Jacob 1 - That We Might Persuade Them to Come Unto Christ I'm taking an online economics class right now, which prompted me to think of the definition of economics in the context of the scriptures. Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In the case of Nephi and his successor Jacob, the plates upon which they engraved their record was a scarce resource. They were costly to make and difficult to engrave, and instilling a tradition of passing them through generations was surely cumbersome. Recognizing the great importance of spiritual things and the challenge of maintaining records, Nephi instructed Jacob to prioritize religious instruction saying, " if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people" (Jacob 1:4). This priority was not only reflecte...
2 Nephi 6 - The Captives of the Mighty
"I would speak unto you concerning things which are, and which are to come; wherefore, I will read you the words of Isaiah" (2 Nephi 6:4).
The prophet Jacob reaffirmed promises from the Lord that those who learn of Him and keep his commandments will be blessed and protected from spiritual harm. Speaking of the house of Israel he said, "that when they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be gathered together again to the lands of their inheritance" (2 Nephi 6:11). I think like to think of the "land of their inheritance" figuratively as the blessings promised for obedience. While obedience does not preclude suffering in this life, and sometimes blessings are only realized after we die, God's promises are sure.
Jacob went on to promise that "none will he destroy that believe in him" (2 Nephi 6:14). This promise is probably even more relevant and useful to those in the midst of severe trials. While it helps to know of future blessings to come, it is hard to be persuaded by them and find comfort in them while experiencing pain and disappointment. In the interim, the best you can do may be to believe that these challenges will not destroy you.
Jacob describes the children of God as "the captives of the mighty," and "the prey of the terrible." We have all sinned and gone astray. By that token we should all be the rightful property of Satan, and are powerless to free ourselves from death and sin on our own. "But thus saith the Lord: Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for the Mighty God shall deliver his covenant people. For thus saith the Lord: I will contend with them that contendeth with thee" (2 Nephi 6:17). Christ is mighty to save and will overcome the power of the adversary in our lives.
Click on the link to read my previous post on 2 Nephi 6
2 Nephi 7 - Who Is Mine Adversary?
Isaiah frequently speaks Messianically, or in other words, he speaks as if he were the Savior. In 2 Nephi 7, Jacob quotes Isaiah, who speaks as if he were Christ, to teach about the attributes, power, and mission of the Son of God. If I am reading correctly, "I/me" can be understood as Jesus, and "the Lord/the Lord God" refers to Heavenly Father.
Christ is unwavering in his love and commitment to his people, even when they stray and abandon him. Speaking of the children of Israel he rhetorically wonders aloud, "Have I put thee away, or have I cast thee off forever? For thus saith the Lord: Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement? To whom have I put thee away, or to which of my creditors have I sold you? Yea, to whom have I sold you?" ( 2 Nephi 7:1). While we may desert or betray the Lord through our rebelliousness and poor choices, he is like a faithful spouse who remains constant in his devotion. If we ever feel that our actions have undermined our worth, or disqualified us from receiving God's love, Isaiah reminds us that Christ is constant and will never leave us.
Christ is the only begotten son of the father, and the only person to ever live a perfect life on this earth. He hearkened to the will of the father, and never wavered. As Isaiah summarized, "The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back" (2 Nephi 7:5). While this phrase is written as if it were uttered by the Savior, I like to think about the says in which God has "opened my ears," and how these spiritual insights and gifts of understanding have made it easier for me to keep the commandments. God can open our senses so that we can receive spiritual things and be transformed by them. When we hear and internalize the word of God, we become new creatures through the gift of the Holy Ghost, and are more willing and able to live according to God's teachings.
Christ is united in purpose with our Heavenly Father and derives His power from his faith and obedience to Heavenly Father's will. Because of his merits, Christ has power to overcome Satan, the adversary of us all. "And the Lord is near, and he justifieth me. Who will contend with me? Let us stand together. Who is mine adversary? Let him come near me, and I will smite him with the strength of my mouth" ( 2 Nephi 7:8). While Christ is talking about his relationship with the father and how he will overcome Satan by the power of His word, I love to apply dual meaning to this verse to reflect on my own relationship with God. When we draw near to God and keep his commandments we can also have the confidence to say "Who is mine adversary?" Through the power of God we can overcome all things.
Click on the link to read my previous post on 2 Nephi 7
2 Nephi 8 - That I May Plant the Heavens and Lay the Foundations of the Earth
As Jacob continued to read the words of Isaiah, he repeated the instructions from the Lord to "look," "hearken," and "awake," and highlights various dimensions of what is means to arouse our spiritual faculties.
First Isaiah encouraged us to "look unto the rock from whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit from whence ye are digged," or in other words, remember your ancestors, particularly Abraham and Sariah who received covenant promises from God (2 Nephi 8:1).Whether a direct descendant of Abraham or not, we can all take part in the blessings that were promised him by making and keeping covenants with God, and can find hope and perspective by learning about the lives of our family members who came before us.
God instructs us to "hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation" so that we will hear the law that will proceed from the mouth of the Lord (2 Nephi 8:5).
The reason God asks us to "lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath" is to focus on spritual and eternal things instead of being distracted by temporal and worldly concerns (2 Nephi 8:6). Isaiah explained that the world will perish, but the salvation of God will last forever.
In conjunction with the invitation to "Awake, awake!" Isaiah tells us to "put on strength," and "put on thy beautiful garments" (2 Nephi 8:9, 24). In the context of what it means to "put on strength," Isaiah shared a number of examples of miracles that God's chose people accomplished through His power. To "put on strength" is to qualify for priesthood power and act in faith to accomplish God's will. Isaiah alludes to the collaborative nature of the work of the Lord when he said "I have put my words in thy mouth, and have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the earth" (2 Nephi 8:16). God shares his power so that we can make a small contribution to his work.
Lastly, God asks us to "awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments" (2 Nephi 8:24). When I imagine putting on beautiful garments, I imagine a bride preparing for her wedding day. The metaphor of marriage is frequently used to describe the relationship between Christ and His church, and so i imagine this phrase to mean that we should prepare to make and keep covenants with God.
Click on the link to read my previous post on 2 Nephi 8
2 Nephi 9 - Ye May Rejoice, and Lift up Your Heads Forever
Jacob explains that he quoted Isaiah "that ye might know concerning the covenants of the Lord that he has covenanted with all the house of Israel," and that by knowing them, "ye may rejoice, and lift up your heads forever, because of the blessings which the Lord God shall bestow upon your children" (2 Nephi 9:3). Knowing and believing the promises of God can fill us with direction and hope. Often the most difficult part of a trial is uncertainty around how long it will last and whether or not it will get worse. By having a clear understanding of our eternal destiny we can find peace and resolve, even if we are called to endure pain and disappointment for the duration of our entire mortal life.
Jacob also alludes that the fulfillment of these promised blessings is made possible through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, "to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator" (2 Nephi 9:6). Jacob praises "the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace!" for anticipating and overcoming the effects of the fall and securing the possibility of eternal life for all God' children (2 Nephi 9:8). "O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it. And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam" (2 Nephi 9:20-21). Because of the magnitude of the task, Jacob emphasized that "it must needs be an infinite atonement" to cover the depth and duration of the sins and suffering of man (2 Nephi 9:7). On more than one occasion he echoes the refrain, "O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell" (2 Nephi 9:10, 19). I am so grateful for the atonement of a loving Savior who has enabled every good thing in my life.
God's plan enables our immortality, perfect knowledge of our actions, and fair judgement of God. In verses 27-38 Jacob offers cautions and warnings to the educated, the rich, and all who commit sin, and recommends that we "consider [our]selves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility" and "prepare [our] souls for that glorious day when justice shall be administered unto the righteous"(2 Nephi 9:42, 46).
The way that we prepare our souls is by coming unto Christ, repenting, partaking of His goodness, and laboring in His kingdom: "Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness" (2 Nephi 9:50-51).
Click on the link to read my previous post on 2 Nephi 9
2 Nephi 10 - For We Are Not Cast Off
In 2 Nephi chapter 9 Jacob encourages his people to repent and live according to the word of God. He also offers possible motivations to fuel righteousness and a sense of hope. He said, "seeing that our merciful God has given us so great knowledge concerning these things, let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we are not cast off" (2 Nephi 9:20). Jacob teaches that gratitude for the mercy of God, and a testimony of truth are the foundational to our efforts to remember Christ, live the commandments, and feel hope. I particularly like the phrase, "for we are not cast off." Jacob asserts that even in a fallen and sinful state, God has not abandoned or forsaken us. Christ has already won victory over death and hell, His promises are sure, and he will never relent in His efforts to bring us safely home. For me the phrase "we are not cast off" is another way of saying, "we are okay." From this foundation of self-acceptance we can forego counterproductive and damning feelings of shame and focus instead on our patient efforts to improve.
Jacob also highlights the interplay between our efforts and the grace of God: "my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God ... and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved" (2 Nephi 9:24). To reconcile means to "restore friendly relations between," or "cause to coexist in harmony; make or show to be compatible." It does not mean to live perfectly, but to humble accept and acknowledge God's will as the standard for your life and conduct. We don't actually have the ability to follow God without the enabling and sanctifying power of Christ, wrought through his atonement.
Click on the link to read my previous post on 2 Nephi 10
Image Credit: He is not here by Walter Rane.
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