My name is Brad and I'm still an alcoholic and addict. Part of my recovery is a Fourth Step inventory. The AA step reads, "Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves." It's often easier and less painful to take the inventory of others rather than my own, especially if pride tops the character defect list as in my case.
In the Book of Mormon, Jacob gives another excellent priestly speech addressing the issue of pride. My favorite part comes as he said, "Ye were proud in your hearts, of the things which God hath given you" (Jacob 2: 20). But Jacob being the masterful teacher he is, cannot leave it at that. And he would be fain glad if he could get away with the mere inventory and not have to address the addictive behaviors caused by the "stinking thinking."
The Lord is able to discern with "one glance of His eye" that these people "are beginning to labor in sin" (Jacob 2: 5, 15). Yes, the practice of addiction takes a lot of work, even sheer labor. I remember how hard it was to keep track of all my lies, and make yesterday's lies consistent with today's. And that day-to-day planning and keeping track of when they would close the liquor store, so I could avoid being left high and dry.
Jacob uses a prime example of two Old Testament figures his people would be familiar with. He speaks of David and Solomon. Now again, I'm supposed to be taking my own inventory and not theirs, but come on now, seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines is a little excessive. But in case one has trouble calculating the cost of addiction, the Lord summarizes in these terms: "And his wives turned away his heart" (1 Kings 11: 3). "For where your treasure is (or your drug of choice), there will your heart be also" (3 Nephi 13: 21).
And there is another cost. What about the codependent family members who suffer along with the addict? One of my unsung heroes of the Old Testament is a poor, suffering, codependent wife of David, a sister named Abigail, who perhaps lost two husbands to addiction. Now I'm really violating the Fourth Step!
Abigail is another type of Christ, who serves as a mediator of the covenant. She had a husband, Nabal, whose name means "fool." Surely all of us as addicts have done foolish things. David is in the wilderness with a group of men, and is in the vicinity of Nabal, who is sheering sheep. David sends messengers out to salute him, perhaps seeking help with food, shelter, and provisions. But instead of Nabal welcoming David as a guest, he "railed" on him (1 Samuel 25: 14).
Abigail, upon seeing this is not in the best interest of her husband, takes out food and provisions to meet David. She delivers "two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses" (verse 18).
David, upon being rebuffed, has his sword drawn, symbolic of God's justice, as Abigail intervenes to make peace as an act of mercy. David expresses his gratitude to her and praises God who sent Abigail to keep him from shedding blood. Abigail becomes a mediator of the covenant. David remarks that Nabal wouldn't have a man left to fight for him had she not intervened. Part of this dialog becomes quite graphic, and I don't want anything that borders on profanity in my blog, so I'll let you read verse 22 on your own.
But this story has a sad ending. Abigail's kindness and mercy cannot save her husband who is partying with his friends. Nabal was "very drunken" and "when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, . . . his heart died within him, and he became as a stone" (1 Samuel 25: 37). The dead and hardened heart is a hallmark symptom of addiction.
After about ten days, Nabal dies, and David marries Abigail, who will now have to watch another husband endure perhaps another addiction involving sexual immorality. Every time I read about David I shed a tear or two, because I know I am approaching 2 Samuel 11 where a prophet king has a fall. I don't know if David was an addict either, but his story has implications for those of us who are.
We addicts have to be vigilant and ready to go to battle against the enemy every day. But at the time when kings go out to battle, David sent the hosts of Israel and tarried behind at Jerusalem. After the lustful glances from the king's roof, the inquiries regarding Bathsheba, the adulterous affair, and after the cover up attempts fail, David plots to kill Uriah, another of my unsung heroes in scripture, who carries his own death sentence to the battle front.
The pre-Bathsheba David had a faith-filled, pliable heart, and trusted the Lord to deliver him as he went up against the giant Goliath with only a shepherd's staff, in likeness of the true Shepherd, and five smooth stones, in likeness of the Stone of Israel, and went out with these and a sling and a shepherd's bag to conquer the enemy (see Genesis 49: 24; 1 Samuel 17: 40).
The post-Bathsheba David had to number the hosts of Israel from Dan to Beersheba to see if he had enough troops to beat the enemy (see 2 Samuel 24: 2).
Jacob declares, "Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds" (Jacob 2: 35).
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Sunday, December 11, 2016
"Their Blood Might Not Come Upon Our Garments" (Part 2)
I wish to repent of one of the oversights I missed on the earlier post on this subject. As I was discussing the Hebrew words for consecrate, male and yad, and how these two words create the phrase, "fill the hand," the Hebrew meaning of consecration, I failed to mention an important covenant relationship connected to this concept of "filling the hand."
At the three required feasts (Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks, and Feast of Tabernacles), the Lord Jehovah commands the congregation of Israel to be gathered, and says unto them, "they shall not appear before the Lord empty" (Deuteronomy 16: 16). In other words, they come with their hands full, ready to make an offering to the Lord. I believe in my heart that as we come to make a presentation to the Lord, He receives our humble offering, and fills our hands with something greater than what we can offer to Him.
At one of these festival dates, during Passover (or Feast of Unleavened Bread), and on an Easter Sunday, the resurrected Lord appeared in the Kirtland Temple and restored priesthood keys. Anciently, and even currently among Jews, it was believed that Elijah would come during Passover time. The door was left open at the Passover feast and a table setting was prepared for Elijah's return. In fact, he was supposed to appear on the second day of Passover (or Pesach). And right on schedule he did appear in the Kirtland Temple on that day. Click here for a Hebrew calendar link to verify this date.
When these keys were given, the Lord makes the declaration, "Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors" (D&C 110: 16). The Lord fills our hands too.
In the Book of Mormon Jacob acts as a true priest. As a mediator, he exclaims, "And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day" (Jacob 1: 19).
Like the Savior, he takes upon himself the responsibility and weight of sin, which in effect, is put upon his head. Remember the anointing oil was put upon the priests' heads. Moses "poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him" (Leviticus 8: 12). The Savior first had His feet anointed to represent His kingly duties, such as His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (see John 12: 3, 12-16). Then, later that week, He had His head anointed to represent His priestly duties (see Mark 14: 3). Like the Savior, he was willing to answer to the Father to meet God's demands for justice. Like the Savior, he was willing to "labor with his might" to "work" out salvation for his people. Like the Savior, Jacob was a great doctrinal teacher.
But unlike the Savior, Jacob, as a priest, could not overcome the stain of blood.
The priest in ancient Israel performed ordinances and sacrifices on behalf of the people. When animals were sacrificed, the blood would sometimes stain the garments of the priest. On the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) he would go into the tabernacle alone, make sacrifices, and sprinkle the blood of the bullock and also the blood of the goat of the sin offering upon the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. However, the blood could contaminate his clothing.
Jesus went alone into Gethsemane and bled from every pore.
Blood on the garments represents sin, especially violent crime, and especially in the Old Testament. Here are some scriptural examples.
"The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
"He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil" (Isaiah 33: 14-15).
The "everlasting burnings" in this verse sounds perhaps like hell, however, Isaiah is actually speaking here of celestial glory. The Hebrew word for blood means blood-guiltiness.
"For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire" (Isaiah 9: 5).
"And behold, that great city Moronihah have I covered with earth, and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them" (3 Nephi 9: 5).
"And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what will these things testify against you?" (Alma 5: 22).
Perhaps the most obvious example is where Nephi testifies of the true murderer of the chief judge. Nephi reveals the murderer and for evidence says, "But behold, ye shall examine him, and ye shall find blood upon the skirts of his cloak" (Helaman 9: 31).
Blood seems to point to sin. That's because blood is the life-giving and life-taking agent which only God has the right to exercise control over. In Genesis and later Leviticus, the Lord gives man dominion over the plants and animals with one main restriction:
"But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat" (Genesis 9: 4: see also Leviticus 17: 11). In the latter verse, the Lord describes the blood as "the life of the flesh."
The drink offering became a part of certain sacrifices. It was wine poured on the altar symbolic of the blood Jesus spilled on the cross. And this became the distinction. God could absorb the blood as the life-giving agent, but the priest, as a mortal man, could not.
Those who stood in open rebellion against the Lord, like some of the Nephite apostates, were described as loving murder, and they would "drink the blood of beasts" (Jarom 1: 6). Amalickiah, who is a type of Satan in the Book of Mormon, "was exceedingly wroth, and he did curse God, and also Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would drink his blood" (Alma 49: 27). The Gadianton robbers counterfeited the covenant and were in open rebellion as they "had a lamb-skin about their loins, and they were dyed in blood, and their heads were shorn, and they had head-plates upon them; and great and terrible was the appearance of the armies of Giddianhi, because of their armor, and because of their being dyed in blood" (3 Nephi 4: 7).
It would be spiritually disastrous for Jacob, or any other priest, to have blood staining his raiment. However, Jesus describes His experience in Gethsemane and on the cross by saying, "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment" (Isaiah 63: 3).
The anger and fury represent the divine verdict of pure justice. Absorbing the blood, sin, and violence, and taking it upon Himself to pay the price, becomes a pure act of mercy.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses entirely, and Jesus would make a statement in the Bread of Life Sermon which would shock His flock of followers. He said, "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6: 54). This was like cultural whiplash. Hence, many of His followers went away and said, "This is an hard saying; who can hear it?" (verse 60).
This would appear on the surface to be a contradiction, or a reversal of doctrine. But I think the Lord is emphasizing the power of the covenant as He describes the sacrament by saying, "This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22: 20).
In that invitation I think there needs to be an inherent commitment and burning desire to follow Him and become like Him in every way.
At the three required feasts (Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks, and Feast of Tabernacles), the Lord Jehovah commands the congregation of Israel to be gathered, and says unto them, "they shall not appear before the Lord empty" (Deuteronomy 16: 16). In other words, they come with their hands full, ready to make an offering to the Lord. I believe in my heart that as we come to make a presentation to the Lord, He receives our humble offering, and fills our hands with something greater than what we can offer to Him.
At one of these festival dates, during Passover (or Feast of Unleavened Bread), and on an Easter Sunday, the resurrected Lord appeared in the Kirtland Temple and restored priesthood keys. Anciently, and even currently among Jews, it was believed that Elijah would come during Passover time. The door was left open at the Passover feast and a table setting was prepared for Elijah's return. In fact, he was supposed to appear on the second day of Passover (or Pesach). And right on schedule he did appear in the Kirtland Temple on that day. Click here for a Hebrew calendar link to verify this date.
When these keys were given, the Lord makes the declaration, "Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors" (D&C 110: 16). The Lord fills our hands too.
In the Book of Mormon Jacob acts as a true priest. As a mediator, he exclaims, "And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day" (Jacob 1: 19).
Like the Savior, he takes upon himself the responsibility and weight of sin, which in effect, is put upon his head. Remember the anointing oil was put upon the priests' heads. Moses "poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him" (Leviticus 8: 12). The Savior first had His feet anointed to represent His kingly duties, such as His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (see John 12: 3, 12-16). Then, later that week, He had His head anointed to represent His priestly duties (see Mark 14: 3). Like the Savior, he was willing to answer to the Father to meet God's demands for justice. Like the Savior, he was willing to "labor with his might" to "work" out salvation for his people. Like the Savior, Jacob was a great doctrinal teacher.
But unlike the Savior, Jacob, as a priest, could not overcome the stain of blood.
The priest in ancient Israel performed ordinances and sacrifices on behalf of the people. When animals were sacrificed, the blood would sometimes stain the garments of the priest. On the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) he would go into the tabernacle alone, make sacrifices, and sprinkle the blood of the bullock and also the blood of the goat of the sin offering upon the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. However, the blood could contaminate his clothing.
Jesus went alone into Gethsemane and bled from every pore.
Blood on the garments represents sin, especially violent crime, and especially in the Old Testament. Here are some scriptural examples.
"The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
"He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil" (Isaiah 33: 14-15).
The "everlasting burnings" in this verse sounds perhaps like hell, however, Isaiah is actually speaking here of celestial glory. The Hebrew word for blood means blood-guiltiness.
"For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire" (Isaiah 9: 5).
"And behold, that great city Moronihah have I covered with earth, and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them" (3 Nephi 9: 5).
"And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what will these things testify against you?" (Alma 5: 22).
Perhaps the most obvious example is where Nephi testifies of the true murderer of the chief judge. Nephi reveals the murderer and for evidence says, "But behold, ye shall examine him, and ye shall find blood upon the skirts of his cloak" (Helaman 9: 31).
Blood seems to point to sin. That's because blood is the life-giving and life-taking agent which only God has the right to exercise control over. In Genesis and later Leviticus, the Lord gives man dominion over the plants and animals with one main restriction:
"But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat" (Genesis 9: 4: see also Leviticus 17: 11). In the latter verse, the Lord describes the blood as "the life of the flesh."
The drink offering became a part of certain sacrifices. It was wine poured on the altar symbolic of the blood Jesus spilled on the cross. And this became the distinction. God could absorb the blood as the life-giving agent, but the priest, as a mortal man, could not.
Those who stood in open rebellion against the Lord, like some of the Nephite apostates, were described as loving murder, and they would "drink the blood of beasts" (Jarom 1: 6). Amalickiah, who is a type of Satan in the Book of Mormon, "was exceedingly wroth, and he did curse God, and also Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would drink his blood" (Alma 49: 27). The Gadianton robbers counterfeited the covenant and were in open rebellion as they "had a lamb-skin about their loins, and they were dyed in blood, and their heads were shorn, and they had head-plates upon them; and great and terrible was the appearance of the armies of Giddianhi, because of their armor, and because of their being dyed in blood" (3 Nephi 4: 7).
It would be spiritually disastrous for Jacob, or any other priest, to have blood staining his raiment. However, Jesus describes His experience in Gethsemane and on the cross by saying, "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment" (Isaiah 63: 3).
The anger and fury represent the divine verdict of pure justice. Absorbing the blood, sin, and violence, and taking it upon Himself to pay the price, becomes a pure act of mercy.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses entirely, and Jesus would make a statement in the Bread of Life Sermon which would shock His flock of followers. He said, "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6: 54). This was like cultural whiplash. Hence, many of His followers went away and said, "This is an hard saying; who can hear it?" (verse 60).
This would appear on the surface to be a contradiction, or a reversal of doctrine. But I think the Lord is emphasizing the power of the covenant as He describes the sacrament by saying, "This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22: 20).
In that invitation I think there needs to be an inherent commitment and burning desire to follow Him and become like Him in every way.
Saturday, December 3, 2016
See Yourself Through His Eyes
This 25 days of "Light the World" at lds.org is so wonderfully incredible. I got excited about it subbing in Primary last Sunday. And wow! It's incredible! I check out the short videos each day, and today I finally cheated and peaked ahead for tomorrow. But today is special.
I thought about donating glasses but my old ones are so foggy now. I wonder with all this light what He wants us to see. But the video was incredible. It's a special story about Jesus healing the eyes of a man born blind (John 9). So I decided to do this one a little different. It's my gift to you today, and my little act of service. Actually, it's not me at all.
You know the story. "Jesus passed by, (and) saw a man which was blind from his birth." How did He know? Was the man carrying a cardboard sign reading, "Caution: blind man in the way?" There could have been outward manifestations, but John doesn't tell us. John is so deep and subtle in his symbolism that often we don't even see it. I like to think Jesus "saw" this man from the inside out. He looked through his eyes and saw nothing, only darkness. By the way, next time you read the Gospel of John, look for the contrasts of light and darkness, like this one where Jesus "sees" but the blind man doesn't. Look for the setting and the time of day and what comes before and after. You might see something very interesting.
It comforts me to know that Jesus sees me from the inside out. He sees what is going on inside. And that's how He sees you.
Do you see the question the disciples ask? "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" When would this man have sinned? The parents had a head start. And what about His answer? Can bad things happen to good people?
Jesus then spat upon the ground and made clay of the spittle. Now I don't want to spoon feed you, like I'm often prone to do, but I have to share something special the Spirit showed me one day. No, this wasn't me, cause I remember what I felt when I read the Creation story:
"But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2: 6-7).
Jesus had done this before. He had made Man from the mud. Really, He's re-creating the man, so he can become a "new creature." He has had a lot of practice doing this. Is that what He is doing for you?
Then it says He "anointed" the eyes of the blind man with the clay. Ponder on this. Why doesn't it say He rubbed, or smeared, mud on the man's eyes? And why does the Anointed One perform an anointing on him? What does He want him to become?
Then He tells him to go "wash" in the Pool of Siloam. He wants the man to wash the muddy and mundane out of his eyes. I love Sundays. Weekdays I go to work, and don't get me wrong, I love my job. It's a blessing from the Lord. But when I'm at work, I see people by their credit scores, and their debt-to-income ratios, and how much money they make. I have to because I'm a credit underwriter. But on Sunday and in some holy places, I see others differently. What does He want you to see?
If you have been "washed" or "anointed" consider yourself lucky (excuse me, I mean blessed). What does He want you to see? What does He want you to become? By the way, this pool was only a couple of hundred yards south of the temple. Can you see things in the temple you can't see anywhere else?
I like Saturdays too. Today is special. I got to go for a walk and listen to my music. I listen to my playlist alphabetically. It just happens that after I watched this video and pondered its message, that midway through my walk I encountered all the "love" songs with titles like "Love Can Make You Happy," and "Love Is All Around." I heard lyrics like, "There's no beginning, there'll be no end, upon my love you can depend." And, "It takes love over gold and mind over matter." Maybe that wasn't accidental at all. I walked by a humble manger scene while listening to the Beatles sing "Love Me Do," and I think He does.
While walking, I thought about the man at the pool. As his eyes are dripping wet, looking down into the pool, what do you think he saw first? And who else might he have seen reflected in the water? I thought about how right Paul was when he said, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Corinthians 13: 12). And what kind of glass is he talking about?
And what about the pool? An interesting name and an interesting translation. My daughter is also being sent away on a mission. Her example and willingness to serve up north in the bitter cold help me to see things a little differently. I can only hope the love of good people, and the warmth of the Holy Spirit can keep her warm there.
What other ordinances or events could happen at such a pool? And how is that pool like the emblems of the sacrament you will partake of tomorrow? I can think of at least three things.
I can't think of a better way to get into the Christmas spirit than these 25 daily suggestions from "Light the World." As you immerse yourself in His Spirit and His service, what new things will you see?
I thought about donating glasses but my old ones are so foggy now. I wonder with all this light what He wants us to see. But the video was incredible. It's a special story about Jesus healing the eyes of a man born blind (John 9). So I decided to do this one a little different. It's my gift to you today, and my little act of service. Actually, it's not me at all.
You know the story. "Jesus passed by, (and) saw a man which was blind from his birth." How did He know? Was the man carrying a cardboard sign reading, "Caution: blind man in the way?" There could have been outward manifestations, but John doesn't tell us. John is so deep and subtle in his symbolism that often we don't even see it. I like to think Jesus "saw" this man from the inside out. He looked through his eyes and saw nothing, only darkness. By the way, next time you read the Gospel of John, look for the contrasts of light and darkness, like this one where Jesus "sees" but the blind man doesn't. Look for the setting and the time of day and what comes before and after. You might see something very interesting.
It comforts me to know that Jesus sees me from the inside out. He sees what is going on inside. And that's how He sees you.
Do you see the question the disciples ask? "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" When would this man have sinned? The parents had a head start. And what about His answer? Can bad things happen to good people?
Jesus then spat upon the ground and made clay of the spittle. Now I don't want to spoon feed you, like I'm often prone to do, but I have to share something special the Spirit showed me one day. No, this wasn't me, cause I remember what I felt when I read the Creation story:
"But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2: 6-7).
Jesus had done this before. He had made Man from the mud. Really, He's re-creating the man, so he can become a "new creature." He has had a lot of practice doing this. Is that what He is doing for you?
Then it says He "anointed" the eyes of the blind man with the clay. Ponder on this. Why doesn't it say He rubbed, or smeared, mud on the man's eyes? And why does the Anointed One perform an anointing on him? What does He want him to become?
Then He tells him to go "wash" in the Pool of Siloam. He wants the man to wash the muddy and mundane out of his eyes. I love Sundays. Weekdays I go to work, and don't get me wrong, I love my job. It's a blessing from the Lord. But when I'm at work, I see people by their credit scores, and their debt-to-income ratios, and how much money they make. I have to because I'm a credit underwriter. But on Sunday and in some holy places, I see others differently. What does He want you to see?
If you have been "washed" or "anointed" consider yourself lucky (excuse me, I mean blessed). What does He want you to see? What does He want you to become? By the way, this pool was only a couple of hundred yards south of the temple. Can you see things in the temple you can't see anywhere else?
I like Saturdays too. Today is special. I got to go for a walk and listen to my music. I listen to my playlist alphabetically. It just happens that after I watched this video and pondered its message, that midway through my walk I encountered all the "love" songs with titles like "Love Can Make You Happy," and "Love Is All Around." I heard lyrics like, "There's no beginning, there'll be no end, upon my love you can depend." And, "It takes love over gold and mind over matter." Maybe that wasn't accidental at all. I walked by a humble manger scene while listening to the Beatles sing "Love Me Do," and I think He does.
While walking, I thought about the man at the pool. As his eyes are dripping wet, looking down into the pool, what do you think he saw first? And who else might he have seen reflected in the water? I thought about how right Paul was when he said, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Corinthians 13: 12). And what kind of glass is he talking about?
And what about the pool? An interesting name and an interesting translation. My daughter is also being sent away on a mission. Her example and willingness to serve up north in the bitter cold help me to see things a little differently. I can only hope the love of good people, and the warmth of the Holy Spirit can keep her warm there.
What other ordinances or events could happen at such a pool? And how is that pool like the emblems of the sacrament you will partake of tomorrow? I can think of at least three things.
I can't think of a better way to get into the Christmas spirit than these 25 daily suggestions from "Light the World." As you immerse yourself in His Spirit and His service, what new things will you see?
Thursday, December 1, 2016
"Their Blood Might Not Come Upon Our Garments"
Kings and Priests
As the reader progresses through the Book of Mormon, he or she comes to that point where the leadership is transferred, as Nephi nears the end of his life. My last several readings, beginning really not that long ago, I have been impressed with how much Nephi acts like a king and his brother Jacob acts like a priest. This transfer of spiritual leadership serves as a type of Christ, as the Great High Priest and King of kings (see Hebrews 4: 14: Revelation 19: 16).
Jacob, as perhaps the Book of Mormon's best doctrinal teacher, has successfully delivered great sermons, experiencing profound teaching moments. In fact, it seems whenever Nephi wanted a message delivered just in the right way, he let Jacob do the teaching.
Sword of Justice
As Nephi transfers the kingly duties, we are informed about his reign as a king as it states,
"The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defence, and having labored in all his days for their welfare—" (Jacob 1: 10).
The sword of Laban becomes an emblem of authority, and swords particularly are symbolic of the justice of God, who has a sword of His own, sharpened and waiting in its sheath (see Ezekiel 21: 3-15; Alma 60: 29; Helaman 13: 5).
The tenor of doctrine now shifts as King Nephi emphasizes the justice of God in verses such as, " And I said unto them that our father also saw that the justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous; and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and hath no end" (1 Nephi 15: 30).
Bowels of Mercy
Jacob is now going to teach us about the "bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice" (Alma 34: 15). Remember that the Anti-Nephi-Lehies relied upon mercy, not justice, as they buried their swords deep in the earth and subjected themselves to unjust punishment from their enemies.
Jacob is a true priest, an advocate for his congregation, and like Christ, as a mediator, he stands between them and justice. Cause my biggest fear at the judgment day is that I'll get exactly what I deserve. Priests were the great teachers, especially in the Book of Mormon, but they were also the ones who performed the ordinances of the temple, all of which pointed to that "great and last sacrifice" of Jesus (see Alma 34: 10).
Jacob emphasizes that his record is on the priestly small plates, containing the most precious spiritual doctrine, and not the kingly historical record (see Jacob 1: 2-4). As he commits himself to this role he states, "Wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi" (Jacob 1: 8). He realizes this is no light matter, as he "takes upon himself" the weight of sin and sorrow, as a forerunner of Christ, who would take upon Himself the sins, pains, and sufferings of the world.
"Fill the Hand"
But before a priest can go to work, he must be consecrated according to Mosaic Law. Jacob cites this as authentication of his authority: "For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi" (Jacob 1: 18).
The "hand" of Nephi becomes significant. In ancient consecration ceremonies, the priest would be initiated by taking upon his hands the entirety of the sacrifice. First, "Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. . . . And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him" (Leviticus 8: 6,12). Anciently priests were washed and anointed. After the holy anointing oil was put upon them, they were considered to be the property of the Lord. Then they were dressed in coats (garments), girdles (sashes), and bonnets (caps). (see Leviticus 8: 13).
Two rams were used, and one of them was the "ram of consecration." This ram was sacrificed and the blood was placed upon "the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet."
The next part is quite interesting:
"And he took the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder:
"And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the Lord, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder:
"And he put all upon Aaron’s hands, and upon his sons’ hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the Lord.
"And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savour: it is an offering made by fire unto the Lord" (Leviticus 8: 22-28).
I would think the priests' hands would be quite full at this point with the fat, rump, caul, kidneys, the right shoulder, unleavened cake (pierced bread pointing to the sacrifice of Christ), oiled bread, and one wafer. In fact, the Hebrew word for consecration comes from two words--male and yad. The two words combine to make the phrase, "fill the hand."
The priest would perform a "wave offering" as the offering was presented to the Lord. This concept becomes central to all of Jacob's teachings, as Christ will present His firstfruits (that's us) to the Father. The brother of Jared "filled his hands" with clear, white, celestial stones and presented them to the Lord, where He touched each one to give each a certain brilliance. But before the brother of Jared saw within the veil, he performed this act of "consecration" or "filling the hand."
That presentation was you and me!
As the reader progresses through the Book of Mormon, he or she comes to that point where the leadership is transferred, as Nephi nears the end of his life. My last several readings, beginning really not that long ago, I have been impressed with how much Nephi acts like a king and his brother Jacob acts like a priest. This transfer of spiritual leadership serves as a type of Christ, as the Great High Priest and King of kings (see Hebrews 4: 14: Revelation 19: 16).
Jacob, as perhaps the Book of Mormon's best doctrinal teacher, has successfully delivered great sermons, experiencing profound teaching moments. In fact, it seems whenever Nephi wanted a message delivered just in the right way, he let Jacob do the teaching.
Sword of Justice
As Nephi transfers the kingly duties, we are informed about his reign as a king as it states,
"The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defence, and having labored in all his days for their welfare—" (Jacob 1: 10).
The sword of Laban becomes an emblem of authority, and swords particularly are symbolic of the justice of God, who has a sword of His own, sharpened and waiting in its sheath (see Ezekiel 21: 3-15; Alma 60: 29; Helaman 13: 5).
The tenor of doctrine now shifts as King Nephi emphasizes the justice of God in verses such as, " And I said unto them that our father also saw that the justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous; and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and hath no end" (1 Nephi 15: 30).
Bowels of Mercy
Jacob is now going to teach us about the "bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice" (Alma 34: 15). Remember that the Anti-Nephi-Lehies relied upon mercy, not justice, as they buried their swords deep in the earth and subjected themselves to unjust punishment from their enemies.
Jacob is a true priest, an advocate for his congregation, and like Christ, as a mediator, he stands between them and justice. Cause my biggest fear at the judgment day is that I'll get exactly what I deserve. Priests were the great teachers, especially in the Book of Mormon, but they were also the ones who performed the ordinances of the temple, all of which pointed to that "great and last sacrifice" of Jesus (see Alma 34: 10).
Jacob emphasizes that his record is on the priestly small plates, containing the most precious spiritual doctrine, and not the kingly historical record (see Jacob 1: 2-4). As he commits himself to this role he states, "Wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi" (Jacob 1: 8). He realizes this is no light matter, as he "takes upon himself" the weight of sin and sorrow, as a forerunner of Christ, who would take upon Himself the sins, pains, and sufferings of the world.
"Fill the Hand"
But before a priest can go to work, he must be consecrated according to Mosaic Law. Jacob cites this as authentication of his authority: "For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi" (Jacob 1: 18).
The "hand" of Nephi becomes significant. In ancient consecration ceremonies, the priest would be initiated by taking upon his hands the entirety of the sacrifice. First, "Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. . . . And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him" (Leviticus 8: 6,12). Anciently priests were washed and anointed. After the holy anointing oil was put upon them, they were considered to be the property of the Lord. Then they were dressed in coats (garments), girdles (sashes), and bonnets (caps). (see Leviticus 8: 13).
Two rams were used, and one of them was the "ram of consecration." This ram was sacrificed and the blood was placed upon "the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet."
The next part is quite interesting:
"And he took the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder:
"And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the Lord, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder:
"And he put all upon Aaron’s hands, and upon his sons’ hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the Lord.
"And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savour: it is an offering made by fire unto the Lord" (Leviticus 8: 22-28).
I would think the priests' hands would be quite full at this point with the fat, rump, caul, kidneys, the right shoulder, unleavened cake (pierced bread pointing to the sacrifice of Christ), oiled bread, and one wafer. In fact, the Hebrew word for consecration comes from two words--male and yad. The two words combine to make the phrase, "fill the hand."
The priest would perform a "wave offering" as the offering was presented to the Lord. This concept becomes central to all of Jacob's teachings, as Christ will present His firstfruits (that's us) to the Father. The brother of Jared "filled his hands" with clear, white, celestial stones and presented them to the Lord, where He touched each one to give each a certain brilliance. But before the brother of Jared saw within the veil, he performed this act of "consecration" or "filling the hand."
That presentation was you and me!
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