Wednesday, April 8, 2015

1 Nephi 1:7

7  And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being aovercome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen.

    "..being overcome..."
            -footnote a:  all these references cite experiences when the physical strength of man is        overcome by the spiritual power of God.  Mortal strength pales in comparison to spiritual power. 

Footnotes
  a (overcome):  Dan 8:26-27, 10:8-12; 1Ne. 17:47; Alma 27:17; Moses 1:9-10:  See notes above

     “overcome with the Spirit”
            -I think there is a substantial/significant reason for the use of “with” instead of “by”.  “With” signifies a more personal/intimate communication.  His state was not something the Spirit did to him, but through, in and by cooperation with him.  This requires a significant degree of worthiness on Lehi’s behalf.  It also shows, as in so many other places, that the Spirit works with us, respecting our agency; not doing things to us but with us (when invited into our lives).

     “cast himself upon his bed, being overcome…”
            -Lehi was nothing less than exhausted!  The Spirit demands and drains physical strength.  Sound like another (more modern) prophet’s experience?

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