Why do I help thee?

In Isaiah 43:2 the Savior is talking to Israel and says:

"2.When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."

Now why would the Lord go through all our trials with us? He says in verse 4:

"4. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee and people for thy life."

And just to solidify how dedicated he is to us he continues:

"5. Fear not: for I am with thee."

C.S. Lewis had an insight to add on to why we as mortals and prone to so much failing are precious in his sight.

"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship."

C. S. Lewis (The Weight of Glory)

Isaiah 40:12

"12. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?"

This verse is Isaiah's poetic way of saying that God knows us each intimately. If he keeps track of the dust of the earth and can measure the ocean, he definitely will be able to know more about me than I can know about myself.

Yet, this perfect God of infinite power gives me the opportunity to have a personal relationship with Him. To allow me to come to know Him as He knows me.

I was talking to some people on Saturday about our relationship with God. If we had children that were constantly coming to us and only asking for things, that would not build a very strong relationship, and I realized it would make me a quite annoyed mom. Although each of us do have things we need, I hope we are taking the time to be thankful and listen to what Heavenly Father is trying to tell us. I hope we are trying to serve His other children and be an instrument in His hands. I hope He can rely on me like I rely on Him.

Isaiah 54: 7-8, 10

"7. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer."
10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. "

I can't read these words without the music and powerful spirit from this song also attending them.

My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee

Text and Music by Rob Gardner

For a little while

Have I forsaken thee;

But with great mercies will I gather thee.

In a little wrath I hid my face from thee

For a moment.

But with everlasting kindness will I gather thee,

And with mercy will I take thee ‘neath my wings,

For the mountains shall depart,

And the hills shall be removed,

And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea,

But know, my child,

My kindness shall not depart from thee!

Though thine afflictions seem

At times too great to bear,

I know thine every thought and every care.

And though the very jaws

Of hell gape after thee I am with thee.

And with everlasting mercy will I succor thee,

And with healing will I take thee ‘neath my wings.

Though the mountains shall depart,

And the hills shall be removed,

And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea,

Know, my child,

My kindness shall not depart from thee!

How long can rolling waters

Remain impure?

What pow'r shall stay the hand of God?

The Son of Man hath descended below all things.

Art thou greater than He?

So hold on thy way,

For I shall be with thee.

And mine angels shall encircle thee.

Doubt not what thou knowest,

Fear not man, for he

Cannot hurt thee.

And with everlasting kindness will I succor thee,

And with mercy will I take thee ‘neath my wings.

For the mountains shall depart,

And the hills shall be removed,

And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea,

But know, my child,

My kindness shall not depart from thee!

I had the amazing opportunity to record this entire work Joseph the Prophet with the composer Rob Gardner three years ago, but here is just the song, My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee. I promise it will 7 uplifting moments well spent.

Isaiah 49 and 50

I love that because there are no expectations from the 3 readers that read this blog (my mom, and in-laws) so I can go two weeks without posting anything and no one notices. It would be a lot more responsibility if more people read it, (like say 15?) and then I would feel more compelled to write every day, and I really enjoy just writing a few of my scripture thoughts here and there every once in awhile rather than it being a set daily thing. I like structure and order in my life, but also randomness and spontaneity. Don't you?

O.k. we're still delving into Isaiah. And because of General Conference and then fast Sunday the week after we have just been set full throttle on Isaiah for the past month. And it has been fantastic.

If you need a place to start why not try Isaiah 49. Monte S. Nyman observed that “ chapter 49 is one of the most important chapters in the whole book of Isaiah, because it also clearly foretells the mission of the Latter-day Saints and the destiny of the land of America in connection with the house of Israel. Nephi interpreted the chapter as foretelling that the land of America would receive some of scattered Israel, while his brother Jacob applied it both to the Jews in Jerusalem and to the Gentiles. Chapter 49 is of such importance that it ought to be studied diligently by every member of the Church.” ( “Great Are the Words of Isaiah,” pp. 173–74.)

And just because I need to go, and I haven't really posted anything that i have been learning about Isaiah, I am going to post a scripture that had me pondering yesterday.

Isaiah 50:1-2 "1. Thus saith the Lord, Where is the bill of your mothers divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
2. Wherefore, when I came was there no man? when I called , was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver?"

Ancient Israel wasn't really living up their potential as the chosen people of God. They weren't spreading the good news of the gospel to others and doing missionary work, and actually they were even refusing to live the simple teachings and commandments they had been given. This scripture is talking about when the Lord came to Israel (when he "came home") no one was there because they had sold themselves to the world. He's saying, I didn't put you in these chains and bonds of sin and took you away, you did this yourself. But why did you not even call me? Did you believe I had no power to help you in these predicaments and you had to resort to the world's help?

I know I am enticed to rely on the arm of the flesh, and trust in my own faculties and what others tell me, rather than what the Lord has told me and will continue to tell me. But I need to remember that his ways truly are the best for me. These other ways will put me in bondage, while the Lord always always always will set me free. He loves me far more than I even love myself, kind of how I bet I love my toddler son Jack more than he loves himself. Which means I won't let him have Skittles for breakfast, because I have a little more knowledge than him about nutrition and energy and blood sugar levels and it will be better in the long run to just never have candy for breakfast.

And the Lord knows I need to learn to trust in Him completely because he does know much more than me about eternity and where I fit in that, and what my plan is in building his kingdom.

Do you know Isaiah?

Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote:

“If, as many suppose, Isaiah ranks with the most difficult of the prophets to understand, his words are also among the most important for us to know and ponder. . . .

“. . . His prophetic words can and should shine brightly in the heart of every member of the Church.” ( “Ten Keys to Understanding Isaiah,” Ensign, Oct. 1973, p. 80 .)

Isaiah's amazing imagery

Picture courtesy of tripadvisor

I'm going to try to keep this one a quick short thought. :)

Another of Isaiah's strengths as a writer is his imagery. In Isaiah 28:20 he says

"20. For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it."

Can't you just see that? Someone trying to get comfortable on a bed that is too short for him? Or someone desiring to keep out the cold on a winter night with a blanket that doesn't make it around his whole body? He's referring to the atonement here. If we try to cover ourselves with anything but the atoning blood of Christ in our lives, we will find ourselves short and wanting.