Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 23:18

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 23:18

"And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing."

I'm reading that Tyre would sing as a harlot and commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world. Then all of a sudden its goods are used as holiness to the Lord. I turned to the Institute manual to understand what happened better.

Like Babylon, Tyre represented the world and so eventually would come under the judgments of God. Like Babylon, she was seen as a harlot committing fornication (joining in wickedness) with the kingdoms of the world (see Isaiah 23:15, 17–18; compare Revelation 17:1–2). The seventy years may refer to her coming judgments. Isaiah 23:18 shows that eventually the merchandise of Tyre (the world) will be put to proper use in building the kingdom of Jehovah.

(Old Testament Student Manual, "A Voice of Warning to the Wicked" (Isaiah 13-23)

Day 2861

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 93:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 93:5

"Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever."

This made me think of the words above all the temples "Holiness to the Lord". It's one of my favorite things to look at as I enter the temple. This thought made me look for when and where we were told to add that on our temples.

"And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD."

(Exodus 28:36)

"And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD."

(Exodus 39:30)

It's mentioned in Exodus but that was part of the mitre, which appears to be Aaron's headband, cap or turban. There was also blue lace attached to it. This just left me with more questions. Why would the priest wear "Holiness to the Lord" on his head? Then I read this.

"That thy glory may rest down upon thy people, and upon this thy house, which we now dedicate to thee, that it may be sanctified and consecrated to be holy, and that thy holy presence may be continually in this house;

And that all people who shall enter upon the threshold of the Lord’s house may feel thy power, and feel constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it, and that it is thy house, a place of thy holiness."

(Doctrine and Covenants 109:12-13)

I think it was symbolic of the glory that would rest upon the people that entered the House of the Lord. Just like it rested upon Aaron's forehead. Now all that enter the House of the Lord can feel of His presence.

The Kirtland Temple has "House of the Lord" but not "Holiness to the Lord" on it, even though it's mentioned in the dedicatory prayer. The Nauvoo temple was the first to bare "Holiness to the Lord" upon it. All other temples after that have bore that inscription.

Day 2730

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