"Striving," Part 2

In part 1, we looked at the use of the word "striving" in the Book of Mormon and noted that the most common context relates to the final ripening of a wicked people rejecting the covenant and inviting destruction.

In this post, we'll take a look at how "striving" is used in other books of scripture.

Old Testament

Out of the 23 occurrences in the King James Old Testament, "strive/striving" usually occurs in the context of contention between people. The most notable exception is the first instance:

2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. (Genesis 6)

Other exceptions:

1 Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. (Psalm 35)

10 ¶ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isaiah 41)

9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? (Isaiah 45)

New Testament

In the New Testament, we have 13 occurrences, usually related to "endeavoring," but sometimes meaning "fighting against." Here is one example of each context:

24 ¶ Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. (Luke 13)

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (2 Timothy 2)

Doctrine and Covenants

The two examples from the D&C are listed below:

33 And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts.

34 And again, verily I say unto you, O inhabitants of the earth: I the Lord am willing to make these things known unto all flesh;

35 For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion. (D&C 1)

68 O Lord, remember thy servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., and all his afflictions and persecutions—how he has covenanted with Jehovah, and vowed to thee, O Mighty God of Jacob—and the commandments which thou hast given unto him, and that he hath sincerely striven to do thy will. (D&C 109)

Pearl of Great Price

We have one occurrence in the Book of Moses. It is this context I'd like to focus the next post on.  Notice the connection to Enoch in these verses.

17 And the Lord said unto Noah: My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for he shall know that all flesh shall die; yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years; and if men do not repent, I will send in the floods upon them.

18 And in those days there were giants on the earth, and they sought Noah to take away his life; but the Lord was with Noah, and the power of the Lord was upon him.

19 And the Lord ordained Noah after his own order, and commanded him that he should go forth and declare his Gospel unto the children of men, even as it was given unto Enoch. (Moses 8)

In the next post, I'd like to pick up with the story of Enoch and the City of Zion, which is found in Moses 7, and connect the concept of the Spirit/divine messengers working to bring about Zion with the concept of the Spirit "striving with man."

The Brother of Jared as a Type of Christ

This article by Thomas R. Valletta highlights some of the symbolic connections between the brother of Jared and Jesus Christ. The article is long, and I'll likely summarize some of its main points in a few different posts. Definitely worth a read if you enjoy this type of symbolism.

One point made early on which grabbed my attention is the meaning of the Hebrew name Jared -- "He descends" or "he goes down." Thus, the brother of Jared becomes "the brother of him who descended."  I see a clear connection to the Fall.

The symbolic connections continue.

The story of the Jaredites begins at the Tower of Babel, which for many scholars represents a mockery/imitation of true temple worship.

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (Genesis 11, KJV)

This effort was rooted in pride and a mockery of the true way, however, and resulted in the confounding of the language and scattering of the people.

Contrast this effort with the words of the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple:

24 We ask thee, Holy Father, to establish the people that shall worship, and honorably hold a name and standing in this thy house, to all generations and for eternity;
25 That no weapon formed against them shall prosper; that he who diggeth a pit for them shall fall into the same himself;
26 That no combination of wickedness shall have power to rise up and prevail over thy people upon whom thy name shall be put in this house; (D&C 109)

In the Garden of Eden, man succumbed to the temptation of the devil and transgressed God's commandments in order to gain knowledge. As a result, they were driven out of the God's presence. Jared asked his brother to "cry unto [the Lord] wither we shall go." Similarly, Jared and his people were "drive[n] out of the land" but through their faith and cries to the Lord, they were led to a land of promise.

If Jared represents fallen man, his brother brings about the means of their salvation and journey to the promise land. The author of the paper suggests that his actual name might have been left out to point out to the reader that each of us has a brother just like Jared did who can do for us what the brother of Jared did for Jared.

The following table presents scriptural references comparing descriptions of the Brother of Jared with Christ:

Table 2

The Brother of Jared as a Type of Jesus Christ

The Brother of Jared Large and mighty man, highly favored of the Lord (Ether 1:34).	Jesus Christ “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
Intermediary for his people (Ether 1:34–39).	One mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5).
Commanded to gather his people, flocks, and seeds (Ether 1:40–43).	How often would I have gathered thy children together (Luke 13:34).
Commanded to lead his people in their trek (Ether 2:1–13).	All are commanded to follow Jesus Christ (e.g., Matt. 4:19; 10:38).
Visited by the Lord in a cloud (Ether 2:4–5; 14).	Jesus visited by Father in cloud (Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:34).
Procured small transparent stones for the Lord to touch for light in the barges (Ether 3:1–4).	Jesus Christ is the light to lead us through darkness (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46); He is also the stone or rock of Israel (Acts 4:11; 1 Cor. 10:4; Hel. 5:12).
Had a great vision of Lord on top of an exceedingly high mountain (Ether 3).	Jesus received divine messengers and was transfigured on a high mountain (Matt. 17:1–2).
Forbidden to write many of the things which he had seen (Ether 4:1).	Jesus charged his disciples after descending the mount to “tell the vision to no man” (Matt. 17:9).

There is a lot more detail to get into in future posts. It's an interesting connection to be sure.