Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 9:4-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 9:4-6
"And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."

This made me ponder on judgment day when we will face the Lord. Like Saul, there will be no long speeches for justification for our sins and behaviors. It will be an absolute truth if we are found wanting. Thankfully for Saul he had years ahead of him to repent and be forgiven.

Day 4151

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 8:3, 9

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 8:3, 9
"As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:"

Two examples of men that had much to repent of, and they did. They are examples of how you can never write a person off as unredeemable and going to hell. It is not for us to judge. I would have been careful around them, but happy to see them change.

Day 4150

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 21:1, 3

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 21:1, 3
"Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?

As I read this I wondered if the sins of Saul would really fall on David and his people? Why was the famine not in Saul's time. Why would David have to atone for something Saul did? As I pondered this I read this in the Old Testament Student Manual.

"Did God Require the Sacrifice of Saul’s Sons to Alleviate the Famine in the Land?
“This terrible episode must have been done in [the] days of David’s spiritual deterioration. The law would have not permitted sons to be put to death for the guilt of a father or a forefather. It cannot have been a revelation from the Lord that either required or approved this deed done ‘to avenge the Gibeonites’—some of whom Saul had slain in spite of the ancient promise of Joshua that they might live in Israel.
“It is a pathetic picture to envision the innocent mother of innocent sons guarding their bodies from the birds and beasts; and it is repulsive to read that after all this was done ‘God was entreated for the land.’ This is apostate theology, comparable to that of the Canaanite-Baal religions.
“The text is somewhat corrupted too, and the name Michal must be a mistake for Merab, for it was Merab who married Adriel. If it is indeed Michal, David’s wife and Saul’s daughter, who is meant, this is a very bitter ending to their relationships as man and wife.” (Rasmussen, Introduction to the Old Testament, 2:40.)
(Old Testament Student Manual, "2 Samuel 13-24: The Price of Sin: Tragedy in the House of David")

"The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin."
(Deuteronomy 24:16)

"So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it."
(Numbers 35:33)

Day 3840

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 28:7-8

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 28:7-8
"And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
And David inquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all."

The ephod was fastened to the Breastplate of Judgment. It had 12 precious stones and the Urim and Thummin. David asks the high priest to inquire of the Lord through it, and he immediately receives an answer. Saul had tried earlier and the Lord would not answer him through it.

"And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets."
(1 Samuel 28:6)

Being denied Saul seeks out a women with a familiar spirit. She pretends to see Samuel and tells Saul what he says. That doesn't mean Samuel was summoned by the witch of Endor. It means Satan can tell you things that are true but its the one percent that isn't that will lead to spiritual death. In this case for Saul it also lead to physical death.

Day 3833

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 23:20-21

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 23:20-21
"Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.
And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me."

Saul had 85 priests slaughtered, and then killed men, women, children, babies, and animals of the city of Nob, because they helped David escape. It made me ill that Saul dares to say to the person he sent to kill these people, "Blessed be ye of the Lord". It makes me sick when wicked people say words giving the impression their evil acts are righteous. Then Saul says "ye have compassion on me." Again it's all about Saul and no feeling for any of the innocent people they just slaughtered. None of these actions are of the Lord. I pondered on how we have to be so discerning about who we follow and support, even when they give an impression they are doing God's work.

Day 3831

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 19:1, 6

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 19:1, 6
"And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain."

I just don't understand Saul's hatred of David to the point he wants to kill him. Jonathan, seems to talk sense into him and then he turns around and is after David again. I don't think its so much a matter of revenge for anything David has done personally to him. I think it's Saul's pride, and he doesn't want anyone around that would appear better than him. David is victorious in battle and that is enough for Saul to throw a javlein at him. It is a terrible thing to have a wicked king with a very big ego, can't keep his word, and lives by revenge because he easily offended. The Lord has already rent the kingdom from Saul, but Saul is still king. Why is that? It is hard to get rid of an iniquitous king.

"And behold, now I say unto you, ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous king save it be through much contention, and the shedding of much blood."
(Mosiah 29:21)

Day 3830

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 18:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 18:14-15
"And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him."

These verses reminded me of these.

"And it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God;
And the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called Zion.
And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety.
And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another.
And it shall be said among the wicked: Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot stand.
And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy."
(Doctrine and Covenants 45:66-71)

Because David behaved wisely, having a deep love and trust in God, keeping all the laws and commandments, not of a contentious nature, and people love him, the wicked (Saul) were afraid of him. Saul sought to have David die in battle, which didn't happen. It made me ponder on how Zion will look terrible to the wicked. Zion will not be at war with one another. I used to think it was physically battles all around. Now I think it more a battle of words and opinions. The only ones that are not contending will be a Zion people. We will be at peace while the world is growing ever darker. The wicked can not stand up against goodness. The wicked dig pits against others and then fall into it. They cannot stop truth and are afraid of it.
"The standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done."
—Joseph Smith, 1842

Day 3829

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 15:24

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 15:24
"And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice."

This is the driving force that caused Saul to disobey the word of the Lord and do what he thought was right in his own eyes. It was a fear of the people and not God. He loved the adoration of the people and wanted to look big in their eyes. It was pride. It was pride that made him offer burnt offerings when he had no authority to do so. It was pride that made him keep the spoils of war against the Lord's command, and then try to justify it by giving them as offerings. It is because of pride and disobedience that the Lord rent the kingdom from him.

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
(Proverbs 16:18)

"Perhaps the greatest obstacle to our ability to hearken courageously to the word of the Lord involves our egos, vain ambitions, and pride. It seems that the proud find it burdensome to hear and accept the instruction of God. We are told in Proverbs that “pride goeth before destruction”. The proud are more anxious about man’s judgment than they are of God’s judgment."
(H. David Burton, "Courage to Hearken", Apr 1994 General Conference)

"And behold, how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men.
For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words—"
(Doctrine and Covenants 3:6-7)

Day 3828

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 31:12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 31:12-13

"All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.

And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days."

When Saul the king is killed it doesn't say that Israel mourned him. What it does say is they fasted seven days. It made me wonder how Israel felt about Saul. I've only really heard how determined he was to slay David. Saul's three sons including Jonathan are killed. I know at least Jonathan was friend to David. I think no matter what Israel would show respect for their king and fasting was how they did it. Regardless of how we feel for our leaders, the office they held should be honored.

Day 2426

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 28:6-7

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 28:6-7

"And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor."

I just sit here wondering how someone could think that if the Lord doesn't answer you, that getting answers through a medium is acceptable? Saul knew this wasn't right. It even says in the chapter that he "put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land." So it is with full knowledge that he turns away from the Lord, because God doesn't speak to him. What would have been better is to instead humble himself and repent before the Lord. That is why he wasn't getting any answers. He wasn't worthy, and he knew it, and he just proved it.

Day 2423

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 26:12

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 26:12

"So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them."

The words "deep sleep" caught my eye and I reflected on the various times the Lord has used a deep sleep in order for his work to take place. There are 20 references in the scriptures to the words "deep sleep". But the one that isn't there that I reflected on, was when the angel Moroni visited Joseph Smith, Jr. He appeared three times to Joseph which occupied the entire night. This was a humble farm family. If Joseph was not sharing a bed with a sibling he was at least sharing the same room. Yet, there is never any mention that they woke. I am sure everyone in that tiny wood cabin would have been under a deep sleep.

It made me think about how things can be taking place right around us and we can be totally unaware of it. The Lord can use a deep sleep to blind the wicked from his righteous work. He can use it as a tool for the righteous to flee, or for them to achieve his errand. He even used it when he removed one of Adam's ribs. It is quite a marvelous tool God has at his command.

Day 2421

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 22:17-18

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 22:17-18

"And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.

And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod."

This was just so horrific, that Saul's hatred of David would cause him to kill the priests of the Lord. I had to just sit and ponder on that. How does someone get to that place? How does it relate to today? Then I could see the parallel. The pride cycle, the lack of obedience, and seeking your own will and not God's will. Eventually, you are in a state of apostasy and will turn on the prophets. The spirit is so far removed from them that they convince themselves they are justified in what they are doing. People today may not be stoning or slaying the prophets but they do it to their character with their words.

Day 2417

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 20:31, 33

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 20:31, 33

"For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.

And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David."

I think Saul is insane. He wants to kill David, and he says the reason is Jonathan's kingdom would never be established if David was alive. Then he throws a javelin at Jonathan. If Saul had hit his target wouldn't he be guilty of stopping Jonathan's kingdom from being established? What this shows me is that once the Spirit of the Lord has withdrawn from a person, rational thought has also fled. There is no reasoning with Saul. It made me ponder on the behaviors I am seeing in people today. I have wondered how people can behave so badly, especially when cameras are recording them, yet they have no self control to monitor their actions. It shows that the light of Christ has dimmed to the point it's extinguished inside of them. They have lost the moral compass to guide them.

Day 2415

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 19:18, 20

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 19:18, 20

"So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied."

Saul wants to kill David and the one place David could flee for safety was to Samuel the prophet. Every messenger that Saul sent to take David would have the Spirit of God come over them and they would prophesize. This made me ponder on the power of the priesthood and the protect given when we stay close to the prophet of God. Maybe in times of trouble I won't be able to physically run and hide where the prophet is. But, staying close to his counsel and advise will allow the Spirit of God to be with me. As we are close to the spirit and seek to do God's will the designs of evil men can be turned away.

Day 2414

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 18:8-9, 12, 14

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 18:8-9, 12, 14

And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.

And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.

The downfall of Saul is pride, his inner peace is destroyed, and in turn he seeks to destroy David. He's eyeing him and trying to set him up. He sends him on an impossible mission to fight the Philistines because he wants him dead. It's interesting that as you seek to destroy someone else, you only destroy yourself. In this chapter is says four times that David behaved himself wisely. As I read this I thought of how the light of Christ guided his actions. I think of someone that acts wisely as someone that models their life after Christ, and has inner peace. This also made me think about how we need to become the peacemakers, and not the ones full of contention. This is how we invite others to partake of the light of Christ in their lives.

"Notwithstanding this vision of the millennial reign, we know that world peace and harmony are not prevalent in our day. In my lifetime, I have never seen a greater lack of civility. We are bombarded with angry, contentious language and provocative, devastating actions that destroy peace and tranquility.

Peace in the world is not promised or assured until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Savior instructed His Apostles that His earthly mission would not achieve universal peace. He taught, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth.” Universal peace was not part of the Savior’s initial mortal ministry. Universal peace does not exist today.

However, personal peace can be achieved despite the anger, contention, and division that blight and corrupt our world today. It has never been more important to seek personal peace.

Agency was a principal issue in the premortal Council in Heaven and the conflict between those who chose to follow Christ and the followers of Satan. Letting go of pride and control and choosing the Savior would allow us to have His light and His peace. But personal peace would be challenged when people exercised their agency in harmful and hurtful ways.

The Savior can provide protection and peace to guide you ultimately to safety and shelter from life’s storms."

(Elder Quentin L. Cook, "Personal Peace in Challenging Times", Oct 2021 General Conference)

Day 2413

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 15:3, 9, 13, 22

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 15:3, 9, 13, 22

"Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."

God commands Saul to destroy the Amalekites and spare no one and nothing of them. Saul decides on his own path and which spoils to keep. He even lies to Samuel that he performed the commandment of the Lord. When questioned he says the spoils are to be sacrificed to the Lord. He's made up his own plan again. Samuel tells him it wasn't the offering the Lord wanted, but obedience. What this all reminded me of was personal revelation, and when it goes counter to what the servant of God told you to do. At that point you are no better than a Saul. Doesn't matter how worthy you think the cause you are involved in is. If it goes against what the Lord commands then you're fighting the wrong battle and following the wrong master.

Day 2410

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 14:18, 23, 35, 37, 45

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 14:18, 23, 35, 37, 45

"And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven"

And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.

And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.

And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not."

So much going on in this chapter and the confusion is actually Saul and his actions and commands. Frankly they are confusing, but there are points being made. Saul calls for the ark, but doesn't use it. It reminds me of Eli and his sons. Why do you call for something if you shouldn't in the first place? He builds an altar, but a point is made in the story that this is the first one he has built unto the Lord. He prays to God for counsel and God doesn't answer him. His command that would have his son Jonathan killed for not obeying, because the son was actually doing God's will at the time and didn't hear it, was stopped from happening by the people. They won't follow Saul in this. He's lost the confidence in not only the people, but also by God.

I asked myself what is this trying to tell me is the issue with Saul? I think it comes down to who's will are you trying to serve. Is it God's or his own? At great risk to himself Jonathan did God's will. With Saul he seems to be going through the motions to appear he is religious and after God's will, but his motivation seems to be pride and how he will look in the eyes of others. He is not on the same page with God. Saul is an example of what happens when we don't relinquish control to God and seek his will. We experience unnecessary confusion, and make foolish decisions that complicate our lives.

Day 2409

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 13:9, 11

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 13:9, 11

"And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;"

This made me ponder on the dangers of thinking you know greater than a prophet. To the point you take matters into your own hand. This was the door that Saul opened that lead to his downfall. This is the same door that leads to apostasy today.

"O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish."

(2 Nephi 9:28)

Day 2408