26 And he lifted up his voice to heaven, and cried, saying:
O, how long, O Lord,
wilt thou suffer that thy servants shall dwell here below in the flesh,
to behold such gross wickedness among the children of men?
27 Behold, O God, they cry unto thee,
and yet their hearts are swallowed up in their pride.
Behold, O God, they cry unto thee with their mouths,
while they are puffed up,
even to greatness,
with the vain things of the world.
28 Behold, O my God, their costly apparel,
and their ringlets,
and their bracelets,
and their ornaments of gold,
and all their precious things which they are ornamented with;
and behold,
their hearts are set upon them,
and yet they cry unto thee and say—
We thank thee, O God, for we are a chosen people unto thee,
while others shall perish.
29 Yea, and they say
that thou hast made it known
unto them
that there shall be no Christ.
Alma 31:26-29 (Emphasis mine)
Alma(2) offers a powerful prayer about what they see. They are swallowed up in pride. They prayer with their mouths but are caught up in the riches and vain things of the world. Alma(2) gives examples – ringlets, bracelets, ornaments of gold, other ornaments.
Their hearts are set upon the things of the world. And, to top it off, they claim God has made known to them there would be no Christ.
30 O Lord God,
how long wilt thou suffer
that such wickedness and infidelity
shall be among this people?
O Lord,
wilt thou give me strength,
that I may bear
with mine infirmities.
For I am infirm,
and such wickedness
among this people
doth pain my soul.
31 O Lord,
my heart is exceedingly sorrowful;
wilt thou comfort
my soul in Christ.
O Lord,
wilt thou grant unto me
that I may have strength,
that I may suffer with patience
these afflictions
which shall come upon me,
because of the iniquity of this people.
32 O Lord,
wilt thou comfort my soul,
and give unto me success,
and also my fellow laborers
who are with me—
yea, Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner,
and also Amulek and Zeezrom
and also my two sons—
yea, even all these
wilt thou comfort,
O Lord.
Yea, wilt thou comfort
their souls in Christ.
33 Wilt thou grant
unto them
that they may have strength,
that they may bear their afflictions
which shall come upon them
because of the iniquities of this people.
Alma 31:30-33 (Emphasis mine)
Alma(2) knows the going will be tough. He prays for strength as he deals with them. He prays that he, and his fellow laborers will have the strength to bear the afflictions that they will face. He also prays that they their souls will be comforted in Christ.
Hugh Nibley observes:
“The brethren were horribly depressed by what they found; they could hardly stand it (Alma 31:30–33). The Zoramites had only been off by themselves for a short time, yet what they were doing was all new to Alma. At first sight it looked like pure idolatry (Alma 31:1).” [1] (Emphasis mine)
34 O Lord,
wilt thou grant unto us
that we may have success
in bringing them again
unto thee in Christ.
35 Behold, O Lord,
their souls are precious,
and many of them are our brethren;
therefore, give unto us, O Lord,
power and wisdom
that we may bring these,
our brethren,
again unto thee.
Alma 31:34-35 (Emphasis mine)
Even though he knows they are facing a tough challenge, he asks for success in bringing them again unto the Lord. From this we can infer that many of the Zoramites had believed in Christ, but had fallen away. Alma(2) asks that they may be able to bring their brethren “again unto thee.” (verse 35)
Hugh Nibley comments on Alma(2)’s prayer.
“Isn't he being rather judgmental here? No, he is not at all. Why is he so concerned? Well, in the first place they were so blatantly, so overtly [wicked], and Alma had wider experience than anybody else. He knew about people and characters, etc. He had seen more wickedness than anybody else, he being Alma the Younger. So he was able to judge them on that basis, and also because they were blatant. They put on quite a show. But the main thing is in verse 35. He loves them, and his heart is concerned about them. ‘Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren.’ So that's why he feels right to be saying that he is suffering terribly. He's not a hypocrite who is overwhelmed by other people's wickedness when it should be his own sins that concern him. It's that he's on a mission here, and he wants to do what he can." [2] (Emphasis mine)
36 Now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words, that he clapped his hands upon all them who were with him. And behold, as he clapped his hands upon them, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
37 And after that they did separate themselves one from another, taking no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what they should drink, or what they should put on.
38 And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith.
Alma 31:36-38 (Emphasis mine)
The prayer has ended. The time to begin the work has arrived. Alma(2) clapped his hands on each member of his group. When he did this, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They were ready to go and face the challenge.
When they went their separate ways, They had no idea how they would survive. They departed full of the Holy Spirit and faith.
Mormon tells us that the Lord provided for them. They were taken care of. This was because of Alma(2)’s prayer of faith.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:25-34 (Emphasis mine)
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:10-12 (Emphasis mine)
[1] The Book of Mormon: Forty Years After, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 26, 2011.
[2] Lecture 54: Alma 30-31, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 26, 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment