“I Have Labored in Vain”

Bryan Richards

Here the prophet laments the fact that he has been rejected by the house of Israel. In this sense, this passage applies well to both the Savior and Isaiah. Both labored with the house of Israel, struggling to get them to turn from their evil ways and accept God. Isaiah's frustration with his own failure is evident in this verse. The natural response to rejection is to harbor ill will towards those who have rejected you. However, Isaiah does not condemn the house of Israel for their rebellion. He understands that the Lord will punish them accordingly, my 'judgment is with the Lord.' When we reads the phrase, 'yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord', we understand that even though the prophet failed in his mission to turn the house of Israel from its evil ways, the Lord will still bless him for his faithfulness. This is reminiscent of the word of the Lord to Moroni who was worried about the lack of charity among the Gentiles of the last days, 'And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made clean' (Ether 12:37).

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