Old Testament Week 22: Isaiah 5666

1) Introduction. a) [SLIDE 2] In this lesson, we cover the portion of Isaiah known as Third Isaiah or TritoIsaiah.1 i) As I mentioned back in part 1, tradition ascribes the Book of Isaiah to a single author, but for more than 200 years, most scholars have concluded that the text of Isaiah has multiple authors who wrote across different periods of time. ii) The third and final section of Isaiah is usually ascribed to an anonymous author who wrote after the return of the people of Judah from the captivity in Babylon, somewhere between 538 and 519 B.C.2 (1) The reasons for this conclusion are this section doesnt mention anything about judgment on foreign nations (as First Isaiah does), nor does it discuss forgiveness and restoration (as Second Isaiah does). Rather, deals with how to incorporate foreigners into the people of God and how to live the Law in a way that is pleasing to God. (a) These last concerns were paramount when Judah returned after her captivity and had to live among foreigners who had been imported into the land of Israel while they were away, and who were themselves living the Law of Moses. (2) The Book of Mormon may support the dating of Third Isaiah: There are no quotations or allusions from these Isaiah chapters anywhere in the Book of Mormon.3 (a) Considering the frequent use of Isaiah by Book of Mormon authors, one would think that something from this section would show up somewhere in the text if it were on the brass plates that Nephi took from Jerusalem just after 600 B.C. b) [SLIDE 3] This portion of Isaiah has three major sections, which include thirteen messages (or pericopes).4 i) Genuine worship (5659). ii) The glory and destiny of Zion (6062). iii) Gods coming intervention (6366).
Tritos is the Greek word for third. This is the majority consensus, but is by no means universal. Some scholars believe that Third Isaiah was written by the same author as Second Isaiah, while others believe that Third Isaiah itself was written by two or more authors. Some believe it was written prior to the Babylonian captivity (before Second Isaiah); others place it long after the return, perhaps as late as the second century B.C. The only certainty is that the book of Isaiah was in its current arrangement by the time of the Dead Sea Scrolls, c. 100 B.C. See Christopher R. Seitz, Isaiah: Third Isaiah: Third Isaiah in Modern Scholarship, The Anchor Bible Dictionary, David Noel Freedman, ed. (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 3:502. 3 LDS scholar Kevin Barney notes that there is one possible exception in Jacob 6:14, which may allude to Isaiah 65:2. However the allusion is only indirect, and the English phrasing seems to be directly based on Romans 10:2021. Barney, Reflections on the Documentary Hypothesis, Dialogue 33/1 (Spring 2000), 74, n. 68 (http://dialoguejournal.com/wpcontent/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V33N01_79.pdf). 4 Isaiah 56:18; 56:957:13; 57:1421; 58:114; 59:121; 60:122; 61:111; 62:112; 63:16; 63:764:11; 65:125; 66:14; 66:516.
1 2

2014, Mike Parker

http://bit.ly/ldsarc

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Old Testament: Isaiah 5666

Week 22, Page 2

2) [SLIDE 4] Foreigners joined to Israel (56:68). a) The people of Judah who returned from captivity in Babylon discovered the descendants of those who had not been taken. These two groups were in conflict with each other about who represented the true covenant people.5 This prophecy addresses this issue:
6

Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
7

Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
8

The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him. (KJV Isaiah 56:68.)

And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. 8 Thus says the Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered. (NRSV Isaiah 56:68.)

i) From a modern perspective, this also applies to those who join the Lords Church who are not descendants of Israel: These people are adopted into Israel and become heirs of all the promises. ii) The Apostle Paul:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [NRSV: creation]: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

iii) Joseph Smith:

The effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile is to purge out the old blood & make him actually of the seed of Abraham. That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost.6

5 From Ezra 4:24 we learn that the people of the land offered to help rebuild the temple, but Israelites rejected their help. Ezra 6:21 shows how the returned exiles separated themselves from the descendants of Israelites who had not been taken to Babylon. Was Trito-Isaiahs message to the returning exiles, or to the people who had remained? Either way, the message is that all people who worship the Lord are accepted. Isaiah 56:45 has a similar message for eunuchs (Jews who had been taken to Babylon and then castrated so they could serve in the Babylonian kings court): The Law prohibited people who had been sexually mutilated from serving in the temple (Deuteronomy 23:1), but Trito-Isaiah rescinded that and told them they were accepted by the Lord. 6 Joseph Smith, 27 June 1839. Words of Joseph Smith 4 (http://bit.ly/wjs003004). Compare History of the Church 3:380 (http://byustudies.byu.edu/hc/3/26.html#380); Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith 150 (http://scriptures.byu.edu/stpjs.html#150).

2014, Mike Parker

http://bit.ly/ldsarc

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Old Testament: Isaiah 5666

Week 22, Page 3

3) [SLIDE 5] The Lord contrasts false versus true high places (57:78, 15). a) In the Old Testament, the phrase high place refers to pagan altars and worship sites constructed on hills outside cities. Often these sites employed sexual activity as part of worship.
7

Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice. 8 Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.

. 15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (KJV Isaiah 57:78, 15.)

Upon a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice. 8 Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your symbol; for, in deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, you have made it wide; and you have made a bargain for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have gazed on their nakedness. . 15 For thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. (NRSV Isaiah 57:78, 15.)

i) Note that the phrase lofty and high appears in verse 7 as a reference to false worship in high places, and again in verse 15 as an ironic twist referring to the true God who actually is high and lofty. ii) Obviously the temple is a true high place today. What false high places do we have that compete with the temple, its teachings, and what it represents?7 4) [SLIDE 6] The Sabbath (56:2; 58:1314). a) The Lords instructions to Judah identify Sabbath observance as a distinguishing mark of the covenant. b) Identify the Lords requirements for Sabbath observance in these three verses:
56:2

Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. .

56:2

Happy is the mortal who does this, the one who holds it fast, who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it, and refrains from doing any evil. .

7 This question is meant for class discussion, but I wanted to throw in one potential answer: Consumerism. In our community there are many large and spacious retail stores that have more goods for sale than one could ever hope to buy. These stores make it convenient and affordable to purchase things we need, but they also put on display for us many consumer goods we dont need or could easily forego. We can only covet those things which we see. (One VeggieTales cartoon parodied this with a mega-store called Stuff Mart; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0500166/)

2014, Mike Parker

http://bit.ly/ldsarc

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

58:13

Old Testament: Isaiah 5666

58:13

Week 22, Page 4

If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
14

Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (KJV Isaiah 56:2; 58:1314.)

If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; 14 then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (NRSV Isaiah 56:2; 58:1314.)

i) Do not profane (pollute) it (56:2) or trample on it (58:13). ii) Do not do any evil on that day (56:2). iii) Dont pursue your own interests or affairs (58:13). iv) See the day as a delight, not a burden (58:13). c) Compare this passage with D&C 59:913. i) More fully (59:9) implies that it is our duty to always keep ourselves unspotted from the world, but that we can do this more fully when we repent and partake of the sacrament. ii) 59:9 contains the only direct commandment in all of scripture that we are to attend church ever week. iii) Offer up thy sacraments (59:9) means more than just partaking of the sacrament of the Lords Supper. A sacrament is an act of consecration8 that includes all sacred performancesprayers, blessings, confirmations, testimonies, lessons, or anything else we do in the name of Jesus Christ. iv) We should do our devotions and keep the commandments on all days and at all times (59:11). There is no day off from being a Latter-day Saint. We are not Sunday only people. v) Only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart (59:13). Because we are not supposed to work on the Sabbath doesnt mean we cant do essential tasks like preparing meals, taking out the garbage, or changing a burned-out light bulb.9 5) [SLIDE 7] Genuine fasting accompanied by moral reformation (58:510). a) This is the only passage in the Old Testament that explains the purpose and method of true fasting.

8 The word derives from the Latin sacramentum, a consecrating. Sacra came into English as sacred. Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. sacrament (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=sacrament). 9 Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway [ immediately] pull him out on the sabbath day? (Luke 14:5.)

2014, Mike Parker

http://bit.ly/ldsarc

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Old Testament: Isaiah 5666

Week 22, Page 5

i) Previous to this, fasting has only been mentioned in passing as act done as part of ritual purification, mourning, or asking the Lord for assistance.10 And its only mentioned once in the Law.11
5

Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
9

Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
10

And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday. (KJV Isaiah 58:510.)

Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? 6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rearguard. 9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. (NRSV Isaiah 58:510.)

b) The day of the fast requires: i) Humility and repentance (58:5). ii) Forgiveness and the righting of wrongs (58:6). iii) Provide food, shelter, and clothing to the needy (58:7).
10 See Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 7:6; 31:13; 2 Samuel 1:12; 12:16, 2123; 1 Kings 21:9, 12, 27; 1 Chronicles 10:12; 2 Chronicles 20:3; Psalms 35:13; 69:10; 109:24; Jonah 3:5. All other OT references come after Isaiah: Jeremiah 14:12; 36:6; Daniel 9:3; Ezra 8:2123; Nehemiah 1:4; 9:1; Zechariah 7:5; 8:19; Esther 4:3; 9:31; Joel 1:14; 2:12, 15. There are no references to fasting in the Book of Moses or the Book of Abraham. Because of the references in Ezra 8 and Nehemiah 9 to the increase in the number of fast days, scholars have concluded that fasting only became a major part of Israelite worship after the Babylonian exile. 11 See Leviticus 16:29, where fasting is commanded on the annual Day of Atonement. Afflict your souls means to fast.

2014, Mike Parker

http://bit.ly/ldsarc

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Old Testament: Isaiah 5666

Week 22, Page 6

(1) I would submit that this includes not just paying a generous fast offering, but also doing these things personally. iv) Refrain from blaming others or speaking evil of them (58:9b). c) The blessings of the fast include: i) God will favor us with blessings and his glory (58:8, 10b). ii) God will answer our prayers (58:9b). 6) [SLIDE 8] Why God does sometimes not respond to prayer? (59:12.)
1

Behold, the LORDs hand is not shortened,12 that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (KJV Isaiah 59:12.)

See, the LORDs hand is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 Rather, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (NRSV Isaiah 59:12.)

a) There are many reasons why the Lord would not respond to a prayer: Perhaps hes already given you the answer (D&C 5:29; 59:22; 130:15), or hes waiting for the right time to tell you (D&C 11:16), or perhaps he wants you to use your own best judgment (D&C 58:26). b) One of those reasons can be that perhaps our lives are not in order; that were not prepared to hear an answer because there are unresolved matters that need to be taken care of first. c) But do not ever think that God does not hear us! i) [SLIDE 9] President George Q. Cannon:
When we call upon [God], though he may be remote from us, dwelling in his holy habitation in the midst of the eternities, the very thoughts of our hearts, the very conceptions of our minds, the feeble whisperings of our voices, they ascend to him, are carried to him, his ear comprehends them; his bowels of compassion are moved towards us his children, his all-piercing eye penetrates eternity, and the glance of his vision reaches us. There is not a single thought of our hearts which he does not comprehend; there is nothing connected with us he does not know. We may hide ourselves in the bowels of the earth, but we cannot conceal ourselves from his all-piercing sight. We may climb the highest mountains or descend into the deepest valleys or we may go to the uttermost parts of the earth, but wherever we may go he is there, his power is there, his vision is there to hear and to comprehend the desires and the wishes of our hearts.13

12 The Hebrew metaphor his hand is shortened refers to his power being diminished. Since the hand is the body part through which we conduct all activity, it represents power to act. 13 George Q. Cannon, 5 October 1879. Journal of Discourses 21:73 (http://en.fairmormon.org/Journal_of_Discourses/21/10#73).

2014, Mike Parker

http://bit.ly/ldsarc

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Old Testament: Isaiah 5666

Week 22, Page 7

7) [SLIDE 10] The Lord puts his Spirit upon his servant (61:13). a) This is a first-person account of the authority given by the Lord to his servant:
1

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. (KJV Isaiah 61:13.)

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the LORDs favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory. (NRSV Isaiah 61:13.)

i) Like other prophetic sayings weve seen in Isaiah, this one has an immediate fulfillment, and also an important reapplication and later fulfillment. (1) The immediate fulfillment is in Trito-Isaiah himself: He was a prophet, called and anointed of God to bring the good news to the captive Israelites in Babylon in 539 B.C. that they were being released from their bondage. ii) This prophecy also has a renewed realization in the Messiah14 who will have the Spirit of God, be anointed by God,15 and will preach good news.16 (1) He binds up the brokenhearted by bandaging spiritual and emotional wounds. (2) He proclaims liberty to the captives who are imprisoned by sin and death. iii) Under the ministry of the Savior, those in Zion will receive special blessings: A crown of beauty (or garland) will replace the ashes of mourning, gladness will replace sorrow,17 and praise and rejoicing will replace despair and depression. iv) When Jesus began his ministry, he quoted verse 1 and the first half of verse 2 in a public reading in a synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth, after which he said, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears, meaning that he was the servant spoken of in the passage (Luke 4:1622).18

This passage is similar to the Servant Songs in Deutero-Isaiah that we discussed in the last lesson. See lesson 21, pages 313 (http://bit.ly/ldsarcot21n). 15 Hebrew Messiah and Greek Christ both mean anointed one. 16 The word gospel means good news. 17 It was the custom in the ancient Near East to anoint oneself with oil in preparation for festivities and in times of happiness and prosperity (Ecclesiastes 9:8; Psalm 45:8). In times of sorrow and mourning, anointed oil was not used (2 Samuel 14:2). The Lord will bless the faithful that their sorrows will be replaced with joy. 18 The reaction of his hearers to this announcement was so strong that they tried to kill him for blasphemy (Luke 4:28 30).
14

2014, Mike Parker

http://bit.ly/ldsarc

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Old Testament: Isaiah 5666

Week 22, Page 8

8) [SLIDE 11] Another Messianic prophecy (63:16). a) In this passage the Messiah approaches Jerusalem, and the watchman on the tower calls out to him to ask who he is:
1

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
2

Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
5

And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. (KJV Isaiah 63:16.)

Who is this that comes from Edom, from Bozrah in garments stained crimson? Who is this so splendidly robed, marching in his great might? It is I, announcing vindication, mighty to save. 2 Why are your robes red, and your garments like theirs who tread the wine press? 3 I have trodden the wine press alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their juice spattered on my garments, and stained all my robes. 4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year for my redeeming work had come. 5 I looked, but there was no helper; I stared, but there was no one to sustain me; so my own arm brought me victory, and my wrath sustained me. 6 I trampled down peoples in my anger, I crushed them in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth. (NRSV Isaiah 63:16.)

i) This prophecy of the Messiah is much different than the previous one. Instead of describing his role as a comforter, this prophecy describes his role as the conqueror of Israels enemies. ii) Edom and its principal city, Bozrah, lie southeast of the Dead Sea. The Edomites were more or less constantly at war with Israel throughout its history; when the Babylonians attacked Judah, tradition records that the Edomites allied themselves with the Babylonians.19
19 See Lamentations 4:2122; Isaiah 34; Malachi 1:25; Joel 3:19; Ezekiel 25:12; 35:3, 15; Psalm 137:7; Obadiah 1. Later tradition (c. 4th or 3rd century B.C.) even claims the Edomites were responsible for the burning of the Jerusalem Temple (1 Esdras 4:45), which 2 Kings 25:9 attributes to the Babylonians. The actual historical record is more mixed: Although Edom did not oppose Babylon, they stayed out of the conflict in their own self-interest, and Jews fleeing the captivity may have taken refuge in Edom. See J. R. Bartlett, Edom: Edom and the Babylonians, Anchor Bible Dictionary 2:29293.

2014, Mike Parker

http://bit.ly/ldsarc

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Old Testament: Isaiah 5666

Week 22, Page 9

(1) In this case, Edom represents the foreign nations that oppressed Israel and Judah. iii) The Messiah announces that he has vindicated Israel alone, and that his clothing is red from the blood of Israels enemies, just as if he had been treading in a winepress. (1) Visions of Christs second coming describe him as wearing red clothing (Revelation 19:13; D&C 133:48), representing his own blood shed in the Atonement, the blood (or sins) of the repentant wicked that he took upon himself, and the blood of the unrepentant wicked who will be slain at his coming. (2) His claim I have trodden the winepress alone; andthere was none with me also refers to Jesus atonement, which he worked out alone in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. (a) This phrase also appears three times in modern revelation in connection with the coming judgment on the wicked (D&C 76:107; 88:106; 133:50). 9) [SLIDE 12] God has prepared great things for those who wait for him, even though we are, at best, inconsistent in being righteous (64:48).
4

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.20 5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.21 6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;22 and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.
5

And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. 6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.

20 The Apostle Paul taught that these hidden things have been revealed to Christians through the Spirit of God (see 1 Corinthians 2, where verse 9 is a quotation of Isaiah 64:4). 21 This meaning of this phrase in Hebrew is uncertain. It literally reads look, you were angry and we sinned against them continually [or perhaps, in ancient times] and we were delivered. The statement makes little sense as it stands, and all English translations are forced to interpret the meaning. The NET probably captures the meaning best: Look, you were angry because we violated them [your commandments] continually. How then can we be saved? 22 The filthy rags here are those stained with menstrual blood. Under the Law, bodily discharges made a person and the things they touched ritually unclean (Leviticus 15:1930).

2014, Mike Parker

http://bit.ly/ldsarc

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

8

Old Testament: Isaiah 5666

8

Week 22, Page 10

But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. (KJV Isaiah 64:48.)

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. (NRSV Isaiah 64:48.)

a) This is part of a prayer asking for God to intercede on our behalf (Isaiah 63:1564:12). The prayer asks God to come down and bring his promised blessings. The prophet admits that we are unclean and unworthy, and have forgotten God and know we have angered him, but we submit ourselves into our hands as clay would to the potter. b) The implication of verse 6 is that even though we perform righteous acts, we are still fallen, imperfect, and unclean before the Lord. Because of our fallen nature, our righteousness is insufficient to save us. Only when our willingness is combined with the righteousness and perfection of Christ can we receive exaltation (see 2 Nephi 25:23; Moroni 10:3233). 10) [SLIDE 13] Our final passage in Isaiah is a vision of the earth during the reign of the Messiah, when it has been renewed and received its paradisiacal glory23 (65:1725).
17

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
18

17

But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
19

And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
20

There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

21

And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice for ever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. 20 No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

23

This phrase is from Article of Faith 10. http://bit.ly/ldsarc For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

2014, Mike Parker

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

23

Old Testament: Isaiah 5666

23

Week 22, Page 11

They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
24

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpents meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD. (KJV Isaiah 65:1725.)

They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD and their descendants as well. 24 Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpentits food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD. (NRSV Isaiah 65:1725.)

a) This passage repeats some of the familiar themes weve seen before in Isaiah: A perfect world is coming where there will be no pain or death, and men and animals will enjoy peace.24 b) 65:17 echoes Genesis 1:1, when the Lord created the heavens [sky] 25 and the earth. In the Isaiah passage, the prophet foretells a time when the creation will be undone, and a new creation will replace it. i) Other prophets have had the same vision, including the Apostle John (Revelation 21:1) and the Book of Mormon prophet Moroni2 (Ether 13:9).26 ii) The new creation here is the millennial earth, when Christ comes again and reigns a thousand years. c) During this time sorrow and death (two of the few constants of mortal life) will be replaced with joy and long life. i) In the millennium there will be no death as we know it, including among infants and children. Everyone will live until old age and then become immortal in the twinkling of an eye (see D&C 63:51; 101:31). (1) The given age of an hundred years old (65:20) is almost certainly meant metaphorically (i.e., people wont live exactly 36,524 days); its meant to represent a very long period of time. (2) Similarly, the phrase the days of a tree symbolizes strength, firmness, endurance, and long life 27 d) The Millennium will also be a time of great revelation. i) In the past, Israels rebellion and wickedness led to their prayers going unanswered. But in the glorious future, God will intervene even before they have called on him in prayer:
Compare Isaiah 11:19. The Hebrew word ( shamayim) means either heaven (the dwelling-place of God) or sky, depending on the context. In places where the context is uncertain, its up to the translator to make an interpretive judgment call. Since Genesis 1:1 refers to the sky, and Isaiah 65:17 is recalling the Genesis passage, my interpretation is that the meaning here is also sky. 26 See also 2 Peter 3:13; D&C 29:23. 27 Compare Job 14:79; Psalm 92:1215; Jeremiah 17:8. Contrast this with the scriptural comparison of life to grass, which symbolizes fragility and death (Psalm 103:15; Isaiah 40:67; 51:12; 1 Peter 1:24; D&C 124:7).
24 25

2014, Mike Parker

http://bit.ly/ldsarc

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Old Testament: Isaiah 5666

Week 22, Page 12

And in that day whatsoever any man shall ask, it shall be given unto him. . Yea, verily I say unto you, in that day when the Lord shall come, he shall reveal all thingsThings which have passed, and hidden things which no man knew, things of the earth, by which it was made, and the purpose and the end thereofThings most precious, things that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven. (D&C 101:27, 3234.)

11) [SLIDE 14] I hope that our study of Isaiah has helped you understand a little better the precious teachings and promises in this important book. a) I conclude with the instruction of our Savior: Great are the words of Isaiah! (3 Nephi 23:1.) 12)
[SLIDE 15] Next week:

a) Prophets of the impending exile: Joel, Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, and Obadiah.

2014, Mike Parker

http://bit.ly/ldsarc

For personal use only. Not a Church publication.