THE MANTLE OF A PROPHET

When Elisha's call came to follow Elijah and dedicate himself to the prophetic calling, he was knee deep in plowing with 12 yoke of oxen. He clearly came from a wealthy family. He had work to do, crops to plant, a family to support, yet his willingness to give up everything so he can serve God was perfect. Before he set off he ensured the Lord knew his commitment was complete by making a break with his past life. He slaughtered the oxen and destroyed the farming implements. He then built a fire with the plowing equipment and cooked the oxen and gave it to people to eat (2 Kings 19:21). How symbolic this gesture, showing that he was willing to serve others and give to them his all. Contrast this with the rich young ruler in Matthew 19 who also was rich. When the Saviour told him to sell all that he had and give it away to the poor and follow him, the rich man, unlike Elisha, walked away.

Before Elijah was translated he asked Elisha what request he had of him and Elisha said: "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me" (2 Kings 2:9). Having witnessed Elijah's mighty miracles and his acts of service, he no doubt felt inadequate to fill Elijah's shoes. Elijah replied that if Elisha gets to witness his departure, that will be a sign to him that it will be as he desired. This indeed did happen for Elisha came to witness Elijah's ascension and the desire of his heart was fulfilled. His ministry lasted more than 50 years and was very similar in nature to that of his master teacher. Among his many prophecies as Israel's prophet, he achieved the following:

• He parted river Jordan (2 Kings 2:8)
• He healed and provided continual water (2 Kings 2:19-22, 2 Kings 3:9, 16-20)
• He changed water's appearance to blood (2 Kings 3:22)
• He multiplied the widow's oil (2 Kings 4:2-7)
• He raised the widow's son from the dead (2 Kings 4:32-35)
• He healed food that was poisonous (2 Kings 4:40-41)
• He healed Namaan of leprosy (2 Kings 5:14)
• He caused the sunken ax head to float (2 Kings 6:5-7)
• He caused blindness to come upon the Syrian army (2 Kings 6:18-24)
• He fed 100 men with only twenty loaves and some grain and had food left over (2 Kings 4:42-44)
• He prophesied the future

Of all his mighty works, my favourite is Elisha's ability to blind the whole of Syrian army and lead them into Samaria as hostages. Syria attacked Israel several times but was always defeated. When it finally came to the attention of the king of Syria that his soldiers were losing because of the prophetic power of Elisha, he sent a large army to destroy him. The Syrian army located Elisha in Dotham (2 Kings 6:13) where they surrounded the city so that he could not escape. The next morning Elisha's servant panicked when he saw the vastness of the army that had come to destroy his master. Elisha, unperturbed, comforted his servant by saying: "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (2 Kings 6:16). He then called upon the Lord to open the servant's eyes so that he could see the heavenly hosts that were there to protect them for "behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17). Elisha then prayed that the army would be smitten with blindness and the Lord complied following which Elisha led the whole army into Samaria and into the hands of the king of Israel and instructed him to feed them and send them back to their master. Syrians never came into the land of Israel again (2 Kings 6:23).

Another mesmerizing story involving Elisha was recited by Elder Orson Hyde. So afflicted was the northern kingdom of Israel with a famine that people were selling and eating mules' heads and dove's dung. The famine became so severe that some resorted to cannibalism. In 2 Kings 6:28-29 we read of an account of two women who one of their sons. Elisha's prophecy regarding the famine is as follows:

"Once there was a great famine in Samaria and so sore was that famine that a mule's head sold for four score pieces of silver in the market and a cab of dove's dung sold for food in the market, I cannot recollect for how much. We should consider it pretty much of a task or penalty to be compelled to use an article like that for food, but the people of Samaria were sorely distressed with famine, and which way to turn to save themselves they knew not. About this time, the King of Syria, with a large army, came to besiege the city and there was a mighty host of them, and they brought everything in the shape of food that was necessary for the comfort and happiness of man; and although the famine was so sore among the Samaritans, the old Prophet, Elisha..., told them that on the next day meal should be sold in the gate of their city at very low figures, lower than it had ever been known to be sold before. A certain nobleman, who heard the prophecy of Elisha expressed his doubt of its truth, and he said that if the windows of heaven were opened and meal poured down from above, it could not fall to such low figures. Now see what he got by doubting the words of the Prophet - said Elisha to him - 'Your eyes shall see it, but you shall not taste it'. That night the Lord sent forth the angels of his presence and they made a rustling in the trees, and sounds like horses' hoofs and chariots, as if the whole country had combined to go out to battle against the Syrians, and they did not know what to make of it, and they were frightened and fled, leaving almost everything they had brought with them in the borders of the town; and as they went, the rustling of the trees and the noise of the horses and chariots seemed to pursue them, and in order to make their burdens as light as possible, they threw away everything they had with them, and their track was strewed with everything good and desirable. The next morning the people of Samaria went out and brought the spoils into the market, and it was overstocked with provisions and the word of the Lord through the Prophet was fulfilled. Now you see, the Lord knew they had eaten mules' heads long enough and that they had need of something more palatable; he had had the matter under advisement, no doubt, when the crusade was inaugurated against the people of Samaria, and he, in all probability, inspired them to take abundant supplies, that they might feel all the more confident on account of their great numbers being so well provided for. They no doubt calculated that they had the sure thing, little thinking that God was making them pack animals to take to his people what they needed. Their Father in heaven knew that they had need of them, and he sent them, and the people of Samaria brought them into market, and behold and lo the multitude rushed together just as hungry people will, and this nobleman came out also, and he was trodden down under foot and stamped to death - he saw it but he never tasted it. That is the reward of those who disbelieve the Prophets of God; it was so then, and if the same thing does not occur in every instance something of a similar character is sure to take place. There was no living faith in that man, he could not believe the testimony of the Prophets, and in this he was like some of our - what shall I say, great men, whose faith is weak and sickly, and they think they know it all, and can chalk out right and left that which would be best for building up the kingdom of God." (Journal of Discourses, 17:6-7)

"In a similar prophecy, Heber C. Kimball prophesied that the Saints in the Salt Lake Valley would be able to purchase goods more cheaply than they could back East. The prophecy was fulfilled when thousands came through the valley during the California gold rush". (See B.H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church, 3:349-53, Old Testament Student Manual, 1 Kings to Malachi, p 77)

At times it seems easier to believe in the prophets who have passed on than to believe in the living oracles and follow the counsel and direction they give for our day and time: "Sometimes modern Saints fall into the same traps as did ancient Israel. Have you heard people extol the teachings of Joseph Smith but murmur and criticize current Church leaders for a statement or a stand they take that contradicts the individual's personal ideas or preference? Do we say we honour the prophets and yet not follow their instructions from the last general conference? Some who read the Old Testament have a tendency to shake their heads sorrowfully over those proud and rebellious people. But the great value of our studying this work is that it provides a clear standard for measuring our own behaviour." (Old Testament Student Manual, 1 Kings - Malachi, p 65)

"She couldn't stand still. The mention of a living prophet had aroused in her a great enthusiasm. As I continued the lesson, the woman was up again and again, her hands flying as she asked for clarification and elaboration. She wanted to know everything she could about David O. McKay and his calling.
'He's a prophet', I repeated. 'Like Jeremiah or Moses or Peter'. The concept was powerful and she wanted desperately to understand.
'How does a man get to be a prophet?' she asked.
I spoke then of years of preparation, and talked to her of obedience and faithfulness and study and prayer and service - those qualities that enabled a man to fulfill such a calling.
'But the most important requirement is that he be called of God' I explained, 'because he receives revelation from the Lord and delivers it to the people. He speaks to us the words and the will of God.'
'How?'
'Pardon me?'
'How does he speak to you?' she asked. 'I mean, how does he let you know what the Lord says and what he expects? When he has a message, how does he deliver it?'
This was a missionary's dream. In nineteen months of proselyting and teaching I had never seen anyone so excited about the restoration of the gospel and the idea of a living prophet. She seemed aflame with a need to know the present word of God.
'Every six months, the Church holds a General Conference' I said. 'People attend from all over the world, and President McKay speaks, usually three or four times, during the three days of the conference'.
I could see in her eyes a great desire to sit and listen to the living words of a living prophet.
'But does everyone attend?' she asked. Then thinking of herself, she added, 'What about those who can't come to conference?'
I smiled. This woman was a joy to teach.
'The Church publishes a magazine called the Improvement Era' I responded. 'A month or two after conference, the entire proceedings of the conference are published in one of the issues. Everyone who wants to can get a copy and read the talks'.
But there was more, and speaking of the magazine had reminded me.
'That isn't all'. I was nearly as excited as she was now.
'Every month President McKay writes the editorial in the Improvement Era. Every month we get a written message from the Prophet of God'.
'That's wonderful!' she exclaimed, and I agreed. In my mind the faucets were running, the baptismal font already filling. She said she had one more question. I didn't mind. After nineteen months as a missionary, I could answer any question about living prophets that an investigator could ask. Any question, that is except this one. As she spoke, I saw the plug being pulled, the water draining from the font.
Her eyes shining with delight and anticipation, she said:
'What did he say last month?'

I could not answer her question. I knew that President McKay had been writing the editorials for the Improvement Era during most of the years of my life. But I had never read a single one of them."

- Ted Gibbons

"If we listened to the prophets of this day, poverty would be replaced with loving care for the poor and needy. Many serious and deadly health problems would be avoided through compliance with the Word of Wisdom and the laws of sexual purity. Payment of tithing would bless us and we would have sufficient for our needs. If we follow the counsel given by the prophets, we can have a life in mortality where we do not bring upon ourselves unnecessary pain and self-destruction. This does not mean we will not have any challenges. We will. This does not mean we will not be tested. We will, for this is part of our purpose on earth. But if we will listen to the counsel of our prophet, we will become stronger and be able to withstand the tests of mortality. We will have hope and joy. All the words of counsel from the prophets of all generations have been given so that we may be strengthened and then be able to lift and strengthen others."

(Robert D. Hales, Hear The Prophet's Voice and Obey, Ensign, May 1995, p 17)

THE MIGHT OF ELIJAH

I am in awe of Elijah. He would have to be the most prolific of all the Old Testament prophets and the most significant. Elijah made such a deep impression upon the life of the Israelites that it is their fixed belief that he will return one day and to this day he remains an invited guest at the Passover, for whom a vacant seat is reserved and the door is opened. Among his many significant earthly accomplishments, Elijah holds the sealing power of the Melchizedek Priesthood and was the last prophet to do so before the time of Jesus Christ. He appeared on the Mount with Moses and conferred the keys of the priesthood on Peter, James and John (Matt 17:3) and he appeared again with him and others on 3 April, 1836, in the Kirtland Temple in Ohio and conferred the same keys upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. "Thus the keys of his power are once again operative on the earth and are used in performing all the ordinances of the gospel for the living and the dead". (Bible Dictionary, p 664) What an incredibly important person Elijah is for where would mankind be without the saving ordinances of the priesthood and the sealing power which keeps our families intact forever. Imagine the honour of having your name associated with the responsibility of 'turning the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers' (Malachi 4:5,6). Imagine being remembered throughout history by something as powerful and important as 'the spirit of Elijah'. It should be an absolute joy for us to study his life so we can appreciate fully the making of this great man.

Elijah is known as the prophet of fire who performed many mighty miracles and who had power to control the elements. When the people of the northern kingdom had almost entirely forsaken the worship of the true God and become worshippers of the Phoenician god Baal, Elijah the Tishbite was most appropriately called to lead Israel back to their forsaken God for the name Elijah means 'Jehovah is my God'. "His recorded words are few but forceful, and his deeds are explicit evidences of his strength of will, force of character, and personal courage. He was an example of solid faith in the Lord." (Bible Dictionary, p 664)

Elijah's boldness of character would be difficult to replicate. He stands as an example of spiritual confidence of one who knows God on a personal level. He was called to preach repentance to one of the most evil kings of Israel, as the scriptures record: "And Ahab, the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him." (1 Kings 16:30)  Not only did he walk in the footsteps Jeroboam who turned Israel to idolatry but he did one better than that, he married Jezebel, the daughter of king of Zidonia, who worshipped Baal. He made a grove for the worship of Baal and 'did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him' (1 Kings 16:33)  Baal was the Phoenician deity and pre-eminent god of the Canaanites and is mentioned in the Old Testament 58 times. He was worshipped as the god of storm who had power over water. In the words of one LDS scholar: "Canaanite vegetation, particularly in the north, was rich and the soil fertile. Consequently many Israelites were tempted to ask their Canaanite neighbours, 'How does your garden grow?' The Israelites were deceived into thinking the Canaanite storm god Baal regulated the water supply. Thus, the question of who controlled the water became critical issue, particularly in the northern kingdom. The allegiance of Israel vacillated among many idolatrous gods, but primarily between the two gods who claimed power over water: Baal, the Canaanite storm god, and the Lord Jehovah, who had delivered the Israelites" (Fred E. Woods, "The Water Imagery in John's Gospel", in The Lord of the Gospels: The 1990 Sperry Symposium on the New Testament, p 190). It is no wonder then that Elijah, as a fitting punishment to Israel who worshipped Baal believing he sent water to enrich their pastures and ensure their crops, sealed up the heavens for three and a half years. You would think that during three and a half years of drought, worshipping a god who was supposed to be a god of water and rain, Israel would come to their senses and realise they were on the wrong track but this did not happen.

From the time of his proclaimed drought on the kingdom of Israel, Elijah was a wanted man and spent much of his time in hiding. So severe had the drought become that Ahab searched for him far and wide, among all nations, blaming him for the misfortune that had befallen his kingdom (1 Kings 18:10). All the nations and kingdoms Ahab searched had to swear an oath that they were not hiding him and whoever reported seeing him would be executed if Elijah was not there by the time Ahab's search party arrived (1 Kings 18:12). Sealing the heavens began Elijah's life on the run dotted with miracles. From the ravens which fed him by the brook Cherith to the poor window of Zarephath in Zidon who fed him and never went without again and whose son Elijah raised from the dead, he was guided in all his wanderings by the God of Israel who preserved his life. When the time came for God to show forth his power once again by lifting the drought, Elijah was instructed to return to Israel where he engaged in the most outlandish contest with the false prophets of Baal who failed to show forth Baal's power in igniting the sacrifice they were offering. Elijah, however, drew the hosts of Israel to him so they could properly see, repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down with 12 stones signifying the 12 tribes of Israel and saturated the wood and the sacrificial animal with four barrels of water, three times. He then appealed to Jehovah to show that He is the true God of Israel (1 Kings 18:37). Of course the fire came down and consumed the whole altar with the surplus water that was in the surrounding trench (1 Kings 18:30-39). He then instructed the astonished Israelites to capture all 450 prophets of Baal, took them to the brook Kishon and slew them there (1 Kings 18:40).

With Jezebel at his heels seeking his life, Elijah fled again. What follows is I believe the most intimate and loving experience Elijah had with the Lord. Running away from those who sought his life, he received sustenance from an angel of the Lord. When he arrived to mount Horeb, so incredibly disheartened and dejected, believing he had failed in his ministry, God in his mercy spoke to him, but not by the wind which rent mountains and not by the earthquake which followed, but by a 'still small voice' (1 Kings 19:12). In other words, not by any ostentatious show of power but by something so personal as the whisper of His voice. He might as well have said: 'they can have their miracles Elijah, but you have me'. And here is where the God of us all knows how to lift us up. To prove to Elijah that he had done well and that his service as a prophet was accepted, the Lord assigns him another mission. He instructs him to go and anoint the king of Syria and the next prophet who will take over from him. What a merciful and loving God who accepts the work of his faithful children and who cares about the tender feelings of their hearts. I imagine Him saying to Elijah: "You did well Elijah, you are still the prophet and your service has been accepted". Because of his un-daunting faith in the God of Israel, Elijah was blessed with power over water like Moses and Joshua and divided river Jordan prior to his ascension into heaven, never to taste death (2 Kings 2:6-11).

"The story of Elijah's return can be found in D&C 110.  Obviously there is no need to wait for him any longer.  This became the subject of conversation between Elder LeGrand Richards and the Mayor of Jerusalem, Teddy Kollek.  Elder Richards had just dedicated the Orson Hyde Memorial Garden on the Mount of Olives.  After the ceremony, the two conversed as they ate their lunch:
Elder Richards said:  "Mayor, I want to tell you something".
"What's that?" asked the Mayor.
Looking Mayor Kollek directly in the eye, the apostle said:
"Ten years ago I was here in Jerusalem and one day I went into three synagogues and hanging up on the wall in one of them was a large armchair.  I asked the rabbi what it was there for (I knew but I wanted him to tell me, which he did).  He said that it was so that if Elijah comes 'we can lower the chair and let him sit in it'.  Now Mayor, I want to tell you something and what I tell you is the truth.  Elijah has already been.  On the third day of April 1836 he appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple".
The Mayor said:
"I guess I better tell them to take that chair down."

(Beloved Apostle, p.301)

TO RESCUE AND TO SAVE

 

After a few of the usual Sunday hymns, the church's pastor stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon that evening. briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening.  In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak:

A father and a son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific coast when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized. 

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. The aged minister continued with his story.

Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life - to which boy he would throw the other end of the life line. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out. "I love you son!", he threw the life line to his son's friend. By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells in to the black of night. His body was never recovered.

By this time, the teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for he next words to come out of the old minister's mouth.

The father knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son's friend. How great is the love of God that he should do the same for us. Our Heavenly Father sacrificed His only begotten Son so that we could be saved. I urge you to accept His offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line He is throwing out to you.

With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story", politely stated one of the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."

"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face. He once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me. You see, I was that father and your pastor is my son's friend."

- Author Unknown

The Father gave us the perfect example of sacrifice when He sent His only begotten Son so that we might through Him be saved. Such a sacrifice might be unfathomable to our finite minds but to Him, sacrificing the one that all might be saved was worth the momentary pain. Imagine as a parent standing to lose all your children to eternal death never to feel their presence again. By not sacrificing one, the Father stood to lose us all. This was unthinkable to Him who desires not only to save us but to make us equal to Him in might, power and glory. As a parent you want the very best for your children; the best house, the best job, the best companion, the best situations in life, and most of all you want them to be happy. Does your heart not break when your children are suffering? You want to save them from the dangers and harshness of this world and so you want to give them everything to ensure their well being and happiness. What we can give our children though is not even a tenth of a tenth compared to what the Father can give us. Paul said to the Corinthians that "....eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

If God so loved us that He would sacrifice his only begotten Son, should we not love one another "...for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8).  This law was decreed by Him who has also loved us with a perfect love which enabled His sacrifice for the souls of men for "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). The Son, "having finished his preparations unto the children of men" (D&C 19:19), having saved them from the depths of the deep, has charged us to love and save one another, for if we labour all our days and save even one soul, how great shall be our joy with him in kingdom of our Father (D&C 18:15).

Brightly beams our Father's mercy
From His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.

Dark the night of sin has settled;
Loud the angry billows roar.
Eager eyes are watching, longing,
For the lights along the shore.

Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;
Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor,
In the darkness may be lost.

Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.

- Philip Paul Bliss, 1838-1876

A KING TO FOLLOW

"He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

"After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples feet...

"So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

"Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

"For I have given you and example, that ye should do as I have done to you." (John 13:4-15)

"And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be the servant of all." (Mark 10:44)

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 Jesus who is full of 'grace, equity and truth' (Alma 13:9), 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' (Psalm 136:12). 

Because they disregarded the power and might of the God who delivered them, and put their trust in the arm of the flesh, 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 which his extravagant father afflicted Israel with, the house of Israel became divided, never to be the same again. Rehoboam refused to heed the counsel of wise old men who were counselors to his father, 'to serve the people and be their servant, then they will be thy servants for ever' (1 Kings 12:6,7). Rather than serve, he sought to elevate himself even further and because of this 10 tribes of Israel broke their alliance with the House of David and appointed Jeroboam as their king. And thus begins 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 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 made an administrator over all the house of Joseph, that is, 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). I imagine he was a man of great insecurity and floundering faith in God because he feared that he would lose the kingdom to Rehoboam if his subjects traveled to the temple in Jerusalem and decided to defect. Instead of securing his position by endearing the people to him, he used religion as a state engine to serve his political purposes. 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 they gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt" (1 Kings 12:28). He reasoned 'this is no new religion, but this was the form of worship which our fathers used in the desert, with Aaron himself leading the way' (Old Testament Student Manual 1 Kings-Malachi, p. 44). And so the Northern Kingdom (now known as Israel) 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 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 (now known as Judah) which consisted of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, from the death of Solomon to the fall of Jerusalem and the Jews' captivity and exile at the hands of the Babylonians, twelve are characterized in the scriptural record as evil or wicked. Only four advanced their nation economically and religiously. One of these righteous kings stands as a perfect example of a true leader and a servant of all. His story is one of unparalleled inspiration. This king's name was Jehoshaphat. The scriptures record that he "sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments and not after the doings of 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. Instead of pushing his own agenda, the scriptures record that he 'feared and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah' (2 Chronicles 20:3,4). 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 before the God of Israel that they knew not what to do 'but our eyes are upon thee' (2 Chronicles 20:12). 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, 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 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. 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 to engage in battle with Judah. Instead of slaughter, Judah collected the spoils of the attacking armies for 3 days, more than they could carry; riches and precious jewels (2 Chronicles 20:25). It makes you wonder why they 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 to bail them out. On the fourth day they assembled themselves and gave thanks to God and returned to Jerusalem with 'psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the Lord' (2 Chronicles 20:26-28).

The above example of leadership teaches us some important things we can apply in our lives:

1. When called to lead, we should emulate Christ and seek to save souls rather than seek for power and personal gain.
2. At all times we should be striving to bring those in our care to God ensuring that we will not be responsible for leading anyone astray.
3. We should always have 'our eyes upon God' and seek His counsel in all things.
4. Accept an answer to any dilemma we are faced with, no matter how weird it may seem, for God's ways are not our ways. The Spirit will testify to us if that answer is of Him.
5. Act on the instructions the Lord gives us and believe in them, no matter how strange.
6. Always, always be grateful and express that gratitude to God for His guidance.

When Jesus washed the disciples' feet, Peter was horrified and would not allow Him to wash his. The Saviour said to him: "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me". Peter, coming to understand, immediately replied: "...Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head" (John 13:8,9). I think what the Saviour was saying to Peter was this: "Peter, if you do not let me serve you, you can't be mine because I was sent for this purpose" and Peter, loving the Lord, replied: "I am yours". I am astounded that a God who created worlds without number could lower himself in such humility to wash the feet of those so much less than Him. Does He not love us with un-surpassing love? He gathers us like a protective father gathers his children, with everlasting mercy, to serve us through His power to save, waiting and always waiting for us to come to Him and be gathered home.

WAIT

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried: 
          Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.

I pled and wept for a clue to my fate from the Master who gently said:
           "Child, you must wait".

"Wait? You say, wait!" my indignant reply. 
           "Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!"

Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
            By faith, I have asked, and am claiming your word.

My future and all to which I can relate hangs in the balance, 
             and you tell me to wait?"

I'm needing a 'yes', a go ahead sign, or even a 'no' to which I can resign.
And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
             I'm weary of asking!  I need a reply!"

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate as my Master replied once again:
             "You must wait."

So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut and grumbled to God:
             "So, I'm waiting....for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine, and He tenderly said: 
              "I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun. I could raise the dead,
               and cause mountains to run.

All you seek I could give, and pleased you would be. You would have 
               what you want - but, you wouldn't know Me.

You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint:
               You'd not know the power that I give to the faint,

You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair:
                You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me, when darkness and silence
                were all you could see;

You'd never experience that fullness of love as the peace of My 
                Spirit descends like a dove;

You'd know that I live and I save....(for a start),
                 but you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night;
                 the faith that I give when you walk without sight.

The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked of an infinite God,
                 who makes what you have last.

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
                 what it means that "My grace is sufficient for thee.

Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true;
                 but, oh, the loss, if I lost what I'm doing in you!

So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see that the greatest
                 of gifts is to get to know Me.

And though oft may My answers seem terribly late;
                 My most precious answer of all is still "wait".

                 - Author Unknown

THE WISDOM OF THE UNWISE

Solomon, the third king of Israel, continuing the golden age begun by his father David, reigned over Israel in extravagance and grandeur which lasted for 40 years. This is all the time it took to destroy Israel's course forever.

Solomon, who at the beginning of his reign, loved the God of Israel and covenanted with Him that he would walk in obedience throughout his reign and administration, blessed with incredible wisdom that exceeded that of any man, ended up being a man of foolishness. A man, fortunate enough to have the Lord appear to him twice and blessed with riches that far exceeded the riches of any man or king, sent Israel into temporal and spiritual bankruptcy. Within a year of his death, the land was divided into two kingdoms and the course of Israel's history was altered permanently (Old Testament Student Manual, Vol 2, p. 1)

Solomon followed in the footsteps of his father, lacking the tenacity to endure to the end. His is a story of tragedy of immense proportion not only because he caused his downfall but because he caused the downfall of a whole nation. Solomon excelled in two things: wisdom and riches. He ascended the throne at 20 years of age, reigning with his father as co-regent until David's death (1 Kings 1). His young age, inexperience and inherited responsibility weighed heavily on his mind as is evidenced in his conversation with the Lord at Gibeon where he went to offer sacrifices. The sacrifices which he offered to the God of Israel were excessive in number and are indicative of the great love he had for the Lord (1 Kings 3:3,4). Even in the beginning Solomon did things in a big way, offering 1,000 burnt offerings upon Gibeon's sacrificial altar. It was in this place of his great devotion that the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him that whatever he wanted, the Lord would give it to him. Imagine God asking you such a question. What would you answer? Obviously that which is at the center of your heart. Solomon remembering the great responsibility that rested on his shoulders asked for wisdom that he might judge Israel in righteousness (1 Kings 3:9). He, however, did something more by his reply to God than his request for an understanding heart. He acknowledged the true King of Israel and lowered himself down to be nothing more than His servant by saying: "And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude" (1 Kings 3:8). The request he made of God was not so that he coul judge his people but so that he could judge 'God's' people. He never referred to Israel as his people or his subjects. In one fell swoop he showed humility and acknowledged the God of Israel as his sovereign. This is in stark contrast to Saul, who's power as king went to his head.

Following such a demonstration of humility, God granted Solomon his wish making him the wisest man that has ever lived or ever will live and also promised him riches and honour which would make him a king with no equal (1 Kings 3:12,13). All God's promises to Solomon were realised. He became a man unrivaled by any upon the face of the earth. "For many years Solomon's sagacity blessed the lives of his people. Through this gift he successfully arbitrated difficult issues (1 Kings 3), built up peaceful relations with surrounding nations (1 Kings 5), attended to the thronging guests from every quarter of the earth who sought out his wisdom (1 Kings 4:10) and oversaw the establishment of Israel's first permanent temple (1 Kings 5:8). Indeed, Israel was blessed both materially and spiritually for many years of Solomon's reign" (Taylor D. Halverson, OT Lesson 26, Meridian Magazine).  Not only was Israel great in the eyes of other nations during Solomon's reign, it stood as a monument to the power of the true and living God as was expressed by Queen of Sheba who came to witness its' fame and the fame of its' king (1 Kings 10:9). Solomon judged Israel in righteousness and with exceeding wisdom. He is credited with 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs (1 Kings 4:32). The fame of his wisdom reached so far and wide that 'there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth....' (1Kings 4:34)

Of all Solomon's achievements, the greatest was the building of the temple which the Lord promised David would be built by his son after him and to whom He gave explicit instructions, through revelation, for its' construction. Solomon built a splendid temple with the finest materials and dedicated it himself through an amazing dedicatory prayer once again affirming his devotion to the God of Israel (1 Kings 8:23-53). The temple was indeed magnificent, but not as magnificent as Solomon's house that he built for himself. The temple was in reality about the same size as the modern mini-temples we have today dotting the earth. Solomon's temple took 7 years to build and was about 100 feet long and 30 feet wide and 45 feet high. Modern mini-temples average about 110 feet by 80 feet, and are about 50 feet high. Compare that to the Salt Lake Temple which took 40 years to build and is 186.5 feet long and 118.8 feet wide and 210 feet high. Solomon's temple was, however, adorned with fine materials such as gold which was worth 108,000 talents in the Old Testament currency which translates to a worth of $41,796,000,000.00 of today's money (Ted Gibbons, OT Lesson 26, "King Solomon: Man of Wisdom, Man of Foolishness")

Solomon's wealth was staggering. The scriptures suggest that Solomon received annually 666 talents of gold (1 Kings 10:14). At today's prices that is in the neighbourhood of around $15,000.000.00 (Ted Gibbons, OT Lesson 26). That is an exorbitant annual income even in today's day and age. And herein begins Solomon's downfall. The riches turn him into a man of excess. Whereas the temple took 7 years to build, his house took 13 years. The description of his wealth and extravagances is astonishing (1 Kings 10:14-23). In the end Solomon's reign enforced great economic changes in the kingdom and his massive building projects created serious problems. 'He taxed the people heavily and used forced labour to complete his massive projects. The people began to complain and a deep resentment, especially in the northern tribes, began to fester......For the first time in Israel's history, there began to be a distinct difference between 'rich' and 'poor'. The king and his household were rich; the common people were poor. In between were the salaried civil servants and the merchants and artisans, many of whom had organised craft guilds by that time. Such class separations had not been known in the Israel where a shepherd boy like David could be anointed king - only 50 years earlier" (Great People of the Bible, pp 192-93, Old Testament Student Manual Vol 2., p 8).

If wealth and riches which made Solomon a man of excess, were the beginning of his downfall, marrying 'strange' women became the finishing touch of his foolishness. For all his wisdom, Solomon became incredibly unwise for 'one was not wise, regardless of his vast learning, if his actions did not comply with his righteous beliefs' (Old Testament Student Manual, Vol. 2, p. 13). Following the dedication of Solomon's temple, the Lord appeared to Solomon for the second time and acknowledging the dedicatory prayer, accepted the temple which Solomon dedicated to Him. At the same time, however, he issued a grave and serious warning to the king of Israel. He warned Solomon that if he and his children do not keep his commandments and if they go and serve other gods and worship them, that He will cut off Israel out of the land which He had given them, that He will destroy the temple which was built, and 'Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people' (1 Kings 9:6,7). 

It is interesting to me that the Lord appeared to Solomon for the first time following Solomon's marriage alliance with Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter, brought her to Jerusalem and even built her a house when he built his palace and the temple. This marriage alliance was the greatest act of Solomon's foolishness. It was the beginning of him marrying many idolatrous women out of the covenant and the beginning of his many political alliances which signaled that he had more faith in these alliances than in God who was willing to fight and win Israel's battles. You might say he was beginning to lose the plot. God who knows all things from beginning to the end knew that Solomon was heading in the direction he should not want to go. So why make the promise of wisdom and wealth and honour if it was going to lead him to his demise? I suspect it was because the Lord knew that Solomon would in the end deny the one true and living God so he made Solomon's greatness proportionate to his fall. Marrying foreign women who led him and all Israel into idolatry aborted Solomon's ability to endure to the end and changed the course of Israel's history. "We cannot begin to calculate the damage Solomon did by introducing idolatry to the children of Israel. From that point on, the history of Israel was a losing battle fought by prophets against the forces of disloyalty to God. The same is true of us in our own spheres. Faithfulness to our covenants can bring untold blessings to ourselves and our families. Turning aside from these covenants will bring untold misery, struggle, and conflict. The story of Solomon is a cautionary tale to every man and woman in the kingdom of God" ((Breck England, OT Lesson 26, Meridian Magazine).

The greatest mistake Solomon made was that he went to his grave unrepentant, unlike his father David. He who loved the Lord forsook the integrity of his heart and came to worship false gods who had no power to give him any of the blessings he received from the God of Israel.  He who had the greatest wisdom ended up being the most foolish. So it is sometimes with us. We overlook what the Lord has done for us and what He is capable of giving us if we stay the course. So we become foolish and dabble in sin and we allow sin to make us stupid, stupid because when we sin we become 'deaf, dumb and blind to the ways of the Lord. Stupid because habitual sin drives the Spirit away, leaving us outside the protective influence of the Holy Ghost. Stupid because it makes us incapable of drawing upon the powers of heaven. Being stupid costs a lot' (Sheri L. Dew)..........is not this foolish? is not this forsaking of wisdom?.........'sin costs a lot too. It can cost time, money, peace of mind, progress, self-respect, your integrity and virtue, your family, the trust of those you love, and even your Church membership. Sin is just plain stupid. And the cost is off the charts. So repent now. Repent daily. If you want to be sanctified, repentance is not optional'. (Sheri L. Dew, You Were Born to Lead, You Were Born for Glory, BYU Speeches, Dec. 2003)

THE HOUSE OF MY HEART

One day when I really understood what Jesus Christ had done for me, I invited Him to come into the house of my heart and as soon as I invited Him, He came, without any hesitation and when He was there, He filled the house with joy and I wanted to run and tell all the neighbours about my guest and how wonderful it was to have Him there.

When everything was settled I said: "I hope you will stay and feel perfectly at home". And He said: "I am sure I will and now since we are new friends, why don't you show me around. I would very much like to see the library in the house of your heart". Now in my house the library is very small and has very thick walls and is filled with everything I have read: books, magazines, news articles, everything I have seen, like T.V. shows, movies, plays; all the Sunday School lessons I have listened to, the sermons, the lectures, they're all there in the library. And His eyes gazed over all the things that were on the shelf and I was a little embarrassed that there was so much trivia there. I wished that more scriptures and Church books were really mine and on the shelf and I suggested to Him that maybe I could stand a little bit of renovation in this room and He agreed, that maybe we, together, could add more worthwhile things to the library. You see the library is a very important room because it's the study, so to speak, of the mind, a sort of control room for the whole house. It affects the lighting, the electricity, and everything else in the house.

And then He said He would like to see the dining room so I took Him in. Now in my house this is a very large room because this is the room of appetites and desires and it never seemed to be satisfied. He told me that it was because I was eating the wrong things. He said: "If you would diet as I do, you would never feel hunger for I live on the word of the Father". Then He offered me a taste of it and it was delicious, and oh, the flavour of it! And I agreed with Him that this alone satisfied and I knew that I would spend less time in the dining room now that He was a guest in the house.

Next He asked if He could see my workshop. Now I had a workshop, it was down in the basement. We went down and looked at the work bench, and saw all the talents and skills that were there but I hadn't really produced much. He looked everything over and said that I had a lot of good equipment but that I really hadn't used it. Oh, there were few gadgets and trinkets and half finished projects but nothing really of good value. I said: "Well, if I wasn't quite so busy maybe I could do better. I know all the tools are there but I'm awkward and clumsy and I really don't know how to use them". So He said: "Would you like to be able to use the tools in your workshop?" And I said: "Oh yes, would you help me?" And He said: "I was wondering if you would ask me". And so He stood behind me and put His great powerful hands over mine and guided them and He showed me how to use the tools in my workshop. And with His hands directing mine, I marveled at the work of art that came out. And I said: "Now that you have helped me, I am going to come in to the workshop often and this will be a fun room to come to. Will you always help me?" And He said: "Yes, if you invite me to but I never come unless I'm invited". And so we left the workshop and the next room we went into wast the drawing room.

Now this was a small, quite, peaceful place in my heart for deep thoughts and meditation and he seemed pleased with it and comfortable there. And so He said: "Let's meet here often, at least twice a day and we can have long talks together and you can tell me about all your activities and all your ambitions and all of your problems and we'll talk it over together every day". I thought that sounded wonderful so I made an appointment with Him every day that I would do that and I did at first, faithfully. But then I got too busy and sometimes I would forget to come in the morning and sometimes I would forget at night and sometimes days would go by and we never had a talk at all. Now it wasn't that I didn't want to talk to Him, it was just that I was so busy and had a lot to do. Then one day as I went to leave I noticed Him standing in the doorway of the drawing room and I said: "Have you been waiting there every morning for me?" And He said: "Yes". "You're a guest in my house and I have neglected you and I am sorry". I had called on Him when I was in need to come and help me and He always came but that was about the way I used Him. When things went well, I didn't really think we needed our chat as much as we did when things were bad. And so I decided that it had been a very one-sided relationship and I also realized that He missed me. Now that was an amazing thing, someone as insignificant as I was and yet He missed me! So I said: "Maybe there's something I could do for you?" "I was wondering when you would want to help me" he said, "I have so many projects and so many things that need to be done. I could use a good friend like you. One thing, I have no money in the world at all. I only have yours to use. Would you let me use some of yours? "Yes, of course!" I said. "And there are people I just cannot see. I could send you and commission you to go and represent me. Would you do that?" "Yes, I'd love to go". And so I went and I experienced great joy in this. But then one day I got rebellious and I said: "You demand too much of me. Can't I have anything to myself? After all, I have things I want to do and things I want to spend my money on and you're always there needing something". Now that wasn't a very nice way to treat a person, especially a guest. And then He said: "Look at the results of my projects and who benefits from them". And then I really was ashamed because everything I did benefited me as well as others and not Him personally. So I continued his work.

And then one day He said: "There is a peculiar odor in this house and it is coming from that locked closet. And although you've let me go into every room in the house, that one door has always been locked and you've never let me in". Now that made me mad! I had let him into every room in my house. I ran and did his errands for Him, I let him use my money and now he wanted to look in my secret closet, so I said: "I hold the key and I will not let you in that closet. It's very small, only about 2 feet by 4 feet. The rest of my house is large enough and is perfectly presentable so it shouldn't make any difference". And He said: "I cannot stay in this house if you do not give me the key to the closet". And so He left. Oh, I was sad....And great despair and gloom and depression came over me. Because you see, once having had Him as a guest in my home, life was unbearable without Him. And so I went and tearfully pleaded with Him and begged Him: "Come back and I will give you the key to the closet and I will withhold nothing from you. I cannot stand to live without you".

And so I gave Him the key and He opened my secret closet. And then quickly and efficiently He cleaned out those things that were dead and rotten that I wanted to feel were not there and wanted to ignore. He cleaned the whole closet out, fumigated it, painted it and He made it perfectly acceptable. Afterwards I said: "I am so ashamed that you know what was in my closet". And He said: "Why, I see only a house that is totally acceptable to me". And then I knew why I loved Him so and why of all my biggest brothers only this one could love me enough to clean out my closet. And then He said: "You know, I have cleaned out so many closets but it's a strange thing. I can never remember afterwards what was in them".

After a few moments I said: "I get so tired of cleaning all the time. I go from one room to the other trying to keep up in the drawing room, in the dining room, the workshop and in the library but I always seem to be behind. I was wondering if you could be the owner and I would be the guest and sort of helper, servant and we'll just switch positions. Instead of me calling on you to help me, you can call on me to help you. Is it possible?" And He said: "Why yes, that's why I came the first time you invited me". So I ran and got the deed to my house and I signed it over to Him and I said: "It is yours, it belongs to you and I withhold nothing from you".

After I gave Him the deed, He immediately started remodeling the house because He was not content to own a cottage. He was the architect, the planner, the builder and told me eventually we would end up with a magnificent castle. It would take a while to build but we would build it together. So he started the remodeling. He was the master of the house and I was the servant and I did whatever He bid. And there were times when clouds came and gathered around the house, of war, hate and sin and they beat on the house and demanded entry. But because He was the Lord of the house, it had a firm foundation and none of it was allowed to enter. Inside the house there was warmth, peace and tranquility regardless of what was outside.

He told me as time went on that He would move my house to another city. He would take care of all the arrangements and I wouldn't even have to know the day it took place or where. He said that I would be in a city where He had the deed to all the houses and there would be no storms or darkness and I would like the neighbours better. It sounded wonderful and I looked forward to it with eagerness. And I looked back so long ago when I first invited Christ to come in to the house of my heart as a guest, and thougth about the many years it took to have the courage to give him the deed to the house. And I wondered why I had been so stingy and had reluctantly wanted to turn it over because He showered me with gifts and took care of all the remodeling and I was always the debtor.

- Author Unknown