Passover, one year later

Numbers 9 marks 1 year from the time Israel left Egypt. As such, it is again time for the Passover.
It is interesting to me that there were some people who were unclean, but wanted to participate. The Lord made provision for them and for people who were travelling during Passover - a "make-up" day, as it were, was to be held one month after the main Passover. This was for those who were unable to participate in the main Passover. In contrast to those who keenly felt their inability to participate is the warning the Lord gives to those who are otherwise able, but yet abstain from the Passover. The declaration "that man shall bear his sin" seem especially poignant in this instance. The Passover was the feast which was most obviously and clearly tied to the atonement. Refusing to participate in the Passover would logically be refusing to participate in the atonement and so "that man shall bear his sin."
For us, we commemorate the Passover weekly in the sacrament. Do we exhibit the same yearning to be able to participate in the sacrament, lamenting our situation if there is some uncleanness that prevents us, rejoicing in the cleansing power of the ordinance and attendant covenant, and shunning the damnation attendant to willful, unnecessary abstention?
During the Passover, a lamb was slain to cover (the Hebrew word most often translated as "atone" in the O.T. can literally be translated as cover) the sins of Israel. Modern Israel has been commanded to offer up a broken heart and a contrite spirit (3 Nephi 19:20 among others). Is this the manner in which we approach the covenant designed to remind us of the salvation the Lord has wrought for our souls? Do we enter each Sabbath day with eagerness, thankfulness, meekness, and humility?

Abomination of Desolation

The topic of the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel came up in class. It seemed to be unfamiliar to most of the students. I was going to pull together a number of scriptures on the topic, but I found that the Bible Dictionary had already done a characteristically fantastic job. (Bible Dictionary entry)
I figure that about covers it for now.

Broken Covenants

In class, there was a question and brief discussion on what was meant when the Lord indicated that even after all the punishments prophesied in Leviticus 26 that the Lord woudl remember His covenant to fulfill it.
Why would He keep a covenant with unrepentant Israel?
Frankly, He wouldn't. There are promised that He made to Abraham regarding his posterity, which the Lord will keep because Abraham continued faithful, but the covenants made with the children of Israel would be in effect only in the case of faithfulness and obendience.
However, the children of Israel would not always rebel against their Lord (see 2 Ne 30:2-8). And when they return, He will be there, waiting, right where He has always been (consider the story of the pickup truck driver and his wife).
Contrast this with any contract you may enter into with man. Can you think of anyone these days who would be willing to honor a contract in full, without significant fines/fees/repurcussions? Can you think of a contract, which can revert to its original condition after having been violated? To me, it is further evidence of the love and mercy of a loving Heavenly Father.

Inaugural Post

The purpose of this blog to to provide a place where I can share some items that didn't make it into class. I hope something may be of use to someone. Perhaps we will be able to start a few conversations. Perhaps it will fail before it starts. I guess we will have to wait and find out.