2 Nephi 9:2,4 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light;...For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor. I often think that it's no wonder the Jews didn't accept Christ's assertion that this was him. He gave them the freedom that comes from knowing that earthly things pass away, rather than the freedom that comes from destroying their earthly oppressors, i.e. Rome.
9:11-12 Therefore the Lord shall...join his enemies together...and they shall devour israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. The imagery of the Lord, full of righteous anger, allowing the consequences of sin to punish his covenant people, but standing there, with his hand stretched out to rescue them if they will just reach out to him is rampant throughout the Old Testament and it is some of my favorite sources of understanding the nature of God. I think about my own self and my kids--when they are being bad and I'm punishing them, am I able to stand there with my hand out, ready for their sincere contrition? Through the rest of the chapter, this message is repeated several times, each time after he explains what they are doing wrong and what consequences of that they will be forced to endure, but he wants to make it clear that he is ready to forgive as soon as they are ready to repent.
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