A GOD OF MIRACLES

 

Knock and Ye Shall Receive by LDS Art

I’ve written about the bad kings of ancient Israel and thought it might be unfair not to mention the few that were actually good. One of those good kings was Jehoshaphat, a faithful king of the Kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 15:24; 22). His story is one of unparalleled inspiration that cannot be overlooked.

The scriptures record that Jehoshaphat "sought the Lord God of his father David, and walked in his commandments and not after the doings of Baal worshipping Israel. Therefore, the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance" (2 Chronicles 17:3-5).

Jehoshaphat was presented with a big problem during his reign which he handled with immense wisdom. Upon hearing that the armies of Moab and Ammon and the inhabitants of mount Seir were coming against him, Jehoshaphat first declared a fast and then gathered his people and offered an incredible prayer acknowledging  that they knew not what to do 'but that their eyes were upon the God of Israel' (2 Chronicles 20:3,4;12). In other words, 'we cannot solve this problem but we know that you can'.

And here is where it starts to get weird and wonderful. In answer to that prayer, the Spirit of the Lord came upon a totally unknown man in the crowd who prophesied that Judah need not fear and that the Lord God of Israel will fight that battle for them. He went on to say that they should do nothing when they confront the armies and that they should 'fear not, nor be dismayed but stand still and see the salvation of the Lord' (2 Chronicles 20:17).  

Instead of questioning the sanity of this man, both Jehoshaphat and the whole congregation of Judah fell on their faces and worshiped and praised God accepting this as an answer to their problem. The following morning they rose early and went into the wilderness as if to fight but when they got there, instead of sharpening their swords, the king assembled a choir and instructed them to sing and praise God. Now, that is faith….

At that, the Lord stepped in and 'set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab and mount Seir' (2 Chronicles 20:22). How exactly that happened, the scriptures do not tell, but they do tell us that these armies turned on each other and slaughtered every man there so that there was nobody left to fight with.  

Instead of slaughter, Judah collected the spoils of the attacking armies for 3 days. The riches and precious jewels that came into their possession was more than they could carry (2 Chronicles 20:25). It makes you wonder why an army would carry their precious jewels with them into battle, but that they did and the Kingdom of Judah was blessed for trusting in the God of Israel. On the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah and gave thanks to God following which they returned to Jerusalem with joy bringing  'psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the Lord' (2 Chronicles 20:26-28).

Next time you need a miracle, think of Jehoshaphat……

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

 

A BATTLE FOR OUR SOULS PART 2

 

Put On the Armor of God by Celestial Heritage

"As a small boy in grammar school, I had a teacher who made King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table come alive.  She caused me to become so obsessed with stories of knights that I played and dreamed that I was one.  One evening I dreamed that I was a white knight on a white horse riding over the greens of England.  Suddenly, without warning, a knight dressed in black armour and mounted on a black horse appeared at the edge of the forest.  We measured each other carefully, lowered our lances, and charged at full gallop.  The lances struck target and both of us were knocked off our steeds.

“I scrambled to my feet knowing that swords would be drawn and that hand-to-hand combat was imminent.  Fear gripped my heart as I saw my opponent rushing toward me flashing a long, gleaming sword.  Instinctively, I reached to my side and drew forth from the scabbard my weapon.  That is when the dream turned into a nightmare!  For in my hand was a small, dinky dagger - not a long, gleaming sword.  I woke up in a cold sweat screaming for help. 

“When the Lord draws you forth as His instrument in combating evil forces, what does he have in his hand - a long, gleaming sword or a dinky dagger?...The saving virtue of a sword is related to its strength, sharpness, cleanliness, and the hand which guides it.  Is it not the same with people?  I would pray that you would seek strength of character, sharpness of mind, and cleanliness of soul so as to become gleaming swords of righteousness.  By doing this, there will be no embarrassment, no disappointment, and no nightmare when He draws you out in battling the powers of darkness" (Elder Carlos E. Asay, "Instruments of Righteousness", New Era, June 1983)

There is a battle we are all engaged in with the enemy that cannot be seen. This enemy is cleverly disguised in many evils of mortality who carefully draws his bow and fires his darts and arrows aiming to wound so we would slowly bleed to death.

Since the battle is directed at the destruction of our souls, meaning both body and spirit (D&C 88:15), Paul admonished the saints of his day to put on ‘the whole armor of God that they might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil’ (Ephesians 6:10-13).  This armor is one of obedience and commitment to the commandments we have been given.

Every act of disobedience creates cracks in the armour that is supposed to protect us. And it is just such cracks that the adversary targets. Many cracks make a loose armour. A cracked and loose armour is sufficient to cause discomfort leading to the conviction that the armour is useless and not needed after all. Think of how many people regard the commandments of God to be inconvenient and restrictive.

The full armour of God that Paul admonished the Ephesians to wear addresses all the vulnerabilities of mortality:

        Loins (reproductive organs): typifying virtue and chastity

        Heart: in the scriptures the heart is always used to typify our conduct

        Feet: typify objectives and goals in life which would take us to perfection

        Head: a place the thoughts are stored which lead to actions

         

"Well, now, the apostle Paul went one step further. He didn't leave the man just with the armour on and expect him to cope against an army, seen or unseen. He had his armoured man holding in his hand a shield and in his other hand a sword, which were the weapons of those days. That shield was the shield of faith, and the sword was the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God. I can't think of any more powerful weapons than faith and a knowledge of the scriptures in the which are contained the Word of God. One so armoured and one so prepared with those weapons is prepared to go out against the enemy [and] is more to be feared than the enemies of the light" (Harold B. Lee, "Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace", Speeches of the Year, 1954, pp 2-4, 6-7).

Don’t fear the enemy, make him fear YOU…..

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

CONSECRATION

 

The Anointed One by Joseph Brickey

I kneel before Thy throne each day

Never knowing what first to say.

Then I remember what my soul foremost needs

Is my heartfelt devotion to only Thee.

 

My thoughts, my words, my earthly deeds

I consecrate as a memorial in prayer to Thee.

I spread my heart before Thy feet,

As the Sacrificial Lamb I come to see.

 

I see You smile, I hear You say:

You are in my heart today.

The sacrifice was mine to give,

Your soul I purchased that you might live.

 

-       Cathryne Allen

 

A BATTLE FOR OUR SOULS PART 1

 

Hosanna to God and the Lamb by LDS Book Store

There was once a king by the name of Ahab who ruled the northern kingdom of Israel from 885-874 B.C. He was the most wicked king Israel had ever had and in my mind, the most brainwashed man if there ever was one because he married the notorious Jezebel.

Jezebel was a Phoenician princess who brought with her the worst worship of Baal as the religion of state (1 Kings 16:30-33). Ahab and Jezebel killed God’s prophets and had Elijah on their hit list persecuting him to the point of madness. More of that when we study Elijah.

Ahab teaches us, however, something profound in the manner of his death. When he led his army against the forces of Syria, he took every precaution to avoid being injured, even disguising himself so that the Syrians would not recognise him to focus on his destruction.  The only thing he didn’t do was wear enough protection so someone drew his bow at random and hit the king between the sections of his armour. By night-time he had bled to death (1 Kings 22:30-35). Random indeed…..

Ahab’s manner of physical protection from danger equalled the negligent spiritual protection he provided for himself. So it is with us…..The degree of protection we have from the adversary is proportional to the diligence and heed we give to the Lord's commandments.  The extent and strength of our armour is a good indication of how valiant we are in our testimony of Jesus.  We cannot afford to choose which commandment we will obey and which we will let slide because each commandment provides a section in our armour against sin.  

If you ever wanted to be a hero, this is the time and the place.  Examine the cracks in your armour and sharpen your sword of righteousness.  President Ezra Taft Benson said: "You will never have a better opportunity to be a greater hero in a more crucial battle than in the battle you will face today and in the immediate future. Be warned that some of the greatest battles you will face will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul.  David's battles in the field against the foe were not as critical as David's battles in the palace against a lustful eye.  We will each find our own battlefield". (Ezra Taft Benson, "In His Steps", 1979, Devotional Speeches of the Year, 60).

The most important battlefield we will ever get to fight on is in our souls. The adversary will use every tactic to bring us down. When Joseph lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript, the Saviour told him that if he had been faithful and not feared man He would have supported him against all the fiery darts of the adversary (D&C 3:7,8). The foundation of our faith in Christ and our obedience to Him is the strength of our defence. When the war is over and the battle won, whose side will you be found on?

He is the Captain of our souls:

 His arms are our shelter,

His heart is our home,

Our only hope

For protection

from battle’s storm.

 

 - CATHRYNE ALLEN 

 

HE WHO HAS WISDOM

 

Son of Man by Joseph Brickey

 

I wrote my 350^th poem the other day. I was quite stunned at that number because I have been writing them for a relatively short time. They are expressions of my heart and soul so they come easy. According to the scriptural record, Solomon spoke or compiled 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs (see 1 Kings 4:32). I am so grateful he did that because his wisdom was a gift from God so the spiritual substance in them is something I value.

 

When I was doing my degree some years ago I was really excited to take a subject on philosophy because I thought studying the ‘wisdom’ of the ancient Greek philosophers would make me wise. After all, their words are recognised and revered the world over.  It was my worst subject. So much so that my professor called me up and asked me if I had trouble understanding the course.

 

Frankly, I found the theories of the meaning of life by these philosophers incomprehensible. They stood in stark contrast to the plain and simple truth of the Plan of Salvation as per the LDS theology that I lived by. It taught me something valuable. Never trust in the theories of the world. Now when I hear something ‘meaningful’ I have to find it in the scriptures to verify it before I believe it is true.

 

If you want wisdom, you will find it in the scriptures because true wisdom must encompass knowledge, understanding and moral conduct. The wisdom you follow must comply with your inner spiritual compass and religious beliefs. It must produce a positive outcome, protect you from the negative and be in alignment with the witness of the spirit. This to me is true wisdom. (see also Old Testament Student Manual, 1 Kings – Malachi, p 13)

It is impossible to come away from the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes with one major or common theme for they deal with application of wisdom in so many different facets of life, as per Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, which so aptly teaches ‘to everything there is a season’. One can, however, always walk away from them having found something of vast importance particular to them to correspond with their 'time and season'. Wisdom is not wisdom if it lacks application and application of all things cannot happen all at once. Progression is a journey which requires patience and repentance when the heart is ready.

 

The greatest wisdom of Solomon is found in chapter 3 of Proverbs. The advice it gives is invaluable: to have peace in this life means to know and trust God, to keep His commandments, to hold onto His mercy and truth, and to write it on the tables of one’s heart (vs 1-6).

 

God's wisdom would tell us that the sacrifice of the moment is worth the blessings of eternity. Trusting in God means trusting in our eternal destiny to which we were committed from the beginning. It means knowing who we are and using wisdom to honour that spiritual identity. It means standing firm in our convictions at all cost.

 

I knelt before Thy throne today

Asking for the words of wisdom

You had to say.

They fell with ease from Thy tongue

Coated gently with holy love.

My heart was opened

The heavens wept

Our union, a divine sacrament. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

MY HOUR OF AGONY

 

Prince of Peace by Greg Collins

You opened my heart

And searched for what

You there did not see;

My feeble faith and lack of trust

Stood in contrast to your will for me.

You sorrowed for the tears I shed

With every step I was led to take

To find You in my hour of agony.

How patiently You stood waiting

With open arms hoping I would come to Thee;

How patiently You hoped

I would give You all that was lacking in me.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

KINGS OF ISRAEL

How easy it would have been for the Saviour to wash his hands of the children of Israel when they rejected Him and asked for a king to rule and preside over them. How easy it would have been to turn his back on them and to walk away, but the Saviour who is full of 'grace, equity and truth', did not forsake the children of the covenant and sought to still be their king through the best men He could find, that His watchful eye might be over them 'with a stretched out arm; for his mercy endureth forever' (Alma 13:9; Psalm 136:12). 

Because under the kingship of Solomon, they disregarded the power and might of the God who delivered them, and put their trust in the arm of the flesh instead, Israel faltered and stumbled in its prosperity and spiritual welfare. Worst of all, they lost unity as a nation. Following the death of Solomon, under the leadership of his very unwise son Rehoboam, who sought to increase the burdens of his people rather than decrease the oppression with which his extravagant father afflicted the people, the house of Israel became divided, never to be the same again.

Rehoboam refused to heed the counsel of his father’s wise old counselors, 'to serve the people and be their servant, then they will be thy servants forever' (1 Kings 12:6,7). Rather than serve, he sought to elevate himself even further causing the Ten Tribes of Israel to break their alliance with the House of David and appointed Jeroboam as their king. And thus began a new nation referred to as the Northern Kingdom consisting of 10 tribes while the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained under the reign of the House of David, a house which was preserved by the hand of the Lord to ensure the prophesied lineage of the Messiah.

Jeroboam, an Ephraimite, had been a military leader in the army of Israel under King Solomon. He was an administrator over the territorial districts of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, two of the most powerful tribes in Israel. Ahijah, a prophet of that day, revealed to Jeroboam that he would become the ruler of 10 tribes which would be 'rent' from the house of David. He demonstrated this by rending Jeroboam's robe into 12 pieces and giving him 10, saying: "...thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee" (1 Kings 11:31).

When this prophecy was made known to Solomon, he sought to kill Jeroboam who fled into Egypt and lived there in exile until Rehoboam ascended the throne and the 10 tribes who were dissatisfied with Rehoboam's 'attitude' brought him back and anointed him king. And thus began a history of darkness for the Northern Kingdom of Israel as Jeroboam established a state religion of idolatrous worship. (1 Kings 12:25-33).

And here is an insight into Jeroboam’s insecurity and floundering faith in God. He feared that he would lose the kingdom to Rehoboam if his subjects travelled to the temple in Jerusalem and decided to defect. Instead of securing his position by endearing the people to him, he foolishly used religion to serve his political purposes’ (see Adam Clarke, Commentary, 2:437).

The question begs to be asked, why would his subjects want to go back to Rehoboam and his oppression which they rejected? You cannot help but wonder if Jeroboam at all possessed a logical mind. To keep the 10 tribes away from Jerusalem, he made 2 calves of gold, installed them in cities of Bethel and Dan and told the people: "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt" (1 Kings 12:28).

It blows one’s mind…in one fell swoop, he replaced Jehovah as Israel’s God in the minds of the people and he rationalised it by using the same wording as Aaron back in the wilderness suggesting this form of worship was nothing new and was used by their fathers in the desert (Exodus 32:4). And how did that work out for them???

And so the Northern Kingdom was led into idolatry by their very first king from which they never repented and which contributed to their downfall. Twenty monarchs ruled the Northern Kingdom from its beginning until its destruction by the Assyrians in 724 B.C. and all of them were characterized as evil or wicked by scriptural records (Old Testament Student Manual 1 Kings-Malachi, p. 33).

Of the twenty rulers who reigned over the Southern Kingdom, from the death of Solomon to the fall of Jerusalem and the Jews' captivity at the hands of the Babylonians in 605 B.C., twelve are characterized in the scriptural records as evil or wicked. Only four advanced their nation economically and religiously.

In response to Israel’s wish to have kings, the words of Jehovah to Samuel echo loud and clear: “Hearken unto the voice of the people…for they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Samuel 8:7).

- CATHRYNE ALLEN