Much of this lesson is taken directly from The Gospel Doctrine Manual. Any deviations, or other thoughts, I have put here in this post.
When the Savior appeared as a resurrected being to the nephites (3 Nephi 11-28), He commanded the people to read the scriptures, but particularly the Book of Isaiah. Why is it so critical to read Isaiah?
When the Savior appeared as a resurrected being to the nephites (3 Nephi 11-28), He commanded the people to read the scriptures, but particularly the Book of Isaiah. Why is it so critical to read Isaiah?
- To "more fully persuade [us] to believe in the Lord," (1 Nephi 19:23)
- To provide another witness of Jesus Christ, (2 Nephi 11:2-4)
- To help us (his readers) rejoice, (2 Nephi 11:5-6) and
- To reveal God's judgments. (2 Nephi 25:3)
Why are they particularly important for us today? We see these prophesies coming to pass with our very eyes (2 Nephi 25:7-8)
There are several important keys that help us better understand Isaiah? Nephi gives some ideas to us:
- "Liken all scriptures unto us," (1 Nephi 19:23)
- "Know...concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews," (2 Nephi 25:1) [For example, a mountain has always been a holy place to the Jews, a place where one could commune with God. So a mountain by Isaiah's standards is the same as a temple to us.]
- "Know the judgments of God," (2 Nephi 25:3) [Understanding how the Lord worked to judge and bless His people will help us understand what He can do in our lives]
- "Know concerning the regions round about [Jerusalem]," (2 Nephi 25:6)
- "Be filled with the spirit of prophecy." (2 Nephi 25:4)
For me, another key to understanding Isaiah is not to look at a particular chapter. Often, Isaiah speaks about the same topic through multiple chapters, so only reading one chapter distorts the continuity. For example, Isaiah 2-5 is about Temples and the Gathering of Israel. Isaiah 7-12 uses the war between Judah (the people of God) and their enemies (Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and Kingdom of Syria) to prophecy of the life of the Savior and the Atonement, as well as the blessings for following Christ and the destruction of those who fight against the work of God.
To connect chapters, look for connecting words, such as, "Moreover," "Nevertheless," "And it shall come to pass in that day," "For behold," and so on.
What are some concepts you have noticed that help you better understand Isaiah?
2 Nephi 12:1-12 Isaiah sees the latter-day temple and the gathering of Israel
The best way to start studying Isaiah is to start reading. Read 2 Nephi 12:1-12 before continuing this lesson.
Notes on this passage:
- 12:2 Definition: Utah: "The name "Utah" comes from the Native American 'Ute' tribe and means people of the mountains." (http://www.utah.gov/about/quickfacts.html)
- 12:3 "Mountain of the Lord" and "house of the God of Jacob" are both used synonymously here. Both are referred to as a place of teaching. In Jewish society, this was done in the Temple.
- 12:4 Definition: Judge: verb. to decide or settle authoritatively. (from dictionary.reference.com)
- The east is a symbol of the world. From Jerusalem, all the wicked nations were to the east. Also, a wind coming from the east always caused death and destruction because it was so dry. When Adam and Eve were first created, they were placed eastward in the garden of Eden. After they fell, they left to the east, so their journey too the east was symbolic of leaving God's presence, and coming from the east to the west is a return to God's presence.
