Sunday, April 5, 2020

Psalms in the Book of Mormon, Jacob

Continuing our series looking at Psalm-language in the Book of Mormon, today we'll look at the Book of Jacob. I noticed a fascinating pattern as I looked into some of these references, which I'll detail in a post in the near future.

As in the provocation ... in the day of temptation ... in the wilderness


8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (Psalm 95)


7 Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the wilderness. (Jacob 1)

The pains of hell


3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. (Psalm 116)


11 O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death; and loose yourselves from the pains of hell that ye may not become angels to the devil, to be cast into that lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death. (Jacob 3)



See also Alma 14:6; 26:13; 36:13.


Swear in my wrath


11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. (Psalm 95)


7 Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the wilderness. (Jacob 1)


See also Alma 12:35.


Over all His works


9 The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. (Psalm 145)


10 Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works. (Jacob 4)

See also Alma 37:12.


Today if ye will hear His voice ...  harden not your hearts


7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your heart,
as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (Psalm 95)


6 Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; for why will ye die? (Jacob 6)


Edited to include one more, pointed out by Stisa. (Thanks!)


22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. (Psalm 118)

15 And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto prophesying; for I perceive by the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that by the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation.
16 But behold, according to the scriptures, this stone shall become the great, and the last, and the only sure foundation, upon which the Jews can build. (Jacob 4)