CFM BOM with Sam week 8 - 2 Nephi 11-25 The Isaiah Chapters!
Welcome to Come Follow Me with Sam, the Isaiah chapters! We are going to tackle them ALL! Or at least we'll talk about each one in this reading.
Remember Isaiah is telling a story but not necessarily a chronological one. It is more a story about fall and redemption of the soul. Consider this your cheat sheet for the Isaiah chapters. Let's do this!
2 Nephi 12 - Isaiah 2
What we have seen before is a pattern of a fall or loss, then redemption. Here, we have the opposite. God talks about the redeemed of zion and then says that the people have turned away from walking in the light of the lord, in the house of Jacob. Isaiah says that the wicked will wish to hide in the clefts of the rocks.
In French, the last verse is - Cease from confidence in man, in the nostrils of which, there is only breathe, for of what value is it?
2 Nephi 13 - Isaiah 3
continuing the falling away narrative, Isaiah explains why they fell away. They gave up the staff (likely of the priesthood) and the stay (likely of the gospel, or ordinances). He says that every one will be prideful and oppressed by another. This is what inevitably happens when you do not seek zion. People will not know how to be healers, and will not wish to lead because the power of deliverance is gone from them.
God calls out Israel for not taking care of the poor. He says 'what mean ye? Ye beat my people to pieces and grind the faces of the poor. He then condemns the daughters of zion for their haughtiness.
2 Nephi 14 - Isaiah 4
A cap of the last chapter, God says that He will finally redeem the Daughters of Zion, and that the glory of zion will be a defense.
2 Nephi 15 - Isaiah 5
God tells of His work to help His people - there are many tie-ins back to chapter 13/3. There are a number of important lines here that are repeated in other scriptures.
vs 4, What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it? God cries for His labor and the people's rejection of it. see Jacob 7.
vs 13 therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge. This is one of the great stumbling blocks of Zion. see 2 Nephi 32.
vs 14 Therefore , hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure; and their glory, and heir multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. God speaks for many verses how the pride of the world will fall into hell, and destroy without measure. he mentions how the root is rotten and so the entire plant goes up to dust. The root here is likely rapprochement with the Savior himself. It is like those who profess religion become drunk (v22) with philosophy instead of seeking the savior. This is a repeated theme in Isaiah.
v25 For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. This is the hand of vengeance and destruction. See 19/9 below.
Part-way Recap
God promises a redemption with peace and rest, but immediately turns around and says that His chosen people rejected it. While Isaiah hints at times of the redemptive work despite this, as with daughters of zion and work in the vineyard, he says that this is because the people are proud and vain, that they grind the poor, reject the covenants, and do not seek knowledge and because of this, Hell will open without measure.
This is such an important reminder to us. We have the mountain of the Lord with us. We are part of the Lord's vineyard. We need to be so attuned to doing the right thing because if we don't Hell is waiting for us, and it will open without measure. If there is any doubt of what that means, just study the wars and genocides of the twentieth century.
1. We should be making sure that there are no poor among us. I am not so sure that God is satisfied with our current level. I know personally that He expects more of me.
2. We need to give up all our pride. What does this mean? I'm not sure I have the answers yet. Perhaps it is ceasing from confidence in man, in whose nostrils there is only breathe, and instead waiting upon the Lord, as Jacob instructed and as I talked about in my last post.
3. We need to seek the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives. I believe he is the root. None of our oblations at church will probably mean anything if we are not seeking Jesus Christ Himself. If we want to do that, I think the most straightforward thing is to take conscious effort to ask what he would do, and do it. Actually, that probably falls second to praying with all your might to be filled with His love, as Moroni says in Moroni 7.
If we do this, perhaps we can have the glory of zion fall on us and be a defense against all the things Isaiah warns of.
Okay, here we go back into it again.
2 Nephi 16 - Isaiah 6
I would suggest pondering this chapter in the temple, as it is a temple scene where Isaiah speaks with God.
Many times we don't understand why God seems so harsh. I would respond that firstly, reread the scriptures that Isaiah has already written, and ask yourself if God is not saying over and over again that he is there ready to redeem, but instead it is the iniquities of the people that turn them away? In the second place, and something much harder for us on earth to understand, think less about how harsh he is and more about how glorious he is. This is how Isaiah approaches him. He says he is undone, back to pre-cosmogonic chaos as it were. The angel comes with a live coal from the altar, and symbolically purifies him. He is then worthy to serve, and asks God how long the earth will stay wicked. God answers that essentially that it will be wasted before the earth understands and turns again to God.
2 Nephi 17 - Isaiah 7
Ahaz, king of Judah, fears earthly alliances and doesn't trust the promises of God. Isaiah takes this moment to prophecy of the coming of Jesus, which is the first of this nature in the Book of Mormon. Isaiah is trying to teach the king and the people about the condescension of God, that he will truly come down, and that he will live as a man. He says that He will come of a virgin, but his name is Immanuel, or "God with us". Literally, though he comes as any baby, from a mother, he will actually be God and will dwell with us. He will eat just like us, and he will live an earthly existence with opposition just as we all go through, just as Lehi taught and Moroni will teach later, even though he is the redeemer of the world and of the state of opposition. He then says in that day, the alliance that Ahaz fears won't simply cease to exist, but Assyria won't even be 'a thing' anymore.
2 Nephi 18 - Isaiah 8
God continues to give revelation, possibly as a result of how Ahaz reacted. God says to call Isaiah's son Maher shalal hash baz, which in Hebrew means to speed to the spoil, he hasteneth his prey. The rest of the chapter is a chapter of dividing. To those who feared earthly powers, they will be broken up and destroyed. But those sanctified in the Lord will not be afraid (!), only of God. Isaiah says that he will wait on the Lord, even though He is not showing Himself generally in Israel, and he will look for Him. This underscores what we said earlier about waiting on the lord.
2 Nephi 19 - Isaiah 9 - Recap
This chapter is packed with Messianic prophecy and significance and is a good place to recap this next group. The glory of God is on the earth, but the earth is filled with darkness because they cannot trust God and they fear instead the earthly powers. Because of this they will suffer destruction. In chapter 19, it seems Isaiah parallels some of this. He talks of the glory of God on earth, including the famous lines that Handel composed into song, and also words which the angel would utter to Mary, mother of Jesus. It seems that the people continue to trust in their own works despite this first coming. vs 10 talks of hewn stones and changing to cedars, which signifies trusting in the work of men instead of God. Because of this, God repeats 3 times "My anger is not turned away, but my hand (of wrath) is stretched out still.
2 Nephi 20 - Isaiah 10
The theme of taking care of the fatherless and the widows comes back again. However, at this point, the narrative turns to Assyria itself. Assyria brags Are not my princes altogether kings? Basically, he is bragging that even his underlings are greater than all of another nation. Is not Calno as Carchemish, Is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria as Damascus? He's saying just as I can smash and have smashed any one of these places, I could turn Jerusalem to pulp. But in vs 15, God says, shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth? or in other words, God has control the entire time, and will again redeem his people. the remnant shall return unto the mighty God.
2 Nephi 21 - Isaiah 11
This chapter is fast and furious. Isaiah describes the characteristics of the Messiah, then switches immediately into the millennium. He notes that the gentiles will seek God, and that the envy, or rivalry, of Ephraim will go away, and they will both seek God. He also hints at a millennial event where God will raise up a highway, like he did for Moses to cross the Red sea, only it will be raising the land instead of lowering the ocean, a most intriguing millennial event.
2 Nephi 22 - Isaiah 12
The people will finally praise God (Jehovah) and accept him and be able to live in zion in joy.
2 Nephi 23 - Isaiah 13
The complete and utter destruction of Babylon is described.
2 Nephi 24 - Isaiah 14
The people of God will finally find his rest. Most notably, they will see hell as weak, and will wonder that the devil had any power. It is crazy to even think, but the power of the devil is more illusion than anything. God says the poor have finally found something to trust in.
That is the end of the Isaiah chapters! Here is a brief summary of everything:
God has created a path that leads back to Him, along with promises of rest. The people continually reject His path primarily because of pride, and oppressing the poor, and also trusting in the arm of flesh. This path leads only to destruction. First the oppressor will destroy, then in turn will be destroyed. Jesus Christ will come down as a man, yet will be the Son of the very Eternal Father, or God Himself to use Abinadai's terms, and he will be the prophesied Messiah to redeem his people. He will redeem His people a second time in the last days. By following the path we talked about earlier, we can be redeemed, and finally find rest and power over all affliction.
Truly, great are the words of Isaiah.
Nephi says that even his own people struggle to understand the words of Isaiah and that they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. Nephi decides to focus very particularly upon the coming of Jesus. He speaks of the hardness of the hearts of his people, both in Jerusalem at his time, when Babylon destroyed it, and when Christ Himself comes, and Jerusalem is destroyed again. Nephi says this is why they are scattered all over the earth. But Jesus will set his hand the second time.
At the end, Nephi says that he teaches his children of the deadness of the law, that they might find life in Christ and look to Him. This is consistent with what he said to his brothers while building the boat in chapter 17, and he is focused on helping his people avoid the trap which caused Jerusalem to reject the prophets, and eventually Jesus.
The greatest lesson of all of these chapters is to not be afraid, but to come unto Christ in all things and full purpose of heart, and find rest in Him. The chapters are filled with warning, destruction, and scattering, but as in the beginning so in the end - come unto Christ and ye shall find rest.
Remember Isaiah is telling a story but not necessarily a chronological one. It is more a story about fall and redemption of the soul. Consider this your cheat sheet for the Isaiah chapters. Let's do this!
The Isaiah chapters
2 Nephi 12 - Isaiah 2
What we have seen before is a pattern of a fall or loss, then redemption. Here, we have the opposite. God talks about the redeemed of zion and then says that the people have turned away from walking in the light of the lord, in the house of Jacob. Isaiah says that the wicked will wish to hide in the clefts of the rocks.
In French, the last verse is - Cease from confidence in man, in the nostrils of which, there is only breathe, for of what value is it?
2 Nephi 13 - Isaiah 3
continuing the falling away narrative, Isaiah explains why they fell away. They gave up the staff (likely of the priesthood) and the stay (likely of the gospel, or ordinances). He says that every one will be prideful and oppressed by another. This is what inevitably happens when you do not seek zion. People will not know how to be healers, and will not wish to lead because the power of deliverance is gone from them.
God calls out Israel for not taking care of the poor. He says 'what mean ye? Ye beat my people to pieces and grind the faces of the poor. He then condemns the daughters of zion for their haughtiness.
2 Nephi 14 - Isaiah 4
A cap of the last chapter, God says that He will finally redeem the Daughters of Zion, and that the glory of zion will be a defense.
2 Nephi 15 - Isaiah 5
God tells of His work to help His people - there are many tie-ins back to chapter 13/3. There are a number of important lines here that are repeated in other scriptures.
vs 4, What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it? God cries for His labor and the people's rejection of it. see Jacob 7.
vs 13 therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge. This is one of the great stumbling blocks of Zion. see 2 Nephi 32.
vs 14 Therefore , hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure; and their glory, and heir multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. God speaks for many verses how the pride of the world will fall into hell, and destroy without measure. he mentions how the root is rotten and so the entire plant goes up to dust. The root here is likely rapprochement with the Savior himself. It is like those who profess religion become drunk (v22) with philosophy instead of seeking the savior. This is a repeated theme in Isaiah.
v25 For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. This is the hand of vengeance and destruction. See 19/9 below.
Part-way Recap
God promises a redemption with peace and rest, but immediately turns around and says that His chosen people rejected it. While Isaiah hints at times of the redemptive work despite this, as with daughters of zion and work in the vineyard, he says that this is because the people are proud and vain, that they grind the poor, reject the covenants, and do not seek knowledge and because of this, Hell will open without measure.
This is such an important reminder to us. We have the mountain of the Lord with us. We are part of the Lord's vineyard. We need to be so attuned to doing the right thing because if we don't Hell is waiting for us, and it will open without measure. If there is any doubt of what that means, just study the wars and genocides of the twentieth century.
1. We should be making sure that there are no poor among us. I am not so sure that God is satisfied with our current level. I know personally that He expects more of me.
2. We need to give up all our pride. What does this mean? I'm not sure I have the answers yet. Perhaps it is ceasing from confidence in man, in whose nostrils there is only breathe, and instead waiting upon the Lord, as Jacob instructed and as I talked about in my last post.
3. We need to seek the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives. I believe he is the root. None of our oblations at church will probably mean anything if we are not seeking Jesus Christ Himself. If we want to do that, I think the most straightforward thing is to take conscious effort to ask what he would do, and do it. Actually, that probably falls second to praying with all your might to be filled with His love, as Moroni says in Moroni 7.
If we do this, perhaps we can have the glory of zion fall on us and be a defense against all the things Isaiah warns of.
Okay, here we go back into it again.
2 Nephi 16 - Isaiah 6
I would suggest pondering this chapter in the temple, as it is a temple scene where Isaiah speaks with God.
Many times we don't understand why God seems so harsh. I would respond that firstly, reread the scriptures that Isaiah has already written, and ask yourself if God is not saying over and over again that he is there ready to redeem, but instead it is the iniquities of the people that turn them away? In the second place, and something much harder for us on earth to understand, think less about how harsh he is and more about how glorious he is. This is how Isaiah approaches him. He says he is undone, back to pre-cosmogonic chaos as it were. The angel comes with a live coal from the altar, and symbolically purifies him. He is then worthy to serve, and asks God how long the earth will stay wicked. God answers that essentially that it will be wasted before the earth understands and turns again to God.
2 Nephi 17 - Isaiah 7
Ahaz, king of Judah, fears earthly alliances and doesn't trust the promises of God. Isaiah takes this moment to prophecy of the coming of Jesus, which is the first of this nature in the Book of Mormon. Isaiah is trying to teach the king and the people about the condescension of God, that he will truly come down, and that he will live as a man. He says that He will come of a virgin, but his name is Immanuel, or "God with us". Literally, though he comes as any baby, from a mother, he will actually be God and will dwell with us. He will eat just like us, and he will live an earthly existence with opposition just as we all go through, just as Lehi taught and Moroni will teach later, even though he is the redeemer of the world and of the state of opposition. He then says in that day, the alliance that Ahaz fears won't simply cease to exist, but Assyria won't even be 'a thing' anymore.
2 Nephi 18 - Isaiah 8
God continues to give revelation, possibly as a result of how Ahaz reacted. God says to call Isaiah's son Maher shalal hash baz, which in Hebrew means to speed to the spoil, he hasteneth his prey. The rest of the chapter is a chapter of dividing. To those who feared earthly powers, they will be broken up and destroyed. But those sanctified in the Lord will not be afraid (!), only of God. Isaiah says that he will wait on the Lord, even though He is not showing Himself generally in Israel, and he will look for Him. This underscores what we said earlier about waiting on the lord.
2 Nephi 19 - Isaiah 9 - Recap
This chapter is packed with Messianic prophecy and significance and is a good place to recap this next group. The glory of God is on the earth, but the earth is filled with darkness because they cannot trust God and they fear instead the earthly powers. Because of this they will suffer destruction. In chapter 19, it seems Isaiah parallels some of this. He talks of the glory of God on earth, including the famous lines that Handel composed into song, and also words which the angel would utter to Mary, mother of Jesus. It seems that the people continue to trust in their own works despite this first coming. vs 10 talks of hewn stones and changing to cedars, which signifies trusting in the work of men instead of God. Because of this, God repeats 3 times "My anger is not turned away, but my hand (of wrath) is stretched out still.
2 Nephi 20 - Isaiah 10
The theme of taking care of the fatherless and the widows comes back again. However, at this point, the narrative turns to Assyria itself. Assyria brags Are not my princes altogether kings? Basically, he is bragging that even his underlings are greater than all of another nation. Is not Calno as Carchemish, Is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria as Damascus? He's saying just as I can smash and have smashed any one of these places, I could turn Jerusalem to pulp. But in vs 15, God says, shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth? or in other words, God has control the entire time, and will again redeem his people. the remnant shall return unto the mighty God.
2 Nephi 21 - Isaiah 11
This chapter is fast and furious. Isaiah describes the characteristics of the Messiah, then switches immediately into the millennium. He notes that the gentiles will seek God, and that the envy, or rivalry, of Ephraim will go away, and they will both seek God. He also hints at a millennial event where God will raise up a highway, like he did for Moses to cross the Red sea, only it will be raising the land instead of lowering the ocean, a most intriguing millennial event.
2 Nephi 22 - Isaiah 12
The people will finally praise God (Jehovah) and accept him and be able to live in zion in joy.
2 Nephi 23 - Isaiah 13
The complete and utter destruction of Babylon is described.
2 Nephi 24 - Isaiah 14
The people of God will finally find his rest. Most notably, they will see hell as weak, and will wonder that the devil had any power. It is crazy to even think, but the power of the devil is more illusion than anything. God says the poor have finally found something to trust in.
We made it!!
That is the end of the Isaiah chapters! Here is a brief summary of everything:
God has created a path that leads back to Him, along with promises of rest. The people continually reject His path primarily because of pride, and oppressing the poor, and also trusting in the arm of flesh. This path leads only to destruction. First the oppressor will destroy, then in turn will be destroyed. Jesus Christ will come down as a man, yet will be the Son of the very Eternal Father, or God Himself to use Abinadai's terms, and he will be the prophesied Messiah to redeem his people. He will redeem His people a second time in the last days. By following the path we talked about earlier, we can be redeemed, and finally find rest and power over all affliction.
Truly, great are the words of Isaiah.
Nephi's admonition
Nephi says that even his own people struggle to understand the words of Isaiah and that they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. Nephi decides to focus very particularly upon the coming of Jesus. He speaks of the hardness of the hearts of his people, both in Jerusalem at his time, when Babylon destroyed it, and when Christ Himself comes, and Jerusalem is destroyed again. Nephi says this is why they are scattered all over the earth. But Jesus will set his hand the second time.
At the end, Nephi says that he teaches his children of the deadness of the law, that they might find life in Christ and look to Him. This is consistent with what he said to his brothers while building the boat in chapter 17, and he is focused on helping his people avoid the trap which caused Jerusalem to reject the prophets, and eventually Jesus.
The greatest lesson of all of these chapters is to not be afraid, but to come unto Christ in all things and full purpose of heart, and find rest in Him. The chapters are filled with warning, destruction, and scattering, but as in the beginning so in the end - come unto Christ and ye shall find rest.
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