Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read some verses that compare Judah's iniquities with those of a harlot, saying they are worse. The institute manual explains it as follows: The imagery Ezekiel uses in 16:30-34 is some of the most scathing in all the scriptures. Comparing idolatry to adultery, Ezekiel condemned Judah for being far worse than a harlot who takes men for personal gain and the presents they give her. Judah was not like this She scorned personal presents and took strangers to her simply for the change and the pleasure of being with other men.
A harlot takes presents from her lovers, and that is her motivation; in Judah's case, not only did she not receiv e such presents from her lovers (the false gods gave no benefits to Israel) but instead she gave the presents to her lovers (the false gods). Thus, so deeply sunk in her idolatry (adultery), Judah should not have been surprised to be punished accordingly. Ezek. 16: 30-34 "How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord God, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman; In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire; But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband! They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom. And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy whoredoms, whereas none followeth thee to commit whoredoms: and in that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given unto thee, therefore thou art contrary."

In the D&C we're told that we need to preach a warning voice in mildness and meekness and go out from among the wicked. We need to be clean. D&C 38: 41-42 "And let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness and in meekness. And go ye out from among the wicked. Save yourselves. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Even so. Amen."

A verse with a thought booklet tells how the Lord prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah after he'd been tossed into the sea. And he was in the fish three days and three nights before the fish vomitted him up onto dry ground. How unlikely would it seem that getting swallowed up by a big fish would actually be a blessing? God could have used another ship to rescue Jonah, but chose this fish instead. When we're facing difficult times in the sea of life, maybe the means of rescue God sends us won't seem like a blessing at all at first. Maybe it will seem like a greater trial. But if we trust in God and obey Him no matter what, He'll see us through whatever comes our way. We need to trust Him in all our circumstances. Jonah 1: 17 "Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."

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