Their Humility Gave Them Strength

Don't you just love Sunday? 

I use it as a day to unplug, reset!

It is a day of worship, family time, study, quiet... for me at least!

I wanted to post a couple of thoughts here from my 365 study of the Book of Mormon.

I'm recommitted to recording thoughts regarding my studies here, but for today, some quick thoughts...

In 3 Nephi 4

The Nephites are preparing to defend themselves against the Gadianton robbers.  At this point the war is just beginning.  The Nephites see the robbers in their breastplates, loin cloths and blood painting...

4:8 And it came to pass that the armies of the Nephites, when they saw the appearance of the army of Giddianhi, had all fallen to the earth, and did lift their cries to the Lord their God, that he would spare them and deliver them out of the hands of their enemies.

The approaching army certainly gained confidence as they saw their opponents kneeling before them.  They thought the Nephites were afraid as they were running towards them.  Maybe they thought they would submit to them.

4:10  But in this thing they were disappointed, for the Nephites did not fear them; but they did fear their God and did supplicate him for protection ; therefore, when the armies of Giddianhi did rush upon them they were prepared to meet them; yea, in the strength of the Lord they did receive them.

My thoughts in how this relates to me today, because seldom am I on the battlefield these days...

My prompt for this scripture is actually regarding fear and faith and how the two cannot exist together, but faith can absolve fear.  Valid point, always relative in life, always need to remember that.

But I also saw this...

The enemy coming at the Nephites saw them kneeling, humbled before their God, asking in faith for his strength and protection.

The opponent saw this as a weakness.  And, they grew in their own pride thinking they would overcome.

Is humility a weakness?  I don't think so.  Not in every day life, not in terms of gospel living.  Humility is a noble character trait.

Is kneeling down to call upon God a weakness?  Is needing Him a weakness?  Is it sometimes viewed that way today?  Are there some that think needing or regarding a God is silly?  Why is it social taboo to mention Him, to generalize, to believe?

I believe that God is there, that He is omnipotent.  I believe needing Him and calling upon Him strengthens me, humbles me and teaches me.

Does pride weaken us?  I think it does, in terms of every day life, and in terms of gospel living. 

In this record we see that God gave strength to his people to overcome their enemy.  Not just strength of spirit, but literal, physical strength to overcome.  The didn't fear.  They had faith.  They knew they would be supported in their cause... by God. 

How did this battle end?  They won!

31  And it came to pass that they did break forth, all as one, in singing, and praising their God for the great thing which he had done for them, in preserving them from falling into the hands of their enemies.

32 Yea, they did cry: Hosanna to the Most High God. And they did cry: Blessed be the name of the Lord God Almighty, the Most High God.

33 And their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God in delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; and they knew it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction.

And they humbled themselves again, in thanks.

There is a verse in here that reads...

4:29  May the Lord preserve his people in righteousness and in holiness of heart, that they may cause to be felled to the earth all who shall seek to slay them because of power and secret combinations, even as this man hath been felled to the earth.

A promise, the Lord will preserve his people in righteousness.

Those who seek to slay His purpose and/or His righteous people will be felled.

Oh... I just saw something else.  I initially thought of 'felled' as laying dead on the battle field.  Because that is the how the story went for the Gadianton robbers.  Of course today He's not going to strike down all that oppose Him.  We each must choose, right?  And that is our gift... to choose.

These scriptures use that word in terms of being humbled before God. 

I do believe that those who do oppose Him will be brought to truth and light at some point.  They will be humbled, they will see.... and they will still be able to choose...