1 Ne 21:4-5 I have
labored in vain
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).