Old Testament Supplemental Study

The Book of Isaiah, Chapter 49

Gospel Doctrine Class, Sunday School Lesson #38

"Beside Me There Is No Saviour"

Reference: OLD TESTAMENT STUDENT MANUAL KINGS-MALACHI, pp. 191-195

Book Reference: The Old Testament Made Easier, Part three, by David J. Ridges, pp. 166-171

Isaiah 49 – Israel will yet help to preach the gospel to all the nations of the earth

Note: The entire chapter of Isaiah 49 is quoted in 1 Nephi 21 except for half of verse one.    And almost every verse is reviewed in the Old Testament Student Manual, II.  I have used it extensively in my summarization of Isaiah chapter forty-nine as it is more correct than my own interpretations (sometimes quoted without attribution to keep a smooth flow of the text). 

Ridges explains that in this prophecy Isaiah presents Israel as a person who is “thinking about her past and feels like she has been a failure as far as her calling and mission from the Lord is concerned.  Then she is startled by her success in the last days” (p. 166). 

“Listen, O isles [scattered remnants of Israel throughout the world] unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; the LORD hath called me [Israel] from the womb [before I was born]; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name” [Israel was foreordained in premortality to assist the Lord in His work] (v. 1).  “And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword” because she possessed the word of God to preach to all the nations of the earth.  However ancient Israel failed to live the teachings of the Lord and did not receive the blessings promised by the Lord in the Abrahamic Covenant (see Abraham 2:11).  It is believed that verses two and three may refer to latter-day Israel.  “[I]n the shadow [protection] of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me” (v. 2). 

Monte S. Nyman explains: "'in the shadow of his hand' is clarified in the Doctrine and Covenants where the Lord declares that the priesthood holders of this last dispensation are ‘lawful heirs, according to the flesh and have been hid from the world with Christ in God' (D&C 86:8-9).…[These lawful heirs of scattered Israel were lost to the world], but the Lord knew and had concealed them in his protective hand. 

"The polished shaft hidden in the Lord’s quiver may be a reference to Joseph Smith as the Lord’s 'choice seer' of the latter days." (Great Are the Words of Isaiah, pp. 173-74, quoted in the Student Manual, p. 192.)

“Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified” [Israel will yet fulfill its stewardship] (v. 3). 

Between the time when Israel was dispossessed and the Restoration, Israel became discouraged that she had “laboured in vain” and her strength was spent for naught [apostasy and false worship]. And yet her “judgment is with the Lord [only the Lord can judge Israel] and my work with my God” (v. 4).  “Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength” (v. 5).  Jacob will yet be raised and restored and stand as “a light to the Gentiles” and as a beacon of “salvation unto the end of the earth” (v. 6). 

“In an acceptable time,” God will hear their cry and “give thee [my servant, see 1 Nephi 21:8] for a covenant of the people” (v. 8).  That began with Joseph Smith.  Since then, the call has gone forth to others, “to [spiritual] prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in [spiritual] darkness, Shew yourselves” (v. 9).  They shall be fed with the fruits of the gospel—not “hunger nor thirst”—and shall be gathered into the gospel net “from far…from the north and from the west” (vv. 10, 12). 

Even though the Lord has clearly promised that Zion will be restored and smitten no more, Zion in her forlorn condition will come to view herself as one “forsaken” of the Lord (v. 14).  But He will show that He has not forsaken her.  "Can a woman forget her sucking [nursing] child."  The Lord answers that question, “Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel” (see 1 Nephi 21:15).  All that the Lord has promised will be fulfilled, for His covenant people are so a part of Him that it is as if their name has been carved on his hands [the Atonement] or on the walls that are continually before His eyes (v. 16).  For this reason Israel’s children [or descendants] shall “make haste against [their] destroyers; and they that made thee waste [their enemies] shall go forth of [flee from] thee (v. 17). 

President Wilford Woodruff said: “But the set time has come to favor Zion, and the Lord Almighty has decreed in the heavens that every weapon formed against her shall be broken” (Journal of Discourses, 15:8-9, quoted in the Student Manual, p. 193). 

In verses 18-21, the latter-day gathering of Israel is spoken of as a bride who adorns herself for her wedding. So will the Zion of the latter days spiritually clothe those who come to her for blessings (v. 18). 

"The imagery of Christ as the Bridegroom and His covenant people as His bride is also found in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Matthew, Revelation and the Doctrine and Covenants (see also Revelation 19:8)."

"So many people will come, both to Zion and the old Jerusalem, that they will complain that the land is “too strait [narrow] for me: give place to me that I may dwell” (v. 20).  This has happened in the modern Church where the need for chapels and leadership has been difficult to keep up with due to the many converts (SM, p. 193).  Then the modern Israelites will say: “Who hath begotten me these…,where had they been?” (v. 21).   In other words, where in the world did all these people come from?  Now, Isaiah speaks of the day when God’s promises will be fulfilled and of how it will be done.  The “how” is made clear in verses 22-23.  God will set up His “standard,” [the gospel, or the new and everlasting covenant] (see D&C 66: 2), “and they [the Gentiles] shall bring thy [the house of Israel’s] sons in their arms and thy daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.  And kings shall be thy nursing fathers and their queens thy nursing mothers” (vv. 22-23).  "The 'when' of the prophecy is now.  Converts from throughout the world have joined the Church and then gone throughout the world to reclaim the house of Israel and bring them back to the Lord" (SM, 193). 

“Nursing fathers and nursing mothers” could refer to Great Britain and other countries including the United States who supported the mandate over Palestine after the end of World War I, for the preparation of the gathering of the scattered Jews.  In 1947, the United Nations voted to partition Palestine and create a Jewish state in the land for the first time in nearly two thousand years" (SM, p. 194).

In verse 24, the “prey” mentioned is the house of Israel in her scattered condition.  She is “prey” or “captive” because she has been unable throughout the centuries to return to her promised home or to claim her gospel blessings.  Although many nations still will not allow the gospel to be preached freely, all that will change, for “even the captives [Israel] of the mighty [Israel's enemies] shall be taken away [from their enemies], and the prey [victims] of the terrible shall be delivered [set free]” (v. 25) (Ridges, p. 171). 

"For the Mighty God shall deliver his covenant people, For thus saith the Lord: I will contend with them that contendeth with thee—…and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob" (2 Nephi 6:17-18).

"First, the Lord predicts it, then He brings it to pass; only a 'mighty one' could perform such a task.  Nephi made it very clear that all who seek to thwart the Lord in bringing this great thing [gathering] to pass shall be destroyed, for 'they shall fall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord'" (1 Nephi 22:14) (SM, p. 194).

Old Testament Scriptural Summaries and Commentary

The Book of Isaiah, Selections from chapters 22-30

Gospel Doctrine Class, Sunday School Lesson #37

"Thou Hast Done Wonderful Things" Isaiah 25:1

Reference: Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual, (2001), 179-82

Selections from the Book of Isaiah

            As stated in lesson #36, for Isaiah all things point to Christ.  In lesson #37, the Sunday School Gospel Doctrine Manual stresses the writings of Isaiah that teach what Christ has done for all mankind.  Using these scriptures the manual lists nine "wonderful" ways that our Savior provides for us to "come unto him."  These teachings will be quoted with the corresponding scriptures from Isaiah along with scriptures from other holy texts, and some commentary from the manual.  We are again reminded that  Isaiah's words are filled with symbolic language. "This language does not teach directly, so we must examine and ponder Isaiah’s words to discover the truths they teach" (Old Testament: Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, (2001), 179–82).

1. The Savior opens the door to Heavenly Father's presence

Isaiah 22:22 - "And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open."

"This is a symbolic way of saying the Savior has the power to admit or exclude any person from Heavenly Father’s presence" (Old Testament: Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, (2001), 179–82). 

Book of Mormon - 2 Nephi 9:41 - "O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name."

2 Nephi 9:45 - "O, my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins; shake off the chains [spiritual death] of him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the rock [Jesus Christ] of your salvation."

2. The Savior shows mercy for those in spirit prison

Isaiah 24:21-22 - "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

 22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited."

Isaiah 42:5-7 - 5"Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:  6  I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;  7  To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."

Doctrine and Covenants - 138:32 - "Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets."

3. The Savior is a strength and a refuge

Isaiah 24:4 -  "For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall."

Isaiah 32:1-2 - "1 Behold, a king [the Savior] shall reign in righteousness, and princes [leaders] shall rule in judgment.  2 And a man [see v. 1] shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."

4.  The Savior will prepare a feast and destroy the “vail.”

Isaiah 25:6-7 -  6 "And in this mountain [symbolic of the temple] shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined (A feast of the words and teachings of Christ, OT Gospel Doctrine Manual).  7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations." (Symbolically it often represents the unbelief that prevents people from truly coming to Christ) (OT Gospel Doctrine Manual).

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 7:26 - And he beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced.

5. The Savior wipes away our tears

Isaiah 25:8-9 - 8 "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke [reproach, blame] of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.  9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

"[To wipe away our tears suggests] a tender gesture that is shared only by people who love and trust each other deeply" (OT Gospel Doctrine Manual).

New Testament - Revelation 21:4 - "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

“All fear of this death has been removed from the Latter-day Saints. They have no dread of the temporal death, because they know that as death came upon them by the transgression of Adam, so by the righteousness of Jesus Christ shall life come unto them, and though they die, they shall live again. Possessing this knowledge, they have joy even in death, for they know that they shall rise again and shall meet again beyond the grave. They know that the spirit dies not at all; that it passes through no change, except the change from imprisonment in this mortal clay to freedom and to the sphere in which it acted before it came to this earth” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 428).

Death, Physical: "The separation of the body and the spirit. The Fall brought mortality and death to the earth (2 Ne. 2:22; Moses 6:48). The atonement of Jesus Christ conquered death so that everyone will be resurrected (1 Cor. 15:21–23). Resurrection is a free gift to all people regardless of whether they have done good or evil in this life (Alma 11:42–44). Each person suffers only one physical death since once we are resurrected, our bodies can die no more (Alma 11:45)." (LDS.org, The Guide to the Scriptures.)

6. The Savior will bring the Resurrection

 Isaiah 26:19 - "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise [be resurrected]. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead."

New Testament - 1 Corinthians  15:20-22 - "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (resurrected to immortality).

"The Prophet Joseph Smith said: When the voice calls for the dead to arise, … what would be the first joy of my heart? To meet my father, my mother, my brother, my sister; and when they are by my side, I embrace them and they me” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 295–96, quoted from OT Gospel Doctrine Manual, 179-82).

Resurrection: "The reuniting of the spirit body with the physical body of flesh and bones after death. After resurrection, the spirit and body will never again be separated, and the person will become immortal. Every person born on earth will be resurrected because Jesus Christ overcame death (1 Cor. 15:20–22)."  (LDS.org, The Guide to the Scriptures.)

7. The Savior is our sure foundation

Isaiah 28:16 - "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."

Book of Mormon - Helaman 5:12 -  "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

D&C 50:44 - "Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall."

New Testament - Ephesians - 2:19-20 - "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;  20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;"

8. The Savior will restore the gospel to the earth

Isaiah 29:4, 9-10, 13, 14, 18, 24 - 4 "And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust" [The Book of Mormon].

Book of Mormon - Moroni 10:27 - "for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust?"

9 - Isaiah prophesies of a time of spiritual darkness: "Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. 10 For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. 13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:"

Pearl of Great Price - Joseph Smith History 1:18-19 - 18 "My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.

 19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: 'they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.'”

11 - Isaiah prophesies of a "sealed" book - "And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: 12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned."

Joseph Smith History 1:63-65 - 63 “Sometime in this month of February, the aforementioned Mr. Martin Harris came to our place, got the characters which I had drawn off the plates, and started with them to the city of New York. For what took place relative to him and the characters, I refer to his own account of the circumstances, as he related them to me after his return, which was as follows:  64  ‘I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated, and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyriac, and Arabic; and he said they were true characters. He gave me a certificate, certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct. I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthon called me back, and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him.  65 He then said to me, "Let me see that certificate." I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, saying that there was no such thing now as ministering of angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates were sealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, "I cannot read a sealed book." I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation.’”

14  - Isaiah prophesies of the Book of Mormon - "Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid."

D&C4:1 -  "Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men."

18 - "And in that day [the latter days] shall the deaf hear the words of the book [of Mormon], and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of [spiritual] darkness."

Book of Mormon - 1 Nephi 22:12 - "Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel."

24 - "They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine."

9. The Savior knows our trials and directs our paths

Isaiah 30:19-21 - "For the people [who] shall dwell in Zion [the pure in heart] at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he [the Lord] will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry [prayers]; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. 20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:  21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."

Book of Mormon - Alma 37:37 - "Counsel [pray] with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

Book of Mormon - Mosiah 23:21 - The hard crust on the bread of adversity - “Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith” (See lds.org, CR,  "Irony: The Crust On The Bread Of Adversity," Neal A. Maxwell Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, April 1989.)

Old Testament Scriptural Summaries and Commentary

Old Testament,  The Book of Isaiah Chapters 1-6

Gospel Doctrine Class, Sunday School Lesson #36

The Glory of Zion Will Be a Defense

Book Reference: The Old Testament Made Easier, Part Three, David J. Ridges, p. 449

Book Reference: The Fourth Thousand Years, W. Cleon Skousen, p. 737-8;

The Book of Isaiah

            Isaiah is one of the most important prophets who ever lived.  His mission began approximately 750 B.C. and lasted until at least 700 B.C.  He was quoted in the Book of Mormon, the New Testament, and by other prophets in the Old Testament.  His name means “Jehovah saves” and his mission was to proclaim that message to the children of Israel, to their neighboring states and countries, and to the world in the latter days.  His words are filled with metaphors, similes, analogies, parables, and types and shadows (meaning something that is symbolic of something else).  Joseph (sold into slavery in Egypt) and Isaac (the son of Abraham) were both “types”—many things that happened to them were symbolic of Christ.  For Isaiah (and all of the rest of us), everything points to Christ.

 Note: - Like other Old Testament scripture, Isaiah contains dualistic messages both for his time and ours.  And, within chapters, the verses skip around from his time, to the future destruction of Judah and Israel, to the time of Christ, and then to the latter days and the Millennium.

Isaiah 1- Isaiah's mission to preach repentance

            Isaiah is given a vision from the Lord concerning his mission to Judah and Jerusalem during the reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, all kings of Judah. The Lord told him that even though he had nourished and cared for the children of Israel, “they have rebelled against me.” He calls Judah a sinful nation. The people are filled with wickedness and have forsaken the Lord, and “they have provoked the Holy One of Israel [the Savior] to anger” (Student Manual, II, p. 137).  Isaiah warns the people that the whole head [all the leaders] are sick and the whole heart [the people] are faint [spiritually sick] (vv. 1-5).

            Now Isaiah lists some of the false worship by the people of Judah in his day that are abominations and hated by the Lord:  (1) their insincere sacrifices and burnt offerings when they go to the temple [this is a theme throughout the book of Isaiah]; (2) their “vain oblations” [offerings] such as burning incense, the new moon Sabbath ritual,  appointed feasts, and the calling of assemblies, and (3) “when ye spread forth your hands, [to pray] I will not hear: your hands are full of blood [bloodshed, murder]” (vv. 11-15). 

            Isaiah exhorts the people, "Wash you, make you clean [through baptism];…cease to do evil; Learn to do well [footnote 17b good works], seek judgment [footnote 17c, HEB justice], relieve the oppressed [footnote 17d, charity], judge the fatherless [footnote 17e, give a just verdict to], plead for the widow" (vv. 16-17). And Isaiah preaches the power of the Atonement to the wicked people.  “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (v. 18).

Isaiah 2:1-4 - Isaiah prophesies of the last days

            Isaiah’s words from the Lord: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house [the church] shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it” (v. 2).  “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house [temples] of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.”  Then, out of Zion [the kingdom of God on earth, New Jerusalem] and Jerusalem will go the law [footnote 4f, HEB teaching or doctrine] and the word of the Lord from these two places during the Millennium (v. 3).  And when the Millennium comes, Christ will judge the wicked among the nations and cleanse the earth.  All instruments of war will be destroyed by the people; “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (v. 4).

Continuing Isaiah 2 - verses 5-8; 11-12 - More of Israel's sins and pride           

            To the Israelites of his day Isaiah implores the people, “O house of Jacob [Israel] come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord” (v. 5).  And he tells them why the Lord has forsaken them.  It is because “they be replenished from the east” [adopting false religions], are soothsayers [with witchcraft and sorcery, etc.], and are marrying foreigners not of the covenant [children of strangers].  They have become wealthy with gold and silver, they have horses and chariots [armaments of war instead of relying on the Lord], and "they worship the work of their own hands" [idols] (vv. 6-8).

            The prideful and haughty will be humbled [bowed down], and only the Lord who has power over all things will be exalted in that day. Isaiah warns the people of their pride, "The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down."  All the "proud and lofty" and those who are "lifted up" shall be "brought low" (vv. 11-12).

Isaiah 3- More of Israel's sins

            "And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient [elderly], and the base [crude] against the honourable" (v. 5).  Isaiah describes the countenance [faces] of the wicked of Judah as a witness against them in their “sin as Sodom” [homosexuality] which they don’t attempt to hide.  “Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves” (v. 9).  But the Lord will “enter into judgment” and judge the sins of his people.  The Lord accuses the princes [political leaders] and the “ancients” [apostate priests], who have joined together to take the "spoil of the poor" instead of helping them (vv. 13-15). 

            The next eight verses tell how the “daughters of Zion” have become prideful and full of lust.  Isaiah describes the tinkling of the ornaments on their feet; their “cauls, and their round tires like the moon;” their chains, bracelets, earrings, rings and nose jewels; their “changeable suits of apparel,” glasses [see-through clothing, see footnote 23a], mantles and wimples [shawls], headbands, mufflers [veils], and hoods [turbans]; their tablets [perfume boxes] and crisping pins [for curling hair].  In the future destruction ahead, for all their sin and worldliness, their beauty will be taken away, their heads will be shaved [baldness] by the invaders, they will no longer smell sweet but stink, and their clothing will be rent [as rags] (vv. 16-24).

           

Isaiah 4 - The glory of Zion will be a defense

            Again, Isaiah skips to scenes of the Millennium. "And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and…a flaming fire by night:"— representing the presence of the Lord [see Exodus 19: 16-18] and the glory of the Lord will be a “defence” [defense meaning protection]. And there will be a tabernacle in the daytime for a place of refuge from the heat, and for a "covert" [cover, shelter] from rain and storms (see Skousen, p. 174-5) (vv. 5-6).

Isaiah 5:8-29 - Isaiah pronounces many woes and prophesies of the future

            "Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place,  [take the land from the poor] that they [the poor] may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!"  Said the Lord of hosts, "many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant" (v. 9).  "Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath [8½ gallons of wine], and the seed of an homer [6½ bushel of seed] shall yield an ephah” [½ bushel] (v. 10).  “In other words, the harvest will be only one-tenth of the seed which the farmer originally planted!” (Skousen, p. 181).  This is foretelling of the coming famine. 
          “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! (v. 11).  And the harp, and the viol [lyre], the tabret [drums], and pipe [worship instruments], and wine are their feasts; but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands” (v. 12).

            Now Isaiah prophesies of the future as if it has already happened.  “My people are gone into captivity because they have no knowledge [of the words of the Lord]: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up [drought and famine].  Therefore, hell hath enlarged herself and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth [in wickedness] shall descend into it.  Then, [after the destruction] shall the lambs feed [in the deserted vineyard] and the waste places shall strangers [foreigners] eat [take over the land]” (vv. 13-19).

             “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (v. 20).  Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight! (v. 21). Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine (v. 22).…[And those] which justify the wicked for reward [bribes], and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him” [their good reputation] (v. 23). Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people "because they have cast away the law of the LORD" and despised his word (v. 24). The anger of the LORD is kindled against his people and "he hath stretched forth his hand against them and has smitten them.…For all this [wickedness] his anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still.”—if the people will repent and come unto him (v. 25).

            Next Isaiah prophesies of the gathering of Israel in the last days.  The Lord will lift up an ensign [the gospel] to the nations, and will signal for them to be gathered from the ends of the earth.  They will come with speed; they won’t be weary or stumble; they won’t slumber or sleep or change their clothes.  They will travel in “whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent [airplanes], their horses’ hoofs shall be counted like flint [trains] and their wheels like a whirlwind:" Their roaring shall be like a lion [noise of trains and airplanes], "they shall roar like young lions…and lay hold of the prey [those being gathered], and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it"—"none will stop the gathering of Israel in the last days" (Ridges, pg. 41).  “And in that day [the last days] they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea; and if one look unto the land, light is darkened in the heavens thereof"—"war, smoke, pollution, and spiritual darkness?" (Ridges, p. 41) (vv. 26-30).

Isaiah 6:1-8 Isaiah's call from the Lord

            Isaiah had a vision from the Lord in the year that king Uzziah died [about 740 B.C.].  He saw the Lord [Jehovah-Jesus Christ] sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, surrounded by "his train" [skirts of his garment] which filled the temple [with light].  Seraphims [angels] stood above the throne and one cried to another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.  And the posts of the door moved [shook] at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke" [symbolic of God’s presence] (vv. 1-4). 

            And Isaiah said, “Woe is me! for I am undone; [overwhelmed] for I am a man of unclean lips…for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Then an angel flew [moved rapidly] to Isaiah with a live coal from the altar in his hand [symbolic of cleansing].  And the angel laid it on Isaiah’s mouth and said, “Lo, this hath touched thy lips; thy iniquity is taken away [forgiven] and thy sin purged" [as a result of the Atonement] (vv. 6-7) (Ridges, III, p. 42).  And the Lord said to Isaiah, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”  Then Isaiah said, “Here am I; send me” (v. 8). 

           

Pearl of Great Price: Abraham 2:27 And the Lord [God the Father] said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another [Lucifer] answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first. (See also Moses 4:1-2.)