Love of God

1. Form Analyzed

I analyzed a metaphor and reference used in my section of The Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Edition.

2. Passage Analyzed

I analyzed 1 Nephi 21:14 which was within my section, 1 Nephi 16-22.

But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not. For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

4. Breakdown

Nephi quotes Isaiah’s words in this section with Isaiah's signature of metaphors and references.

5. Interpretation

Isaiah compares the woman and her child to God and the House of Israel. Isaiah, speaking for God says that He remembers all his children. He shows that the love of a mother is nothing compared to the love that God has for His children.  When it says “graven thee upon the palms of my hands” it is a reference to the crucifixion. As He died, he literally took upon himself our pains and sins. The word “graven” is very permanent just like the work that Christ did for us.

6. Connections/Questions

In this part of the scriptures I feel like God can get frustrated with the House of Israel for their stubbornness. How often do we need reminding that we are important to Him. In general conferences, rarely did we hear anything shocking but I think that may be changing now as we are being called to be better. The use of the metaphors and references in this passage helps us understand that God will never forget us. Eliza questioned whether the metaphors in her passage were meant to instruct future readers. Similarly, I question if the metaphors can bring us to a deeper understanding of the doctrine.  

Poetic Prophecies: The Words of Isaiah

         

I wanted to look at the language that the prophet Isaiah uses and how that affects the form of his prophecies. In my assigned section of 2^nd Nephi Ch. 19-27, I will focus on 2^nd Nephi Ch. 21:1-10. The prophet Isaiah uses a variety of literary devices while he is prophesying. He uses metaphors (2^nd Ne 21:1) and similes (2^nd Ne 21:9) in describing Christ and his role, he uses a lot of antitheses in describing the millennium (2^nd Ne 21:6-8), and the imagery he uses creates a vivid impression on the audience’s mind (2^nd Ne 21:4).

        With these literary devices he employs, he supports the eloquent language and message of his prophecies of Christ. This type of language, use of literary devices, and the form these passages are displayed lead it to be a lot more poetic than its scriptural counterpart.  Reading in this form allowed me to better identify the poetic nature of Isaiah’s prophecies and better understand them. 

       In connection with Eliza’s post about the repetition of “wilt thou” by Nephi, Isaiah also uses repetition using the word shall. This connection shows the theme of repetition that prophets use in their prophecies to reinforce key ideas and key themes. How many other prophets in the Book of Mormon have the same poetic nature as the prophecies of Isaiah? Was the language of Isaiah one of the many reasons why almost all prophets quote his prophecies? And because his words are very poetic and rich in literary devices, is this why his prophecies are some of the hardest to understand and interpret?