Monthly Archives: September 2013

Micah 5-7

Posted on by Standard Reply

Micah 5-7

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

In the last three chapters of Micah we learn that the Jesus Christ will be born in Bethlehem, but we also learn that those who turn away from the Lord and put their trust in; guides, friends and family alone will fall!

We can trust our friends and family, but we should never go against God. If we always keep on His path, we will have no reason to fear our enemies.

“Rejoice no against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.” (Micah 7:8)

Chapter 5: Messiah shall be born

The Messiah (Jesus Christ) shall be born in Bethlehem. He shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord. He will deliver Jacob from Assyria. The remnant is large and will be victorious over its enemies. The Lord will cut off sorceries, soothsayers and idols.

Chapter 6: They are not serving the Lord

“Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord’s controversy [complaint]…” (Micah 6:2). The Lord reminds the people of his favor towards them, and complains of their ingratitude. The people are imagined replying, and complaining of the Lord’s demanding nature: “Will the Lord be pleased with a thousand rams, or with ten thousand rivers of oil? …” (Micah 6:7) However, Micah explains that the Lord has revealed to them what He wants: justice, mercy and humility.

 

Chapter 7: The Lord will have mercy on Israel

The Lord compares himself to a gatherer of fruit who can find no ripe cluster of grapes. All of them have been corrupted. Family and other social relationships will crumble.

 

“Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide…” (Micah 7:5) However, enemies should not rejoice in the supposed weakness of man; “…when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.” (Micah 7:8) The Lord will shepherd His people with His staff. Other nations shall be brought low, and lick the dust like a serpent. God is like no one else, he will forgive his people and help them back on their feet.

 

Advertisement

Micah 3-4

Posted on by Standard Reply

Micah 3-4

Chapter 3: Pastors for Money

The heads of Jacob commit some pretty horrible acts of violence against their own people. (see 1-3)

Because of this Jacob’s people turn to the Lord “Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them…” (Micah 3:4) A darkness will descend on the prophets, and the prophets will be confused because there is “…no answer of God.” (Micah 3:7) This is the Apostasy, a time when men were so wicked that the Lord had to withdraw his power and authority from the earth (for a time). Meaning that there wouldn’t be a prophet and those who pretend to be a prophet would suffer great consequences.

 

“… the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? None evil can come upon us.” ( Micah 3:11) Today, and throughout History there has always been false prophets and priests trying to make a quick buck. They do it for money, sadly a large number of churches today follow this format, that God was so angered by in the first place. We further learn in this chapter that Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, and the mountain of the temple like the bare hills of the forest.

Chapter 4: The Millennium

This is an almost word for word vision of what Isaiah sees as a vision of the latter days in Isaiah 2:2…

“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.” (Micah 4:1)

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the tops of mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:2-4)

Essentially Isaiah sees a vision of the last days, where God’s church would be restored and the Temples would be built and shortly following that the Second Coming of Jesus would happen, where there would be 1,000 years of peace in the World.

The most interesting part of this, to me, is the following: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the tops of mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it…” (Isaiah 2:2) The reason this is so fascinating to me, is because the “tops of mountains” is a translation of a meaning of the word “Ute” which was the Indian Tribe of Utah, where the state was named and one of the most famous Temples in the world… the Salt Lake Temple has visitors from ALL around the world flock there on a daily basis. Isaiah was speaking of the Latter-day Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In the last days, the proud and the wicked will be brought low and the judgment will occur for everyone during the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Nations will no longer know war, and the world will enter into a peace for 1,000 years, while Jesus Christ reigns as king over Zion!

Micah 1-2

Posted on by Standard Reply

Micah 1-2

Chapter 1: Micah prophesies of the downfall of Samaria and Jerusalem

The word of the Lord comes to Micah during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah of Judah. The Lord tells Micah that He will tread down the high places, the mountains will melt under Him, and the valleys will split like wax before the fire! Samaria will be left desolate in judgment, because of its idolatry. Because of this great destruction, this will cause Micah to wail and howls like an animal. The surrounding nations will know of Israel’s shame.

 

Chapter 2: The destruction of Israel

“Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil… they covet fields, and take them by violence…” (Micah 2:1-2) The Lord will take away the heritage of people who work iniquity. God’s people reject the word of His prophets. False prophets will rise and will prophesy days of wine and drink. Israel will be restored!

Summary of Jonah

Posted on by Standard Reply

Summary of Jonah

Chapter by Chapter:

Jonah 1-2: Jonah is lost at sea/ The Whale “vomits” out Jonah

Jonah 3-4: Jonah saves Nineveh/Jonah is angry

 

The Book of Jonah is one of the many Prophets of the Bible. It tells the story of a Hebrew prophet named Jonah, son of Amittai who is sent by God to prophesy the destruction of the Land of Nineveh and its people but tries to escape the divine mission, but in the end is taught by the Lord to listen and obey. This story is set during the reign of Jeroboam II (Approximately 786-746 BC). The story has an interesting interpretive history and has been a popular Bible story around the world.

Jonah 3-4

Posted on by Standard Reply

Jonah 3-4

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

In chapters 3 and 4 we learn a lot about God’s mercy and WHO God really is. In LDS doctrine, we believe that God, His Son and the Holy Ghost are all individual and distinct persons. We believe that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ have bodies of flesh and bones. After all, we are created in their image, right!? I just love how God says he “repented” (which of course means changed his mind in this context), but God was going to destroy a city and then changed his mind because the people changed their ways. God never hates people, he loves all his children, but he gets upset and sometimes (like any good parent) has to discipline his children.

Jonah gets mad about God NOT destroying the city, but they gets mad at God killing a plant. Here we see the selfishness of Jonah, he only wanted the plant because it gave him shade. God teaches him and any reader a good lesson, ALL Life is important and everyone has a purpose and meaning!

Chapter 3: Jonah saves Nineveh

The word of the Lord comes to Jonah and is again told to cry against Nineveh and its people. Jonah preaches to the people and almost immediately the people repent with ashes and sackcloth. They fasted and turned to their God. Upon seeing this, God decides not to destroy Nineveh.

“…God repented of the evil that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” (Jonah 3:10)

Chapter 4: Jonah is angry

Jonah is upset because God chose not to destroy Nineveh. He leaves the city and sits in the hot sun where God causes a plant (a gourd of some sort) to grow to provide shade for Jonah. The next day God sends a worm to kill the plant. Without any shade from the hot sun, Jonah is angered and in pain and claims it would be better for him to die.

God questions Jonah’s anger about the death of the plant and asks him why he thinks a plant should be spared from destruction but a large city like Nineveh should not be saved.

Jonah 1-2

Posted on by Standard Reply

Jonah 1-2

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

This is the classic story of Jonah and the Whale that pretty much everyone has heard once or twice in their lives. I love how the Lord had the whole thing planned and while we don’t know if Jonah was in the whales belly or if this entire story is a metaphor… it doesn’t matter… because we learn some great information. We learn that the Lord has a great plan for us and while Jonah cried from the depths of hell, the Lord listened to him. Often times we are in similar situations and feel trapped, like the waters have encompassed us and we can cry out to the Lord and he will save us… he will LISTEN to us even in the darkest of hours!

Chapter 1: Jonah is lost at sea

The word of the Lord comes to Jonah (who was the son of Amittai) and Jonah is told to cry against Nineveh. Instead, he flees on a ship going to Tarshish. This angers the Lord and he sends a great storm to catch up to the ship. As Jonah sleeps, the mariners cast lots to ascertain who is responsible for this great storm; they find out that it is Jonah. Jonah suggests that they throw him overboard. The mariners are reluctant to resort to this extreme measure, but do so when the storm does not quiet down. As the mariners throw Jonah overboard, they pray that they may not perish because of Jonah.

 

After Jonah is thrown overboard, the sea is calmed. “Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17)

 Whale Of A Time

Chapter 2: The Whale “vomits” out Jonah

Jonah prays within the belly of the fish. “…I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.” (Jonah 2:2) Jonah describes the waters compassing him about with weeds wrapped around his head. The Lord has brought up Jonah’s life from corruption, and Jonah responds with thanksgiving, looking towards God’s holy temple. The fish vomits out Jonah onto dry land. “And the Lord spake to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.” (Jonah 2:10)

Chapter 1 + Summary of Obadiah

Posted on by Standard Reply

Chapter 1 + Summary of Obadiah

Obadiah is one of the smallest books in the bible at about 1 ½ pages long, and includes only one chapter.

Chapter 1: Obadiah Prophesies Downfall of Edom

Obadiah has a vision, and in that vision he sees…

Edom will be made small among the nations. Though it ascends as high as an eagle, it shall be brought down. The judgment on Edom will be complete and not like when robbers and grape gatherers leave some grapes behind.  The house of Jacab shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, but the house of Esau shall be stubble. The children of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites. Saviors shall come to Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.

Summary of Amos

Posted on by Standard Reply

Summary of Amos

Chapter by Chapter:

Amos 1-2: The Lord Judges Syria, Tyre and Edom/The Lord will Judge Moab, Judah and Israel

Amos 3-4: Prophets/The Lord makes things hard, so we remember

Amos 5-6: Seek the Lord and do good/Woe unto them of Zion

Amos 7-9: Amos, a prophet of God/A time of famine: The Great Apostasy/The Restoration

Amos, an older contemporary of Hosea and Isaiah, was active c. 750 BCE during the reign of Jeroboam II, making the Book of Amos the first biblical prophetic book written (presumably). Amos lived in the kingdom of Judah but preached in the northern kingdom of Israel. His major themes were of social justice, God’s omnipotence and role as creator, and divine judgment.

We also learn about the important roles of Prophets, the coming of a Spiritual Famine known as “The Apostasy” and a future Restoration of the Lord’s Gospel

Amos 7-9

Posted on by Standard Reply

Amos 7-9

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Today, we see wars and hear of rumors of wars just as the Bible predicted. However we see so many people turn away from the scriptures and turn to other methods of finding truth, wisdom and knowledge. I have spoken to many people throughout my life in school, work, strangers in the store, etc. A majority of the people I have spoken to, regarding religious or spiritual matters are looking for the truth, but have expressed to me that they know not where to find the truth.

I can’t count the times that I have heard something to the effect as; “I just hate religions, because they all fight. I just believe in God and that is all that is needed”. God never intended for people to fight over His gospel, I am sure He knew it would happen, but it is NOT His desire for it to happen. With the dozens, maybe even hundreds of religions out there it is no wonder people wander “… to and fro…” (Amos 8:12) There is a spiritual famine today, which was caused by an Apostasy, where people turned away from the Lord.

The Lord, however, has promised to RESTORE His church and His people. This Restoration occurred in 1820, when young Joseph Smith was praying about which church to join, God and His son Jesus Christ appeared to him and told him, that none of the churches were correct. He was guided through the Lord to restore GOD’s Church on the earth. From then on, we have had modern day prophets who lead and guide the Lord’s church in Modern days. The fruit and evidence of this Restoration is the Book of Mormon, which would come forth at a time of great ‘Spiritual Famine’.

Let me be clear that the Book of Mormon, does NOT discredit or disregard the Bible in anyway, instead it acts as a companion to the Bible. We have the Old and New Testaments written in the ‘Old World’ (Middle East) and we now have Another Testament of Jesus Christ (The Book of Mormon) which was written in ancient times in the ‘New World’ (the Americas).

The Book of Mormon explains and builds upon what we already know of the Bible and goes into more detail about;

• The purpose of mortal life and death (See 2 Ne. 2:21; 2 Ne. 33:9; Alma 12:24; Alma 34:32; Alma 42:4)

• The certainty of life after death (See 2 Ne. 9:3–7; Mosiah 16:8; 3 Ne. 11)

• What happens when the spirit leaves the body (See Alma 34:34; Alma 40:11–14, 21)

• The description of the Resurrection (See 2 Ne. 9:12; Alma 40:23; Alma 41:2; 3 Ne. 11:1–16)

• How to receive and retain a remission of your sins (See Mosiah 4:1–3, 12, 26; Alma 4:14)

• What hold justice or mercy may have on you, (See Alma 34:15–16; Alma 41:14; Alma 42:15–16, 22–25)

• What to pray for (See 2 Ne. 4:35; 2 Ne. 32:8–9; Enos 1:9; Alma 13:28; Alma 34:17–27; Alma 37:36–37; 3 Ne. 18:19–21; Moro. 7:26)

• Priesthood (See 2 Ne. 6:2; Mosiah 18:18; Alma 6:1; Alma 13; 3 Ne. 11:21; 3 Ne. 18:37; Moro. 2:2; Moro. 3:4)

• Covenants and ordinances (See 2 Ne. 11:5; Mosiah 5:5; Mosiah 18:13; Alma 13:8, 16)

• The office and ministry of angels (See 2 Ne. 32:2–3; Omni 1:25; Moro. 7:25, 37)

• The still, small voice of personal revelation (See 1 Ne. 16:9; 1 Ne. 17:44–45; Enos 1:10; Alma 32:23; Hel. 5:30; 3 Ne. 11:3)

• The mission of Jesus Christ (See 1 Ne. 11:13–33; 2 Ne. 2:6–10; Mosiah 3:5–12; Alma 7:7–13; 3 Ne. 27:13–16)

The Book of Mormon quenches the spiritual hunger and thirst that was described by Amos of old. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints…

“We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. (2 Nephi 25:26)

Chapter 7: Amos, a prophet of God

In this chapter we learn about how Amos became a prophet of God. Amos explains that he saw a vision of locusts, and a vision of fire; in both instances, the Lord is deaf to Amos’ petitions that Jacob may be spared. There is a further vision of a plumb line (to see if Israel is ‘straight’ or rather ‘righteous’ on the Lord’s path). Amaziah, a priest of Bethel, speaks against Amos. Amos replies;

“…I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but was an herman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.” (Amos 7:14-15).

Here we learn something VERY important. Prophets are not born of a special family bloodline, nor are they educated in a formal setting to become a prophet. The Lord choses His prophets by his own means, including finding un-educated herders, farmers, etc. and then slowly teaching them throughout their lives to become a prophet. They are not paid, nor do they work their way to the top. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this is the same. Prophets are selected by the Lord, not by man. They are sculpted throughout their lives, while living their lives and working in their respective careers.

The Lord decrees Amaziah’s punishment – his wife shall be a harlot, your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword, you shall die in a defiled land.

Chapter 8: A time of famine: The Great Apostasy

Amos has a vision of summer fruit; which signifies the end has come on Israel. Dishonesty and cheating the poor is disapproved of. In that day of Apostasy (a falling away from the Lord’s teachings), when the world will no longer turn to God “… the sun shall go down at noon…” (Amos 8:9), which will cause the sky to be darkened.

Amos also speaks of a famine; this famine will afflict the entire earth. However, this famine is not a famine of food and water, but of the word of GOD! “Behold the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.” (Amos 8:11-12)

                This ‘spiritual’ famine will occur on the earth, just as it has in the past. People want to know the truth, the desire and rather long for the opportunity of knowledge and wisdom. Some of the most basic desires of the human experience are to know; where we came from, and why we are here on the earth. What purpose do we have? Amos described a time when people would go to the ends of the earth to find this truth, to find anything to fill that spiritual void in their lives, but sadly, they would not find it during that time of Apostasy.

Chapter 9: The Restoration

Amos has a vision of the Lord at the temple, seeing the work of destruction. The Lord will sift the house of Israel, as grain is sifted in a sieve. Those who think they will be unaffected by the calamity will die by the sword. With all this destruction the Lord promises to raise the tabernacle of David.

“In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old.” (Amos 9:11). Israel shall be restored, and fruit and wine shall be abundant. Israel will be planted in the land, and no longer pulled up.

 

Amos 5-6

Posted on by Standard Reply

Amos 5-6

Chapter 5: Seek the Lord and do good

Israel is exhorted (encouraged) to seek the Lord and do good.

“Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of Hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.” (Amos 5:14-15)

We are encouraged to do good, and to seek the Lord while doing good. If we do that, the Lord will be gracious and merciful upon us. The Lord who made the stars invites Israel to seek Him, but not in the vain places of sacrifice such as Gilgal, Bathel and Beersheba. Israel perverts justice and treads down the poor. There will be wailing and woe in the day of the Lord. Feast days, sacred assemblies and sacrifices will not be accepted by the Lord.

“Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.” (Amos 5:23) Those who praise the Lord with the wrong intent and scream and shout without truly following the Lord are wicked in the eyes of God.

Chapter 6: Woe unto them of Zion

Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and trust in Mount Samaria! Woe to those who live the life of luxury, who lie on beds of ivory. When a relative of one of the dead comes to burn the corpses, should he find one person still alive, that person will not permit him to mention the name of the Lord for fear that the Lord will turn his wrath on him. Justice has been turned to gall, and righteousness to wormwood.