The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob had wise words concerning those that look “beyond the mark” (Jacob 4:14). This week’s discussion from the book of Judges contains an important truth about hitting the mark and never missing. There is even a Hebrew word that changes the way we think about hitting the proverbial bullseye of the gospel.
Segment 1
Scriptures:
Judges 19:25-29 (The Levite’s tragic concubine)
Segment 2
Scriptures:
Joshua 24:14-16 (Choose ye this day)
Joshua 24:21 (We will serve)
Judges 21:25 (Lawlessness in Israel)
Judges 2:11 (Doing evil)
Judges 2:16 (Judges delivered them)
Segment 3
Scriptures:
Judges 2:19 (Back to their stubborn ways)
Judges 3:9 (A deliverer)
Judges 20:16 (They couldn’t miss)
Matthew 25:14-30 (Parable of the talents)
Words of the General Authorities:
Jacob saw that the Jews would look ‘beyond the mark’ and stumble in their search for the Holy One of Israel, this literal Son of God to be known as Jesus Christ: ‘By the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation.’ (Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon)
Translations:
Miss - chata = to miss the mark, to sin (Hebrew)
Segment 4
Scriptures:
Judges 3:12 (Israel did evil again)
Judges 3:15-22 (Ehud their lefthanded deliverer)
Psalm 130:7 (Mercy and plenteous redemption)
Segment 5
Scriptures:
Judges 4:1 (Israel did evil AGAIN)
Judges 4:5-9 (Deborah the prophetess)
Judges 4:21 (Jael murders Sisera)
Judges 4:24 (Israel prevails)
Judges 5 (Hymn of thanksgiving)
Moroni 6:8 (Repent and forgive)
Translations:
Deborah = honey bee (Hebrew)
Lapidoth = fire or light (Hebrew)
Segment 6
Scriptures:
Judges 13-16 (Samson and Delilah)
Judges 13:3-8 (Prophesy of Samson’s birth)
Judges 16:6-17 (Samson’s strength)
Numbers 6 (Law of the Nazarite)
Judges 16:21-22 (Samson is defeated)
Judges 16:24-30 (Samson’s redemption)
Isaiah 49:16 (We are graven on His hands)
Isaiah 55:7 (God abundantly pardons)
Words of the General Authorities:
Samson was born with great potential. His mother was promised, “He shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” But as Samson grew, he looked more to the world’s temptations than to God’s direction. He made choices because they “pleaseth [him] well” rather than because those choices were right. Repeatedly, the scriptures use the phrase “and he went down” as they tell of Samson’s journeys, actions, and choices. Instead of arising and shining forth to fulfill his great potential, Samson was overcome by the world, lost his God-given power, and died a tragic, early death. (Ann M. Dibb, “Arise and Shine Forth”, April 2012 General Conference)
Read the transcript here.