Old Testament Scriptural Summaries and Selections

Chapter Summaries Daniel, 1, 3, 6; Esther 3-8

Gospel Doctrine Class, Sunday School Lesson #45

"If I Perish, I Perish" - Esther 4:16

Reference: Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual, (2001), 2011-15

Old Testament Student Manual Kings-Malachi, (1982), 297-9

The Old Testament Made Easier, Part Three, David J. Ridges

Daniel

            A summary from The Student Manual: "Like many of his brethren the prophets, Daniel was prepared and raised up as a minister to kings and emperors. At the time that Nebuchadnezzar first carried the Jews captive into Babylon (about 605 B.C.), Daniel was chosen as one of the choicest Jewish youths to be taken to Babylon and trained for service in the king’s court. Because of his righteousness and sensitivity to the promptings of the Spirit, he was greatly favored of God. The Lord blessed him with the gift of interpreting dreams and visions. This endowment soon made him an object of greater attention from the emperor, and he was raised to positions that enabled him to spend his life in service to the kings of the land. He became the Lord’s minister to those rulers. He was made chief of the wise men, chancellor of the equivalent of a national university, ruler of all the Hebrew captives, and, as governor of the province of Babylon, one of the chief rulers in both the Babylonian and Persian Empires. Though at times his life was endangered because of the jealousy of evil men, yet he lived so perfectly that the Lord continually protected and preserved him" (p. 297) (Old Testament Student Manual Kings-Malachi, (1982), 297-9).

          

"The purpose of this lesson is to help class members have the courage to live according to gospel standards."

           

Daniel 1 - Daniel  and friends refuses to eat and drink the king's provision

            "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah" Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon conquered Jerusalem (v. 1).   At that time Nebuchadnezzar sought to "bring certain of the children of Israel" who were unblemished, "cunning in knowledge and understanding in science" to Babylon where they would learn the language of the Chaldeans [another name for Babylonians] and serve in the king's palace (vv. 3-4).  Daniel and his three friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were included with these "children of Judah."  And, the prince of the eunuchs [servants in the palace] renamed Daniel and his three friends Belteshazzar, Shaddrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (vv. 6-7).  The king's plan was to nourish those chosen for three years with a daily provision of "meat" [food] and "wine" before "they might stand before the him in his court" (v. 5). 

"It is almost certain that the 'king's meat' included the meat of several different kinds of animals, many of which would have been against the Jews'…law of Moses …and had not been bled before cooking" (Ridges, p. 430).

"But Daniel purposed [committed-footnote 8a] in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine."  Daniel asked the prince of the eunuchs to give him and his friends ten days to prove themselves eating only pulse (foods made of seeds, and grains such as peas, wheat, barley and rye, Student Manual, p. 298), with only water to drink. And the king's servant consented (vv. 8-14).  "And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat."  And Melzar [the eunuch] took away the king's meat and wine for the rest of the Israelite children and gave them pulse (v. 15-16).

            And the Lord blessed the four children with "knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom."  At the end of the time that the king had declared, they were brought before Nebuchadnezzar.  "And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm" (vv. 17-20). 

"The Hebrew word for astrologers and magicians is Ahshaphim, which means an enchanter who uses incantations and who practices hidden arts (see Davidson, Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon, pp. li–lii). These people were frequently associated with evil spirits (see Acts 8:9–24). Daniel and his brethren were founded in truth and revelation from God and were thus of much greater wisdom and understanding than the king’s magicians and astrologers" (quoted from the Student Manual, p. 298).

 Daniel 3 - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego are cast into the fiery furnace

            Nebuchadnezzar, the king "made an image [a man] of gold whose height was threescore cubits [ninety feet tall, SM p. 299]…and he set it up in the plain of Dura." 

Dura - Easton's Bible Dictionary

"The circle, the plain near Babylon in which Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image, mentioned in Dan. 3:1. The place still retains its ancient name. On one of its many mounds the pedestal of what must have been a colossal statue has been found. It has been supposed to be that of the golden image" (Internet: Biblehub.com).

All the princes, governors, captains, judges, treasurers, counsellors, sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces were gathered for the dedication of the image.  All were told that when they heard the music, they were to bow down and worship the golden image.  And those who didn't fall down and worship would be "cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace" (vv. 1-6).

            When the music sounded the people fell down and worshipped the golden image.  Now, certain Chaldeans came near and accused the Jews, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego of failing to worship the idol, and they were summoned to appear before the king (vv. 8, 13).  Nebuchadnezzar ask them, "do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image?…if ye worship not, ye shall be cast that same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?" (vv. 14-15).  And they answered, …our god whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O King." And they told the king they would not serve his gods, nor worship the golden image, "which thou hast set up" (vv. 17-18).  The king was so full of fury that he commanded the furnace be heated "one seven times more than it was wont to be heated." Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were bound and cast into the furnace.  It was so hot that the men who cast them in were burned up in the flames of the fire (vv. 19-22).

            And the three men "fell down bound" in the midst of the furnace.  And Nebuchadnezzar said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God" (vv. 23, 25).  Now the king called to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego saying, "ye servants of the most high God, come forth" and they came forth out of the fire.  And everyone saw that the fire had no power on their bodies, nor was their hair singed or their clothing burned (vv. 26-27).  Then the king spoke, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God."  And he sent out a decree "That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces," and their houses destroyed: "because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the province of Babylon" (vv. 28-30).

Daniel 6 - Daniel prays to God and is cast into the lions den

            Darius,  the king, set one hundred and twenty princes over all his kingdom.  And he appointed three presidents "of whom Daniel was first" [one]- footnote 2a] for the princes to give accounts to.  Daniel was preferred by the king over all the presidents and princes because of his excellent "spirit" [Holy Ghost, Light of Christ] "and the king thought to set him over the whole realm" (vv. 1-4).

            Now the presidents and princes sought to find something against Daniel but could not as he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.  Then all the princes, presidents and rulers consulted together and went to the king asking him to establish a royal statute [law], and to make a decree "that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions…and sign the writing that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians which altereth not."  And King Darius signed the writing and the decree (vv. 4-9).

            Daniel knew of the writing and the decree signed by the king but nevertheless continued to pray three times a day on his knees in his house giving thanks to his God as he did before.  When the men found Daniel praying, they went to inform the king and to remind him of his decree.  And the king was displeased with himself "and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him" but could not.  So the king commanded that they bring Daniel and cast him into the den of lions and he said to him, "Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee."  And the king sealed the mouth of the den with a stone so that "the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel" (vv. 10-17).

            The king went to his palace solemnly fasting all the night without sleeping.  In the early morning he hurried to the den of lions and called out to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually able to deliver thee from the lions?" And Daniel replied, "My God hath sent his angel and hath shut the lions mouths, that they have not hurt me" as my God knew I was innocent; "and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt."  The king was "exceedingly glad" and Daniel was taken from the den.  No hurt was found on him, "because he believed in his God" (vv. 18-23).

            King Darius commanded, and those men who accused Daniel were cast into the den of lions along with their children and their wives.  Then he wrote to all people, nations, and languages, and made a decree, "That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.…who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions."  And Daniel prospered during the reigns of Darius the Mede, and Cyrus the Persian (vv. 24-28).

“He had served five kings: Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-merodach, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus. Few courtiers have had so long a reign, served so many masters without flattering any, been more successful in their management of public affairs, been so useful to the states where they were in office, or have been more owned of God, or have left such an example to posterity.” (Clarke, Commentary, 4:590; quoted in the Student Manual, p. 304.)

The Book of Esther

            "[Esther] contains the history that led to the institution of the Jewish Feast of Purim. The story belongs to the time of the Captivity [in Babylon]. Ahasuerus, king of Persia (most probably Xerxes), had decided to divorce his queen Vashti because she refused to show her beauty to the people and the princes. Esther, adopted daughter of Mordecai the Jew, was chosen as her successor on account of her beauty. Haman, chief man at the king’s court, hated Mordecai and, having cast lots to find a suitable day, obtained a decree to put all Jews to death. Esther, at great personal risk, revealed her own nationality and obtained a reversal of the decree. It was decided that two days of feasting should be annually observed in honor of this deliverance. They were called Purim because of the lot (Pur) that Haman had cast for the destruction of the Jews.

            The book contains no direct reference to God, but He is everywhere taken for granted, as the book infers a providential destiny (Esther 4:13–16) and speaks of fasting for deliverance. There have been doubts at times as to whether it should be admitted to the canon of scripture. But the book has a religious value as containing a most striking illustration of God’s overruling providence in history and as exhibiting a very high type of courage, loyalty, and patriotism" (lds.org/scriptures/study helps/bible dictionary/Esther).

From the Teacher's Manual:  "Esther was a Jewish woman who lived shortly after the time of Daniel. After her parents died, she was raised by her cousin Mordecai. Esther was very beautiful, and Ahasuerus, the king of Persia and Media, was so pleased with her beauty that he made her his queen."

Esther risks her life to save her people

            Our story begins in chapter three when King Ahasuerus promotes Hamon chief minister above all other princes in his kingdom.  The king commanded that all his servants bow down and reverence Haman.  When Mordecai met him at the city gate, he did not bow or reverence him.  When the king's servants questioned Mordecai, he told them that he was a Jew.  This caused Haman to be full of wrath [anger] "wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai" (vv. 3:1-6).

            Haman went to the king and said to him, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them."  Haman told the king if he would "let it be written that they may be destroyed" he [Haman] would pay ten thousand talents of silver into the king's treasuries.  So the king's scribes came and it was written as Haman commanded, sealed with the king's ring,  and sent to all the governors and rulers over every province.  It stated that on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, all Jews, both young and old, children and women, were to be killed and all their spoil was to be taken (3:7-14).

            In every province where the decree was sent, "there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes." When Mordecai perceived all that was done, he "rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry (4:1-3).

            Now Queen Esther was told of the command and was "exceedingly grieved." She asked Hatach, one of the servants appointed to attend her, to ask Mordecai "what it was and why it was."  And Mordecai told the servant all that had happened.  He gave Hatach a copy of the decree "and [told him] to charge her that she should go in unto the king; to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people."  Esther sent word to Mordecai that all the kingdom knew the law if man or woman went into the court, who was not called by the king, he would be killed except if the king "shall hold out the golden sceptre" that he may live.  And she had not been called unto the king for thirty days. When Mordecai heard Esther's words he answered her: " Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement [HEB relief] and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (4:4-14).

            And Esther answered Mordecai: " Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan [under Cyrus the capital of the Persian Empire, Bible Dictionary] and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish." So Mordecai did all that Esther commanded him (4:15-17).

            The scriptures tell us on the third day, Esther dressed in her "royal apparel" and stood in the inner court of the king's house.  The king saw her and he held out the golden sceptre.  She drew near and "touched the top of the sceptre."  Then she invited the king and Haman to a banquet she prepared for him.  At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, "What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to half of the kingdom it shall be performed."  And Esther answered, "If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them and I will do to morrow as the king hath said" (5:1-8).

            Again, Haman saw Mordecai at the king's gate "that he stood not up, nor moved for him."  But Haman restrained himself and returned home happy that the queen invited only him and the king to her banquet. Nevertheless, that day Haman had gallows built so that Mordecai could be hanged before the banquet (5:9-14).

            That night the king could not sleep and commanded that the book of records of the chronicles be read to him.  He found written that the Jew, Mordecai, had once rescued him from a plot to lay hands on the king, Ahasuerus.  And Haman was in the court to request the hanging of Mordecai.  Seeing Haman the king ask him what should be done to the man which he wished to honor.  Haman thinking the honor was to be his, suggested he be given royal clothing and crown along with the royal horse.  And the king ordered Haman to do as he suggested and told him to take the clothing and the horse to Mordecai and bring him through the city streets riding on the royal horse.  Haman mourned that instead of hanging Mordecai he was ordered to honor him (6:1-11).

            On the second day of the banquet the king again ask Esther, "What is thy petition?"  Then she answered, "If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish" (7:3-4).  And the king ask Esther who would dare to do so, and she answered it was Haman.  So they took Haman away and hung him on the gallows he had built to hang Mordecai (7:5-10).

            Now Esther asked the king to reverse Haman's plot to kill the Jews and letters were sent throughout the kingdom "…and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language" (8:5-6, 9).

            "And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them" (8:15-17).

           "Purim (Feast of Esther) is celebrated on the fourteenth day of the Hebrew month Adar, or exactly four weeks before Passover. It is held in honor of Esther, a beautiful Jewish queen" (lds.org/ Scriptures/ Study Helps/Bible Dictionary).

The ultimate blessings of courageous obedience

             "Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Esther, and Mordecai all had the courage to do what was right, even when doing so put their lives at risk." Others from the scriptures who overcame trials with courage and obedience were Sarah, Joseph sold into Egypt, the Savior, Nephi, Alma and Amulek and our own prophet Joseph Smith (see referenced scriptures in the Teacher's Manual).

Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Class  
THE PSALMS: Lesson #25: 
"Let Every Thing That Hath Breath Praise the Lord" (Psalms 150:6)

"The book of Psalms is a collection of poems originally sung as praises or petitions to God. Many were written by David. This book is like a hymnal from ancient Israel. Its lyrics constitute some of the world’s best inspirational literature, expressing faith in the Lord and an earnest desire to live righteously" (Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teachers Manual (2001) pp. 117-122).

Note - "Selah - [is] A musical term that occurs 71 times in the Psalms and three times in Habakkuk. Its meaning is uncertain. Most likely it is a direction to the musicians to strike up, either with a louder accompaniment or with an interlude while the singing ceased" (Bible Dictionary, p. 771).

1. Prophecies of the life and mission of Jesus Christ

Psalm 107:23-30 — 23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

 24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

 25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

 26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

 28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

 29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

 30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Fulfilled - Matthew 8:23-27 — 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Psalm 69:8 — 8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.

Fulfilled - John 1:11; 7:5 — 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 

•7:5  For neither did his brethren believe in him.

Psalm 41:9; 55:12-14 — 9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. 

•55:12  For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

Fulfilled - John 13:18, 21 — 18  I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

Psalm 69:20 — 20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

Fulfilled - Mark 14:32-41 — 32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.

33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;

34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.

35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?

38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.

40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist [knew] they what to answer him.

41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Psalm 22:7-8 — 7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

Fulfilled - Matthew 27:39-43 — 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

Psalm 22:16 — 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Fulfilled - Mark 15:25 —  25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

Psalm 22:18 — 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Fulfilled - Matthew 27:35 — 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

Psalm 22:1 — 1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Fulfilled - Matthew 27:46 — 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Psalm 69:21 —  21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Fulfilled - John 19:28-30 — 28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Psalm 34:20 — 20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

Fulfilled - John 19:33-36 — 33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

 34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

 35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

 36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

Psalm 31:5 — 5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

Fulfilled - Luke 23:46  —  46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Psalm 16:10 — 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Fulfilled - Acts 2:31-32; 13:34-35  —  31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

 •13:34-35  And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

 35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

"Jesus Christ is the only person whose birth, life, death, and resurrection were prophesied before his birth. Why do you think such detailed prophecies were given about the Savior’s life? (These prophecies made it clear that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world.) How were these prophecies a blessing to those who received them? (The prophecies helped people learn of the Savior and gain testimonies of him even before he was born [see Mosiah 3:13]. The prophecies also helped some people recognize him when he came.) (Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual (2001) pp. 117-122.)

2.  The Creation of Heaven and Earth

Psalm 19:1 — 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Psalm 104:5-7, 14, 24 — •5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

•14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

•24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Psalm 136:3-9 — 3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:

 8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

3.  The Savior’s Mercy, Forgiveness, and Love

Psalm 23 — 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 59:16 — 16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

Psalm 78:38 —  38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

Psalm 86:5, 13 — 5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

•13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

Psalm 100:4-5 — 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 103:2-4, 8-11 — 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

•8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

4.  Gratitude for the Scriptures

Psalm 19:7-11 —  7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Psalm 119: 15-16, 33-35, 40, 47-50, 72, 92, 97, 104-105, 174 — 15  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

•33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

•40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

• 47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

 49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

•72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

•92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

•97 O how love I thy law! [scriptures] it is my meditation all the day.

•104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

•174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight.

5.  The Temple

Psalm 5:7 —  7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Psalm 15:1–3 — 1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

Psalm 24 —  1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Psalm 27:4— 4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

Psalm 65:4— 4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

Psalm 84:1–2, 4, 10–12 — •1 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!

 2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

 •4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

•10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Psalm 122 —  1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.

 2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

 3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:

 4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.

 5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

 7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.

 8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.

 9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.

Psalm 134 — 1 Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.

 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.

 3 The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

6.  Gratitude to the Lord

Psalm 116:12-13, 16-19 — 12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?

13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.

16 O Lord, truly I am thy servant;

17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.

18 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people,

19 In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.

7.  Trust in the Lord

Psalm 4:5 — 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

Psalm 5:11  — 11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Psalm 9:10  —10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psalm 18:2  — 2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalm 56:11  —  11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

Psalm 62:8  —  8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psalm118:8–9  — 8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

 9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

8.  LDS Hymns inspired by the psalms

Some of these hymns are “The Lord Is My Shepherd” (Hymns, no. 108; Psalm 23), “The Lord Is My Light” (Hymns, no. 89; Psalm 27:1), “How Great Thou Art” (Hymns, no. 86; Psalm 8:3–9; 9:1–2), and “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (Hymns, no. 72; Psalm 23:6; 150).

The First Presidency said:

“Inspirational music is an essential part of our church meetings. The hymns invite the Spirit of the Lord, create a feeling of reverence, unify us as members, and provide a way for us to offer praises to the Lord.

“Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns. Hymns move us to repentance and good works, build testimony and faith, comfort the weary, console the mourning, and inspire us to endure to the end (Hymns, ix)." (Quoted from the Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual, pp. 117-122.)

9. Poetic parallelism in the Psalms (from the Teacher's Manual)

"Your study of the psalms may be enriched by an understanding of the poetic techniques that David and other Hebrew poets used. One of these techniques is parallelism. One common characteristic of parallelism is the repetition of a thought in different words. Such repetition expands or intensifies the meaning of an idea. One example of this kind of parallelism is Psalm 102:1–2, in which the same thought is expressed in different words five times (“hear my prayer,” “let my cry come unto thee,” “hide not thy face from me,” “incline thine ear unto me,” and “in the day when I call answer me speedily”).…repetition intensifies the message."

Old Testament Scriptural Summaries and Commentary

Numbers, Chapters 22-31; Gospel Doctrine Class

Sunday School Lesson 16 - "I Cannot Go Beyond the Word of the Lord" 

Book reference, The Old Testament Made Easier, Part 2, by David J. Ridges

Publisher Cedar Fort, Springville, Utah

Numbers 22 – 24  King Balak and the Prophet Balaam

Chapter 22 - Balaam goes to Moab

After nearly forty years in the wilderness, the Israelites camp on the plains of Moab, just northeast of the Dead Sea and across the Jordan River from Jericho (Ridges, pt. 2, p. 203).  Israel had conquered all the cities and villages of two Amorite kings (Sihon and Jaazer) and taken their land and all their wealth (see Num. 21:21-25,32).  Balak, the king of Moab, was filled with fear and distress because he saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites (vv. 22: 1-2). 

Now, Balak decides to send messengers to Balaam, a prophet, to try to persuade him to curse the Israelites.  Balaam lived in Pethor—Mesopotamia; part of Iraq today, near the Euphrates River (http://biblehub.com). 

Elder Bruce R. McConkie describes Balaam as follows: "Let me tell you the story of a prophet, in some respects a very great prophet, but one 'who loved the wages of unrighteousness,' who 'was rebuked for his iniquity' in a most strange and unusual way, and whose actions (which included the uttering of great and true prophecies) were described by another prophet in another day as 'madness' ("The Story of a Prophet's Madness; New Era, April 1972, p. 4). 

Note:  (see 2 Peter 2:15-16 below).

King Balak's messengers "departed with the rewards of divination in their hand" [money] with instructions to say to Balaam, "Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me;… I pray thee, curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me…for I wot [know] that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed" (vv. 22:3-7).    

And Balak sent the elders and princes of Moab to Balaam.  Balaam invited them to "lodge" with him that night while he inquired of the Lord what he should do and he would let them know in the morning.  And God said to him, "Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed."  And he refused the princes of Moab.  A second time Balak sent his servants to Balaam.  This time the king offered Balaam "great honor" and pledged "I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me."  Balaam answered them, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more" (vv. 22:8-18).

However, again Balaam chooses to speak with God and God said to him, "[JST: "if thou wilt"] go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do."  So Balaam was to decide for himself if he would go but he must do all the LORD tells him—remember, the Lord had already told him not to go.  In the morning Balaam went with the princes of Moab.  Along the way his donkey [ass] begins to give him trouble.  "And God's anger was kindled because he went."  Three times the donkey sees an angel with a drawn sword blocking the way and the donkey turns off the path.  Balaam is angry and starts beating the donkey and the LORD opens the mouth of the donkey who asks Balaam, “What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” (v. 22:28).  Just then, Balaam sees the angel with the sword in the way and bows down to the ground.  The angel said to Balaam “Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me.”  He told him that unless the donkey had turned aside, he would already be dead.  Balaam said to the angel, "I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again."  And the angel said to him, "Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak."  (vv. 22:19-35). 

And King Balak went out from Moab to meet Balaam.  The king questioned why he had come and whether or not Balaam believed he could "promote thee to honour?"  Balaam replied, " Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak."  Balak sent gifts of oxen and sheep to Balaam and took him into the high places of Baal, to see the "utmost part of the people"—the most important worshipers of Baal (vv. 22:36-41).

Chapters 23 and 24 - Balaam refuses to curse Israel

Balaam asks the king to build him seven altars and to prepare seven oxen and seven rams to be offered on the altars.  And they made burnt offerings on every altar.  Now, Balaam goes to a high place to meet God and the LORD tells him what to say.  When he returns to Balak, he tells him he knows he was brought from Aram [his home] to "curse me Jacob," and to "defy [denounce] Israel." 

He continues, "How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied.

"For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.

"Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!" (vv. 23:8-10) 

Balak asks Balaam, "What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast blessed them altogether." And Balaam answers, "Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?" (vv. 23:1-12).

Balaam again meets with the LORD and when he returns, King Balak asks, "What hath the LORD spoken?" Balaam answers, "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good?  Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it" (vv. 23:15-20).

Now, Balaam looks toward where the Israelites are camped in their tents and sees a vision of the destiny of the children of Israel.  He speaks of the king whose "kingdom shall be exalted;" with strength to "eat up the nations;" and Israel as a "great lion," and he asks, "who shall stir him up?"—who can stop them?  Finally, he said, "Blessed is he that blesseth thee [Israel], and cursed is he that curseth thee" (vv. 24:3-9).

King Balak is angry with Balaam for his refusal to curse the Israelites and he tells him to go back to his place.  Before he leaves, Balaam prophesies of the Messiah:  "I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not nigh; there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel" (v. 24:17).  Balaam prophecies of destruction of the people in the lands that the LORD promised to his people, the Israelites (vv. 24:10-25).

"Three times Balak asks him to curse Israel, but Balaam obeys God and blesses Israel each time (23:3; 24:9). He then curses Moab and prophesies of Jesus Christ (24:10–25)" (Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teachers Manual;  73-76).

Balaam does not go back to Mesopotamia but stays with the Midianites.  During the Midianite war, Balaam is slain along with all the five kings of Midian (v. 31:8).  He has been guilty of encouraging the Midianite women to "commit trespass" against the LORD with the men of Israel (v. 31:16) (see vv. 25:1-9).

 ("Although Balaam obeyed the Lord’s commands to bless rather than curse Israel, in his heart he wanted earthly honors and rewards. To receive these rewards, he suggested tempting Israel to sin, causing them to lose God’s protection") (Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teachers Manual;  73-76).

Three New Testament prophets refer to Balaam:

The Apostle Peter writes of "lustful saints" of his day:  "Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet" (2 Peter 2:15-16).

"Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core"—Korah, a Levite priest who caused a rebellion in the wilderness with Moses; (see Numbers 16) (Jude 1:11).

The words of St. John the Divine writing to the leader at Ephesus:  "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac [Balak] to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication" (Rev. 2:14).

Numbers  25 – 27  Events in the Moabite Plains

While near the Moabites, some of the men of Israel “began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab” and to worship the god of Baal (vv. 25:1-3).  The Lord sends a plague among the people and they begin dying by the thousands.  The young Levite priest Phinehas (son of Eleazar) grabs a sword and slays with a javelin an Israelite man and a Midianite woman who were together, and the plague was stayed.  “And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand” (vv. 25:1-9). 

After thirty-eight years in the wilderness there was a new generation of Israelites and a new censes was taken.   Of the men over twenty years old [excluding the Levites], the number was 601,730, (v. 26:51) within 1,820 of the original sum at Mt. Sinai.  The inheritance of land was to be “by lot” according to the number of people in each tribe (vv. 26:54-55).  The names of Moses', Aaron's and Miriam’s parents are given as Jochebel and Amram (v. 26:59). 

The Lord has Moses go to mount Abarim to “see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel” (see Deut. 42:39) and he is told he will not be going with them (vv. 27:12-13).   Moses lays his hands on the head of Joshua and gives him charge over all the congregation (vv. 27:18-23). 

Sacrifices and vows are enumerated in chapters 28, 29 and 30.

Numbers 31 - 36  The Midianite war

The Lord tells Moses to send out one thousand warriors from every tribe to cleanse the land of the Midianites— because the people were corrupted by immorality and idol worship (see vv. 25:1-3).  The soldiers were commanded to save only female children and young virgins because they could be integrated into the culture without corrupting it (vv. 31:14-24).  The soldiers failed to obey this commandment and Moses had the task of forcing them to fulfill their orders before they could return to camp.  Miraculously, not one of the Israelite soldiers was lost even though 32,000 prisoners and thousands of cattle, donkeys and sheep were taken—indicating this was not a minor war (vv. 31:49-56). 

The tribes of Reuben and Gad ask for and receive an inheritance east of Jordan but promise to help the rest of the tribes invade Canaan where the other tribes of the children of Israel have been given their inheritance (vv. 32: 16-18). 

Chapter 33 is a review of all the travels of the people between Egypt and the land of Canaan.  The Lord tells Moses that all the people [of Canaan] and all their possessions are to be destroyed when they “pass over Jordan into the land of Canaan” (v. 33:51) because it is corrupted.  

Then, Moses divides up the land of their inheritance among the tribes.  The Levites are to have their own cities.  He gives instruction about the punishment of murderers (vv. 35:30-31).  And, finally, more instruction on inheritance laws for families with only daughters and between tribes (vv. 36:1-13).