Ezra 9

Grace

And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. Ezra 9:8–9

Ezra knows the remnant survives only because of Jehovah's grace, not their worthiness. That undeserved grace, which gives light and revival to people in bondage, is the grace that comes through Jesus Christ.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

Nail in a Sure Place

And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. Ezra 9:8

A "nail" is a tent peg, something fixed and secure. Isaiah uses the image of a nail fastened in a sure place for a faithful servant who holds the key of David, and Zechariah says the nail comes out of Judah. Ezra's secure hold in God's holy place softly echoes that steadfast Messiah.

• alludes to Isaiah 22:23 — "I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place."
• alludes to Zechariah 10:4 — "Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail."

Jehovah

And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this; Ezra 9:13–15

Ezra confesses that Jehovah, the premortal Christ, is righteous and yet merciful, giving deliverance they did not earn. That balance of justice and mercy is exactly what the Savior's Atonement makes possible.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• alludes to Psalm 103:10 — "He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities."