Scripture Thought 11/05/09
1 Nephi 4:11
The next several verses have a very common theme. If you read them individually, they can each send or teach a different message. Lets look at this one.
As you read this verse, not the directness of the spirit that is whispering in Nephi's mind and heart. "The Lord hath delivered him." Or in other words, "Do It."
Now put yourself in Nephi's shoes, would you? You have the sword there in your hands, this man has tried to kill your brother, he has tried to kill you, and he has taken all of your worldly possessions? Nephi begins to doubt. What would you do?
Nephi wonders whether this idea to kill Laban is really the spirit speaking to him or if it is his own emotional state when he thinks of this man that is tempting him to slay Laban. He starts to justify.
Should I? Would it be considered self defense? We are not suppose to kill. Laban is a wicked man. The Lord has sent him here with a mission of getting the plates. Laban, does not take their word or the word of the Lord, as commandment and seeks riches and fame instead. Doesn't that make him a disobedient person? But is that justification for death?
There are lots of questions here.
Now lets go back a few verses. Nephi has separated himself to a new level of spirituality. As we can see here, he is not putting himself above the law or the commandments. It is not an easy task that has been placed before him. The commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Kill".
When I think of killing, I think of murder, premeditated, angry, revengeful, killing. That is not what this is. The Lord is teaching at a higher level. There are times when his children must be destroyed when they have perverted his ways too much. We look at the great flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, the children of Israel going into the promised land, the disobedient while in the wilderness...etc. He does destroy them by death. Is it the act that is bad, or the intent of the act? This raises some interesting questions.
I don't know that I have the answers, but as I read and reread this section of the Book of Mormon, I learn a little bit more, have a little bit more insight, and feel different about it each time. You should do the same. Ask the Lord to help you understand. As you are prepared for it, he will teach you, again, and again.
The next several verses have a very common theme. If you read them individually, they can each send or teach a different message. Lets look at this one.
As you read this verse, not the directness of the spirit that is whispering in Nephi's mind and heart. "The Lord hath delivered him." Or in other words, "Do It."
Now put yourself in Nephi's shoes, would you? You have the sword there in your hands, this man has tried to kill your brother, he has tried to kill you, and he has taken all of your worldly possessions? Nephi begins to doubt. What would you do?
Nephi wonders whether this idea to kill Laban is really the spirit speaking to him or if it is his own emotional state when he thinks of this man that is tempting him to slay Laban. He starts to justify.
Should I? Would it be considered self defense? We are not suppose to kill. Laban is a wicked man. The Lord has sent him here with a mission of getting the plates. Laban, does not take their word or the word of the Lord, as commandment and seeks riches and fame instead. Doesn't that make him a disobedient person? But is that justification for death?
There are lots of questions here.
Now lets go back a few verses. Nephi has separated himself to a new level of spirituality. As we can see here, he is not putting himself above the law or the commandments. It is not an easy task that has been placed before him. The commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Kill".
When I think of killing, I think of murder, premeditated, angry, revengeful, killing. That is not what this is. The Lord is teaching at a higher level. There are times when his children must be destroyed when they have perverted his ways too much. We look at the great flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, the children of Israel going into the promised land, the disobedient while in the wilderness...etc. He does destroy them by death. Is it the act that is bad, or the intent of the act? This raises some interesting questions.
I don't know that I have the answers, but as I read and reread this section of the Book of Mormon, I learn a little bit more, have a little bit more insight, and feel different about it each time. You should do the same. Ask the Lord to help you understand. As you are prepared for it, he will teach you, again, and again.
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