A BEACON OF THE WORLD

 

Perhaps one of the saddest events in the history of Israel was the time they requested the cessation of judges and asked Samuel to appoint a king over them. Samuel pointed out to them that kings will evoke heavy tax burdens on them; conscript their children into his service and seize private lands. Ancient Israel would not listen and persisted in their request which evoked Jehovah’s heart rendering response to Samuel: “…they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Samuel 8:7). Imagine the heaviness of heart the Saviour would have uttered these words. 

 

This is the travesty of Israel’s request: they wanted to be like other nations (1 Samuel 8:20). Why the travesty? Because the House of Israel was chosen to be a special people, above all people upon the face of the earth (Deuteronomy 7:6); a peculiar treasure, a separate people of God on the face of the earth (Exodus 33:16; Leviticus 20:26). But as ancient Israel tragically sought to follow other nations, they became like other nations. We all know the ending to that.

 

I often see the persuasions of the world creeping in amongst us in the Church and it saddens me to the core.  Now more than ever before we need to remember who we are and our charge to be ‘a light unto the world and to be saviours of men’ (D&C 103:9). In the words of President Nelson: “When we know who we are and what God expects of us, we are filled with hope and made aware of our significant role in His great plan of happiness. The day in which we now live was foreseen even before Jesus Christ was born….These are the latter days. We are the ones foredetermined and foreordained to fulfill that promise. We are the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We are, in fact, the hope of Israel. We are God’s treasure, reserved for our particular place and time” (“A More Excellent Hope”, address delivered on 8 January 1995 at the BYU Marriott Center).

 

May we never forget Him who hung on the cross for us….we, who have been bought with a price stand as an ensign of Him to whom we belong. We cannot afford to ‘join’ other nations. We have a charge to be ‘separate and touch not their unclean things’ (Alma 5:57). And as we do so “the mountains and hills shall break forth before us into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands for joy” (Isaiah 55:12).

 

We are Israel, Thy chosen seed

Who in times past disregarded Thee

But now Thine angels rejoice over us

And Thou art as promised dew unto us;

To bring us to life and nurture our growth

To make us mighty in this earthly abode.

In Thine mercy Thou has sought to gather us

In Thine heart Thou hast chosen to cherish us;

In Thee is deliverance from our barren years

In Thee is mercy for our penitent tears.

  

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Love Everlasting by Yongsung Kim)