Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 6:13

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 6:13
" And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them."

I learned something new, this is the only mention in the scriptures of the Savior's Apostles anointing the sick with oil when administering to them.

President Dallin H. Oaks taught that miraculous healings happen today, just as in biblical times, through the power of the priesthood:
“Miracles happen when the authority of the priesthood is used to bless the sick. I have experienced these miracles. As a boy and as a man I have seen healings as miraculous as any recorded in the scriptures, and so have many of you. …
“The Old Testament frequently mentions anointing with oil as part of a blessing conferred by priesthood authority. Anointings were declared to be for sanctification and perhaps can also be seen as symbolic of the blessings to be poured out from heaven as a result of this sacred act.
“In the New Testament we read that Jesus’s Apostles ‘anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them’ (Mark 6:13). The book of James teaches the role of anointing in connection with the other elements in a healing blessing by priesthood authority:
“‘Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
“‘And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up’ (James 5:14–15).
“ … When elders anoint a sick person and seal the anointing, they open the windows of heaven for the Lord to pour forth the blessing He wills for the person afflicted” (“Healing the Sick,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 48).
(New Testament Student Manual, "Chapter 12: Mark 5-7")

Day 4087

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 24:5-6, 15

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 24:5-6, 15

"And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.

And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD."

The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand."

David finds Saul resting in a cave. He secretly cuts off Saul's skirt. The footnote for skirt is "OR hem, corner, border which signifies the portion that symbolized his authority". The cutting of this skirt, and David telling Saul he had done so, was more than just "I could have taken your life", but it shows he is losing his authority.

After cutting off Saul's skirt the spirit constrains David to spare Saul's life. The reason? Saul is the Lord's anointed. David had to leave this all to God's will to judge the matter with Saul. David had to trust that God would deliver him. For one thing David knew if he touched the Lord's anointed God would be after him.

"Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm."

(Psalms 105:15)

"Cursed are all those that shall lift up the heel against mine anointed, saith the Lord, and cry they have sinned when they have not sinned before me, saith the Lord, but have done that which was meet in mine eyes, and which I commanded them."

(Doctrine and Covenants 121:16)

Day 2419

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 16:1, 13-14

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 16:1, 13-14

"And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him."

The Lord rejected Saul. I like how this first verse shows the Lord's timing. David was already born and ready when he was needed. The spirit confirms to Saul that David is to be the anointed king. After David is anointed the spirit withdraws from Saul. It reminds me of the mantle that comes with callings. How when that calling is over that mantle is gone. The increase of the spirit that helps us fulfill our calling being gone is one thing, but with Saul something far worse has taken place. In this last verse it's import to read the footnote. When is says "an evil spirit from the Lord", the footnote to the Joseph Smith translation says "..which was not of the Lord.." This same phrase is used four more times in this chapter, and corrected each time. The point being God will never send us an evil spirit. What he does do is withdraw his spirit from us. Then we are opened to receiving evil spirit when they come. You do not want the spirit to be withdrawn from you. Living our lives in a manner worthy to receive the spirit, and by renewing our baptismal covenants by taking the sacrament, needs to be done consistently.

Day 2411

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 24:5-6

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 24:5-6
"And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord."

I'm a little confused, how is Saul the Lord's anointed when in 1 Samuel 15:26 it says "And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel." Would that not void out his anointing?

Right after this Samuel was lead by the Lord to David and anointed him.

"Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah." (1 Samuel 16:13)

So if Saul is rejected of the Lord to be king over Israel and David has already been anointed, then why was David told not to stretch his hand against Saul?

As I pondered this over I think the difference is the Lord may have rejected Saul as king of Israel, but the people had not. Wouldn't this be similar to the 10th Article of Faith?
"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."

I went back in the scriptures to the time when both Saul and David were anointed by Samuel. The people of Israel had no knowledge of it. The Lord may have chosen, but the people had not yet accepted him. Right now the people did not know David was anointed by Samuel to be the next king. So I think David is in the position of honoring the laws of his land. Saul is still their king. He is honoring his office or position, even if you cannot honor the man.  What does that say about my day when there are people that imply, maybe wish, to kill my president?  You may not love the man, but you must respect the office. To do otherwise, would it not bring you under the condemnation of God?


Day 835