Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 27:35

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 27:35

"And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots."

This is the prophesy spoken of in Psalm 22:18.

This made me ponder how prophesy being fulfilled is not always recognized at the time of the event. It is when you are looking backwards understanding often comes. This is exactly what Jesus Christ did with his apostles after his resurrection.

"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

(Luke 24:27)

It's interesting to think that Jesus Christ may have told them about that very connection with his garment and what scripture was fulfilled.

One major event happened this week that has many wondering if a last day prophesy was just fulfilled. It's either prophesy or an extraordinary coincident, in either case it leaves me in awe.

The scripture:

"And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days."

(Daniel 12:11) 

The events:

At the end of day on March 25, 2020 all the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints closed due to Covid. Israel is attacked on Oct 7, 2023 at 6:30 a.m. Which would be the end of the day Oct 6 for the United States, making it 1,290 days later. 

If you read Daniel 12:10 it tells you who will understand. If you continue the chapter you will see there is more to come. Time will only confirm if that speculation is correct.

My family and I have done much reflection of this idea and we all came to the conclusion we continue doing what we have been doing. We have goals and we have dreams. There is no panic over end times, we remain at peace. Now if you asked me something like that 30 years ago I would have been major freaking out. When you are trying with all your heart to remain on the covenant path, and repent daily, the closeness of the Lord's second coming doesn't change that. Internal peace will be there even in the midst of a storm, as we mourn with those that mourn. The Lord is in control, he guides His Church through a living prophet. That knowledge brings a lot of comfort and peace.

Day 3115

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 19:12-14

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 19:12-14

"But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.

And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.

And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation."

This is a allegory of the destruction of Judah and Israel, how there is no blood royals left to hold a scepter and rule.

"The allegory in Ezekiel 19:10–14 deals with the conditions in Israel at the time of Ezekiel: “Israel resembled a vine planted by the water. … This vine sent out strong shoots for rulers’ sceptres; that is to say, it brought forth powerful kings, and grew up to a great height, … It was torn up in fury by the wrath of God, cast down to the ground, so that its fruit withered. … The uprooting ends in the transplanting of the vine into a waste, dry, unwatered land,—in other words, in the transplanting of the people, Israel, into exile. The dry land is Babylon, so described as being a barren soil in which the kingdom of God could not flourish.” (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary 9:1:261-2)

With the destruction of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar and the killing of Zedekiah’s sons, “she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule” (Ezekiel 19:14). Clarke summarized: “None of the blood-royal of Judah [was] left. And from that time not one of her own royal race ever sat upon the throne of Israel.” (Commentary, 4:474.)

(Old Testament Manual, "Ezekiel: Watchman of Israel", (26-50) Ezekiel 19:10-14, The Allegory of the Vine and Its Branches)

Day 2980

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 50:4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 50:4-5

"In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.

They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten."

I pondered on how this is starting to be fulfilled. The Jews are gathering to Israel. Slowly they will seek the Lord and enter into a perpetual covenant. The time of the Jews is so close.

Day 2954

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 3:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 3:14-15

"Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."

This made me think about the gathering of Israel. How not everyone in a city, or family accepts the gospel when they hear it. It's really interesting to see who was prepared to receive it and does. In a couple weeks the prophet will be speaking and some are now waiting to be feed spiritually with knowledge and understanding. There are others that just turn away. This is called free agency and the ability to choose. The difference is the eternal reward or consequences that follows.

Day 2907

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 15:9-10, 12

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 15:9-10, 12

"And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.

And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;"

Asa, king of Judah ruled over the Southern kingdom somewhere around 929-870 BC. It was made up of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin. The other ten tribes made up the Northern kingdom and were called Israel. Which would include the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Eventually the Northern kingdom is captured by the Assyrians and the ten tribes are carried away to the north countries. The verses in this chapter show how faithful saints from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon came over to Judah during the reign of Asa. These were saints ready to make covenants with the Lord. This is how the families of Lehi a descendant of Manasseh, and Ishmael a descendant of Ephraim, both from part of the ten tribes that were scattered, could have been in found in Jerusalem in 600 BC.

Day 2541

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 6:54

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 6:54

"Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot."

I tried to keep track of these generations. When I saw the sons of Aaron were referred to as the Kohathites I remembered Kohath was the son of Levi, son of Jacob or Israel. Kohath was Aaron and Moses' grandfather. That made Jacob their second great-grandfather. There is four generations between them. Just like it said in the scriptures.

"And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;"

But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full."

(Genesis 15:13, 16)

"Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years."

(Exodus 12:40)

Levi, son of Jacob lived 137 years. His son Kohath lived 133 years. (see Exodus 6:16, 18) That makes up 270 years out of the 400 years they were in Egypt. Moses was 80 years old when he lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The only one I don't have an age on is Moses and Aaron's father Amram. It just never occurred to me how closely related Moses was to Jacob. It makes sense now how everyone knew what tribe they belonged to, and how they come up with the names for the places that they settled.

Day 2503

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 5:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 5:1-2

"Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s:)"

John Taylor has a nice description of what was taking place here.

"..that because Reuben defiled his father's bed, the birthright was taken from him and given to the sons of Joseph; and the Priesthood was reckoned after that lineage, though Judah prevailed above his brethren to this extent, that through him came the Chief Ruler of Israel, while unto Ephraim, the son of Joseph, was given the keys of the Priesthood—or those rights that apply to the birthright. Of the two sons of Joseph—Ephraim and Manasseh, the Lord said, Manasseh shall be great, but Ephraim shall be greater than he; and he shall become a multitude in the earth.(Genesis 48:19)"

(John Taylor, The Order and Duties of the Priesthood, JD21:358)

Day 2502

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 2:10

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 2:10

"Ish-bosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David."

The dividing of Israel into two parts wouldn't happen until after David's son king Solomon's death. I had to read what this period of separation was about.

"After Saul died, the tribes of Israel did not immediately flock to David and accept him as king. Abner, the captain of Saul’s host (his commanding general), set up one of Saul’ sons as the new king (see vv. 8–9). The tribe of Judah accepted David as king, but for seven years there was no unity, and two opposing kings reigned (see v. 11). David may have refused to take action against Ishbosheth because he had covenanted with Jonathan not to retaliate against Saul’s family when he came to power (see 1 Samuel 20:14–16)."

(Old Testament Student Manual Genesis-2 Samuel, "2 Samuel 1-12: The Fall of King David" (26-3)

Day 2428

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 18:27, 30-31

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 18:27, 30-31

"And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh"

I pondered a while for something good to see in this chapter. There wasn't anything. It just showed how depraved the tribes of Israel had become. There is nothing redeeming in their behavior. They were worshipping idols and false gods. Then I realized that is exactly what I was suppose to see. The only good in evil is for it to be an example of what not to do.

Day 2388

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 12:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 12:1

" And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire."

I had to wonder, why would someone get upset that you didn't ask them to come fight with you in battle against someone else? Then because of it you threaten to burn down their homes with them in it. That didn't make sense. Then I realized it was because they wanted the spoils of war. They were angry because they lost out on those riches. Their motives and desires were far from the thoughts of my heart. I can see that Israel is becoming very wicked.

Day 2382

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 12:6-7

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 12:6-7

"Them did Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel smite: and Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;"

I pondered on how the kings that the Israelites smote were only for the lands given them by the Lord. They were fighting for their lands because it had been given them.

Day 2358

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 17:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 17:2

"Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord?

"Did chide with" HEB strove with, or complained to

"Tempt the Lord?" HEB put the Lord to the test, TG Doubt; Test

I sat and pondered on what would have been the right thing for me to do if I had been one of the children of Israel? The problem it appears with the children of Israel is they expected Moses to fix their problems. They expected miracles, not with faith but as a way to test God. Their connection to God was through Moses, without expecting anything to be required of them.

What would have been required of me? I would have prayed, not just send me water, but asking how do I obtain water for me and my family. For that is all that I have stewardship over in the answer I receive. I would have expected some work on my part for the solution that comes.

In fact when Moses ask the Lord what to do he is given specific instructions on where to go and which rock to smite for water to come out. It was a miracle but it took faith to do what was required. "Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it be right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right." (Doctrine and Covenants 9:7-8)

Day 2226

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 11:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 11:2-3

"Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.

And the Lord gave the people favour in the sights of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people."

Borrow in this sense is not what we understand today. The Lord commanded the children of Israel to ask or demand a recompense for their past services. This is where the receiving of jewels of silver and gold come from. The Egyptians hearts were softened and they did give to them. The people of Egypt also recognized the powers that Moses had and respected him. I can only imagine how hard it must have been to be an Egyptian and watch Pharaoh over and over again not learn this lesson.

This was also a fulfillment of prophesy given to Abraham. That his seed would be strangers in the land for four hundred years. In the fourth generation they would come out with great substance. Like many prophesies I'm sure the children of Israel while in bondage could never imagine how that would even happen. They simply had to have faith that it would.

"And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that they seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance."

(Genesis 15:13-14)

Day 2220

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 1:8, 22

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 1:8, 22

"Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive."

I pondered on how the condition had to be set with a Pharaoh that knew not Joseph or Joseph's God, for a Moses to be born. Just when we think things can be bleak, we have to have faith that God has a plan to deliver us.

Day 2210

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 49:33

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 49:33

"And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people."

Jacob blesses his sons and prophesies what will befall them in the last days. These are the twelve tribes of Israel. At the end Jacob dies and is "gathered unto his people". I thought then that this chapter speaks of the gathering on both sides of the veil. That gathering is taking place right now.

Day 2208