scary to see. It's like the Lord is saying not only will you hear with your own ears what was prophesied, but you will feel it too. It isn't just a witness of the Holy Ghost when something is right. It's a witness of when something is very wrong because He wasn't listened to and now you know it. I hope I never do have ears that tingle. I would much rather hear the words of the Lord and believe before hand.

Day 2493

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 20:1, 6

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 20:1, 6

"In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake."

Hezekiah is sick and the prophet Isaiah comes to tell him to set his house in order for he's not going to die. Hezekiah pleads with the Lord and weeps. Isaiah is sent back and tells him he will live another 15 years. That is such a blessing to be given an extension to put your house in order. But, I thought about what would come in those 15 years. One would be the son that rules after him, that does evil. Was it a blessing for Hezekiah not to see that son as an adult? Or would it have been more blessed that the son was never born? I don't know, but one thing is sure God is in command.

Day 2492

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 19:32, 34-35

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 19:32, 34-35

"Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.

For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.

And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses."

Hezekiah had been a righteous king and when he sees Jerusalem is surrounded by the Assyrians he turned in prayer to God. The answer comes through the prophet Isaiah, that the Assyrians won't come into the city and do battle. How must it have felt in the morning to see 185,000 Assyrians lay dead. A humble, grateful king would feel even more so.

Day 2491

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 18:3-4, 6

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 18:3-4, 6

"And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.

He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses."

I was just so happy to read about Hezekiah reign as king of Judah. It seems like such a long dry spell of having a righteous king. Over two hundred years this has been a continual issue. I did wonder why it included breaking the brasen serpent that Moses made. This article shed even great light on the subject.

"Israelites often murmured against God and His prophet, Moses. The Lord sent among the people “fiery serpents” that threatened great destruction as a punishment. As a means of physical salvation and as a type of the spiritual salvation to be wrought by Jesus Christ, Moses made a serpent of brass, placed it on a pole, and taught his people that if they would gaze upon the serpent when they were bitten, physical healing would follow. The brass serpent was preserved in Israel and, in time, became an object of adoration and was worshiped by the Israelites much as they worshiped idols. In his zeal to eradicate all forms of idolatry in Judah, King Hezekiah had the brazen serpent destroyed along with the idols.The word nehushtan comes from the Hebrew and means an object made of brass. The implication may be that Hezekiah was speaking contemptuously of the object being worshiped, saying it was merely a “thing of brass” and nothing more."

(Old Testament Student Manual Kings-Malachi, The Fall of the Northern Kingdom (2 Kings 14-20), (12-20)

It made me ponder on the importance of not worshipping craftmanship and history over the ordinances in the house of the Lord. If the brass serpent had long turned from being a symbol of looking to the Lord and living, to only an idol to worship, then yes it truly did need to be removed. It wasn't what Moses had fashioned for a particular need and time, it was the words that Moses taught of the Lord that needed to be honored and obeyed.

Day 2490

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 17:23

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 17:23

"Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day."

Israel had plenty of warning over and over again to turn away from their idol worshipping and wicked ways. To repent and turn back to the one true God. They did not, and generation after generation passed. Now the Lord removed Israel out of his sight. The ten tribes are carried away captive. I pondered on the role of a prophet and his voice of warning that should be heeded.

Day 2489

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 16:10, 14

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 16:10, 14

"And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.

And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar."

Ahaz has a priest build an altar like he saw in Damascus. Then when he returns he put aside the brasen altar of the Lord and replaces it with his own. He changes other things that had been established by the Lord. Not only is it sad to see the house of the Lord defiled, but it's sad that a priest would listen to a man and change these things. I suppose man can only serve one master and this group has chosen a different one than who's house it is. It made me ponder on how easily we can set aside the Lord and replace Him with things of the world. It takes effort and thought to be faithful. It shows where our heart is.

Day 2488

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 15:10, 25, 30

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 15:10, 25, 30

"And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.

 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah."

The chapter headers says this: "Many kings reign in Israel and in Judah—Their wickedness, wars, conspiracies, and evils are described—Much of Israel is carried captive to Assyria by Tiglath-pileser."

It was the mention of conspiracies that stood out to me. I have strong feelings on conspiracies, those that conspire and those that believe in people conspiring against them. Basically, I want nothing to do with either group. It's not the people, it's Satan that rules over that domain. His flaxen cords will choke you regardless of which side you are on.

"And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever."

(2 Nephi 26:22)

Instead of spending my efforts looking for and following conspiracies I need to focus my efforts and energies on growing as close to the Savior as I can. It is through the Holy Spirit that my path will be guided and I will walk through all the fiery darts that surround me. All conspiracies do is cause you to hate your brother and no longer see them as people just like you. Then you become blinded to the fact you became part of what you were trying to fight against.

"And it came to pass on the other hand, that the Nephites did build them up and support them, beginning at the more wicked part of them, until they had overspread all the land of the Nephites, and had seduced the more part of the righteous until they had come down to believe in their works and partake of their spoils, and to join with them in their secret murders and combinations."

(Helaman 6:38)

If you stay close to the Lord and have the spirit as your guide you will have eyes that see, and ears that hear, and will know and understand far greater than those blinded by the adversary.

Day 2487

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 14:3

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 14:3

"And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did."

When I read this chapter being told Amaziah did what was right in the sight of the Lord didn't make sense, since he seemed to go off course. He didn't take away the high places, which means the people were still worshipping idols or false gods. He makes war with others and doesn't listen to Joash's warning. Then I realized it because you can appear to do what is right on the outside but your heart and intent can make it bad. You can be two-faced.

Day 2486