In the last post we did an amazing key word search that connected section 45 and 86 with Isaiah 42 and Isaiah 49.
Coupled with the evidences already presented that Joseph Smith is the last Servant of the Vineyard that restores Israel and redeems Zion, the above mentioned scriptures revealed that Joseph Smith is the Servant of Jesus Christ that is given to the people as an Everlasting Covenant.
He is sent as a messenger of Jesus Christ to prepare the way of the Lord in the second and third watches.
Isaiah 49 is particularly interesting because it provides a Davidic Servant Lamentation.
As you read this chapter, notice how he laments that he has labored in vain and spent his strength and yet Jacob is not gathered… but then he rejoices in the knowledge that “yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord…”.
The Lord assures him that he is the servant called to “raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel” All of the same key words are used here that are used in Isaiah 42, D&C 45 and D&C 86…. “light”, “Gentiles” “Covenant”, “salvation/Savior”, etc
The Lord promises to hear his lamenting servant in the “acceptable time” and to bring him forth to finish his calling. Notice that when the servant is brought forth he sets the prisoners free… typological to how the Savior set those in prison free after his resurrection.
“Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.
And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth….
Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.”
This is perhaps one of the most incredible testimonies of the two part ministry of Joseph Smith because it shares a lamentation from him and how he felt when his life was cut short and it appeared that he had failed in his calling to gather Israel and redeem Zion…
Yet it provides a testimony that God is going to do the strange act of raising him from the dead and enabling him to complete his mission.
This clearly shows that the Marvelous Work did not take place during the LDS restoration movement when the New Testament Church of Christ was restored to the earth… indeed, Gods Servant failed to gather Israel and redeem Zion back at that time… but the Lords servant will be raised up and the Marvelous Work will yet be ushered in at the appointed time, even the “acceptable time”.
Read the entire chapter, we have hardly scratched the surface of what is contained therein.
