2 Nephi 20

2 Nephi 20;  Isaiah 10

2 Nephi 20: 1-4

unrighteous decrees....................................................The Lord forbids abuse of leadership
poor, widows, fatherless..............................................Leaders have a responsibility to protect these
without me..............................................................the Lord will not sustain groups that abandon these vulnerable groups

Very succinctly this scripture tells us to remember the most vulnerable members of the society.  Failure to do so will see the withdrawal of the spirit from that organization

2 Nephi 20: 5-17

rod of anger.....................................................The Lord identifies Assyria as a punishing instrument
hypocritical nation....................................................we are expected to actually live what we believe
pride of the North...................................................The nation of Israel has erroneous thinking
graven images.......................................................among accomplishments adulterous religion
will punish.....................................................both that nation and Syria the model cursed
robbed treasures...............................................the Lord will remove the ability to do those things
my hand..........................................................a bit too smug, and a failure to acknowledge God
ax boast................................................................forgetting the Lord in prosperity is wrong
kindle..............................................................the Lord will punish the abandoning people
a fire......................................................................the curse is on Israel for this, broken covenant

Isaiah itemizes many of the complaints the Lord has with the Children of Israel.  Among their faults is the sin of ingratitude, followed by vaunting pride and idolatry.  He will not allow the broken covenant to sustain their blessings of prosperity.  And he explains how the country is about to experience an invasion by a stronger and also doomed kingdom, and that they will cursed together.

2 Nephi 20: 18-26

child shall write them.....................................so few blessings that a small child can grasp it in totality
shall stay on the Lord.........................................at a future time, the people will worship correctly
remnant return...............................................the reestablishment of the Lord's kingdom
overflow....................................................a tremendous growth among the righteous
indignation cease...............................................removal of the curse on the House of Israel
stir up scourge...................................................will require severe chastening to get there

Within the Lord's plan is the need for the children of Israel to receive scourging until they finally realize the value of the Lord's leadership in his covenant.  Then they will repent and become an overpowering force than cannot be restrained.  However, this will never happen with any measure of apostate or evil workings.  It must be done in the Lord's way.

2 Nephi 20: 27-34

burden.........................................................Prosperity will be universal when done right
shake his hand.............................................will exert his leadership and his blessings or curses
lop................................................................He has the power to destroy the wicked
cut down.....................................................the most prosperous can be laid waste at His word

The Lord's omnipotent power and leadership can either prosper the nation or destroy it.

2 Nephi 20

This chapter of Isaiah and Nephi both illustrate the relationship the Lord has with the Children of Israel dealing with his leadership and the covenant made between the people and the Lord.  The Lord promises to prosper the nation when it follows his commandment, and he reminds us all that the underlying rules is the country must never abandon the most vulnerable of His people.  We need to start any discussion of divine protection and blessing on that premise.  This a great reminder to the present day Church.  In the hub bub of talk on the political front, we must never forget the elderly, the young, the handicapped, and the others that are at the mercy of the culture.

2 Nephi 17

2 Nephi 17;  Isaiah 6

2 Nephi 17:  1-7

Ephraim...........................................................the two nations are working counter to each other
Isaiah and son.....................................................use your own family to prophesy
smoking firebrands....................................................belligerents, Assyria and North kingdom
evil counsel.............................................................secret meetings and agreements
vex it.......................................................................intent to fight Judah
it shall not..............................................................overruled by the heavens

Political conspiracies at work.  The northern kingdom is entering secret negotiations with Assyria

2 Nephi 17:  8-16

65 years............................................................the number of years left for the Northern
believe.............................................................to receive divine help will require God's help
ask for a sign.....................................................interesting, why the north is adulterous
weary...............................................................God not amused when someone cites him
the sign.............................................................Christ, His advent and His mission to the earth
days to come.........................................................severe tests for both kingdoms

Despite the attitudes of invinciblity, both kingdoms are in severe trouble.  To prosper requires God's assistance

2 Nephi 17: 17-25

trials.......................................................hard trouble when the kingdoms split.  This is worse.
Lord will hiss.................................................the answer will be to use outside kingdoms
they will come..................................................invasions are about to take place
consume the beard..............................................idiomatic.  Beard is a sign of masculinity.
nourish young animals..........................................your sovreignty is limited
milk and honey.....................................................the righteous will prosper with God.
thousand.........................................................multiplication of blessings
briers.............................................................symbols of the troubles that come to those who attack the Lord's people

Isaiah remind people where real powers originate

2 Nephi 17

This chapter reminds the people of what happens with God's help, and what will happen if men fail to heed the Lord.  This is timely, because the Children of Lehi left Jerusalem in order to survive the terrible events in this chapter.

1 Nephi 22

1 Nephi 22

1 Nephi 22: 1-5

hard to understand...................................................brothers do not study, have not prayed
voice of the spirit..............................................to understand by the spirit, one must use the spirit
scattered........................................................a time of great dispersal of the tribes of Israel in the future
lost...................................................................many already had moved at the time of Nephi
led away...........................................................Moved by the spirit
Holy One.................................................reason for the dispersal

Just as Nephi's group was moved, others had already been moved, and others would yet be moved

1 Nephi 22: 6-12

nursed by Gentiles............................................the remnant would be helped by the Gentiles
great nation......................................................a strong nation to arise, very powerful
face of this land........................................American nation
marvelous work............................................gospel teaching
nourished.................................................the gospel nation will strengthen the descendants
Abraham..................................................the children of Abraham would be blessed (future promise)
all blessed...............................................The Lord will work on all nations in the future
make bare...............................................the gospel will go forth and it will be taught to the House
from captivity...........................................the freedom will be the effects of the gospel
from obscurity...........................................the effect on the people will be great

The Lord plans to rescue the children of Israel all around the world.  They will be established and they will be made great.

1 Nephi 22: 13-19

the curse on the church..............................the evil church and power will be destroyed
nations fall............................................any who engage in the evil will be destroyed
be stubble..............................................all those who choose evil will be thrown down
power to save.......................................all those who fight Zion will stop and be destroyed
by fire.....................................................Christ will even use divine fire to protect his people
destruction.........................................promised to all who war against Christ and his people
cut off................................................eventually the Lord will intercede to protect his people

1 Nephi 22: 20-31

the great prohet......................................a promise of the role and strength of the Lord
prophet the Holy One of Israel..............................the prophet is Christ
righteous shall not be confounded.............................Christ will uphold his righteous followers
wrong churches............................................any organization that does not support Christ
Holy One rules......................................When Christ returns he will rule all nations in power
gathering.................................................He will rule one united people
Satan bound................................................During Christ's reign Satan will be banished
according to flesh...................................this will happen to this physical, mortal earth
save repent.......................................all nations destroyed unless they repent and join him
durst not.............................................Nephi prompted to stop the prophecy
consider............................................bears testimony of the words of the plates
endure...............................................the gospel in universal and it is consistent

Promises associated with the Second Coming of Christ

1 Neph 22

This entire concluding chapter of Nephi gives an overview of the scattering and the gathering of the children of Israel.  Great promises are given to the people when they accept Christ and keep his commandments.