Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read about the death of Jezebel and how she was eaten by dogs so that there wasn't enough left of her to bury. This was just as the prophet Elijah had prophesied. 2 Kgs. 9: 30-37 "And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs. And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot. And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter. And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel."

In the Book of Mormon I read about the great wars and bloodshed across the land. So speedy was the destruction of so many people there weren't enough people left to bury the dead and the scent was terrible. It's hard to even imagine such a horrible scene! Ether 14: 21-23 "And so great and lasting had been the war, and so long had been the scene of bloodshed and carnage, that the whole face of the land was covered with the bodies of the dead. And so swift and speedy was the war that there was none left to bury the dead, but they did march forth from the shedding of blood to the shedding of blood, leaving the bodies of both men, women, and children strewed upon the face of the land, to become a prey to the worms of the flesh. And the scent thereof went forth upon the face of the land, even upon all the face of the land; wherefore the people became troubled by day and by night, because of the scent thereof."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell the story of Jairus coming to Jesus and asking Him to come heal his daughter who is dying. Along the way a woman who has been ill for many years comes and touches Jesus' garment and is healed. Jesus takes time to find out who touched His garment and then a messenger from Jairus' house comes and announces his daughter has died. However, Jesus continues on to the house and raises Jairus' daughter from the dead. The thought that went with this, written by Rev. R. Scott Greenway from Caledonia, Michigan says: In an emergency room, if a doctor treats a patient with a nosebleed while another patient with a heart attack goes unattended and dies, that doctor is in trouble. If a police officer chases someone for speeding but ignores a bank robbery, that officer could face discipline. Some situations call for immediate attention, while others can wait. Yet in our story today Jesus seems to delay an urgent case to deal with a less important one. Jesus was approached by a man named Jairus, whose daughter was at the point of death. He pleaded with Jesus to come immediately to his house and heal her. Along the way, a serious--but less urgent--situation arose. A woman who had been sick for 12 years touched Jesus and was healed. He stopped and asked, "Who touched me?" At first no one responded. But then the woman, trembling wit fear, told what had happened. Then while Jesus was still speaking to the woman, word came that Jairus' daughter had died. Jairus must have had feelings of anguish, confusion, and perhaps anger. Why had Jesus let that woman delay him? Can you relate to this? Maybe you have waited for Jesus to help you, but it seemed never to happen. Remember: Jesus is never late. He is always on time--but it's always in His time, and His timing is best. Jesus raised Jairus' daughter to life--to the glory of God. Lord, give me faith and patience when I am tested to tears and perhaps even anguish. Help me to know that your timing is best--and God will be glorified. Mark 5: 21-43 "And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, aarise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat."

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