1 Nephi 21: 18

18 Lift up thine eyes round about and behold; all these gather themselves together, and they shall come to thee. And as I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on even as a bride.

Here is an interesting difference between the Book of Mormon and the Bible versions of this verse. The Bible version (Isaiah 49: 18) does have some minor differences from The Book of Mormon version, but the cross references indicate related but different meanings. The footnote to the word “gather” in 1 Nephi is a cross reference to Micah 4: 11 (11–13). These verses very definitely refer to “many nations…gathered against thee (Israel).” It also says that those who are gathered against Zion shall be gathered “as the sheaves into the floor,” and that Zion shall “thresh” and “beat in pieces many people.” This sounds like a violent gathering of Israel. The Bible’s version of Isaiah’s prophecy has the footnote to the word “gather” as a reference to the Topical Guide, “Israel, Gathering of,” which does not include a reference to Micah 4: 11. So the same verse in two different places has different footnotes, which lead to somewhat different meanings.

One interpretation of this verse might be seen if I render it in more modern language, something like this: “Look around and notice all the people who are gathering themselves and aligning themselves to you, Israel. (I think this reference must be to scattered Israel and converted Gentiles) As surely as I live, says the Lord, you will accept these into the house of Israel, and they will be a blessing to you.” If we take the last phrase to mean the “bride” of their Redeemer, the “Bridegroom” (imagery used often throughout the scriptures), then this gathered Israel could be the means through which the Jews are finally converted. This is also indicated in the allegory of the olive tree in Jacob chapter 5. The fruit was not good until all the scattered branches were grafted back in to the main tree.

1 Nephi 21: 17

17 Thy children shall make haste against thy destroyers; and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.

Although, as stated in the last few verses, the Lord will not forget or forsake Israel, He won’t deliver them from their hardships and persecutions right away either. This verse is a promise to future generations of Israel. Eventually Israel will win over their enemies, but not the generation that Isaiah is addressing. That generation had not earned the kind of deliverance that is promised here. So although the Lord would remember and honor His covenants to Israel, there’s no promise on the timing, except here. And this just reveals that it would be in the future some time (“thy children” would do these things). Those who caused the problems would “go forth of [Israel],” or in other words, leave them, or even be chased out by Israel. Or it also refers to the persecutors fleeing Israel. Either way, the problem will be resolved.

1 Nephi 21: 16

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Another beautiful bit of imagery to add to verse 15, although more graphic, is the statement that the Lord has “graven thee upon the palms of my hands.” This is an obvious reference to Christ’s crucifixion. And much has been written and spoken about that phrase. So I am interested in the second part of this verse, “thy walls are continually before me.” I suppose as I have pondered this phrase I have thought of a few possible meanings, all centering on the purpose of walls.

Walls are usually built to protect or insulate. Another, more specific reason for walls is to keep someone in or out. The wording seems to indicate that the walls are Israel’s doing; they built the walls, since the Lord calls them “thy walls,” and not His. Considering that the reference here has been to apostate Israel, it seems reasonable to say that the walls are built to keep the Lord out, not in. Of course we aren’t talking about physical walls, but spiritual and emotional walls or barriers keeping the Lord out, or insulating Israel from the Lord’s influence. These walls, built around mans’ hearts, keep their devotions apart from the Lord; they won’t let Him in to soften their hard, insulated hearts. So why are these walls continually before Him? I think it is because he wants to come into our hearts (or Israel’s hearts). He would never force that devotion; that was Satan’s plan. However, the way through a wall is a door, and He stands at that door ready to enter at our invitation. In fact, He says that he stands at the door and knocks. He wants entrance, but he won’t force it. Again, these particular walls are Israel’s walls, not the Lord’s. Likewise, we are the ones building walls to keep Him out of our hearts, and all we need do is open the door upon which he is knocking, and He “will come in to [us], and will sup with [us], and [we] with [Him]” (Revelation 3:20).

• Zechariah 12: 10
• Zechariah 13: 6
• Revelation 3: 20

1 Nephi 21: 15

15 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.

The imagery in this verse (and the next) is extremely powerful and exquisite. The image of a nursing mother is one of complete love and service to another much more helpless person than the mother is. Of course there have been mothers who have abandoned their children, but usually that happens before the bonding experience of nursing. At least I can’t imagine it coming after that. Of course, having never nursed a baby, I am working from second-hand knowledge, but based on what my wife and other nursing mothers have told me, it is a powerful bonding experience. I know that even bottle feeding babies is enjoyable and gratifying. I can only imagine what it must be like to be giving the child a part of you, where your body is actually nourishing another body. How could a mother possibly forget that child? And however strong that bond is, the Lord’s love for us is greater. The chances of a mother forgetting her sucking child is extremely slim, yet the chances of Israel’s God forgetting them is even more remote than that. I would go so far as to say it is impossible.

• 2 Kings 17: 38
• Alma 46: 8

1 Nephi 21: 14

14 But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not.

What would make Zion (Israel) think that their God had forsaken them? Forsaken doesn’t mean simply forgotten; it’s more proactive than that. It’s more like abandoned, or given up on. So what would make Israel believe their god had abandoned them? The most obvious answer is time. And the related answer is apostasy. They had been promised from the beginning that a Messiah would come and rescue them. According to today’s most visible tribe of Israel, the Jews (Judah), they are still waiting for that Messiah to deliver them from their afflictions. So after these thousands of years, generation after generation of Jews waiting for deliverance, and having to deal with episode after episode of persecution, I’m sure they would feel abandoned; they would give up hope. The reason apostasy is related to this is because if they had not apostatized they would have realized the Messiah did come to deliver them, although not from what they thought they needed deliverance, and he was among them in the form of Jesus Christ, whom they rejected. In their rejection of their God, they feel rejected. There’s the irony. But in the end God will show them that He has not forgotten them at all.

1 Nephi 21: 13

13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; for the feet of those who are in the east shall be established; and break forth into singing, O mountains; for they shall be smitten no more; for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

This verse describes the joy of all God’s creations when this gathering (discussed in verse 12) takes place. The gathering of Israel is evidence that the Lord has kept His covenant. It is also a sign that this telestial version of the earth is ending, and the earth and heavens will be renewed. The earth has as much reason to rejoice over this as we do. I don’t understand the type of spirit or intelligence the earth has, but it is given traits of agency in several places throughout scripture (see Matthew 8: 24–27, and Helaman 12: 7–8 for examples). These scriptures describe the earth and elements as obedient. How can something (someone) be obedient unless they have the choice to be disobedient? The argument put forth by Alma to his son, Corianton, applies here, doesn’t it? He asked a series of questions, including, “How could there be a law save there was a punishment [for breaking that law]” (Alma 42: 17). Apparently the earth’s elements are subject to laws. Some of these laws we know, such as the law of gravity, but others we don’t know, such as the law that allowed Christ to walk on water, superseding the law of gravity (Matthew 14: 22–33). So it seems like the elements must have some level of intelligence in order to be able to obey. Someday I hope to understand it.