Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Monday, July 10, 2006

Isaiah 16 - 23

It is apparent that Isaiah's prophecies extend from Isaiah's day to the last days. It seems that when his vision extend down the road, he prefaces with "in that day". Isaiah wrote -

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah..." (Old Testament Isaiah 22:20)

Eliakim the son of Hilkiah was a contemporary with Isaiah, so to say "in that day" would seem to suggest a symbolic Eliakim the son of Hilkiah at some future date. It becomes apparent of whom Isaiah is referring toa as continues -

"And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah." (Old Testament Isaiah 22:21)

This is not a king of Judah but a "father" of Jerusalem and Judah. Compare this to Isaiah's prophecy -

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever." (Old Testament Isaiah 9:6 - 7)

There is no question, Isaiah is referring to the Savior. Even more of significance is Isaiah's prophecy of priesthood keys -

"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." (Old Testament Isaiah 22:22)

Priesthood keys is the power, authority, and right to rule, administer, to seal and unseal. John said the same -

"...These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth..." (New Testament Revelation 3:7)

In his restored Church, the Savior said -

"...I now give unto you the officers belonging to my Priesthood, that ye may hold the keys thereof, even the Priesthood which is after the order of Melchizedek, which is after the order of mine Only Begotten Son." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 124:123)

Two of the keys the Savior possesses with power to open and shut is that of the atonement and resurrection where Isaiah writes -

"And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house." (Old Testament Isaiah 22:23)

Even -

"And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.
25 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it." (Old Testament Isaiah 22:24 - 25)