2 Nephi 19
Read here
I love chapters about the Savior.
Isaiah lived a little over a hundred years before Lehi. To answer a question from yesterday...yes the people of the Old Testament had scriptures. Since Adam, God's people have been commanded to write the word of God down.
As Isaiah spoke, he also recorded his words, and they were made available shortly after for the House of Israel. He was a prophet-statesman who ministered during the reigns of four kings of Judah.
You'd think that the most quoted and perhaps most read prophet would have let a glorious life, but tradition states that Isaiah died as a martyr by being sawed in half at the hands of Manasseh, a wicked king.
You can read a timeline of his life here.
Anyway- back to the chapter: Of course I love verse 6, with the celebration of His birth and the beautiful names and titles He holds.
But the one sentence that struck me this morning was the very last one in the chapter: "For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."
I love that! I love that, even though we mess up, He will always be there, waiting for us to change. The Atonement is always there for us.
His hand is stretched out still. And all we have to do is take it.
I can't read vs 6 without Handel's Messiah playing gloriously in my head and heart. I love the last vs too, what great love and mercy God gives us.
ReplyDeletevs 10 & other are referred to in the book The Last Harbinger. Interesting read.
Two things.... How easy it was/is for people of a nation to be led astray by their leaders. It is crucial that we each educate and think for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI also was struck by the imagery of the Lord's hand being held out to each of us. Even with all the wickedness and poor decisions made by people, He stills wants us back with Him.