Monday, June 22, 2009

1 Nephi 21:1

We come to another chapter in Isaiah. This time Nephi continues to quote from the same portion of Isaiah's teachings and prophesies. 1 Nephi 20 was a quote from Isaiah 48. Now we come to 1 Nephi 21, which is a quote of Isaiah 49. In this post, we consider verse 1:

"1 aAnd again: Hearken, O ye house of Israel, all ye that are broken off and are driven out because of the wickedness of the pastors of my people; yea, all ye that are broken off, that are scattered abroad, who are of my people, O house of Israel. Listen, O bisles, unto me, and hearken ye people from cfar; the Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name."

Isaiah is calling attention to the house of Israel again. Because of various reasons, some good, some not so good, I believe that the house of Israel had been scattered at that time. Nephi explains this in the next chapter some. Here is a quote (from the footnote 1b above):

"4 And behold, there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem. Yea, the more part of all the atribes have been bled away; and they are cscattered to and fro upon the disles of the sea; and whither they are none of us knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away."

Isaiah calls to them to listen to his words, which are the words of the Lord. Nephi and his family have been led away to another land, the land of the Americas. They (and we) need to listen to his words. Isaiah also mentions that he was called as a prophet when his mother was pregnant with him. Imagine being told that you son will be the prophet one day. It reminds me of when the angel came to declare the plan of Heavenly Father to the earthly parents of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist.

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