Isaiah part quatre - come follow me with sam

 Welcome! I'll admit it. I made a mistake. I thought we were only doing isaiah for 3 weeks but we are in this for 5. so here is part 4 of the Isaiah readings for come follow me.


Isaiah 50

Chapter 50 is my favorite Isaiah chapter. I broke this one down when I was going through 2 Nephi 7 and have nothing to add to that besides this really is Isaiah's 'Abinadai' moment - where he knows he is doing the right thing and knows he will speak the words of life whatever the consequences.

Isaiah 51

Isaiah 51 is really fun chapter in a number of ways. Before diving in, read these verses, then read the first 4 verses of Isaiah 51, and let me know what you think.

1 In the land of the aChaldeans, at the residence of my fathers, I, bAbraham, saw that it was needful for me to obtain another place of cresidence;

2 And, finding there was greater ahappiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of brighteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great cknowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many dnations, a prince of peace, and edesiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a fHigh Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.

3 It was aconferred upon me from the fathers; it came down from the fathers, from the beginning of time, yea, even from the beginning, or before the foundation of the earth, down to the present time, even the right of the bfirstborn, or the first man, who is cAdam, or first father, through the fathers unto me.

4 I sought for mine aappointment unto the Priesthood according to the appointment of God unto the bfathers concerning the seed. 

notice how similar the wording is in both these.


Isa: hearken... ye that follow after righteousness

Abr: 'having been myself a follower of righteousness'


Isa: 'look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you'

Abr: 'I [Abraham] sought for mine appointment unto the Priesthood according to the appointment of God unto the fathers.


Isa: Joy and gladness will by found therin, thanksgiving and the voice of melody'

Abr: and finding there was grater happeiness and peace and rest for me...'


The 'follower' of righteousness' is the most striking to me; we have an ancient document revealed by Joseph Smith that shows Abraham setting the example of being a follower of righeousness, and here in the bible we have Isaiah is asking Israel to be a follower of righteousness after Abraham, using the same language and referring back to the patriarch's example. We also have the same elements of seeking the blessings of the fathers, looking for greater joy and following the covenant.

Bruce R McConkie noted vs 16 has parallels to Moroni and Nephi's last addresses. the words 'awake, awake' and what happens afterward are also reminiscent of Moroni's last address. (also the first couple verses from chapter 52

I can't help but wonder if 'these two things' in vs 19 may be the 2 prophets in Revelation and Doctrine and covenants. 'things' is actually an added word in the translation - there isn''t actually a hebrew word for it, so the original read something closer to 'these two are come unto thee... by whom shall I comfort thee? In these verses, there is a quick reversal of the redemption of zion to the slaughter and destruction of the city which then turns around to the giving of the cup of trembling back to the enemies. This sounds very much like the last days and redemption of zion leading up to the siege of jerusalem, the city (half of it) being laid waste, the two prophets coming, their apparent defeat, and imminent fall of the city before God turns the tide against them and destroys them.

Isaiah 52

Chapter 52 is another interesting one. these contain the verses that the wicked priests of King Noah used to accuse Abinadai. I didn't realize it before but you really need to completely ignore the whole rest of the chapter to even attempt a try at the interpretation the wicked priests were chasing. Abinadai must have been laughing inside himself; the wicked priests built and virtually sprang their own trap on themselves. You can read how Abinadai teaches these verses here.

What's funny is that I commented that Abinadai 'reacts as though he can't quite believe what he is hearing' not realizing what I mentioned above about the absolute backwardness of the claim in context of the chapter. Even then I could feel Abinadai was incredulous.

Isaiah 53

will update at a later date

Isaiah 54

will update at a later date

Isaiah 55

will update at a later date

Isaiah 56

will update at a later date

Isaiah 57

will update at a later date

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