Isaiah
To understand Isaiah, it helps to
understand the days in which he lived:
Remember A, B, C
A – 721 BC stands for Assyrians who captured the Northern kingdom of
Israel (the 10 tribes) stands
for when the Assyrians attacked the Southern kingdom of Judah bur didn’t
conquer because Hezekiah was a righteous king who followed Isaiah’s counsel.
B – 587 BC Stands for Babylonians who take the southern kingdom of Judah
in captivity. Hezekiah had died and his son did not listen to Isaiah.
C – 537 BC Stands for Cyrus, the King of Persia who allows the Jews to
return to Judah
1 Nephi 20:15 speaks of Cyrus the Conquerer of Chaldeans.
“I have brought him, and he
shall make his way prosperous.” He was a gentile who was
inspired to help carry out God’s Plan.
In the First Vision, the Lord quoted
Isaiah when he said with their lips “they draw near me but their hearts are far
from me.”
Four of the prophets in the Book of
Mormon urged us to study Isaiah. He is quoted more than any other prophet in
the New Testament, Doctrine and Covenants, and in the Book of Mormon.
The Dead Sea Scrolls were the most
important archeological find of the 20th Century. They were found by
Bedouin shephards, young men. While tending sheep one had wandered off so they
went to look for it. Many times sheep got lost in caves. They didn’t want to go
in the cave, so, as was customary, they threw in rocks to scare the sheep out.
But one time when they threw in a rock, they heard things fall and break, so
they went in to see what was there and found a bunch of ceramic pots with old
scrolls of scriptures in them. 20 of the scrolls were of the book of Isaiah.
The Jews loved Isaiah. Nephi said great are the words of Isaiah.
Isaiah is the only Old Testament
prophet who testified of the 1st coming of Christ; all the others
prophesied of the 2nd coming.
There are 14 books of scripture left
out of the bible that we know of. The Jews didn’t like what some of the
prophets said, so they took them out. They couldn’t really understand
everything that Isaiah said, so they left him in. Isaiah was precious but not plain.
Isaiah’s main theme is the scattering
and gathering of Israel.
Isaiah was called to be a prophet 740
BC – 140 years before Nephi began to preach; that’s why he liked Isaiah so
much. Isaiah saw the ‘panoramic vision” as did Joseph Smith and the Brother of
Jared and other prophets. Isaiah is the only prophet who mentions Lucifer and
that he fell from heaven. Chapter 29 speaks of the restauration; chapter 65
talks about the millennium saying we will live to the age of a tree.
Isaiah and John the Revelator both use
lots of symbolism to describe the future because they had no other frame of
reference to describe things that people had never seen before. But the problem
with Isaiah is that he does not write in chronological order. Also, whenever he
says “in that day”, he is speaking of the last dispensation/the last days.
Isaiah lived in the southern kingdom.
All in the southern kingdom are called Jews even though not all are from the
tribe of Judah. All in the northern kingdom are called Ephriam, even they are
from 10 of the tribes.
Isaiah was very well connected – he
was an advisor to 4 kings but only 1 followed his counsel – Hezekiah. Isaiah
was married to a princess, descended of royal blood. 2 Ne 16 talks of Isaiah’s
call. He was a young man when he was called.
God told Isaiah what to name his sons and the
names contained prophesies for Israel. They are
·
Shear-Jashub means "a remnant shall return"." (Isaiah
7:3)
·
Maher-shalal-hash-baz means "Swift to the booty, speedy to
the prey" (Isaiah 8:1-3) or "Spoil quickly, plunder speedily" (Isaiah
8:3) depending on your
source.
Isaiah lived in a time of idol worship. Idol worship means
more than just praying to an idol; it also involved immorality, human
sacrifice, killing prophets, etc. The
kings in Isaiah’s time didn’t seek his counsel
but sought alliances with other kingdoms.
Think about it - Our ancestors were in the northern kingdom and were captured.
Later they repented and left but most stayed and became the lost 10 tribes.
Isaiah warned the king Manasseh to repent. He didn’t listen
and had Isaiah sawed in half. After Isaiah died, the southern kingdom was captured by the
Babylonians. 100 years before Christ was born
Isaiah prophesied that the Jews would return to Judah so that Christ would be born there. He
was brought back by Cyrus.
Josephus said that Isaiah wrote of Cyrus by name. It was on
the dead sea scrolls. Cyrus saw it and it softened his heart so he let the Jews
who wanted to go back to Judah.
Parley P Pratt said that Joseph Smith had the generosity of a
Cyrus. (see entire description below)
While Laurel Lawrence was snowed in in Russia and Larry was
in meetings all day every day, she decided she needed a project. She decided to
spend the time studying Isaiah and write a poem summarizing each Isaiah chapter
in the Book of Mormon.
1 Nephi 21 (Isaiah 48) - To the Jews who will be taken captive to Babylon
O House of Israel, listen up! You promised to obey.
You call yourself my people,but your faith has slipped away.
I warned you if you wandered that afflictions would be sore;
Your idols never warned you - don't support them anymore.
As a nation you were stubborn from the morning of your birth
Yet I led you out of Egypt; you were feared in all the earth.
You are still my chosen people,though you're feeling insecure,
I will always keep my promises - of that you can be sure!
I hae called a man named 'Cyrus' to defeat your enemies.
He will conquer the Chaldeans; he will bring them to their knees.
then he'll make a declaration of surprising happy news,
Saying, "Go ye out of Babylon,ye captives that are Jews."
After Cyrus has declared it, I will lead you safely back,
But your peace will not be lasting if it's righteousness you lack.
1 Nephi 22 (Isaiah 49) - the 'Servant's song', verses 1-13. The servant can represent Christ, Isaiah, Joseph Smith, and us.
O House of Israel, broken off, and scattered abroad,
The Lord has called me from the womb to teach the word of God.
He blessed me with the gift to preach and held me in his hand.
He polished me through many trials, to help me understand.
Sometimes, I wondered if I failed,was all my work in vain?
But God will bless my ministry, reward me for my pain.
His people have been scattered on the islands of the sea.
They've hungered and they've thirsted for the truth to set them free.
Soon Israel will be gathered home, and I can be a light,
To show the way to gentiles too, if they will choose the right.
(Isaiah's commentary - verses 14-26)
God's people feel forgotten, but the Lord is always true;
His scars remind him every day how much he cares for you.
The Church is like a "bride" to Christ; she nurtures all his young;
And many converts will be born before his work is done.
The Church is like a standard raised - high in a gentile land
Whose members travel round the world to lend a helping hand.
Though Satan captured Jacob's seed when they began to stray,
God's servants will deliver them in that great latter day!
CRACKING THE ISAIAH CODE:
Gentile means a citizen
of a gentile nation, not a person individually by birth.
"THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL" is - JESUS CHRIST, A DESCENDANT OF ISRAEL,
HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY WAS DIRECTED
ENTIRELY TO
THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.
"LORD OF HOSTS is - JESUS IS THE COMMANDER OF THE ARMIES
OF HEAVEN, (HOSTS OF ANGELS THAT GREATLY
OUTNUMBER THE POPULATION OF MORTALS ON THE EARTH)
"PUT ON THY STRENGTH" means USE YOUR PRIESTHOOD POWER (D&C
113:5-8)
"GENTlLES" are the CITIZENS OF GENTILE NATIONS (ALL
NATIONS ARE GENTILE NATIONS EXCEPT ISRAEL)
WE ARE
DESCENDANTS OF ISRAEL WHO LIVE IN A GENTILE NATIONS (THE BOOK OF MORMON CALLS
US "A REMNANT OF JACOB AMONG THE GENTILES")
"NURSING FATHERS AND MOTHERS" are THOSE WHO ASSIST IN THE GATHERING,
THOSE WHO NURTURE NEW CONVERTS
"REMNANT" refers to LIVING DESCENDANTS; LINEAGE
"MARVELOUS WORK AND A WONDER" is the RESTORATION OF GOSPEL IN LAST DAYS
"BILL OF DIVORCEMENT" means a FORMAL BREAKING OF COVENANT. THE LORD
IS THE BRIDEGROOM; COVENANT ISRAEL (THE
CHURCH) IS THE BRIDE.
"HIS HAND IS STRETCHED OUT STILL" means THE LORD IS STILL WILLING TO FORGIVE
"ENSIGN TO THE NATIONS" is any PLACE OF GATHERING (LDS CHURCH, THE
STANDARD)
"IN THAT DAY” means IN THE LAST DISPENSATION (INCLUDES
MILLENNIUM)
"WAIT UPON THE LORD" means TO SERVE GOD AND TRUST THAT HE WILL
KEEP HIS PROMISES
"BABYLON" refers to SYMBOL FOR KINGDOM OF THE DEVIL
"ZION" has MULTIPLE MEANINGS: ENOCH'S CITY,
TEMPLE MT. IN JERUSALEM, THE NEW JERUSALEM,
AMERICA, THE PURE IN HEART, THE LORD'S CHURCH
"ISRAEL" also has MULTIPLE
MEANINGS: THE PROPHET JACOB, THE DESCENDANTS OF JACOB, THE
NORTHERN
KINGDOM, THOSE WHO JOIN GOD'S CHURCH, THOSE CHOSEN AND
FOREORDAINED
TO BE GOD'S WITNESSES ON EARTH.
“SHEARJASHUB" was the OLDEST SON OF ISAIAH; HIS NAME MEANS
"A REMNANT WILL RETURN"; (HIS NAME WAS A
PROPHECY THAT A REMNANT OF JEWS WOULD RETURN TO PALESTINE AFTER THE
BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY.)
“MAHER-SHALAL-HASH-BAZ" was the YOUNGEST SON OF ISAIAH. (HIS NAME IS A
PROPHECY. IT MEANS "DESTRUCTION IS
IMMINENT". (ASSYRIA WOULD SOON DESTROY NO. KINGDOM).
"STEM OF JESSE" is JESUS; DESCENDANT OF JESSE, HEIR TO THE
THRONE OF ISRAEL.
"WATCHMEN" are the MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD HOLDERS
(RESPONSIBLE TO WARN ISRAEL).
"MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOUSE" is A TEMPLE (MOUNTAINS SERVED AS ANCIENT
TEMPLES.)
Physical Descriptions of Joseph Smith
Parley P. Pratt of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
President Joseph Smith was in person a tall and well built,
strong and active; of a light complexion, light hair, blue eyes, very little
beard, and of an expression peculiar to himself, on which the eye naturally
rested with interest, and was never weary of beholding. His countenance was
ever mild, affable, beaming with intelligence and benevolence; mingled with a look
of interest and an unconscious smile, or cheerfulness, and entirely free from
all restraint or affectation of gravity; and there was something connected with
the serene and steady penetrating glance of his eye, as if he would penetrate
the deepest abyss of the human heart, gaze into eternity, penetrate the heavens,
and comprehend all worlds.
He possessed a noble boldness and independence of character;
his manner was easy and familiar; his rebuke terrible as the lion; his
benevolence unbounded as the ocean; his intelligence universal, and his
language abounding in original eloquence peculiar to himself – not polished –
not studied – not smoothed and softened by education and refined by art; but
flowing forth in its own native simplicity, and profusely abounding in variety
of subject and manner. He interested and edified, while, at the same time, he
amused and entertained his audience; and none listened to him that were ever
weary with his discourse. I have ever known him to retain a congregation of
willing and anxious listeners for many hours together, in the midst of cold or
sunshine, rain or wind, while they were laughing at one moment and weeping in
the next. Even his most bitter enemies were generally overcome, if he could
once get their ears.
I have known him when chained and surrounded with armed
murderers and assassins who were heaping upon him every possible insult and
abuse, rise up in the majesty of a son of God and rebuke them, in the name of
Jesus Christ, till they quailed before him, dropped their weapons, and, on
their knees, begged his pardon, and ceased their abuse.
In short, in him the characters of a Daniel and a Cyrus were
wonderfully blended. The gifts, wisdom and devotion of a Daniel were united
with the boldness, courage, temperance, perseverance and generosity of a Cyrus.
And had he been spared a martyr’s fate till mature manhood and age, he was
certainly endued with powers and ability to have revolutionized the world in
many respects, and to have transmitted to posterity a name associated with more
brilliant and glorious acts than has yet fallen to the lot of mortal. As it is,
his works will live to endless ages, and unnumbered millions yet unborn will
mention his name with honor, as a noble instrument in the hands of God, who,
during his short and youthful career, laid the foundation of that kingdom
spoken of by Daniel, the prophet, which should break in pieces all other
kingdoms and stand forever. (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, 32(
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