My Soul Delighteth in the Words of Isaiah” 2 Nephi 11-25

Isaiah = the Lord is salvation Prophet in Jerusalem during 40 years, 740-701 BC Contemporary Prophets: Hosea and Micah He had great religious and political influence during the reign of Hezekiah, whose chief adviser he was. Isaiah is the most quoted of all the prophets, being more frequently quoted by Jesus, Paul, Peter, and John than any other Old Testament prophet. BD 707

Most Quoted Nineteen of Isaiah’s sixty-six chapters are quoted in their entirety in the Book of Mormon and, except for two verses, two other chapters are completely quoted. Of the 1292 verses in Isaiah, about 430 are quoted in the Book of Mormon, some of them more than once (for a total of nearly 600). More than half of the Isaiah verses quoted in the Book of Mormon differ from the King James version of the Bible. These differences help clarify or give additional insight into the meaning of Isaiah. BD 707

If all of the quotations from Isaiah in the Book of Mormon were moved into one place and called the book of Isaiah, it would constitute the fourth largest book in the Book of Mormon BOM Sem manual

Why Nephi quoted Isaiah To more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord 2 Ne 11:2-4 To provide another witness of Jesus Christ 2 Ne 11:5-6,8 To help us (his readers) rejoice 2 Ne 25:3 To reveal God’s judgments

Keys to understanding Isaiah 1 Ne 19:23; 2 Ne 11:2,8 “Liken all scriptures unto us” 2 Ne 25:1 “Know … concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews” 2 Ne 25:3,6 “Know the judgments of God” 2 Ne 25:6 “Know concerning the regions round about [Jerusalem]” 2 Ne 25:4 Be “filled with the spirit of prophecy”

Why Liken? Nephi includes many historical passages in his Isaiah extracts and gives them not as history lessons so much as lessons from history, showing the past types and patterns that can influence later generations. He recognized that scripture will help only those readers who can personally relate to its message. ISAIAH: PROPHET, SEER, AND POET, Victor L. Ludlow

Isaiah’s Writing Class? I suspect the Humanities Writing class had instructions more like these: Conceal what you’re going to say. Never use the same noun twice when referring to a person, group or place (Isaiah uses five different names to describe the same place in 2 Ne 17). Speak of future events in past tense at times. (Isa 53) In fact, have no time frame — move in and out of past, present and future without telling the reader what you’re doing. Use complex symbolism rather than simple parables. Never let anyone know whether you’re being literal or figurative. John Bytheway, Isaiah for Airheads, 28

Manner of prophesying.. Symbolism John Bytheway, Isaiah for Airheads, 28

Isaiah’s writings deal with: BD 707 Isaiah’s writings deal with: A major theme is that God requires righteousness of his people , and until they obey him they will be smitten and scattered by their enemies. But in the end, Israel will be restored; the barren land will be made fruitful and able to support a large population; and the Lord…will dwell in the midst of his people, who will be called Zion. BD, 707 The bulk of Isaiah’s prophecies deal with the coming of the Redeemer, both in his first appearance and as the Great King at the last day, as the God of Israel. Isaiah deals with events of his day as well as events beyond his time, some of which have already come to pass and others are yet to be. He uses local themes and extends them to latter-day fulfillment or application. So some prophecies are fulfilled more than one time and have more than one application. B

Know God’s judgments Isaiah foresaw how the kingdoms of Israel and Judah would suffer because of their wickedness, but he also prophesied that their blessings would be restored when they repented and followed Jesus Christ. From Isaiah’s accounts of what happened to Israel and Judah, and from his prophecies of the future restoration of the house of Israel, we can better understand how God works in our lives and how He blesses nations according to their righteousness.

Know the geography The Two Kingdoms Israel Judah

Isaiah’s  Ministry  Begins  Assyrians     Capture the     Northern Kingdom  Babylonian  Captivity  Jews Return  to Judah The Four Events are:             |---------740 B.C.--------721---------701---------587----------537------| Assyrians attack the southern kingdom of Judah

Be filled with the spirit of prophecy Rev 19:10 What is the spirit of prophecy? Revelation 19:10 tells us that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” How can we obtain it? How can the spirit of prophecy help us understand Isaiah’s teachings about the Savior?

2 Ne 20:28-34 Liken – look at the chapter heading

Uses the threats against ancient Israel to describe threats against Zion today The Assyrian and Babylonian threats against Judah and House of Israel The attacks The scattering and destruction of the wicked The blessings of the righteous The battle between the world (Babylon) and Zion in our day The attacks The destruction of the wicked The blessings of the righteous =

Who are The Assyrians? “A captured city was usually plundered and burnt to the ground, and its site was deliberately denuded by killing its trees. The loyalty of the troops was secured by dividing a large part of the spoils among them; their bravery was ensured by the general rule of the Near East that all captives in war might be enslaved or slain. Soldiers were rewarded for every severed head they brought in from the field, so that the aftermath of a victory generally witnessed the wholesale decapitation of fallen foes. Most often the prisoners, who would have consumed much food in a long campaign, and would have constituted a danger and nuisance in the rear, were dispatched after the battle; they knelt with their backs to their captors, who beat their heads in with clubs, or cut them off with cutlasses. Scribes stood by to count the number of prisoners taken and killed by each soldier, and apportioned the booty accordingly; the king, if time permitted, presided at the slaughter. The nobles among the defeated were given more special treatment: their ears, noses, hands and feet were sliced off, or they were thrown from high towers, or they and their children were beheaded, or flayed alive, or roasted over a slow fire.  ( Durant, Our Oriental Heritage, 1:271, 275–76.) -OT Institute Manual

2 Ne 20:28-34 Know the geography We are holding out here in the Canton ward and the enemy is on the hill the other side of Market We face 185,000 troops (Assyrians!!!!!) http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en-commons/thumb/3/3d/300px-Map_of_Assyria.png&imgrefurl=http://www.answers.com/topic/assyria&h=206&w=300&sz=72&hl=en&start=5&um=1&tbnid=G_-92Ipii6Sm4M:&tbnh=80&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAssyrian%2Bempire%2Bmap%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4IRFA_enUS225US226%26sa%3DN

What happened? Cedars of Lebanon – prized hardwood tree, a symbol of the pride of the world

So what happened with this prophecy? Isaiah 37:36 Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and four score and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (See Isa 36-37;2 Kings 18:13-19:37) Within a twenty-year period the mighty Assyrian army encircled the capitals of both Israel and Judah. Israel: In the first instance, the Assyrians went home victorious, laden with the spoils of war and herding the sorry remnants of a once-proud people before them. Behind them a nation lay smoldering in ruins. Judah: In the second instance, the same Assyrian army went home stunned and decimated. They took no booty and no captives and left behind 185,000 of their troops lying dead on the hillsides of Jerusalem. OT Institute Manual,

2 Ne 12:2-3 Fortifications against the attack What symbolic meanings are associated with mountains? When was 2 Nephi 12:2 fulfilled, or when will it be fulfilled?

The temple to be built in Jerusalem in the last days and the New Jerusalem

2 Ne 12:2-3 The mountain of the Lord Why do you think Isaiah described the temple as “the mountain of the Lord”? How can all temples be “mountains” for our worship?

Symbolism Ancient prophets communed with the Lord and received revelation in the mountains Describes a place close to God Descriptive of the effort it takes to get to the “mountain of the Lord” A description of a time when the temple and the instruction therein are valued more than other edifices or values

1 Nephi 18:3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.

2 Ne 14:6 Places of refuge What are some examples of spiritual storms that we face in this life? How can the temple help protect us from these storms?

Places of refuge Dwelling places Assemblies Tabernacles

2 Ne 12:3-5; D&C 133:7-14 The attack: establish the kingdom of God on earth How can we as Latter-day Saints help establish the kingdom of God on earth?

2 Ne 12:5-12 Walk in the light of the Lord What are some of the specific sins mentioned ? How are these sins still prevalent today? How can we avoid these pitfalls and “walk in the light”?

Wicked Ways Today? Isaiah Today Replenished from the east Please themselves in the children of strangers Hearken unto soothsayers Land full of silver and gold Land full of horses and chariots Land full of idols Humbleth himself not Look to other philosophies and religions Join the wickedness of the world Ignore the true prophet for false counselors Materialistic Warfare Worship things other than the true God No humility

2 Ne 15:18 Draw iniquity with cords of vanity

Occasionally we cut the “cords of vanity” and let go of a favorite sin, but all too often we only periodically cast off from our cart a sin here and there rather than just letting go of the cart rope. Brent Top, A Peculiar Treasure,160

2 Ne 15:26-29; 21:12 Ensign to the nations What did Isaiah say would happen when this ensign was raised?

2 Ne 21; JSH 1:40 When the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith, he said that chapter 11 of Isaiah (quoted in 2 Nephi 21) was about to be fulfilled (Joseph Smith—History 1:40). How is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ an ensign to all nations? (See D&C 64:41–43; 105:39; 115:4–6.)

2 Ne 21:12 Nations gathered What can each of us do to help fulfill this prophecy?

2 Ne 16:1-5 Isaiah’s vision/Our call How did Isaiah feel in the presence of the Lord?

2 Ne 16:2-4 Seraphim D&C 77:4 wings are symbolic of power to move or act quickly Cover faces and feet to show reverence Holy, holy, holy = most holy, holiest Shook =the presence of God Incense = the glory of God, prayers ascend to heaven http://www.josedelamano.net/images/tiepolotext4.jpg

2 Ne 16:5-8 Burning coal? Undone = inadequate, humbled Live coal = from the altar, which is symbolic of the atonement Burning = purifying power, cleansing, painful process of repentance and the sanctifying effect of the “refiner’s fire”

2 Ne 16:8 Here am I send me The service which builds a young, growing Church is not casually requested nor whimsically given. On occasion the obstacles have been great and the price sometimes very dear. Jeffrey R Holland, CR, Oct 2002 When might we need to give a similar response to the Lord?

Life in the service of the Lord is good. When I was a missionary in London fifty years ago, my companion and I would shake hands in the morning and say to one another, “Life is good.” Life in the service of the Lord is good. It is beautiful. It is rewarding. Gordon B Hinckley, Ensign, Nov 1984,86

2 Ne 24:6-19 The fate of the enemy (Lucifer)

Fate of the enemy What Lucifer wanted What Lucifer gets Ascend into heaven Exalt to a throne above the stars Sit upon the count of the congregation Ascend above the heights of the clouds Be like the Most High Brought down to hell, the pit Trodden under feet No great monuments

2 Ne 25:19-30 Nephi’s testimony of the Savior What impresses you about Nephi’s testimony?

Next Week:

2 Ne 22:1-6 Isaiah’s description of how all people will praise the Savior during the Millennium. What impresses you about these verses? What “excellent things” (2 Nephi 22:5) has the Savior done for us?

2 Ne 25:23 Grace and works What does this statement teach about the relationship between the grace of Jesus Christ and our works? (See 2 Nephi 10:24–25; D&C 20:29–31 How does this statement give you encouragement to do the best you can?

2 Ne 25:29 Worship What might you do this week to comply more fully with Nephi’s exhortation to worship the Lord “with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul”?

the Savior gave His approval of Isaiah’s teachings in this single statement: “Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah” (3 Nephi 23:1).