The Prophet Jacob taught a sermon to his people, the Nephites, after many years of living in the Promised Land. He quoted a long passage from the Prophet Zenos. In our current Bible, we do not have the words of Zenos. But we do know that his words were contained in the brass plates.
Zenos created an extremely long and complex allegory of a olive tree vineyard where the olive tree symbolized the House of Israel. So many times, the olive tree would become corrupted or fail to thrive. The Master of the vineyard would do everything he could to revive the trees and help them to flourish.
This allegory is an overview of the history of the children of Israel and how deeply invested the Lord is in his people. In times past, I have felt so removed from this story and stories in the Old Testament until reading the Book of Amos and the Book of Hosea. In particular, the book of Hosea has really struck a chord with me. Here are a few verses that have really moved me.
Zenos created an extremely long and complex allegory of a olive tree vineyard where the olive tree symbolized the House of Israel. So many times, the olive tree would become corrupted or fail to thrive. The Master of the vineyard would do everything he could to revive the trees and help them to flourish.
This allegory is an overview of the history of the children of Israel and how deeply invested the Lord is in his people. In times past, I have felt so removed from this story and stories in the Old Testament until reading the Book of Amos and the Book of Hosea. In particular, the book of Hosea has really struck a chord with me. Here are a few verses that have really moved me.
10 ¶Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as thesand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. (Hosea 1: 10-11)
23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. (Hosea 2:23)
In pondering these verses and the allegory of the olive vineyard, I have realized that this isn't just a remote story, but it is my story. The message to me that comes through from all these stories is that the Lord never gives up on us and the atonement is always there for us, even when we are caught in the deepest chains of sin and addiction. We can always turn to Him and find healing and cleansing.
Isn't that wonderful?
© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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