2 Nephi 23
“…I will be merciful to my people, but the wicked shall perish.” (v.22) The great and terrible day of the Lord: It will be great for the righteous and terrible for the wicked.
2 Nephi 24
We learn Lucifer was a “son of the morning.” Yet he fell because of his arrogance and personal desire for glory. When we see him again we will be inclined to say in sarcastic wonder, “Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?” (v.16) Or in other words, when we see his lack of light and spiritual stature, we might ask, “is this the wimpy little rascal that caused all that trouble?”
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
2 Nephi 21-22 I will trust, and not be afraid.
2 Nephi 21
Jesus Christ rules this earth and when the time is right he will come here and reign. “The cow and the bear will feed; their young ones shall lie down together.” V.7 Think of it! No more war or contention on the earth. No more fear of hurt or pain or any bad stuff happening. We can strive for this kind of peace in our hearts and lives right now by having faith in Christ. Stone family, have faith.
2 Nephi 22
Nephi and Jacob must have loved this chapter! Their hero Isaiah feels just the way they do about Christ. “I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation….Sing unto to the Lord; for he hath done excellent things.” As we look forward to changes in our lives we must look to God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ, and trust that they will walk beside us in our choices. Yes, it is appropriate to have our hopes about where we will live and what we will be doing. But don’t be afraid to give him the reigns and go where he wants us to go. Thy will, not mine, be done. Surprises are part of the journey.
Jesus Christ rules this earth and when the time is right he will come here and reign. “The cow and the bear will feed; their young ones shall lie down together.” V.7 Think of it! No more war or contention on the earth. No more fear of hurt or pain or any bad stuff happening. We can strive for this kind of peace in our hearts and lives right now by having faith in Christ. Stone family, have faith.
2 Nephi 22
Nephi and Jacob must have loved this chapter! Their hero Isaiah feels just the way they do about Christ. “I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation….Sing unto to the Lord; for he hath done excellent things.” As we look forward to changes in our lives we must look to God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ, and trust that they will walk beside us in our choices. Yes, it is appropriate to have our hopes about where we will live and what we will be doing. But don’t be afraid to give him the reigns and go where he wants us to go. Thy will, not mine, be done. Surprises are part of the journey.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
2 Nephi 19-20 Isaiah reveals some of Christ's names
2 Nephi 19
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and hi s name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” V.6
2 Nephi 20
When we know someone well, we get to know there nick names. In the previous chapter we learn many of Christ’s names. Isaiah knew the Lord intimately. As we read Isaiah it is fun to look for these names and ponder their meaning. In verse 27, Christ is referred to as “the anointing.” We know that anointing is a part of sacred ceremonies reserved for those who will become kings and queens, priests and priestesses. We are anointed in the process or receiving all that Christ has received from the Father.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and hi s name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” V.6
2 Nephi 20
When we know someone well, we get to know there nick names. In the previous chapter we learn many of Christ’s names. Isaiah knew the Lord intimately. As we read Isaiah it is fun to look for these names and ponder their meaning. In verse 27, Christ is referred to as “the anointing.” We know that anointing is a part of sacred ceremonies reserved for those who will become kings and queens, priests and priestesses. We are anointed in the process or receiving all that Christ has received from the Father.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
2 Nephi 18 Waters of Shiloah
I have taken the name "Shiloah" to mean "Shiloh," the name found in Genesis 49:10 referring to the Messiah. It could also mean "Siloam" found in John 9:7, which was a pool of healing. Even if Shiloah and Shiloh are not the same thing/person, with a little poetic license the two nouns come together in their meanings: pool of healing/Messiah.
2 Nephi 18
Isaiah quotes the Lord as saying, “…waters of Shiloah that go softly,” in reference to the nourishment of the living waters of Christ’s words. Notice that the Lord tells Isaiah that his words come “softly” inferring that his voice is a still small voice. I hope Jon Stone will write a song about the waters of Shiloah going softly. As he writes, I hope Michelle will collaborate and sing with him. And as they sing together softly, I hope the words will find the ears of their little brothers and sister and their hearts also.
2 Nephi 18
Isaiah quotes the Lord as saying, “…waters of Shiloah that go softly,” in reference to the nourishment of the living waters of Christ’s words. Notice that the Lord tells Isaiah that his words come “softly” inferring that his voice is a still small voice. I hope Jon Stone will write a song about the waters of Shiloah going softly. As he writes, I hope Michelle will collaborate and sing with him. And as they sing together softly, I hope the words will find the ears of their little brothers and sister and their hearts also.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
2 Nephi 17 Wading through Isaiah
2 Nephi 17
In the midst of a prophesy about impending war in his country, Isaiah gives the king of Judah a sign—“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” It as if to say, don’t worry about the future of our nation; someday Christ will come here through the line of Judah to save his people.
In the midst of a prophesy about impending war in his country, Isaiah gives the king of Judah a sign—“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” It as if to say, don’t worry about the future of our nation; someday Christ will come here through the line of Judah to save his people.
Monday, January 23, 2012
2 Nephi 16 Clean through the ordinance of the sacrament
2 Nephi 16
Isaiah saw the Lord in the temple! He felt “undone.” The Lord understood his feelings and had an angel take a live coal from the altar of incense and touch it to Isaiah’s lips. It didn’t hurt! Isaiah’s feelings of guilt and inadequacy melted away under the fire of the Holy Ghost. In our setting, God sends young angels we call deacons with bread and water to touch to our unclean lips. When we partake we too are made clean through this holy ordinance and faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah saw the Lord in the temple! He felt “undone.” The Lord understood his feelings and had an angel take a live coal from the altar of incense and touch it to Isaiah’s lips. It didn’t hurt! Isaiah’s feelings of guilt and inadequacy melted away under the fire of the Holy Ghost. In our setting, God sends young angels we call deacons with bread and water to touch to our unclean lips. When we partake we too are made clean through this holy ordinance and faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
2 Nephi 12 through 15
2 Nephi 12
With his spiritual eyes focused on the latter-days, Isaiah sees temples being built in the mountains of Utah. “Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob….”
2 Nephi 13
Wimpey men, unwilling to use their priesthood v.6 and worldly women vs. 16-24, this is the scene Isaiah sees pertaining dualistically to the church members in his day and in the latter-days. It appears to me to be a description of what was in the past but also a warning to us in the latter-days to step up to our responsibilities and to avoid worldliness and pride along with the negative consequences.
2 Nephi 14
Those who abide the Lord’s second coming will be clean through the Atonement.
2 Nephi 15
If I planted a garden carefully and lovingly and nurtured it, water it, and diligently weeded it, then, when it was time to pick the vegetables I notice that the undersides of the leaves are covered with stink bugs and slugs who are destroying the plants; when I pick the vegetables and take my first bites, I find them to be bitter, pithy, and yucky tasting; how great would be my disappointment! What more could I have done to care for my garden? This is the point the Lord is making regarding the House of Israel at the time of Isaiah. Yet, looking forward to our day, there is hope! An “ensign” is posted. The Book of Mormon comes forth. Living prophets again walk the earth. The gospel will go to every kindred, tongue, and nation. Yet, we must still be careful to avoid those who “call evil good, and good evil.”
With his spiritual eyes focused on the latter-days, Isaiah sees temples being built in the mountains of Utah. “Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob….”
2 Nephi 13
Wimpey men, unwilling to use their priesthood v.6 and worldly women vs. 16-24, this is the scene Isaiah sees pertaining dualistically to the church members in his day and in the latter-days. It appears to me to be a description of what was in the past but also a warning to us in the latter-days to step up to our responsibilities and to avoid worldliness and pride along with the negative consequences.
2 Nephi 14
Those who abide the Lord’s second coming will be clean through the Atonement.
2 Nephi 15
If I planted a garden carefully and lovingly and nurtured it, water it, and diligently weeded it, then, when it was time to pick the vegetables I notice that the undersides of the leaves are covered with stink bugs and slugs who are destroying the plants; when I pick the vegetables and take my first bites, I find them to be bitter, pithy, and yucky tasting; how great would be my disappointment! What more could I have done to care for my garden? This is the point the Lord is making regarding the House of Israel at the time of Isaiah. Yet, looking forward to our day, there is hope! An “ensign” is posted. The Book of Mormon comes forth. Living prophets again walk the earth. The gospel will go to every kindred, tongue, and nation. Yet, we must still be careful to avoid those who “call evil good, and good evil.”
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