Monday, September 29, 2008

In the Depths of Humility

"Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.


Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, 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; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.


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.


And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; 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; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.


O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?


And 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?


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.


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?


May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!


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.


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.


Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen" (2 Nephi 4:16-35).


These beautiful words were written by the prophet Nephi a little less than 600 years before Christ. Some call it the Psalm of Nephi. I love the introspection written in such wonderful poetic fashion because I have often felt much the same way as Nephi, and I believe many of us have. It is not often we can have such a personal view into the heart of a prophet of God. I am very grateful that Nephi included this passage in his writings in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.


I know that Jesus Christ lives! He truly lives! I know that he suffered and died for my sins and that through him and him alone I can be saved from my sins. I know that I can live again with my Savior in his kingdom. I know that all who seek the Christ can and will know him because he know us! This is my sure testimony that I have been blessed with through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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