PRIVILEGE OF MERCY

 

 There is a chapter in the book of Jacob that tugs at my heart. It is chapter 5 that gives us the allegory of the olive tree. It is impossible to enumerate the history and all the aspects of the beauty of this allegory in such a short post. It makes me extremely grateful, however, for the two men who made this treasure available to us: Nephi who accomplished the dangerous task of obtaining the brass plates; and our beloved Prophet of the Restoration, Joseph Smith, for all he suffered to bring the Book of Mormon to the world.

There was a prophet in Israel by the name of Zenos who lived between the time of Abraham and Isaiah and who was martyred for his testimony (Helaman 8:19,20); whose prophecies of Christ’s mission are found only in the Book of Mormon (see Guide to the Scriptures). We know of this prophet because of the brass plates which were taken to the land of the Americas with Lehi and his colony in 600 B.C.

Whilst it is not my wish to overshadow the importance of the House of Israel's lengthy history contained within this allegory, which begs thorough study, and which spans from the time of the first scattering in 721 BC to the Millenium, it is my intention to focus on the Saviour and how he relates to us who are of this House. In the allegory of the olive tree, the Lord of the vineyard sets about plucking, pruning, digging and grafting. He also grieves, preserves, labours, watches and tends to the vineyard constantly, but in particular one tree, the tame olive tree. This tree represents the House of Israel. The Lord’s frantic efforts to ensure its’ divine destiny can be seen through repetitious declarations of His love and long-suffering: His desire to preserve the vineyard is mentioned in the parable 11 times; at least 15 times the Lord expresses His desire to bring the vineyard and its' harvest 'unto my own self'; 8 times He says 'it grieveth me to lose the trees of my vineyard'; and 3 times He asks with anguish, weeping, 'what could I have done more for my vineyard?' The central theme of this allegory is the Saviour's enduring mercy, long-suffering, loving care and his most dedicated work towards His favoured people, the House of Israel. This is the privilege of mercy.

After he recounts the allegory of the olive tree to his people, Jacob exclaims: "....how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long...O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life, O be wise; what can I say more?" (Jacob 6:4,11,12). What indeed?

 

Thy love for Thy people is beyond compare,

Thy mercy affixed forever more.

Thy power delivers us and

Thy loving kindness gathers us;

We are restored by Thy merciful might,

We are Israel, children of light.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Lord of the Vineyard by Scott Sumner)