From:  James Trimm <jstrimm@h...>
                 Date:  Wed Aug 23, 2000 1:50pm
                 Subject:  The Rod of Iron
 

                 THE FOLLWOING MESSAGE SHOULD NOT BE MISUNDERSTOOD AS AN ENDORCEMENT
                 OF THE
                 BOOK OF MORMON

                 In Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life we read about an iron rod (1Nephi 8:19-30)
                 which leads men along the narrow path, thru the darkness (1Ne. 8:23), to
                 the tree of life:

                 8:19 And I beheld a rod of iron; and it extended along the bank of
                 the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.
                 8:20 And I also beheld a straight and narrow path which came
                 along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it
                 also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field,
                 as if it had been a world;
                 8:21 and I saw numberless concourses of people; many of whom
                 were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led
                 unto the tree by which it stood.
                 8:22 And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in
                 the path which led to the tree.
                 8:23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea,
                 even an exceeding great mist of darkness, insomuch that they
                 which had commenced in the path, did lose their way, that they
                 wandered off, and were lost.
                 8:24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward; and
                 they came forth, and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron, and
                 they did press through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of
                 iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the
                 tree. And after that they had partaken of the fruit of the tree,
                 8:25 they did cast their eyes about as it they were ashamed.
                 8:26 And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other
                 side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it
                 stood as it were in the air, high above the earth;
                 8:27 and it was filled with people, both old and young, both male
                 and female; and their number of dress was exceeding fine; and they
                 were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards
                 those which had come at, and were partaking of the fruit.
                 8:28 And after that they had tasted of the fruit, they were ashamed,
                 because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into
                 forbidden paths, and were lost.
                 8:29 And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father.
                 8:30 But to be short in writing: Behold, he saw other multitudes
                 pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the
                 rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually
                 holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down,
                 and partook of the fruit of the tree.

                 THE ROD OF IRON = THE TORAH

                 The "rod of Iron" represents the "Word of God" (1Nephi 11:25; 15:23-24)
                 The Book of Mormon tells us to search the Scriptures (Tanak (OT))
                 diligently to understand what "the Word of God" is (Alma 17:2).  What does
                 the Tanak (OT) say that the "Word of God" is?

                                 ...For the Torah will go out from Zion;
                                 and the Word of YHWH from Jerusalem.
                                 (Isaiah 2:3)
                                 (see also 2Ne. 12:3 for "Brass Plates" version of this verse)

                 Note that just as "Zion" and "Jerusalem" are synonymns in this poetic
                 parallelism, so are "Torah" and the "Word of YHWH".

                 Thus the "iron rod" represents the Torah.

                 DARKNESS = TORAHLESSNESS

                 So what does the darkness represent?

                 Let us search the Scriptures:

                          For the commandment is a lamp;
                          and the Torah is light...
                          (Prov. 6:23)

                          Your word is a lamp to my feet,
                          and a light to my path.
                          (Psalm 119:105)

                          To the Torah and to the testimony;
                          if they speak not according to this word,
                          it is because there is no light in them.
                          (Isaiah 8:20 also 2Ne. 18:20)

                          ...for a Torah shall proceed from me,
                          and I will make my judgement to rest
                          for a light of the people.
                          (Isaiah 51:4)

                  So according to the Tanak the Torah is a light for our paths.  Those that
                 walk in the Torah walk in the light.  This is why both the BoM and the New
                 Testament speak of those who walk in darkness (Jn. 8:12; 12:35; 1Jn. 1:6;
                 2:11):

                          Who is among you that feareth the Lord,
                          that obeyeth the voice of his servant,
                          that walketh in darkness and hath no light?
                          (2Ne. 7:10)

                  These are those who do not walk by the light of Torah.

                 So the rod of iron that leads us through the darkness is Torah!

                 Take hold of the Torah and let it be your guide.
 
 

                 Study Torah with SANJ Mitvah Club
                 http://www.nazarene.net/MitzvahClub.htm
 
 
 
 

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