"For shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
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 6:16-17
These are some great verses. This is from some chapters in the Book of Mormon where Jacob (Nephi's brother) is teaching from Isaiah. These verses are talking about the Second Coming, and the first verse is a question answered by the second verse. Basically, yes... even law and power will be overcome in that day, because God will deliver his covenant people. Isaiah, as always, is many-layered, so I think in talking about his covenant people he means specifically those at Jerusalem (mentioned in verse 8), but also the Gentiles (mentioned in verse 12), so in essence, all of us who "repent and fight not against Zion" (verse 12). He specifically also mentions that "none will he destroy that believe in him" (verse 14), which is a pretty amazing promise, likely specific to this event, but also true in a general, eternal sense.
My favorite part here is "I will contend with them that contendeth with thee." The idea that God will fight our battles for us is an amazing promise. I think, again, that the meaning here is many layered. God likely doesn't mean that he will fight all of our battles for us, but specifically the ones at the Second Coming are included, as are, perhaps, other battles like that... ones where we have done all we can, and only a miracle will do. I think sometimes we see that in our own lives, don't we? Where we are the legitimate prey, and have broken God's laws. It would be perfectly just to punish or destroy us, but in repentance, instead, we find God willing to save us even then. ... I think that is what the atonement is--Christ willing to fight our battles for us in a spiritual way, just like he will fight this (at least partly) physical one for us at the Second Coming.
Today, let's do all that we can, and work to repent, and believe and trust in him. He will fight the battles that we cannot.
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 6:16-17
These are some great verses. This is from some chapters in the Book of Mormon where Jacob (Nephi's brother) is teaching from Isaiah. These verses are talking about the Second Coming, and the first verse is a question answered by the second verse. Basically, yes... even law and power will be overcome in that day, because God will deliver his covenant people. Isaiah, as always, is many-layered, so I think in talking about his covenant people he means specifically those at Jerusalem (mentioned in verse 8), but also the Gentiles (mentioned in verse 12), so in essence, all of us who "repent and fight not against Zion" (verse 12). He specifically also mentions that "none will he destroy that believe in him" (verse 14), which is a pretty amazing promise, likely specific to this event, but also true in a general, eternal sense.
My favorite part here is "I will contend with them that contendeth with thee." The idea that God will fight our battles for us is an amazing promise. I think, again, that the meaning here is many layered. God likely doesn't mean that he will fight all of our battles for us, but specifically the ones at the Second Coming are included, as are, perhaps, other battles like that... ones where we have done all we can, and only a miracle will do. I think sometimes we see that in our own lives, don't we? Where we are the legitimate prey, and have broken God's laws. It would be perfectly just to punish or destroy us, but in repentance, instead, we find God willing to save us even then. ... I think that is what the atonement is--Christ willing to fight our battles for us in a spiritual way, just like he will fight this (at least partly) physical one for us at the Second Coming.
Today, let's do all that we can, and work to repent, and believe and trust in him. He will fight the battles that we cannot.
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