Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 12:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 12:9-10
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."

It has only been more recently that I saw these verses a little differently. I used to think I would always stand with Israel, why would you not? Then with more recent events I realized what I think is happening is not always what is happening. There might be real reasons all the nations come against Jerusalem. Their leaders may behave politically really badly. They may be causing world wide unrest. Why would the Lord then destroy all those nations? Well it could be wickedness in them too. I think more likely though, that in the midst of Jerusalem being destroyed a miracle needs to happen. The Lord appears, showing mercy to them. They will recognize the hands, feet and side that were pierced because their fathers crucified the God of Israel. They will come to know Jesus is the Christ and mourn and repent.

Day 4051

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 8:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 8:16-17
"These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD."

I would love to live when this is true. If everyone would only speak the truth and be peaceful, then we would be a Zion people. One day that will come, because the Lord will come and reign over us. As I pondered on this further I thought about how we must be a Zion people before the Lord comes. This is to be lived today amongst God's people regardless. Truly to be honest and peaceful in all things, when you're in the midst of people that are not how much truer your conviction is.

Day 4050

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 5:2-4

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 5:2-4
"And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.
Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.
I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof."

I do love the question and answer session that Zechariah has with the angel. That is how the Spirit teaches me. While I am reading the scriptures questions come to my mind and then the spirit will open my eyes to understand or think about it in a different way.

What made me reflect in these verses is the seriousness of swearing and taking the Lord's name in vain. It is one of the ten commandments. Yet, how easily that falls from people lips now. It feels like an epidemic. When I picture that flying roll and how as a curse it's upon the whole earth it seem literally fulfilled. It reminded me of the story of President Kimball.

In the hospital one day I was wheeled out of the operating room by an attendant who stumbled, and there issued from his angry lips vicious cursing with a combination of the names of the Savior. Even half-conscious, I recoiled and implored: “Please! Please! That is my Lord whose names you revile.”
There was a deathly silence, then a subdued voice whispered, “I am sorry.” He had forgotten for the moment that the Lord had forcefully commanded all his people, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Ex. 20:7).
Many people would excuse themselves for cursing by saying that the Ten Commandments were given millennia ago to a faraway people, but it must be remembered that he not only gave them with power to the Israelites but he also reiterated them with emphasis to the Jews in the meridian of time and even in our own dispensation has repeated them for our own benefit and guidance.
To the young man of Jerusalem who asked the way of salvation, Christ said, “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matt. 19:17).
(Spencer W. Kimball, “President Kimball Speaks Out on Profanity,” Ensign, Feb. 1981, 3)

Day 4049

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 3:1-4

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 3:1-4
"And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

Reminds me of things I learn in the temple. Joshua the high priest appears to be a good man for the angel of the Lord is before him. Satan is there to resist him. It would appear Joshua's garments are filthy not from his sins but from the sins of the world. He is being washed and cleansed from them, and put on a change of raiment. We likewise need to be cleansed from the sins of the world, and stand apart from it. Being in the world but not of it.

"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."
(John 15:19)

"And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better."
(Doctrine and Covenants 25:10)

"And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;"
(Doctrine and Covenants 59:9)

Day 4048