Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:3

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:3
"Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?"

How would we ever judge angels? Angels abide with God. I decided to search this out and found it is referring to a righteous man in his resurrected and exalted state.

"The man who passes through this probation, and is faithful, being redeemed from sin by the blood of Christ, through the ordinances of the Gospel, and attains to exaltation in the kingdom of God, is not less but greater than the angels, and if you doubt it read your Bible, for there it is written that the Saints shall “judge angels,” and also they shall “judge the world.” And why? Because the resurrected, righteous man has progressed beyond the pre-existent or disembodied spirits, and has risen above them, having both spirit and body as Christ has, having gained the victory over death and the grave, and having power over sin and Satan, in fact having passed from the condition of the angel to that of a God. He possesses keys of power, dominion and glory that the angel does not possess—and cannot possess without gaining them in the same way that he gained them, which will be by passing through the same ordeals and proving equally faithful. It was so ordained when the morning stars sang together, before the foundations of this earth were laid. Man in his pre-existent condition is not perfect, neither is he in the disembodied estate. There is no perfect estate but that of the risen Redeemer, which is God's estate, and no man can become perfect except he becomes like them. And what are they like? I have shown what Christ is like, and he is like his Father, but I will refer to an undoubted authority to this people, on this point, “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.”  There is not time to refer to the many scriptural passages which might be cited in proof of these important facts, enough already has been referred to, to place the matter beyond a doubt."
(Joseph F. Smith, "Man a Mortal and an Immortal Being, Etc.", JD 23:169)

Day 4192

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 34:35-37

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 34:35-37
"Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God."

I can't even imagine judging, much less saying these words to a good man that had suffered so much loss. No wonder the Lord spoke these words to Joseph Smith, while held prisoner in the Liberty jail.

"Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job."
(Doctrine and Covenants 121:10)

Day 3900

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 21:25

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 21:25
"In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

I finished the book of Judges and I'm not impressed with the stories. Are these really God's people? Then that last verse tells it all. They are shining examples of when people do what is right in their own eyes. These are people that did not follow the commands and laws of God. This is what happens when you are not being guided by a prophet, much less a common ruler over you.

Day 3822

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 16:17, 22, 28

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 16:17, 22, 28
"That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.
And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes."

Was the hair growing back really the source of Samson being able to receive his strength? It's so easy to overlook the fact that after it started to grow back he called upon the Lord.

Was Samson's Hair Really the Source of His Strength?
"The biblical account of Samson reveals him as a man of extreme confidence and tremendous courage, qualities based on his recognition that his power was from God and that God would sustain him in the mission to which he had been called. But Samson did not realize that there is a rule that governs power in the Lord, which is, “let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God” (D&C 121:45). Samson’s misfortunes began when his confidence in God turned into conceit and pride. Over a period of time he broke the vows of a Nazarite and violated other commandments, including the law of chastity.
Samson’s superhuman strength did not reside in his hair but in his confidence in God and in the Nazarite oath, of which the hair was the outward symbol. Delilah’s treachery and the shaving of Samson’s hair signified the final betrayal of his vows. Thus, he became a miserable, broken man with no power left."
(Old Testament Student Manual, "Judges 13–21; Ruth 1–4: The Reign of the Judges, Part 2")

Day 3821

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 14:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 14:6
"And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done."

I've always been disappointed reading the story of Samson. As I child I thought the story of his long hair giving him strength was so impressive. When I got older and read the story in the bible I saw his flaws, lack of moral integrity and control. The story is so impressive where an angel of the Lord first comes to his mother and then both parents to tell of his birth. He is to be a Nazarite. He could have been such a great spiritual and physical leader for Israel, but to me he failed. Then I couldn't understand how in scriptures it would say "the Spirit of the Lord" came upon him. How? In my quest for understand I found this.

"(23-5) Judges 14:6. If Samson’s Life Was So out of Harmony with God’s Will, How Did He Have the “Spirit of the Lord”?
In the Church today when one speaks of a person having the Spirit of the Lord, he means that he is a spiritual person, that is, he is close to God, has a testimony, demonstrates spiritual power, and so on. And such spiritual power comes only through obedience and righteousness. So, could Samson have had “the Spirit of the Lord come mightily upon him”? That or a similar phrase is used three times in the account of Samson, but in every case it has reference to Samson’s demonstration of great courage and physical strength. Samson’s remarkable strength was a gift of God derived from and sustained by the Nazarite vow he was under. Perhaps when the author of Judges used the phrase “the Spirit of God” he did not use it as one does today, but used it more in the way that one would now use the phrase “spiritual gifts.” One may say of another, “The way he taught the lesson demonstrated that he has a spiritual gift.” Samson’s gift was strength, and each time he used that gift in a remarkable manner, the writer of the scripture gave credit to the Lord, the true source of the gift, by saying “the Spirit of the Lord” came mightily upon him."
(Old Testament Student Manual, "Judges 13-21; Ruth 1-4: The Reign of the Judges, Part 2)

Day 3820

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 10:13-14

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 10:13-14
"Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.
Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation."

This verse made me think of this.

"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."
(Doctrine and Covenants 82:10)

I can remember clearly the day I realized I was only turning to the Lord to deliver me from my latest trial. Once rescued I went back to my old ways. The cycle repeated over and over again, and I was sick of it. I finally realized I was doing it all backwards. I needed to be seeking the Lord always, not just when I thought I needed Him. Our relationship changed and there is more peace in the midst of trials because I know He's right there for me.

"That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:"
(Acts 17:27)

Our pains, afflictions and trials are there for us to learn to turn to and rely on the Lord always. The key is to walk with the Lord, then when darkness tries to over take us He's already there.

"They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble.
In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me."
(Doctrine and Covenants 101:7-8)

"And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him."
(Helaman 12:3)

"Verily I say unto you, notwithstanding their sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards them. I will not utterly cast them off; and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy."
(Doctrine and Covenants 101:9)

Day 3819

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 7:4-7

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 7:4-7
"And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place."

Such a curiously interesting test on who amongst 32,000 men would be called to fight the Midianites. The Lord didn't want too many, because the concern was Israel would vaunt themselves and say they were saved by their own hands. First, anyone fearful or afraid was asked to leave and that was 22,000 men. There was 10,000 remaining and out of them it came down to how they drank water, lapping like a dog from a stream. There was only 300 men that fit that description. I pondered on how humbling a choice that would have been. How different God sees man than we do.

Day 3818

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 4:1, 4, 8

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 4:1, 4, 8
"And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go."

Israel was lacking in leadership and worthy men. That is why the Lord raised up a prophetess. The gift of prophesy and revelation can be given to any follower of Christ.

Judges 4:1–10. How Was It That a Woman, Deborah, Led Israel?
"Israel was sorely lacking in leadership at this time. The regular priesthood leadership was not in effect because the covenant had been broken. Deborah did not direct Israel in any official sense; she was a prophetess who possessed the spirit of prophecy, one of the gifts of the Spirit. She was blessed with spiritual insight and leadership qualities that were not being put to use by any man. Barak would not lead an army against Jabin until Deborah promised to be present.
“No special ordination in the Priesthood is essential to man’s receiving the gift of prophecy; bearers of the Melchizedek Priesthood, Adam, Noah, Moses, and a multitude of others were prophets, but not more truly so than others who were specifically called to the Aaronic order, as exemplified in the instance of John the Baptist. The ministrations of Miriam and Deborah show that this gift may be possessed by women also.” (Talmage, Articles of Faith, pp. 228–29; see also Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 3:66.)
(Old Testament Student Manual, "Judges 1-12: The Reign of the Judges, Part 1")

Day 3817

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 2:3. 22

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 2:3. 22
"Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not."

The children of Israel did not inhabit their lands alone. Not everyone was driven out. They had to live amongst people of other faiths, traditions and gods. They were left there by the Lord in order to prove Israel, and if they would serve Him. This made me think of opposition in all things. There is purpose in our trials and our temptations. Just because we are tempted does not mean we are made to be overcome. If we truly love the Lord we can walk in His ways.

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility."
(2 Nephi 2:11)

Day 3816

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 26:31

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 26:31
"And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor’s trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation."

This reminded me of a comment I had read on an article. The person was saying that we are only to forgive those that ask for forgiveness or repent. They said that is what the scriptures say. That made me curious, because that is not what I knew, for the Lord tells us to forgive everyone. These are two scriptures that come to mind.

"For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you;
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
(Matthew 6:14-15; 3 Nephi 13:14-15)

"Wherefore I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men" 
(Doctrine and Covenants 64:9-10)

Elder Cook also explains it well.
"When we are truly humble, we pray for forgiveness and forgive others. As we read in Mosiah, Alma taught that as often as we repent, the Lord will forgive our trespasses. On the other hand, as indicated in the Lord’s Prayer, when we do not forgive others’ trespasses, we bring ourselves under condemnation. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, through repentance our sins are forgiven. When we do not forgive those who trespass against us, we are in effect rejecting the Savior’s Atonement. Holding a grudge and refusing to forgive and refusing to humbly approach our relationships in a Christlike manner truly brings us under condemnation. Holding a grudge is poisonous to our souls"
(Quentin L. Cook, "The Eternal Everyday", Oct 2017 General Conference)

I asked the person that made the comment what scripture they were referring to? They could not tell me, only that they knew it was in there. When I read this verse in Mosiah I wondered if this is what gave them that idea?

The difference I see in this mention of "when he says that he repents", is because the Lord was talking to Alma. He was discussing those that had dissented from the church, and leading others astray. In that case Alma, being called as a judge in Israel, would decide who of the dissenters would remain in the church or removed from its records. The Lord is telling Alma that if they have repented, but were not forgiven and still removed, then the one not forgiving them would be condemned.

It is further clarified on the next verse.
"Now I say unto you, Go; and whosoever will not repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people; and this shall be observed from this time forward."
(Mosiah 26:32)

Day 3441

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 6:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 6:2-3

"Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business."

The apostles looked for seven men to assist them in caring for the poor and needy. It doesn't say what calling these men had but it would probably be similar to bishops and branch presidents today.

This made me think of Moses and the council Jethro, his father-in-law gave him.

"Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee."

(Exodus 18:21-22)

I also pondered on the reference to "serve tables" and found these quotes.

"Was Jesus asking His disciples to respond to random requests from the crowd or to serve tables? No! He was asking them to serve in His way. The people were not to be masters of his disciples. The Lord is their Master."

(Russell M. Nelson, "Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods", April 1996 General Conference)

"Also that the Seventies are not called to serve tables, or preside over churches, to settle difficulties, but are to preach the Gospel and build them up, and set others, who do not belong to these quorums, to preside over them, who are High Priests. The Twelve also are not to serve tables, but to bear the keys of the Kingdom to all nations, and unlock the door of the Gospel to them, and call upon the Seventies to follow after them, and assist them. The Twelve are at liberty to go wheresoever they will, and if any one will say, I wish to go to such a place, let all the rest say amen."

(Joseph Smith, Jr, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 109)

It made me think of people that find fault with the prophets and apostles and want things done their way. Prophets don't answer to people, they answer to God. Even those that "serve tables", like bishops and branch presidents, they still have the gift of discernment, the spirit as their guide to know how to best assist those in needs.

Day 3183

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 54:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 54:2

"Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth."

I wanted to learn more of that phrase to hear the "words of my mouth". I've always been a little uncomfortable in it presuming that God needed to listen to me and do as I ask. Then I found this...

"We do not give memorized, ritualistic, or repetitious prayers. We seek the guidance of the Spirit and suit every prayer to the needs of the moment, with no thought of using the same words on successive occasions. But it would be appropriate for us to use words that convey such thoughts as these in our prayers: Father, we ask thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to hear the words of our mouth to discern with thy all-seeing eye the thoughts and intents of our heart, and to grant us our righteous desires."

(Bruce R. McConkie, "Patterns of Prayer", Apr 1984, General Conference)

That satisfies my question. Saying "hear the words of my mouth", is inviting God to discern my thoughts and intents from what I say. Inviting Him to judge me. I like that.

Day 2691

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 8:7

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 8:7

"And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."

In this case the voice of the people are asking Samuel to give them a king. He didn't want to because he knew were this would lead if there was an unrighteous king. The Lord told him to give them what they asked for. They haven't rejected Samuel they have rejected the Lord and will pay a price for it. It reminded me of when the Book of Mormon and the warnings given against having kings. Then when Mosiah turned it back to judges they were warned again about what can happen with the voice of the people choose iniquity.

"Yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king, when he was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to confer it upon, causing that this people should be governed by their own voices—yea, well did he say that if the time should come that the voice of this people should choose iniquity, that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction."

(Alma 10:19)

There are problems with kings and judges, but ultimately those that rule try to confirm to the nature of their people. When the voice of the people support iniquity the leaders just shadow what is acceptable by the majority. If the majority could always be righteous then they would be preserved.

"Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the prayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by flood, as were the people in the days of Noah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence, and the sword.

But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, if ye will cast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the time is soon at hand except ye repent."

(Alma 10:22-23)

Day 2403

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 21:20-21

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 21:20-21

"Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;

And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin."

This story of giving wives to the remnant of the tribe of Benjamin reminded me of the story of the wicked priests of king Noah in the Book of Mormon. I wonder if the story in Judges emboldened the wicked priest to think they were justified in what they did?

"And having tarried in the wilderness, and having discovered the daughters of the Lamanites, they laid and watched them;

And when there were but few of them gathered together to dance, they came forth out of their secret places and took them and carried them into the wilderness; yea, twenty and four of the daughters of the Lamanites they carried into the wilderness."

(Mosiah 20:4-5)

Day 2391

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 20:13

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 20:13

"Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:"

The children of Israel having learned what the had been done in Gibeah, ask that the men that did this wickedness be delivered for punishment. Instead the tribe of Benjamin fight to their own slaughter to protect these evil men. That is so sad and senseless. It is an example of how the wicked and their pride become both deaf and dumb to reason. This evil did need to be put away, and the children of Israel did council with God on if this was what they needed to do. It shows the hearts of two different people.

Day 2390

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 19:22, 29-30

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 19:22, 29-30

"Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.

And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.

And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds."

Can't say these are my favorite verse because they are some of the darkest verses. This chapter shows more of how depraved the tribes of Israel had become. The men of Gibeah asked the same as the men of Sodom did to Lot. Lot offered his daughters instead, the old man offered his daughter and the guest's concubine. Society has no morals and destruction will soon follow.

It reminded me of what was said about the Amlicites in the Book of Mormon

"Now I would that ye should see that they brought upon themselves the curse; and even so doth every man that is cursed bring upon himself his own condemnation.

And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one.

For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey, and this according to the words of the spirit of prophecy; therefore let it be according to the truth. And thus endeth the fifth year of the reign of the judges."

(Alma 3:19, 26-27)

Day 2389

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 17:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 17:6

"In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

As I'm reading this story of Micah and come upon this verse, I say to myself "Well this isn't going to end well." It won't because it never does. When we do what is right in our own eyes, we stop thinking about what is right in God's eyes. We are left to the buffetings of Satan.

Day 2387

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 16:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 16:16

"And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;"

Samson had great physical strength but he was morally and spiritually weak. I pondered on how Satan will press such people day and night, just like Delilah did to Samson. It is with the whole armour of God that we can withstand these temptations. Ultimately the spiritual weakness became Samson physical weakness and lead to his demise.

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

(Ephesian 6:11-13

Day 2386