Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Friday, April 28, 2006

1 Chronicles 1 - 7

During the reign of King Manasseh, he -

"...he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
4 And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger." (Old Testament 2 Kings 21:2 - 6)

He even -

"....set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
...and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel."
(Old Testament 2 Kings 21:7 - 9)

And we read that -

"...the LORD spake by his servants the prophets..." (Old Testament 2 Kings 21:10)

I'm sure Manasseh in all his wickedness did not like the warnings of the prophets. I wonder how many of the prophets he slew when we read -

"...Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD." (Old Testament 2 Kings 21:16)

Last night I was reading the words of Alma as he reflected on the teaching of Zenos and Zenock wherein Alma said to the Zoramites -

"...Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or worship?" (Book of Mormon Alma 33:3)

Zenos had prayed -

"...thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son." (Book of Mormon Alma 33:11)

Alma also quotes Zenock saying -

"...Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son." (Book of Mormon Alma 33:16)

And then Alma tells the Zoramites -

"And now, my brethren, ye see that a second prophet of old has testified of the Son of God..." (Book of Mormon Alma 33:17)

And then sadly we learn -

"...and because the people would not understand his words they stoned him to death." (Book of Mormon Alma 33:17)

Acknowledging that it is speculation only, I wondered if Zenos and Zenock lived during the reign of Manasseh and also that if the prophets referenced that testified of the wickedness of the people and were those of which innocent blood was shed.