Come Follow Me with Sam

 Welcome! Daniel, Daniel, Daniel. Daniel is a prophet in a foreign land. He has a gift of prophesy that is more famous than perhaps any old testament prophet. the book is only 12 chapters but almost every chapter has a prophecy of some sort tied into it.  Daniel was also able to withstand great adversity in a foreign land. He created Zion in the midst of Babylon. There is a lesson here that in the midst of adversity, some of the most beautiful flowers arise. When Judah was its own sovereign country, would they have raised up a Daniel? If such a person had walked among them, would anyone have listened. If anyone had listened, would anyone have understood? Like in the parable of the vineyard in Jacob, when Israel was scattered, it could be planted on other trees, and there draw nourishment so that one day when it was gathered again, it could produce good fruit. Daniel is also many times overlooked as an apocalyptic writer, despite the renown of his 'stone cut without hands' visi...

 Welcome! I mentioned that Jeremiah was a transitory prophet; at the point of Ezekiel, the Israelites are in captivity. Ezekiel's message has parallels with Jeremiah's in the sense that there is fall and redemption. Jeremiah was the one warning this would happen. Now it happened and the Israelites are wrestling with what this cataclysmic event meant and why it happened and what it means for them. There are also many parallels to what Christ would say during his earthly ministry. imagery of seeking that which was lost, watching over a flock, and caring for those in need. Chapter 33 grabbed my attention the most. There are some specific and important understandings as to the obligations of those commissioned with a message, and those to whom the message should be delivered.

 Welcome! This week, we are finishing out Jeremiah and getting into lamentations. The stark feeling you get with the reading is that this is the end of the party. Jerusalem is doomed. The king is willfully blind. The people will not (cannot?) turn from their path. This is the end of Israel. In this sense, Jeremiah is a transitional prophet. He is transitioning from the kingdom of Israel to captive Israel. From now on, Israel will never experience true freedom from then all the way up until 1948 AD (or further for covenant Israel?). Jeremiah uses many types of language that we saw in Isaiah. It is like Jeremiah is saying that Isaiah's prophecies are being fulfilled in his time. Jeremiah also talks of Israel as doomed for the present, but that there will be redemption, and he points toward the last days as the time of that redemption. After the captivity, many prophets hinge their hopeful message in the same way; that Judah is captive now but will at last be redeemed with Israel.

 Welcome! Finally out of the Isaiah chapters! Jeremiah was a contemporary of Lehi, and in a sense, a capstone to Isaiah. Isaiah was around 100 years earlier and warned of all the things that would happen. Israel then had some ups and downs, mostly downs, to the point where we get to Jeremiah and Zedekiah. Jeremiah was basically the last Prophet before Jerusalem was destroyed and the kingdom came to an end. Here are a couple keys from Jeremiah. Jeremiah's humility at not being able to speak is reminiscent of Isaiah 6. Both prophets suffered the same challenge that they knew they had weaknesses that would come out into the open if they opened their mouths. Both times, albeit in different ways, God reminded them that it is the call that sanctifies the word, not the person. When God commissions you to speak, it is good to speak whatever the consequences. Like Isaiah, Jeremiah speaks directly to the terrible hypocrisy and neglect of the leaders to follow the gospel. There were ups and d...

 Welcome! Finishing out Isaiah below! This is actually from a couple weeks back when I thought Isaiah was over (HA!).  A tentative way to view the organization of Isaiah I also feel like I can put together a tentative shot at how I think about the organization of Isaiah. Keep in mind that there are lots of ways to organize Isaiah in your mind. Some are better, some are worse. This one is sure to have mistakes but it should highlight some important parts as well. Keep in mind that although I speak a lot  in terms of which dispensation, epoch, or time Isaiah is talking about, I believe Isaish looks at this more spiritually and that is why his words represent multiple times and places. He is describing spiritually what is happening in the hearts of men, and as men are falling into the same traps, and need the savior in the same way across time, hiis words apply across those places. Chapters 1 - 5 (6) chapters 1 through 5 are an introduction and summary to Isaiah's main messa...

 Welcome! I'll admit it. I made a mistake. I thought we were only doing isaiah for 3 weeks but we are in this for 5. so here is part 4 of the Isaiah readings for come follow me. Isaiah 50 Chapter 50 is my favorite Isaiah chapter. I broke this one down when I was going through 2 Nephi 7 and have nothing to add to that besides this really is Isaiah's 'Abinadai' moment - where he knows he is doing the right thing and knows he will speak the words of life whatever the consequences. Isaiah 51 Isaiah 51 is really fun chapter in a number of ways. Before diving in, read these verses, then read the first 4 verses of Isaiah 51, and let me know what you think. 1  In the land of the  a Chaldeans , at the residence of my fathers, I,  b Abraham , saw that it was needful for me to obtain another place of  c residence ; 2  And, finding there was greater  a happiness  and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I ...

 Welcome! This is part three of the Isaiah reading Isaiah 40 will update at a later date Isaiah 41 will update at a later date Isaiah 42 will update at a later date Isaiah 43 will update at a later date Isaiah 44 will update at a later date Isaiah 45 will update at a later date Isaiah 46 will update at a later date Isaiah 47 will update at a later date Isaiah 48 will update at a later date Isaiah 49 will update at a later date Isaiah 50 will update at a later date Isaiah 51 will update at a later date Isaiah 52 will update at a later date Isaiah 53 will update at a later date Isaiah 54 will update at a later date Isaiah 55 will update at a later date Isaiah 56 will update at a later date Isaiah 57 will update at a later date Isaiah 58 will update at a later date Isaiah 59 will update at a later date Isaiah 60 will update at a later date Isaiah 61 will update at a later date Isaiah 62 will update at a later date Isaiah 63 will update at a later date Isaiah 64 will update at a later ...

Welcome! We get to continue the Isaiah Journey! Isaiah 13 - Isaiah 23 Isaiah 13 - 23 start with 'the burden of x' kingdom, or in other words, the oracle or the prophecy that hangs over them. Some of these chapters can be difficult to understand without an event, a time, or an idea to anchor what Isaiah is explaining. Some, like the burden of Babylon and Egypt, have some helpful details to understand what is going on, while others like the burden of Moab, is harder to crack. Here are a couple thoughts. Each Burden may represent a certain people or type of people; Babylon is the decadent materialism and overt power of the world, Moab is perhaps those who are not of the covenant, were invited in, but ignored it for the distractions of the world, Damascus represents those in the covenant, but they have forgotten God and turned back to idols, Egypt represents the secondary main power of evil, following the more cunning ancient rites than the outright babylonian hedonism, the Valley ...

 It's Isaiah time!!! First, as you may well know, I tackled a lot of Isaiah chapters during the book of 2 Nephi back in 2020. This can be a great study guide for this week, but I will not actually be referencing them. at all. I won't even look at them during this time. Of course their will be many similarities to what I write today vs 2 years ago because I can't and wouldn't just magically clear my mind of all previous conceptions, but I won't actively seek to influence my writing by what I said previously. The reason is that I have new perspectives and thoughts and I want to capture them without unduly influencing them with what I already said. This means there may be different foci, interpretations, or even straight up contradictions to what I said previously. At a later date, I will go through both of them and compare what I know then and what I know now and synthesize the sides. But for now, this is a technique for me to put down my thoughts without subconscio...

 Welcome! Proverbs Feel free to share your favorite part of proverbs in the comments Ecclesiastes One of my favorite quotes of Exupery is 'I mourn him who, feeling himself sheltered by the stars of God looks up one night, and realizes in an instant the distance.' This is the key to Ecclesiastes. The writer is pointing out that whatever work we do with the time we have means nothing except inasmuch as it is tied to the greater cosmic principle - in this case, God, the greatest cosmic principle. What gives a thing meaning is how much the plan of salvation manifests in it through the power and spirit of God. thus the conclusion: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty (another fascinating word) of man.

 Welcome! This post will cover the next 3 weeks of psalms that we have scheduled. I may add to this as we go through the psalms Psalms Psalms, what is Psalms? This week we are going into the Psalms. I found the cfm intro helpful. Most importantly, the psalms are quoted all the time, to my understanding more than any other old testament book, by the Savior. They also hold many keys and insights of richer doctrine. Some of my favorite Psalms are  Psalm 23 - the shepherd's psalm Psalm 82 - also the psalm Christ quoted, speaking of God in the midst of Gods. psalm 50 - out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined Feel free to add your psalms to the comments below!

 Welcome! When will humanity understand Job? (and at what price?) Job is a strange book. many believe it is a parable and thought exercise in nature and that there was no original man named Job who had a similar story. members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have extra spice on taco in this debate because we we have God referencing Job to Joseph Smith in D&C 121. Was God referring to a man who existed once, or just using it in parable nature as well? There are a few lessons we can learn from Job. Most of them can be useful but miss the mark. Here are a few of these types of lessons. Apologies in advance to those who have identified themselves with one of these types of lessons through some hard trial. - whenever I'm down, I can remember that job was even more miserable and that should cheer me up. - a better variant on this is to think of all the blessings you do have and focus on those. -a slightly worse variant is to try and weigh blessings and trials in yo...

Welcome A strange book of mysterious meanings. Esther is one of those books that will probably be uncovered one day as a literary master piece because, similar to Isaiah, the way the book is written reflects the story itself. The book never explicitly mentions God. Yet God steers the talents and destiny of key figures to bring deliverance to the Jewish people. In this way, it is reflective of the idea that even when you don't see Him, God is always in the background surely putting his purposes at work in the lives of His children.  Ironic as it is that the Essenes did not include Esther in their scriptures, they had a sort of prayer that reflected this idea quite well. And when the sun is high in the heavens, Then is that you shall let into your ears the Holy Stream of Sound for it can only be heard in the silence. Think on the streams that are born in the desert after a sudden storm, and the roaring sound of the waters as they rush past. Truly, this is the voice of God, if you did...

 Welcome! The chapters of Ezra and Nehemiah are about restoring the temple and the walls of Jerusalem again, restoring the law, and protecting against the opposition that arises. Notes on Restoration The restoration of the temple came in a very strange way. Cyrus, a worldly ruler, is inspired by a prophecy about him to restore the temple. The people go out and by their little efforts work to restore those things which were lost.  An important principle is that the true restoration is done by God, and the work of kings, priests, and peoples is the work to be part of the restoration that is worked by God. Nehemiah's prayer I am saying this with almost no study beyond the face-value of reading the text, so feel free to put down what you know in the comments. Nehemiah reads much like a prayer to God for strength to accomplish what he has been missioned to do. He writes in the first person and throws in pleadings in the text ending in Chapter 13 with these words 30  Thus clean...

 This is where the party ends for the kingdom of Israel. Actually, the party ended a long time before this; these chapters are where the two kingdoms get physically kicked out of the venue.  No one ever wants the party to end, and no one wants a debbie-downer to crash the fun, but if you are on the wrong path, you need to start paying attention until you can get your feet back under you and make strait your way again. Some of the really wretched stuff In children's bible stories, the false religions and idolatries of the pagans are pretty toned down - you get the feeling that the worst part of following idols is missing the blessings of following Christ. As you get older, you may wonder why whole civilizations were destroyed for just not following God. These chapters give some bare hints of some of the insanely stuff that was going on. It is not even close to child appropriate. We are talking child sacrifices, sex worship, secret murders, and the like. Really really bad stuff....

 Welcome! They that be with US be more than they that be with them This is a famous verse from 2 Kings 6:16. I believe sometimes we take it out of context, especially in democratic countries. In democracies, we are taught to rely on the majority will of the people, that if we just get the majority, we can set things right. While I am a big fan of democratic institutions, this quote has nothing to do about being secure in your belief that you have gained an earthly majority. Remember the background to this was that the syrians had laid siege in samaria and Elisha's servant was looking out and thinking - how will we ever escape such a force? Elisha told him this phrase and then asked God to open his servants eyes to the heavenly host around them. This isn't a story of being in the majority. This is a story of being in the minority and understanding that when you are on God's side, you have fellow servants around you that far surpass the strength of any earthly force. The rest...