Forgive me for waxing personal, but today is a major gratitude day for me. Twenty-five years ago today I took my last drink of alcohol, and today marks 25 years of continuous sobriety from alcohol and drugs for me. Who would ever have thought that an old drunk like me could stay sober for a quarter of a century? Chalk up this one to the grace of God!
Twenty-five years ago tonight, on July 31, 1989, I attended my third consecutive Monday Night Beginners Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. I had walked by that building two summers earlier on a warm summer morning on my way to work, avoiding my fourth DUI and subsequent jail visit. Three words in AA's Step One would haunt me for two years. The words were "powerless over alcohol." On that summer day I still had some willpower--I thought. But two more years of "research" proved otherwise.
My dear sponsor, Jerry, said, "Brad, it's a simple program. You go to meetings every day for 90 days and don't drink between meetings. Then, if you don't like what you have, we'll refund your misery." I could do half of it. I could get to at least one meeting every day. But on July 31, 1989 I went home from that meeting feeling thoroughly defeated and completely embarrassed. The chairperson said she could give me a 30-day chip in two more weeks, thinking I was staying sober, but I didn't even have a single day.
I went home and closed the bedroom door. It had been seven long years since my last day of white-knuckle sobriety--a forced sobriety while traveling with family to Disneyland, the most miserable spot on the planet. (Inside joke here!). I got revenge in 2006 with a case of food poisoning, and barfed on Mickey Mouse. True story! But July 31st wasn't a pleasant scene. I had been studying the Twelve Steps for two weeks and was hung up on Step Three, "Made a decision to turn our will and our life over to the care of God, as we understood Him." I wanted to protest. You mean I have to give up my whole life and my own will just to get sober?
The enemy was encamped in my room, whispering to a despaired soul. His rhetoric was, "You can't pray to God after all the terrible things you've done. It's too late for you. No one can help you now." After an hour of this garbage, I fell to my knees in despair. I uttered perhaps my finest prayer ever: "Help! I just can't do this." Immediately I felt a peace beyond my comprehension from a loving Father, who, like the father of the Prodigal Son, "when he was yet a great way off, . . . had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him" (Luke 15:20). His grace got me through the next eleven sleepless nights with agonizing compulsion. But somehow He kept me sober in spite of myself.
Let's fast-forward now to a sweetheart, a marriage, two wonderful teenage kids, several trips to the bishop's office, a forgiving family, many wonderful trips to the temple, and a few verses of scripture spurred by my bishop fifteen years ago this month, and it's been an incredible journey!
And yet, as I meditated this morning on the bus about the past 25 years, I guess it's human nature to never be satisfied. I feel like such a baby in this program. Oh, if only I could have progressed faster! Twenty-five years should be enough to become some sort of spiritual giant. And I have so far to go. Will I ever make it?
And while I somberly sat there, I opened my scriptures to where I had left off yesterday--in Psalm 81. I read, "Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder . . . There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt" (Psalm 81:7-10).
And then the tender mercies of the Lord were opened to my eyes. I witnessed a beautiful sunrise. Someone on the bus spoke to me and related true tales of a spouse who had "thrown her away" for something better. I was approached by a cleaning lady, who wished me a wonderful day. I saw a friend leaving work at the hospital, expressing gratitude for rewarding employment. I had a dear friend phone me at work because he knew it was my AA birthday. And I stepped outside and saw slender clouds crawling down the mountainside, like fingers clasping the crown of the head.
I had asked myself, "Why did He rescue me? And why take special notice of an ordinary drunk like me?" Then I realized His loving presence is all around. He is in the details of my life and yours too. I am precious in His sight, and so are you.
If we can learn anything at all from the Book of Mormon, it should be known to be a great mercy sandwich. Its first chapter proclaims, "But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance" (1 Nephi 1:20). And the last chapter reads, "Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts" (Moroni 10:3).
Oh, the tender mercies of the Lord!
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Types and Patterns of Solomon's Temple
Modern temple worship has its roots in ancient practices patterned after God's eternal plan. Temple themes mirror the heavenly realm and point our souls "beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise" (Alma 37:45). Understanding such patterns can make our temple worship more meaningful. The basic concept of temple is the sacred space where heaven meets earth.
Creation Imagery
The first temple on this planet was the Garden of Eden. The prophet Ezekiel notes:
"Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created" (Ezekiel 28:13).
Creation imagery becomes a key component of temple worship. Such imagery is woven into the construction of Solomon's Temple and is a permanent feature of the temple structure itself. The first instruction from God concerning the creation of the earth was, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3). Solomon made windows of narrow lights to illuminate the temple (1 Kings 6:4). A "molten sea" was created in similarity to the seas of the earth (1 Kings 7:23). The walls were carved with images of palm trees and open flowers (1 Kings 6:29,32). Carved lilies adorned the pillars, and the pillars were crowned with 400 pomegranates (1 Kings 7:22,42). Plant life became plentiful in the temple, and such reminders are present today.
The lilies reflect God's ability to naturally "clothe the grass of the field," begging the question: "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" (Matthew 6:30). The Greek word enduo, meaning to "sink into sacred clothing," is the root of the English word endowment. Pomegranates are noted for their numerous seeds, reminding us of the temple promise of the new and everlasting covenant, promising "a continuation of the seeds forever and ever" (Doctrine and Covenants 132:19).
Lions and oxen work their way into the creative process, as they appear between the ledges of the bases (1 Kings 7:29). With the molten sea and plant and animal life, only mankind remains to complete the creation process. The cherubims face one another, and in the midst is the lid of the Ark of the Covenant--the mercy seat, where God and man may commune.
Of course, the creation time is seven years to correspond with the seven days (or time periods) of earthly creation (see 1 Kings 6:38).
The Heavenly City
John, the Revelator, sees "a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." Then John records, "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21:1-2). Interestingly, at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, the Prophet Joseph Smith petitions the Lord as follows:
"That thy church may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners;
"And be adorned as a bride for that day when thou shalt unveil the heavens, and cause the mountains to flow down at thy presence, and the valleys to be exalted, the rough places made smooth; that thy glory may fill the earth" (D&C 109:73-74).
John describes the heavenly city as having twelve gates, with three gates facing each of the four cardinal directions--north, south, east, and west. This pattern would match the twelve oxen supporting the molten sea in Solomon's Temple (and modern temples), and would match the four heads of the river flowing out of Eden (see 1 Kings 7:25; Genesis 2:10).
The heavenly city is a perfect cube. John records:
"And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal" (Revelation 21:16).
The Holy of Holies in Solomon's Temple was also cubical. The account in First Kings states, "And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord. And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof" (1 Kings 6:19-20).
A cube looks the same from top to bottom, regardless of what angle you view it from. Truth emanating from the presence of God is the same regardless of how it's viewed, and God remains the same yesterday, today, and forever (see 1 Nephi 10:18). Godly truth is absolute, not relative.
Hosanna Shout
The timing of the dedication of Solomon's Temple is significant. It occurs in the feast of the seventh month, which would be the Feast of Tabernacles (see 1 Kings 8:2; also Leviticus 23:39-43). During this feast, palm branches were waved in connection with one of the Hallel Psalms. The Hallel Psalms were Psalms 113-118 and 136. They were sung at the required feasts. It is quite probable that Jesus and His apostles sang one of these hymns en route to Gethsemane in observance of Passover (see Matthew 26:30). The word "hosanna" comes from Psalm 118:25 and means "save now" (see Bible Dictionary, "Hosanna"). Thus, palm branches, symbolizing victory, were waved during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (see John 12:13).
So palm branches were waved during the Feast of Tabernacles as Solomon's Temple was being dedicated. The Kirtland Temple was dedicated on a Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836. One of the petitions during the dedicatory prayer references palm waving and the Hosanna Shout of praise. The following verses are noteworthy:
"That our garments may be pure, that we may be clothed upon with robes of righteousness, with palms in our hands, and crowns of glory upon our heads, and reap eternal joy for all our sufferings" (D&C 109:76).
"And help us by the power of thy Spirit, that we may mingle our voices with those bright, shining seraphs around thy throne, with acclamations of praise, singing Hosanna to God and the Lamb!" (D&C 109:79)
At each temple dedication, the Hosanna Shout takes place. White handkerchiefs are used instead of palm branches. The color white also symbolizes victory. Remember when John sees the various horses in Revelation, chapter 6, the rider of the white horse had a bow and a crown and went forth conquering (Revelation 6:2).
One of those temple promises is also found in the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple. It goes as follows:
"And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them" (D&C 109:22).
And thus, we may be victorious also!
Creation Imagery
The first temple on this planet was the Garden of Eden. The prophet Ezekiel notes:
"Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created" (Ezekiel 28:13).
Creation imagery becomes a key component of temple worship. Such imagery is woven into the construction of Solomon's Temple and is a permanent feature of the temple structure itself. The first instruction from God concerning the creation of the earth was, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3). Solomon made windows of narrow lights to illuminate the temple (1 Kings 6:4). A "molten sea" was created in similarity to the seas of the earth (1 Kings 7:23). The walls were carved with images of palm trees and open flowers (1 Kings 6:29,32). Carved lilies adorned the pillars, and the pillars were crowned with 400 pomegranates (1 Kings 7:22,42). Plant life became plentiful in the temple, and such reminders are present today.
The lilies reflect God's ability to naturally "clothe the grass of the field," begging the question: "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" (Matthew 6:30). The Greek word enduo, meaning to "sink into sacred clothing," is the root of the English word endowment. Pomegranates are noted for their numerous seeds, reminding us of the temple promise of the new and everlasting covenant, promising "a continuation of the seeds forever and ever" (Doctrine and Covenants 132:19).
Lions and oxen work their way into the creative process, as they appear between the ledges of the bases (1 Kings 7:29). With the molten sea and plant and animal life, only mankind remains to complete the creation process. The cherubims face one another, and in the midst is the lid of the Ark of the Covenant--the mercy seat, where God and man may commune.
Of course, the creation time is seven years to correspond with the seven days (or time periods) of earthly creation (see 1 Kings 6:38).
The Heavenly City
John, the Revelator, sees "a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." Then John records, "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21:1-2). Interestingly, at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, the Prophet Joseph Smith petitions the Lord as follows:
"That thy church may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners;
"And be adorned as a bride for that day when thou shalt unveil the heavens, and cause the mountains to flow down at thy presence, and the valleys to be exalted, the rough places made smooth; that thy glory may fill the earth" (D&C 109:73-74).
John describes the heavenly city as having twelve gates, with three gates facing each of the four cardinal directions--north, south, east, and west. This pattern would match the twelve oxen supporting the molten sea in Solomon's Temple (and modern temples), and would match the four heads of the river flowing out of Eden (see 1 Kings 7:25; Genesis 2:10).
The heavenly city is a perfect cube. John records:
"And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal" (Revelation 21:16).
The Holy of Holies in Solomon's Temple was also cubical. The account in First Kings states, "And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord. And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof" (1 Kings 6:19-20).
A cube looks the same from top to bottom, regardless of what angle you view it from. Truth emanating from the presence of God is the same regardless of how it's viewed, and God remains the same yesterday, today, and forever (see 1 Nephi 10:18). Godly truth is absolute, not relative.
Hosanna Shout
The timing of the dedication of Solomon's Temple is significant. It occurs in the feast of the seventh month, which would be the Feast of Tabernacles (see 1 Kings 8:2; also Leviticus 23:39-43). During this feast, palm branches were waved in connection with one of the Hallel Psalms. The Hallel Psalms were Psalms 113-118 and 136. They were sung at the required feasts. It is quite probable that Jesus and His apostles sang one of these hymns en route to Gethsemane in observance of Passover (see Matthew 26:30). The word "hosanna" comes from Psalm 118:25 and means "save now" (see Bible Dictionary, "Hosanna"). Thus, palm branches, symbolizing victory, were waved during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (see John 12:13).
So palm branches were waved during the Feast of Tabernacles as Solomon's Temple was being dedicated. The Kirtland Temple was dedicated on a Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836. One of the petitions during the dedicatory prayer references palm waving and the Hosanna Shout of praise. The following verses are noteworthy:
"That our garments may be pure, that we may be clothed upon with robes of righteousness, with palms in our hands, and crowns of glory upon our heads, and reap eternal joy for all our sufferings" (D&C 109:76).
"And help us by the power of thy Spirit, that we may mingle our voices with those bright, shining seraphs around thy throne, with acclamations of praise, singing Hosanna to God and the Lamb!" (D&C 109:79)
At each temple dedication, the Hosanna Shout takes place. White handkerchiefs are used instead of palm branches. The color white also symbolizes victory. Remember when John sees the various horses in Revelation, chapter 6, the rider of the white horse had a bow and a crown and went forth conquering (Revelation 6:2).
One of those temple promises is also found in the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple. It goes as follows:
"And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them" (D&C 109:22).
And thus, we may be victorious also!
Sunday, July 13, 2014
"This Day" Is A Covenant-Making Day
In Hebrew, a common literary style is the use of leitwort, a German word meaning "theme word" or "leading word." The term was coined by a Jewish philosopher and Bible scholar, Martin Buber. The repetitive use of a leitwort points the reader to a central theme. Common leitworts are up, down, stood, name, place, walk, and midst.
Bible scholars have discovered the phrase, "this day," and it denotes a covenant-making day.
Five-fold Ancient Covenants
When Jacob enters into a covenant with his father-in-law, Laban, all five components of an ancient Hebrew covenant are manifested in Genesis, chapter 31. The five parts are:
1. Historical background
2. Covenant extended by the party with more power
3. Witnesses
4. Terms and conditions
5. Ceremony to make the covenant binding
Covenant Between Jacob and Laban
After Jacob recites the history of his employment, Laban extends the covenant to Jacob. Laban has to be the one to do this because he has the goods and daughters for marriage. The scripture states,
"And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
"Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee" (Genesis 31:43-44).
Notice the connection between the leitwort, "this day," and covenant-making. Then, a heap of stones is constructed and named "the heap of witness" in both Aramaic and Hebrew. Often, the presence of witnesses is highlighted with this leitwort. Then the leitwort is repeated:
"And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed" (Genesis 31:48).
Joshua's People Make a Covenant
Perhaps the most well-known "this day" leitwort occurs when Joshua's people make a covenant. He proposes to the people,
"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).
In this case, the people themselves become witnesses to the covenant:
"And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses" (Joshua 24:22).
The people entered into a covenant with God to serve Him at all times, as the scriptures records, "So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem" (Joshua 24:25). Joshua wrote the words in the book of the law and set a stone under an oak near the tabernacle to serve as a witness to the covenant.
"And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God" (Joshua 24:27).
It is highly probable that Joshua and his people made this covenant during the Feast of Tabernacles, as the king (or leader) would recite the paragraph of the king during this feast.
A Royal Covenant
As David was seeking a successor to the throne, there arose a dispute from Adonijah's desire to become king. David had promised Bathsheba that their son, Solomon, would be the new king. David renews this covenant by saying:
"Even as I sware unto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day" (1 Kings 1:30).
Then the leitwort is repeated: "And also thus said the king, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it (1 Kings 1:48).
King Benjamin's Covenant in the Book of Mormon
It is also highly probable that King Benjamin gave his famous discourse during the Feast of Tabernacles. The similarities with Joshua's speech are striking. Benjamin uses the phrase, "this day" five times during his speech. That is a significant number of times. Here are the verses containing this leitwort:
My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day . . . (Mosiah 2:9)
And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day (Mosiah 2:14).
Yet, my brethren, I have not done these things that I might boast, neither do I tell these things that thereby I might accuse you; but I tell you these things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this day (Mosiah 2:14).
For even at this time, my whole frame doth tremble exceedingly while attempting to speak unto you; but the Lord God doth support me, and hath suffered me that I should speak unto you, and hath commanded me that I should declare unto you this day, that my son Mosiah is a king and a ruler over you (Mosiah 2:30).
And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters (Mosiah 5:7).
In the second reference, witnesses are called in, and in the fifth reference, there is the connection between covenants and the leitwort, "this day."
Alma's Covenant of Baptism
This leitwort appears many times in all of the Standard Works. One final example in the Book of Mormon will be given. When Alma gives his speech to the people in Gideon, he cites the following:
"Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism (Alma 7:15).
The Hebrew writing style of Leitwort serves to focus its reader on a general theme to emphasize its importance. Covenants are an important part of ancient and modern worship, and are necessary to receive the full blessings of the Lord. The context of leitwort in Biblical and restoration scripture, such as the Book of Mormon, further testifies of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith as a prophet, seer, and revelator.
As David was seeking a successor to the throne, there arose a dispute from Adonijah's desire to become king. David had promised Bathsheba that their son, Solomon, would be the new king. David renews this covenant by saying:
"Even as I sware unto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day" (1 Kings 1:30).
Then the leitwort is repeated: "And also thus said the king, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it (1 Kings 1:48).
King Benjamin's Covenant in the Book of Mormon
It is also highly probable that King Benjamin gave his famous discourse during the Feast of Tabernacles. The similarities with Joshua's speech are striking. Benjamin uses the phrase, "this day" five times during his speech. That is a significant number of times. Here are the verses containing this leitwort:
My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day . . . (Mosiah 2:9)
And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day (Mosiah 2:14).
Yet, my brethren, I have not done these things that I might boast, neither do I tell these things that thereby I might accuse you; but I tell you these things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this day (Mosiah 2:14).
For even at this time, my whole frame doth tremble exceedingly while attempting to speak unto you; but the Lord God doth support me, and hath suffered me that I should speak unto you, and hath commanded me that I should declare unto you this day, that my son Mosiah is a king and a ruler over you (Mosiah 2:30).
And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters (Mosiah 5:7).
In the second reference, witnesses are called in, and in the fifth reference, there is the connection between covenants and the leitwort, "this day."
Alma's Covenant of Baptism
This leitwort appears many times in all of the Standard Works. One final example in the Book of Mormon will be given. When Alma gives his speech to the people in Gideon, he cites the following:
"Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism (Alma 7:15).
The Hebrew writing style of Leitwort serves to focus its reader on a general theme to emphasize its importance. Covenants are an important part of ancient and modern worship, and are necessary to receive the full blessings of the Lord. The context of leitwort in Biblical and restoration scripture, such as the Book of Mormon, further testifies of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith as a prophet, seer, and revelator.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Standing Water
In scriptural passages, references to water are varied and interesting. They run the gamut from chaos to divine spirit. Water can be filthy and destructive, as the waters Lehi and Nephi saw in vision portraying the "depths of hell" (see 1 Nephi 12:16). Or water can become a " well . . . springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).
Chaotic Creation
In scriptural creation accounts, water represents unorganized, chaotic element. In the first Biblical chapter, "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2). Here, the Spirit of God has a taming effect on uncontrolled waters. In the absence of Deity's command, water runs, rolls, surges, and then retreats. On a flat surface it will run until evaporation, and always runs to the lowest point. Contrast this with Lehi's exhortation to his son, Lemuel:
"O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!" (1 Nephi 2:10).
Unstable As Water
When Jacob gives patriarchal blessings to his sons, he speaks to Reuben by saying,
"Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch" (Genesis 49:4).
The simple truth exists: water won't stand up in the presence of God. Water is wishy-washy, indecisive, and changes its course of direction.
Wimpy Water
In the Book of Joshua, Israel is defeated by the people of Ai. The account says, "And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water" (Joshua 7:5).
While the Savior's sacrifice was anything but wimpy, when He had exhausted everything, the Messianic prophecy correctly claims, "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels" (Psalm 22:14).
Stature of the Fullness of Christ
While speaking of our Savior, He can be contrasted to unstable water. Paul speaks of the perfecting of the saints by saying:
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).
Unlike unstable water, Jesus always stood firm in the face of adversity. In the Gospel of John, Jesus doesn't need Judas to identify Him. He boldly asks, "Whom seek ye?" After they answer Him and say they are seeking Jesus of Nazareth, He boldly identifies Himself three times by saying, "I am he." Actually, in the Greek text there is no "he," so He is boldly saying, "I am," fulfilling the Mosaic prophecy that His name is "I AM" (Exodus 3:14). The chief priests, Pharisees, and temple guards then begin to act like water, and "they went backward, and fell to the ground" (see John 18:3-8). The simple fact remains: they can't stand in the presence of the Lord.
No wonder Nephi says:
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers" (1 Nephi 2:16).
And it's no wonder President Gordon B. Hinckley wrote a book entitled, Stand A Little Taller. Stature and standing tall in the presence of God is important.
Will Water Stand the Test?
Water actually does stand up on two occasions. When the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea, they "went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left" (Exodus 14:22).
And when the Israelites crossed over at Bethabara (meaning "house of ford") into the promised land, they had to pass through dangerous waters overflowing its banks. The scripture records:
"The waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho" (Joshua 3:16).
Again, the waters stood up and the people passed over.
So, in conclusion, water really can stand up in the presence of God when commanded.
And so should we!
Chaotic Creation
In scriptural creation accounts, water represents unorganized, chaotic element. In the first Biblical chapter, "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2). Here, the Spirit of God has a taming effect on uncontrolled waters. In the absence of Deity's command, water runs, rolls, surges, and then retreats. On a flat surface it will run until evaporation, and always runs to the lowest point. Contrast this with Lehi's exhortation to his son, Lemuel:
"O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!" (1 Nephi 2:10).
Unstable As Water
When Jacob gives patriarchal blessings to his sons, he speaks to Reuben by saying,
"Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch" (Genesis 49:4).
The simple truth exists: water won't stand up in the presence of God. Water is wishy-washy, indecisive, and changes its course of direction.
Wimpy Water
In the Book of Joshua, Israel is defeated by the people of Ai. The account says, "And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water" (Joshua 7:5).
While the Savior's sacrifice was anything but wimpy, when He had exhausted everything, the Messianic prophecy correctly claims, "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels" (Psalm 22:14).
Stature of the Fullness of Christ
While speaking of our Savior, He can be contrasted to unstable water. Paul speaks of the perfecting of the saints by saying:
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).
Unlike unstable water, Jesus always stood firm in the face of adversity. In the Gospel of John, Jesus doesn't need Judas to identify Him. He boldly asks, "Whom seek ye?" After they answer Him and say they are seeking Jesus of Nazareth, He boldly identifies Himself three times by saying, "I am he." Actually, in the Greek text there is no "he," so He is boldly saying, "I am," fulfilling the Mosaic prophecy that His name is "I AM" (Exodus 3:14). The chief priests, Pharisees, and temple guards then begin to act like water, and "they went backward, and fell to the ground" (see John 18:3-8). The simple fact remains: they can't stand in the presence of the Lord.
No wonder Nephi says:
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers" (1 Nephi 2:16).
And it's no wonder President Gordon B. Hinckley wrote a book entitled, Stand A Little Taller. Stature and standing tall in the presence of God is important.
Will Water Stand the Test?
Water actually does stand up on two occasions. When the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea, they "went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left" (Exodus 14:22).
And when the Israelites crossed over at Bethabara (meaning "house of ford") into the promised land, they had to pass through dangerous waters overflowing its banks. The scripture records:
"The waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho" (Joshua 3:16).
Again, the waters stood up and the people passed over.
So, in conclusion, water really can stand up in the presence of God when commanded.
And so should we!
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