Cover image via Gospel Media Library.
The psalm of Nephi in 2 Nephi 4 is a treasure for at least two reasons! The first reason is the graphic way it shows the key to salvation. Let’s start with that.
We think of Nephi as noble, valiant, and faithful. But he says:
my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; (2 Nephi 4:17-19)
Flesh. Iniquities. Temptations. Sins. Those are not the words we usually associate with Nephi!
But something very powerful happens. In the midst of his dejection, Someone brilliant and powerful took center stage.
nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
Eight words! When Nephi changed his focus from what was wrong with himself to what is right with God, everything changed!
That is a lesson many of us need to learn and relearn. I do not advance my spiritual well-being by endlessly reviewing my many mistakes. They are real and they get bigger with rumination. And I do not advance my spiritual well-being by worrying that I will never ever do enough or be enough to save myself. Like Nephi, I must learn to say, despite my abundant failings, I know in whom I have trusted.
Notice how completely Nephi’s focus has changed from his own failing to God’s goodness. Let’s bold all references to God in the following verses to make the point clearer.
My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh. He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me. Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time. (2 Nephi 4:20-23)
God’s message is clear. As long as we relentlessly review our failings believing we must fix all of them in order to earn God’s love and salvation, we will feel dismal discouragement. When, in contrast, we turn away from our failings to give our full attention to God’s goodness and mercy, we rejoice! In some sense, Nephi said to himself:
Hold it! My only hope of salvation is in Jesus! I cannot save myself—but He can save me. My job is to get my broken-down soul to Him.
Nephi traded despair for hope. He rejoiced in the hope of having God’s support. The hope of God leading him through His challenges. The hope of God comforting, sustaining and enlightening him after hearing his cries. And the hope of being filled by God’s love. Best of all, God was willing to do all that in spite of Nephi’s sins and failings.
God offers all of that to us as well. So, we too, have reasons to rejoice!
And here is the second treasure in Nephi’s psalm. As we continue to study Nephi’s words, we find a clear division between those things we do and those things God does.
What Nephi does:
And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; (v. 24)
What God does:
and angels came down and ministered unto me. And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; (vv. 24-25)
We pray mightily and God opens the heavens. That feels like generous payment on our puny efforts! Nephi felt similarly:
Why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy? (v. 27)
Notice that it is not the burden of his shortcomings that inspires such renewed effort. No! It is an awareness of God’s willingness to bestow His goodness and mercy that inspires Nephi to renewed hope and energy.
Earlier, Nephi was transformed by proclaiming, “nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.” Nephi now calls himself to additional transformative rejoicing.
Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.
Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation. (vv. 28-30)
Do you feel Nephi’s pure joy?
Having learned the lesson of his dependence on God, Nephi now extends his plea. Notice how frankly he acknowledges his dependence on God. And notice Nephi’s specific requests.
O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy. (vv. 31, 33)
Did you observe that God does all the heavy lifting in our salvation? Nephi appends his summary:
O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. (v. 34)
In other words, Nephi is saying: I have learned that, try as I might, I cannot save myself. When my grief over my failings threatens to drop me into despair, I must call on God. I must trust in His love for me. On my own I can never be enough or do enough. I can challenge myself to be a better disciple. I can work on deepening my relationship with God. But I do so with the confidence that only He can transform my imperfect efforts into heavenly holiness.
What a beautiful and powerful lesson! May we in our lives turn discouragement into renewal by calling upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
Invitation: Please come join us as Nancy and I present Binding Hearts: Three Ways to Connect Your Descendants to Their Ancestors at RootsTech on Saturday, March 2, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM in Room 150. Can’t wait to see you!
Thanks to Barbara Keil for her insightful additions to this article.
Leave A Reply