Mosiah 11:21 - 11:29

Mosiah 11:21 And except they repent and turn to the Lord their God, behold, I will deliver them into the hands of their enemies; yea, and they shall be brought into bondage; and they shall be afflicted by the hand of their enemies.

Unless they repent, the Lord will allow the Lamanites to take them into bondage and be treated as slaves.

Mosiah 11:22 And it shall come to pass that they shall know that I am the Lord their God, and am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of my people.

The losing of their freedom will be a sign that the Lord was not pleased with their actions. And this is to show the Nephites that the Lord is the one that provides their freedom not their own powers.

Mosiah 11:23 And it shall come to pass that except this people repent and turn unto the Lord their God, they shall be brought into bondage; and none shall deliver them, except it be the Lord the Almighty God.

Again except the people show genuine repentance, they will become slaves to the Lamanites and be sorely persecuted by them.

Mosiah 11:24 Yea, and it shall come to pass that when they shall cry unto me I will be slow to hear their cries; yea, and I will suffer them that they be smitten by their enemies.

And even if the people start to pray for deliverance, He will not respond speedily. He will continue to allow the Lamanites to mistreat them until He decides otherwise.

Mosiah 11:25 And except they repent in sackcloth and ashes, and cry mightily to the Lord their God, I will not hear their prayers, neither will I deliver them out of their afflictions; and thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me.

Because of the poor state the people are in at the moment, it will take actions such as sackcloth and ashes to convince the Lord that their repentance is genuine. Until they are genuinely repenting of their sins, He will not deliver them from slavery or any of the afflictions He will allow the Lamanites to inflict on them.

Mosiah 11:26 Now it came to pass that when Abinadi had spoken these words unto them they were wroth with him, and sought to take away his life; but the Lord delivered him out of their hands.

The people did not react favorably to Abinadi’s message from the Lord. They tried to kill him to shut him up, but the Lord delivered him from their murderous attempts.

Mosiah 11:27 Now when king Noah had heard of the words which Abinadi had spoken unto the people, he was also wroth; and he said: Who is Abinadi, that I and my people should be judged of him, or who is the Lord, that shall bring upon my people such great affliction?

When king Noah heard about this person going about the people telling them to repent, he was mad too. Who was Abinadi that he could accuse the people of the things he said they were guilty of. And who was this god that came down to condemn them?
[The king and the priest must have conjured up a god of their own making like all apostate groups do. And their doctrine is in line with how they want to behave. So when Abinadi comes forward to condemn their actions, the people will say that what he is saying does not line up with their doctrine and is therefore a false god. That’s how far gone the people were under the influence of the wicked king Noah.]

Mosiah 11:28 I command you to bring Abinadi hither, that I may slay him, for he has said these things that he might stir up my people to anger one with another, and to raise contentions among my people; therefore I will slay him.

King Noah, hearing the things said by Abinadi, commanded that he be brought before him for trial. He was to be accused of sedition or trying to riel up the people against the king. Sedition is punishable by death.
[What king Noah was really afraid of was the people repenting of their sins and coming to know that Noah was taking advantage of them with the heavy taxation.]

Mosiah 11:29 Now the eyes of the people were blinded; therefore they hardened their hearts against the words of Abinadi, and they sought from that time forward to take him. And king Noah hardened his heart against the word of the Lord, and he did not repent of his evil doings.

Through the able efforts of king Noah’s agents, they were able to convince the people that Abinadi was an enemy of the state wanting their down fall. Abinadi therefore became a wanted man. Neither king Noah or the people would give Abinadi any credence.
[He has to go into hiding to protect his life. His mission is not yet over. He awaits the Lord’s next command.]