Isaiah 49:23
23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
1. Who are these kings and queens?
They are the governmental leaders of the gentile nations (European and American) who will facilitate the gathering of the Jews to the lands of their inheritance (Jerusalem and Zion).
2. Who will they nurse?
The Jews (by facilitating the return of the Jews to the lands of their inheritance.)
3. Who will bow down and lick up the dust of whose feet?
The gentiles that unite with the great and abominable church and who fight against Zion will lick up the dust of the feet of the repentant gentiles and Jews who unite with the church of the Lamb and who dwell in Zion.
4. When will these things happen?
When the Jews come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they will be gathered to Jerusalem and to Zion. When the wicked gentiles fight against Zion, the lord will cause them to bow down with their face toward the earth and lick up the dust of the feet of the Lord's covenant people. The licking up of the dust seems to coincide with the Lord's coming in power and great glory.
Scriptural References
Fortunately, there are several Book of Mormon references to this verse which makes the interpretation very plain.
In 2 Nephi 10, Jacob explains that "Christ should bcome among the cJews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall dcrucify him." He explains that, because of the iniquities of the Jews, the Jews will be scattered among all nations. When the day comes that the Jews believe that Jesus is the Christ, they will be restored in the flesh to the lands of their inheritance.
1. Who are these kings and queens?
1. Who are these kings and queens?
They are the governmental leaders of the gentile nations (European and American) who will facilitate the gathering of the Jews to the lands of their inheritance.
2 Nephi 10:9
9 Yea, the kings of the Gentiles shall be nursing fathers unto them, and their queens shall become nursing mothers; wherefore, the promises of the Lord are great unto the Gentiles, for he hath spoken it, and who can dispute?
2. Who will they nurse?
The Jews (by facilitating the return of the Jews to the lands of their inheritance.)
2 Nephi 10:8
8 And it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in from their long dispersion, from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth; and the nations of the Gentiles shall be great in the eyes of me, saith God, in carrying them forth to the lands of their inheritance.
3. Who will bow down and lick up the dust of whose feet?
The gentiles that unite with the great and abominable church and who fight against Zion will lick up the dust of the feet of the repentant gentiles and Jews who unite with the church of the Lamb and who dwell in Zion.
13Wherefore, they that fight against Zion and the covenant people of the Lord shall lick up the dust of their feet; and the people of the Lord shall not be aashamed. For the people of the Lord are they who bwait for him; for they still wait for the coming of the Messiah.
4. When will these things happen?
When the Jews come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they will be gathered to Jerusalem and to Zion. When the wicked gentiles fight against Zion, the lord will cause them to bow down with their face toward the earth and lick up the dust of the feet of the Lord's covenant people. The licking up of the dust seems to coincide with the Lord's coming in power and great glory.
2 Nephi 6:11
Wherefore, after they are driven to and fro, for thus saith the angel, many shall be afflicted in the flesh, and shall not be suffered to aperish, because of the prayers of the faithful; they shall be scattered, and smitten, and hated; nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them, that bwhen they shall come to the cknowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be dgathered together again to theelands of their inheritance.
2 Nephi 6:13-14
13Wherefore, they that fight against Zion and the covenant people of the Lord shall lick up the dust of their feet; and the people of the Lord shall not be aashamed. For the people of the Lord are they who bwait for him; for they still wait for the coming of the Messiah.
14And behold, according to the words of the prophet, the Messiah will set himself again the asecond time to recover them; wherefore, he will bmanifest himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the cdestruction of their enemies, when that day cometh when they shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that believe in him.
The interpretation of these verses should not be limited to the Jews only, but of the entire house of Israel. Book of Mormon scholars have frequently indicated the term "Jew" in the Book of Mormon has multiple meanings; including 1) Jews, 2)the House of Israel, 3) the saints of the restored church in the latter-days (primarily of the tribe of Joseph).
ReplyDeleteVery good, Cale. I liked the scriptural references which most of the time I do not look up!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. I'm glad to know about the 3 meanings of "Jew" in the Book of Mormon. Which of the 3 meanings do you think will be gathered to Jerusalem? I kind of always assumed it would be strict Jews of the tribe of Judah, but I can see anyone from the house of Israel gathering to Zion.
ReplyDeleteCale, are you trying out for Nathan Jensen or Bruce R? Do you think the dust they lick is what was stomped off the missionaries?
ReplyDeleteMom, are you Miller? I was thinking about the dust licking today. I can only think of one solution. When those people have been reduced to ashes (by burning in a fire), anyone who leaves Jerusalem or Zion will walk over their ashes and their ashes will lick up the dust of their feet. Would that be literal or figurative? I'm quite certain about them being burned up in the day that those who come shall burn them up. The elements will melt with fervent heat and the mountains will flow down in the presence of the Lord.
ReplyDeleteAnd how does Isaiah 49:23 apply to you, to me, or any Latter Day Saint? Think about the temple and the ordinances there. Then, look up the word "dust". One meaning of the word "dust" is "confusion." You will gain an understanding far more profound if you prayerfully ask how this scripture applies to you and your mission during these latter days.
ReplyDeleteWhen I looked up the word "dust," I got "fine, dry powder consisting of tiny particles of earth or waste matter lying on the ground or on surfaces or carried in the air."
ReplyDeleteMalachi 4:3 And ye shall atread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.
The messages that I get out of this scripture are to "wait for the Lord" and "do not unite with that great and abominable church"
If there are other more profound messages that you have found, please expound and share. :)