Jacob 5

I have never notices before, but in verse 47 the Lord of the vineyard is lamenting that all of his fruit is now wild despite all of his hard work. He says, “But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long…”

In my mind the during the apostasy the Lord withdrew from people. But I should have known better. All my life I’ve been taught that the Lord never draws away from us, it is only we who draw away from Him. Even during that time, when everything had been corrupted, He was still reaching out to the world, trying to help and love and bless. And really, when I think about it, the atonement was still available to those who would repent, and He would still hear the prayers of those who prayed. Of course those things wouldn’t stop, just as they don’t stop for me when I turn away. He is always there waiting for me to come back and catches me the instant I realize I am falling and call for help. The Lord has not revenge or bitterness, so there is nothing to stop Him from loving us immediately, or all along, for that matter.

It also strikes me that the loftiness of the vineyard that causes the corruption is pride, and looking beyond the mark. Trying to figure out more truth than what God has given us yet through our own devices, instead of relying on the roots or the simple and strong truths of the gospel. And the taking strength unto themselves is trying to do it all on our own, believing we don’t need or want or deserve His help, as the case may be. But we must rely on Him to have any really strength and goodness.