Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 1:7

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 1:7

"In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee."

I know this story so well. Solomon asks for wisdom and knowledge so he can judge the people. God said because this was in his heart, and he didn't ask for riches, wealth, honour or a long life, that he is blessed with all of these also. This made me wonder what my response would be if the Lord came to me at night and asked "What shall I give thee?"

One thing is for sure it would have to be what is already in my heart. When you try to think of what is in your heart it's hard to say. Then I remembered what I pray for every day. I am serious about my desire for it. Everyday I am blessed with it.

Day 2527

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 29:9

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 29:9

"Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy."

What must it feel like to make an offering with perfect heart willingly? I cannot say how perfect my heart has been? I pondered on when I have felt the Spirit envelopment me in great peace, and joy while in serve to the Lord.

Day 2526

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 28:20

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 28:20

"And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD."

I pondered on how these words of counsel should be passed down to every generation. There is great peace contained in this knowledge. That God will not fail or forsake in your hour of need, if your heart is always turned to Him.

"And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children."

(Isaiah 54:13)

Day 2525

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 27:23

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 27:23

"But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens."

David learned to not count Israel. In doing so it showed faith that as the Lord had promised they were so numerous to be uncountable.

"And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be."

(Genesis 15:5)

"That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice."

(Genesis 22:17-18)

"Abraham received promises concerning his seed, and of the fruit of his loins—from whose loins ye are, namely, my servant Joseph—which were to continue so long as they were in the world; and as touching Abraham and his seed, out of the world they should continue; both in the world and out of the world should they continue as innumerable as the stars; or, if ye were to count the sand upon the seashore ye could not number them."

(Doctrine and Covenants 132:30)

Day 2524

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 26:12

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 26:12

"Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD."

There is the mention of a ward again. I tried to find the meaning of a ward at that time. I did find an archaic definition, to guard; protect; watch; lookout; admit to care. It made me ponder on the protection I feel that comes from serving in the house of the Lord.

Day 2523

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 25:3

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 25:3

"Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD."

I wondered, "How do you prophesy with a harp?" Then I thought of all the beautiful inspirational hymns. I then remembered this morning as I was listening to general conference talks I had the desire to listen to the song "Peace in Christ". I got so busy in my day that I didn't have a chance to look it up and listen to it. I found it and did so now. As I sat and absorbed the words I could see all that is promised and that is prophesy.

Day 2522

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 24:5, 19

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 24:5, 19

"Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and the sons of Ithamar.

These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the Lord, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him."

The Lord's House is a house of order. I thought about callings and how there is order there. Everyone is to learn and know their duty. How this helps to build the Lord's kingdom and strengthen the saints.

Day 2521

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 23:13

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 23:13

"The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever."

This chapter has the descendants of Levi, that were priests and served in the house of the Lord. There was a footnote for the word "separated". It was interesting to see it meant "setting apart". Setting apart I do understand. Not sure why I had never looked at setting apart as the same as being separated.

Setting Apart

"To be selected and consecrated for holy purposes. This appointment is to a specific service within the Church organization by the laying on of hands by someone who has the proper authority. Only those who preside over priesthood quorums receive keys when they are set apart. People set apart to positions other than presidents of priesthood quorums may receive a priesthood blessing, but no keys are given with that blessing."

There is another place in the scriptures where separate is used for setting apart.

"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."

(Acts 13:2-3)

Day 2520

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 22:5, 14, 16

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 22:5, 14, 16

"And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.

Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.

Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee."

David wasn't allowed to build the house of the Lord, but was promised his son would. I love how David prepared many things in abundance for when his son Solomon would build it. Then he charges his son to be up and doing, and the Lord would be with him. It made me think of how many times the Lord has had people lay the foundation work for others to build upon it. The pioneers had a history of planting crops for others to harvest as they crossed the plains. Planting seeds they would never benefit from. Another example is the Salt Lake temple and the 40 years it took to build. President Brigham Young began it and it wasn't until Wilford Woodruff was prophet that it was dedicated. This made me think of another quote attributed to President Woodruff. "In a general conference address in April 1950, Elder Richard L. Evans of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “I recall a reported statement, attributed, as I remember it, to President Wilford Woodruff. Some of the brethren of his time are said to have approached him … and to have inquired of him as to when he felt the end would be—when would be the coming of the Master? These, I think, are not his exact words, but they convey the spirit of his reported reply: ‘I would live as if it were to be tomorrow—but I am still planting cherry trees!’” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, Chapter 24, "Preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ")

Day 2519

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 21:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 21:1-2

"And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it."

Why was it wrong for David to number Israel? Moses was commanded to do so. The book of Numbers deals with counting people.

"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them."

(Exodus 30:11-12)

Besides the difference of the Lord commanding a census, and in the other He did not, the one difference I can see is why the censuses were taken. When the Lord commanded it was during the construction of the tabernacle and to pay a ransom for the souls of people. It also happened in the dividing of inheritances for the different tribes. The censuses were to bless and redeem people. The purpose it appears for David to take a census was to see how powerful he was in the midst of battles with his enemies. Was the offense being that he was measuring his strength against other men, and not measuring their strength in relying upon the Lord to deliver them?

The Lord tells the seer Gad to go to David and have him choose between three different penalties.

"Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me."

(1 Chronicles 21:12)

All of them would punish the people and take lives. This is a very strong lesson to show David and even Israel, that their strength doesn't come from people, but the power of God to preserve them.

Day 2518

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 20:6-7

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 20:6-7

"And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant.

But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him."

Not exactly my typically pondering on the scriptures tonight. I had to add Jonathan as the son of David's brother Shimea to the database. Then I was fascinated by the giants and read articles on giants in the bible. Giants are mentioned 19 times in the Old Testament and twice in the Pearl of Great Price. I read them all.

"He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant."

(Job 16:14)

The footnote for giant in this verse says "HEB mighty man".

Day 2517

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 19:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 19:2-3

"And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?"

Looks like they had to deal with fake news back in David's time too. He tried to show kindness and conspiracy theorists built up such paranoia over something that didn't exist. Showing themselves totally in fear of man and not lead by God. All of this caused a battle where 47,000 men needlessly died. How do you stop people from doing this? I guess you just have to trust that God will help you over come the challenges caused by those that have lost their way.

"Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight."

(1 Chronicles 19:13)

Day 2516

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 18:8

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 18:8

"Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass."

I pondered on how David didn't come upon this brass with ease. They had to battle their enemies and this was one result of it. The benefit of this brass to be used in the temple for the brasen sea didn't come during David's lifetime. It made me think that sometimes we don't know the purpose of the trial we go through until later. The benefit can be for further generations.

Day 2515

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 17:2-4

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 17:2-4

"Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.

And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:"

This made me ponder on how a prophet can give counsel and advise and then later we can see it change. Nathan did nothing wrong in the counsel he gave David. The Lord didn't say he was displeased in it. He just had a better way. His timing was different. He spoke to the prophet now on the direction that should be taken. It shouldn't bother us when we see direction and counsel change. It made me think about the recent changes we have see regarding the Saturday evening sessions of general conference.

Day 2514

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 16:29

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 16:29

"Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."

I really liked the sound of worshipping the Lord in the "beauty of holiness". After pondering on it I looked to see if anything was written about this. I found this general conference talk that expressed what I was thinking perfectly.

"I see the beauty of holiness in sisters whose hearts are centered on all that is good, who want to become more like the Savior. They offer their whole soul, heart, might, mind, and strength to the Lord in the way that they live every day. Holiness is in the striving and the struggle to keep the commandments and to honor the covenants we have made with God. Holiness is making the choices that will keep the Holy Ghost as our guide. Holiness is setting aside our natural tendencies and becoming “a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord.” “Every moment of [our lives] must be holiness to the Lord."

(Carol F. McConkie, "The Beauty of Holiness", April 2017 General Conference)

Day 2513

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 15:2, 13, 25

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 15:2, 13, 25

"Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.

For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.

So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obed-edom with joy."

This second attempt to carry the ark to Jerusalem is now done with joy. That is because it was done in its proper order, and with the Lord's approval. The first attempt and its failure resulting in the death of Uzza was a great lesson for them to repent and learn from. I thought of the great joy that comes when you are right with the Lord.

Day 2512