Value of Esteem

Reading:   Deuteronomy 27

What does it mean, literally, to honor thy mother and father...I can tell you for certain what it does not mean...

DEUTERONOMY 27:16

16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 

"Setteth light" means to speak lowly, disgrace, or esteem lightly and that is decidedly not honoring ones parents.

So how do you quantify esteem?  I did some searching (surprise surprise) and discovered there are three types of esteem; low, over, and healthy (just right).  It is no good to have low esteem for oneself or ones parents because you question worth, ability, and all aspects of being.  To attribute unrealistic worth and success beyond that which is actually achieved is to show arrogance and over-esteem for oneself or parents - also a way of "setting light." But to understand faults and yet still find worth and love for oneself or ones parents is to have healthy esteem.

Here is a link to a self-esteem article that I greatly enjoyed...Self-Esteem Check

~Kipling

Lincoln: A Devout Believer

Reading:   Deuteronomy 26

In an attempt to stimulate my mind and jumpstart my topic, I chose a phrase from the scriptures I had selected and did a search.  The phrase was, "an holy people."  The search yielded the Old Testament verse which produced the phrase to begin with, a lesson from the Old Testament study manual, and seven conference talks.  After a brief perusal of the titles, my eye was drawn to a talk by Mark E. Peterson, The Savor of Men (October General Conference, 1976).  I believe, without a doubt, that I was directed to this talk by the whisperings of the still small voice.

There are days that I am spent and overly frustrated with my chaotic schedule and life and contemplate the necessity for this blog and yearn to quit, then quiet moments of inspiration happen, like this one, that testify to me the need to continue.  I am truly thankful that I have endeavored to climb this mountain, to read scripture daily and write my thoughts daily.  I believe, with every fiber of my living soul, that it will touch someone, someday, and direct them to the true and everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am a child of God and He truly has, sent me here...if only for this one blog, this one day, so be it - I am grateful!

Let me first share the scriptures that seemed so dull and lifeless.  I admit that I am overly fatigued and there is little that could stimulate my mind in this state but still, the scriptures just didn't speak to me.  With frustration, and in a stupor of thought as to what I should write, I found myself questioning the Old Testament and its value compared to other scripture.  let me tell you - I was wrong!  The words of Mark E. Peterson peppered with quotes from Abraham Lincoln, have reenergized me...and originate in the very verses I so ignorantly yawned at...

DEUTERONOMY 26:18-19

18    And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; 

19    And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken. 

Here is a link to Mark E. Peterson's conference address, The Savor of Men (you can actually watch the recorded address if you scroll to the bottom of the page and select "Watch"). I wanted to paste the entire message to my blog but it is too big so you will have to read, or watch, it by following the link.

Here is a taste:

I would like to talk with you about Abraham Lincoln, man of God. 

President Lincoln was one of the great men of all time, and the reason for his greatness was his willingness to acknowledge and obey the Lord.  

He believed in God; he lived near to God; he prayed most earnestly and knew for a fact that he was guided by divine inspiration in his important work.    

Lincoln wan a devout believer in the Bible and read it often. At one time he said: 

"I decided a long time ago that it was less difficult to believe that the Bible was what it claimed to be than to disbelieve it. It is a good book for us to obey." (John Wesley Hill, Abraham Lincoln-Man of God, New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1927, 4th ed., p. 126.)  

Lincoln guided the destinies of the United States during the Civil War period by using the Bible and applying its principles. He exercised faith, and prayer, and deep humility, and out of it all he learned this great fact, as he himself expressed it:  

"I have had so many evidences of His [God's] direction, so many instances when I have been controlled by some other power than my own will, that I cannot doubt that this power comes from above. ... I am satisfied that, when the Almighty wants me to do, or not to do, a particular thing, he finds a way of letting me know it." (Ibid., p. 124.)  

Lincoln was convinced that, by and large, God controls the affairs of nations, and that when nations serve the Lord he blesses them; but when they do not, he withdraws his blessings. 

Said he:  

"It is the duty of Nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that 'those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.'" (Ibid., p. 390-91.) 

With this in mind he also declared that nations, like individuals, are subject to punishments and chastisements at the hand of God. 

He believed that the Civil War was one of the punishments God brought upon America because it tolerated slavery. He knew that slavery was wrong, and that the nation could not endure half slave and half free, and therefore took the necessary steps to free the slaves.

One day he declared: "If we do not do right, God will let us go our own way to ruin; and ... if we do right, He will lead us safely out of this wilderness, crown our arms with victory and restore our dissevered Union." (Ibid. p. 129.) 

And then, thrillingly, he said: "I know I am right, because I know that liberty is right, for Christ teaches it, and Christ is God." (Ibid., p. 285-86; italics added.) 

Again Lincoln said: "I seem to know that Providence has protected and will protect us against any fatal defeat. All we have to do is to trust the Almighty, and keep on obeying His orders and executing His will." (Ibid., p. 126.) 

"That the Almighty ... directly intervenes in human affairs, is one of the plainest statements in the Bible," the great Civil War leader declared. (Ibid., p. 124)...

Admit it - you are hooked.  Now click on the link and read the rest - then watch it!  Needless-to-say, I will be reading the Old Testament with a renewed vigor.  As Lincoln said, "It is a good book for us to obey."

~Kipling

The Loosed Shoe

Reading:   Deuteronomy 25

It was customary among the Israelites that if a man were to die without a child to carry on his name, the brother of the man would take his wife as his own and the first child would be named after the brother who had died.  Now, in that rare case (maybe it wasn't rare), where a man refused the wife of his deceased brother, a charge would be filed by the widow and the brother would face the elders...

DEUTERONOMY 25:9-10

9 Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. 

10 And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed. 

Wow, this is a serious piece of doctrinal debate in the jewish community and though it is not something commonly practiced, the ritual of "Halizah" does still occur.  I read several articles, including a lengthy explanation from Wikipedia, about different ways in which the ceremony is performed and it is all fascinating stuff.

In the modern era the ritual is deemed more a formality to release the widow from her brother-in-law then what it was originally designed to achieve - a means to disgrace the brother-in-law for the selfish unwillingness to carry on the name of the deceased.

I don't know, it's an interesting discussion but the finer points and details that are debated in relation to such a simple guideline seems extreme and doctrinal overkill.  The bickering amongst the leading scholars of Rabbinical law over "The house of him that hath his shoe loosed," is a grand waste of intellect and the individual right of personal revelation.  Why does the voice of God have to be relegated to scripture when there are modern prophets capable and actively receiving revelation today.  If I have a question or concern I could bring it to my spiritual leaders or I could study, ponder, and pray for the direction and revelation needed to progress.

Why get hung up on the riddle of a shoe?

~Kipling  

Responsibility of Marriage

Reading:   Deuteronomy 24

There are a number of great topical verses in this chapter which made it difficult to choose one as a centerpiece for today's blog; so, as yesterday's was such a masterfully executed failure, I have selected two.

The first requires little explanation though it is powerful...

DEUTERONOMY 24:16

16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. 

There is no getting around that verse, loophole-wise, it is sound and sage, without need for interpretation.

That which ye commit so shall ye be tried for - Ye and none other!

The second verse really made me smile because it enforces the need for love and a nurturing of love at its most vulnerable stage...

DEUTERONOMY 24:5

5 When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken. 

The emphasis that Mathew Henry put on this particular verse is too good to paraphrase and a tragic error if I don't share it...

Here is, provision made for the preservation and confirmation of love between new-married people.  This fitly follows upon the laws concerning divorce, which would be prevented if their affection to each other were well settled at first. If the husband were much abroad from his wife the first year, his love to her would be in danger of cooling, and of being drawn aside to others whom he would meet with abroad; therefore his service to his country in war, embassies, or other public business that would call him from home, shall be dispensed with, that he may cheer up the wife that he has taken. Note, It is of great consequence that love be kept up between husband and wife, and that every thing be very carefully avoided which might make them strange one to another, especially at first; for in that relation, where there is not the love that should be, there is an inlet ready to abundance of guilt and grief. One of the duties of that relation is to cheer up one another under the cares and crosses that happen, as helpers of each other’s joy; for a cheerful heart does good like a medicine.

I'm going to make a plaque out of that last little bit.  I find it incredibly insightful and a fitting reminder to all couples...

The RESPONSIBILITY of MARRIAGE

To cheer up one another under the cares and crosses that happen,

As helpers of each others joy.

~Kipling

Eunuchs and Bastards

Reading:   Deuteronomy 23

EEK!

This just sounds terrible and makes me hurt...

DEUTERONOMY 23:1

1 He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord. 

I'm sorry but I barely found the gumption to get past this verse and cannot, in all honesty, even began to explain the remainder of the chapter as I simply cannot recall its context.  Yes, this first verse bothered me tremendously and would not allow a furtherance of thought on any other topic.  Even in research, I found pause when encountering, in several articles, words such as "eunuch" and "bastard,"  debate over what "congregation" meant in relation to eunuchs and bastards and other discussions that simply do not warrant examination.

Therefore, in regards to smashed stones, severed privy members, eunuchs, bastards and the lot - I pass.  You tell me...

~Kipling 

To Mix is Not to Match

Reading:   Deuteronomy 22

Chapter twenty-two is another repetition of Mosaic law pertaining to the diversity of type.  I did not touch on this subject before so I shall attempt to do so on this second glance.  The original point of law is found in Leviticus 19:19...

19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee. 

DEUTERONOMY 22:9-11

9 Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled. 

10 Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together. 

11 Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together. 

So what I am hearing is...if any man is found in a planted field of both potatoes and corn working a plow that is tethered to a team comprised of an ox and an ass together, the man, of course, clothed with articles of both cotton and wool and of a feminine type, well that man is way, way, way out of bounds and worthy of immediate stoning - pebbling even (though to mingle stone and pebble is not advised in the anti-diversity climate of the Israelites).

Levity aside, why so stringent on seemingly trivial things?  The answer may be as rudimentary as setting up a basic pattern of kind - teach the childlike, freed slaves, to stay within type in all that they do and the very thought of mingling with heathen men or women might become abhorrent to them.  Or, the answer may lie in a more complex scheme that involves detrimental side effects of each pairing; a loss of produce when mingling seeds, possible plaques induced by the mingling of beasts, and the possibility of an allergen assault caused by the friction of garment type.

Ultimately, the reality lies with God and we, as I'm sure the Israelites learned to do, must have faith in His plan and His direction.  We do not see the big picture and its ridiculous to attempt to do so.  

Whatever will be will be,
The future (and past) is not ours to see.
Let it be!  Let it be,      
Salvage that which you can and do see!

~Kipling

Leave Not the Hanged, Hanging

Reading:   Deuteronomy 21

I find it fascinating that the Israelites were given a sort of etiquette in regards to the hanging of evil-doers.  Keep in mind that hanging was not used as the tool of execution but as a reminder, post execution.  The primary method was, of course, the ever-popular stoning; but, for extra heinous crimes (blasphemy, etc.), the judges would require the citizens to hang the body of the executed as a reminder to all...

DEUTERONOMY 21:22-23

22 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: 

23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. 

Go ahead and leave the body exemplar hanging about whilst eyes can see but when the night falleth remove the accursed from the sight of God and man.  The mortal punishment has been fulfilled and what God does with the tainted soul is not of our concern.  Furthermore, The Lord blessed and delivered unto the Israelites a most precious inheritance in the gift of the promised land and it would have been a most egregious affront to defile that land with the open presence and display of an accursed body any longer than was necessary.

There is also some significant symbolism regarding the crucifixion of Jesus but I'm not going to try and tackle that today...sorry.

~Kipling