2 Nephi 4

Condescension of the Lord

O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions? 2 Nephi 4:26

Nephi uses the same word, condescension, that the angel used when showing him the birth and ministry of the Son of God. The Lord coming down to visit men in mercy echoes that vision.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to 1 Nephi 11:16 — Knowest thou the condescension of God?
• alludes to 1 Nephi 11:26 — Behold the condescension of God, the Son of the Eternal Father.

Rock of Salvation

Rock — the sure foundation that cannot fail

Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation. 2 Nephi 4:30

Nephi calls the Lord the rock of his salvation. In the Book of Mormon the rock we build on is 'our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God.'

How we know: a footnote points to Him

• the same title in Helaman 5:12 — The rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ.
• alludes to Psalm 95:1 — The rock of our salvation.
• the same title in 1 Corinthians 10:4 — That Rock was Christ.

Redeemer

O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin? 2 Nephi 4:31

Nephi pleads with the Lord to redeem his soul, turning to Christ's power to redeem him from sin, not only from his enemies.

• alludes to 2 Nephi 1:15 — Lehi: the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 2:6 — Redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah.

Broken heart and contrite spirit

May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road! 2 Nephi 4:32

A broken heart and contrite spirit is the offering Christ asks for; Lehi had just taught that Christ's sacrifice answers the ends of the law for those who have one.

• alludes to 2 Nephi 2:7 — He offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 9:20 — Christ asks for the sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

Robe of Righteousness

O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy. 2 Nephi 4:33

Nephi asks to be clothed in the Lord's own righteousness, an image of being covered and made clean through the Savior.

• alludes to Isaiah 61:10 — He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 9:14 — The righteous clothed with purity, even the robe of righteousness.

Rock of Righteousness

Rock — the sure foundation that cannot fail

Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen. 2 Nephi 4:35

Nephi ends his psalm naming the Lord 'my rock and mine everlasting God.' The rock is Christ, the foundation that cannot fall.

• the same title in Helaman 5:12 — The rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ.