“In His Love and in His Pity He Redeemed Them”
Isaiah 63:7–9
7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.
8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.
9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said:
“Prophesying of the Savior’s Atonement, Isaiah wrote, ‘He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows’ [Isa. 53:4]. A majestic latter-day vision emphasized that ‘[Jesus] came into the world . . . to bear the sins of the world’ [D&C 76:41]. Both ancient and modern scripture testify that ‘he redeemed them, and bore them, and carried them all the days of old’ [D&C 133:53 see also Isa. 63:9]. A favorite hymn pleads with us to ‘hear your great Deliv’rer’s voice!’ [“Israel, Israel, God Is Calling,” Hymns, no. 7.]
“Bear, borne, carry, deliver. These are powerful, heartening messianic words. They convey help and hope for safe movement from where we are to where we need to be—but cannot get without assistance. These words also connote burden, struggle, and fatigue—words most appropriate in describing the mission of Him who, at unspeakable cost, lifts us up when we have fallen, carries us forward when strength is gone, delivers us safely home when safety seems far beyond our reach. ‘My Father sent me,’ He said, ‘that I might be lifted up upon the cross; . . . that as I have been lifted up . . . even so should men be lifted up . . . to . . . me’ [3 Ne. 27:14].”
(“Behold Thy Mother,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 47.)
