Old Testament 301 Day 6
We cannot break the 10 Commandments, we can only break ourselves against
them. (Cecil B. DeMille)
Thought: "Actually
the Old Testament is not an extremely hard or difficult book to understand. It
is a relatively simple book if you understand how and why the book is put
together the way it is. Remember the words from Brigham Young: 'The Bible when
it is understood, is one of the simplest books in the world, for, as far as it
is translated correctly, it is nothing but truth, and in truth there is no
mystery save to the ignorant.' This statement gives us a clue to understanding
the Old Testament: We must remove our ignorance concerning it. I other words,
we must study and ponder the book, become acquainted with its makeup and
format, and learn its doctrines and teachings. A
statement in the Book of Mormon also gives us a hint about how we should study
the scriptures. In Alma 17:2 we read that the sons of Mosiah had waxed strong
in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and
they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of
God. Note again the principle:
The scriptures must be searched diligently. The reason why the scriptures
should be searched diligently is in the statement by the Savior in John 5:39,
They are they which testify of me." (Daniel Ludlow, quoted in Pinegar p.
4)
Book of the Week: Teachings and Commentary on the Old
Testament, Ed J.
Pinegar & Richard J. Allen
Exodus 19:5-6-Scripture
mastery- Moses climbed Sinai (1) soon after their arrival their after their 3
month hike and came back with the news of these verses. The people said,
"we'll do it." (2) Moses climbs the mount again and reports. The Lord
says he will speak to Moses in a cloud so the people could hear him & thus
trust Moses' words. (3) Moses ascended again and the Lord told him to tell the
people to purify themselves for this special occasion.
According to the Talmud there are 613
mitzvot ("commandments")
in the Torah. There are 248 positive mitzvot and 365 negative mitzvot given
supplemented by seven mitzvot legislated by the rabbis of antiquity.
Exodus 20:3-17-Scripture
mastery
The
Ten Commandments or the Decalogue, are essentially the basic laws of civilization
and the foundation of all constitutions of nations. Adam, Abinadi, Jesus,
D&C 42:18-29; 59:5-13; 63:61-62; Matt.
22:36-40
Dt. 4:10-12; 33-36; 5:22-26 makes it
clear that although Israel was not able to properly prepare themselves to enter
into God's presence, they did hear his voice.
Vs. 3- I try to love him above
everything else-(JFS) "Yet today we worship the gods of
wood and stone and metal. Not always are they in the form of a gold calf, but
equally real as objects of protection and worship. they are houses, lands, bank
accounts, leisure. They are boats, cars, and luxuries. They are bombs and ships
and armaments. We bow down to the god of mammon, the god of luxuries, the god
of dissipation." (SWKimball CR. Oct. 1961 p. 33)
Vs. 5 & 6 need to be read
together. Note footnote 5f. D&C 98:47
Vs. 7 - There are lots of way to take
the Lord's name in vain. How about not honoring covenants? See also D&C
63:61-62- Using the Lord's name in vain having not authority
Vs. 9 - Working is a commandment
Vs. 11 - As we hallow or sanctify the
Sabbath-we become a hallowed or sanctified people. What if we defile it? See
also D&C 59:9-13. Note footnote 12b- what an oblation is. In Dt. 5:15 the
Israelites are reminded that part of Sabbath observance is remembering their
deliverance from Egyptian bondage. In Ex. 31:17 the Lord says it is a sign
between God and His people and takes us back to the creation
Vs. 12- Being an honorable parent is
a great way to honor your heavenly and earthly parents. See also D&C 27:9. (Elijah)
A disrespected parent could exact the death penalty upon his child. (Lev. 20:9;
Dt. 21:18-21; Lev. 19:32) The only commandment with a promise.
Vs. 13 - Jesus gave this commandment
an upgrade in the Sermon on the Mount- Matt. 5:21-22; D&C 42:18-19. (no
forgiveness) Consider 1 Samuel 15 and 1 Nephi 4. The punishment for murder was
the death of the murderer to be carried out by of victim's next of kin.(Num.
35:19, 25-27;; Dt. 19:6; Josh. 20:5; Judg. 8:18-21; 1 Sam. 14:5-11) Laws of
asylum allowed a killer to take refuge at a sanctuary altar (Ex. 21:13-14 or in
a city set apart as a place of refuge. (Num. 35:6-34) until judgment.
Vs. 14 - Jesus gave a higher
standard-Matt. 5:27-32. Or anything like unto it. Lev. 20:13 & D&C
42:22-26. Homosexuality (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Dt. 22:5)
Vs. 15 - A problem in our day? In our
Church? In our own personal life? The penalty for theft was payback X 2 and if
you couldn't pay you would be sold as a slave to get the payback.
Vs. 16 - Don't ask me about my
ticket.
Vs. 17 - Can you see a relationship
between the 10th commandment and the 7th? Coveting is not "wanting
something you don't have, it's wanting something belonging to someone
else." D&C 19:26.-Covet own stuff.
Vs. 18-20 - You speak to God and tell
us what he says. Rejecting blessings -
See Alma 12:9-11
Vs. 23 - Did they need this warning?
Exodus 21-23-
The covenant code or covenant book a constitution of theocratic laws, the law
of ordinances and performances.
21:1-11-Dealing with Israelite slaves
- A male free after 6 years. A female sold to pay a father's debt would usually
be married by the father or one of his sons=permanent. Slaves who not of Israel
could be permanent. (Lev. 25:39-46)
23:2 -Note the footnote- I love this
one!
23:10-11- The Sabbatical year- let
the ground lay unplanted and whatever came up was for the poor.
23:14-18 - The 3 major annual
feasts-Pilgrimage festivals
A.
Passover or Pesakh or Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ex. 23:15; 34:18; Ex. 12; Lev.
23:5-8; Num. 9:1-14; 28:16-25; Dt. 16:1-8; Ezek. 45:21-24)
B.
Pentecost or Shavuot or Feast of Weeks 7 weeks after Passover- First Fruits-
Giving of Law (Ex. 23:16a; 34:22a; Lev. 23:15-21; Num. 28:26-31; Dt. 16:9-10)
C.
Tabernacles- or Sukkot or Booths-Fall
Harvest-Ingathering (Ex. 23:16b; 34:22b; Lev. 23:33-36; Num. 28:12-39; Dt.
16:13-18; Ezek. 45:25)
23:19- The commandment, "Thou
shalt not seeth a kid in his mother's milk" warns the Israelites not to
participate in the practice of fertility cults of boiling baby goats in the
cholesterol milk of the mother goat. This practice had evidently been adopted
by fertility cultists in the false belief such food would make them more
desirous of sensual pleasures. Religious leaders of orthodox Judaism have
interpreted this commandment to mean that mean products and dairy products are
not to be eaten together. Even today often different plates, utensils, &
table coverings are used for meat products than for dairy products, and
different pans are used for their cleansing. Sometimes different
refrigerators (and in the case of some
public eating places, different kitchens) are required. In modern Israel, a
public eating place must abide by the restrictions associated with the
separation of meat products and dairy products in order to be classified as
"kosher". (Ludlow p, 153-4) No pizza or cheeseburgers.
Exodus 24
Vs. 1-2- Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu
& 70 of the elders of Israel to climb mountain, but only Moses to meet with
God.
Vs. 3-8 - The covenant book (Ex.
22-23) was read to the people and the covenanted to obey it. Moses built an
altar and 12 pillars representing each of the tribes.
Vs. 9-11- Those from vs. 1 & 2
saw God.
Vs. 12-18 - Moses and Joshua climb
the mountain while Aaron and Hur stay behind to lead the people. After 6 days
Moses is called up to the mountain top. He stays for 40 days. The people
witnessed glorious fire and the glory of the Lord on the mountain.
Exodus 31-
Vs. 1-12 - The Lord designates
builders to construct the holy.
Vs. 13-17- Sabbath instruction.
Observance of the Sabbath is a sign between us and God.
Vs. 18- Moses gets the tablets
Exodus 32-
Vs. 1-7 - Aaron should not have
feared man more than God- It appears to me that he tried to straddle the fence.
Vs. 9-14- An interesting conversation
between a prophet and God- Vs. 14 - See JST. True disciples plead for others.
(Genesis 18:23-33-Abraham and Sodom; Enos 1:9; Mormon 3:12)Also 32:31-34. Moses
the mediator. (Dt. 9:20-Moses prayed for Aaron)
Vs. 19 - In the ancient Near East, to
break tablets on which promises were made between countries was to nullify the
treaty, to cancel the promises. (Ogden, p. 235)
Vs. 26- Who's on the Lord's side-Who?
32:31-34.
Exodus 33
Vs. 1-3- See D&C 103:15-20
Vs. 4-7 - This tabernacle was the
tent of Moses, Not The Tabernacle (OTSM 1:142)
Vs. 11 & 20-JST & John 1:18
Exodus 34- JST
vs. 1-2; JST Dt. 10:2; D&C 84:18-27- Moses
made new plates & ascended the mount the 7th known time
Moses
Vs. 29-35 - The "horned"
Moses- Hebrew "qaran" Jerome
5th century AD. Michelangelo 1000 yrs. later.
Church History by the Decade 1890's
|
1890
|
Church Membership
|
188,263
|
|
1890-Sept. 24
|
Manifesto issued
|
Sustained in general conference-Oct. 6
|
|
1891
|
Lorenzo Snow restored
|
Life to 19 year old Ella Jensen in Brigham City- lived another 65.
|
|
1893
|
Salt Lake Temple held
|
Open house with doors opened for all- This was a first.
|
|
1893-Mar 27
|
Utah Saints gather in their meetinghouses
|
for a special fast in anticipation of the April 6 dedication of the
Salt Lake Temple.
|
|
1893-Apr. 6
|
Salt Lake Temple dedicated by
|
Wilford Woodruff. Largest LDS temple 253,105 sq. ft of floor
space. 40 years in construction. 31
dedicatory sessions
|
|
1893-May 19
|
Lorenzo Snow set apart
|
By Wilford Woodruff as President of the Salt Lake Temple.
|
|
1893-Jun. 30
|
Heber J Grant, in N.Y. seeking
loan for church receives letter
from 2nd Couns. Joseph F. Smith:
|
End of month & not a
dollar to pay anybody even Pres. Woodruff and 12. We sent out to Stakes to dispose of
anything cheap for cash and send to us at once. Nothing doing-no tithing coming in-or means
stirring & all seems paralyzed.
|
|
1894-Jan. 10
|
Grover Cleveland signed congressional resolution
|
for return of
church's confiscated monies & property. Utah Supreme Court returned
properties to church authorities.
|
|
1894-Jan. 24
|
Elder John W. Taylor prophesied a temple
|
Will be built in
Cardston. Dedicated in 1923, 1st temple outside the United States.
|
|
1894-Nov. 13
|
Genealogical Society
|
Organized
|
|
1895
|
Political Manifesto
|
Issued by church requiring clearance from Church for leaders to run
for political office. (Moses Thatcher and RH Roberts)
|
|
1895-Jun. 9
|
Cardston, Canada Stake
|
Created. 1st Stake outside the USA.
|
|
1895-Dec. 9
|
Juarez Mexico Stake
|
Organized. The first stake in Mexico. It was an English
speaking Stake.
|
|
1896-Jan. 4
|
Utah becomes State
|
45th State.
|
|
1896-Nov. 5
|
1st Sunday to be observed as Fast day
|
rather than
the first Thursday, which had been observed as fast day since the early days
of the Church in the Utah Territory.
|
|
1898-Apr. 1
|
Inez Knight & Lucy Brimhall set apart to be
|
missionaries
in England, the first single, official, proselyting sister missionaries in
the Church.
|
|
1898
|
BH Roberts elected to
|
Congress
representing Utah-denied seat because of polygamous past.
|
|
1898-Sept. 2
|
Wilford Woodruff died in San Francisco
|
Lorenzo Snow has a vision in the Salt Lake Temple where Jesus Christ
instructs him to organize a First Presidency. First Pres. organized in 11
days. Previously 20 months to 3 yrs.
|
|
1898-Sept. 13
|
Lorenzo Snow
|
Set Apart as President of Church. Same Counselors
|
|
1898-Oct. 15
|
Pres. Snow announced
|
The Church would issue bonds to relieve debt.
|
|
1899-May 17
|
Lorenzo Snow received
|
revelation in St. George prompting him to
emphasize tithing.
|
