The Assurance of Salvation -- 1 Nephi 21

What Happens

"The Messiah will be a light to the Gentiles and will free the prisoners—Israel will be gathered with power in the last days—Kings will be their nursing fathers—Compare Isaiah 49"
1 Nephi 21 Chapter Heading


Commentary

In our last episode, Nephi was teaching us some prophecies of Isaiah, reminding us that there is no peace to the wicked.  This chapter is much less warning and a lot more promising a triumphant future through the Messiah, which this whole chapter is about.  God, speaking through Isaiah, is referring to Christ when he talks about the polished shaft the quiver of God in verse 2, and the salvation "unto the ends of the earth" in verse 6.  I think time wise as well as numerically, right?  Everyone, everywhen. :)

There is so much salvation goodness in these verses.  "I will preserve thee, and give thee my servant" (verse 8), speaking of Christ. Verse 9 not only talks about freeing prisoners, but saving "them that sit in darkness."  Interesting stuff... are they (we?) in the darkness by their own choice, or just haven't been introduced to light--and I think salvation comes either way you interpret it. :)

No hunger or thirst or sunburn in verse 10... this salvation thing is sounding better and better all the time, right? :)  In verse 13 we break out into singing because we will be no longer smitten, but instead find mercy and comfort.  I can't really think of a better reason to sing.

Verse 14 points out that we often claim that the Lord has forgotten us, or isn't paying attention. But he has not... nor can he, because as he says in verse 16, clearly referring to the atonement: "I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands."

Even when things seem to be hopeless, God saves us, saying specifically "they shall not be ashamed that wait for me" (verse 23).  That's an interesting statement if we consider Lehi's dream and the Great and Spacious building full of people mocking.  Sometimes we feel that, trying to live God's way in our society.  God assures here, through our good friends Nephi and Isaiah looking forward to our day, that there isn't any reason to be ashamed of waiting for the Lord.  He always comes through.

The Lord tells us in verse 25 that he "will contend with him that contendeth with thee."--that he will fight our battles and save our children.  In the end, all we have to do is follow the Lord and keep his commandments.  He'll do the part that we can't handle.  A very-much-more-than-fair arrangement in our favor. :)

Tune in next time as we go back to Nephi's commentary, and the last chapter of First Nephi.  Wow, right?

Isaiah on Finding Peace -- 1 Nephi 20

What Happens

"The Lord reveals His purposes to Israel—Israel has been chosen in the furnace of affliction and is to go forth from Babylon—Compare Isaiah 48."
1 Nephi 20 Chapter Heading


Commentary

In our last episode, Nephi was teaching from the scriptures, and starting to quote Isaiah.  I know a lot of people starting to read the Book of Mormon drop out around this point, because Isaiah is sometimes hard to interpret.  Seriously, though, this is great stuff.  Christ himself in 3 Nephi 23:1 commands us to read Isaiah, and says that his words are great.  Who else gets that kind of a recommendation? :)

In the first verse, God, speaking through Isaiah, is talking to people who are part of covenants with God either through birth or baptism.  For us, that mainly means people who have joined the church.  And the subgroup he is talking to are the people who pretend to be dedicated to him, but who really aren't.

God has proven himself to us, over and over again, and yet we so often don't listen.  Nevertheless, he tells us in verses 9 and 10, he won't destroy us.  He knew we would mess up, and he's going to help us change anyway--but it's going to be rough.  We're going to probably have to learn the hard way, through the "furnace of affliction."  Yikes, right?  And yet, if we think about it, this is one of the most amazing and merciful things that God could ever do for us.  Instead of giving up on us, he redoubles his efforts to get through to us, and finds a way to help.  We don't often like to admit it, but if we think back, the hardest things in our lives have taught us the most, and if we chose well, they have made us better people.  That's exactly what God has in mind.

Verse 13 is always a good reminder--God made this earth that we on.  That's big.  It boggles the mind to consider--and if we let it, it might help us stop thinking of God as a fallible pushover who needs our advice and who should listen to our demands.  Maybe we'll think, and remember, that God is bigger and smarter and frankly, better than we are, and stop complaining long enough to ask for advice instead. :)

In verse 16 he asks us to come near, and in 18 he tells us that if we would just please listen to him, our peace could be like a river.  In 20 he asks us to walk away from evil: "Go ye forth of Babylon."  The excellent footnotes here point to Jeremiah 51:6 and D&C 133:5, which clarify that we are leaving for a reason--in order to be clean and to save our souls.  Good reasons. :)

Verse 22 emphasizes that there is no peace for the wicked.  That's a super good reminder as well, because we so often think, unwisely, that we can get someplace we want to go by doing evil.  ... But that's not where evil ever goes.  Evil leads to a bad place, every time.  The way we get to a good place is by following and doing good.  That's the only way--no shortcuts.

Tune in next time for more awesome Isaiah.