Isaiah 29

I love the command of the Lord -

"Stay yourselves..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:9)

Or in other words, brace yourselves. The righteous are commanded to stay yourselves or hold fast to the rod of iron or the Word of God. The wicked should stay themselves -

"...and wonder; cry ye out, and cry..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:9)

...for that which will come because -

"...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..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:9 - 10)

The Savior was asked why He taught in parables -

"He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." (New Testament | Matthew 13:11 - 15)

Butfo the righteous that stay themselves with the iron rod -

"...blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear." (New Testament | Matthew 13:16)

These are the repentant that Isaiah described as they -

"...that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:24)

It is they that are the meek that hear.

Isaiah 29

What is so interesting with the 29th chapter of Isaiah is that Nephi takes the same words and interjects within some of his thoughts, comments, and explanations. What seemed to touch my thoughts this morning as Isaiah speaks to Israelthat -

"...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." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:4)

It seems that whenever there has been the righteous, when revelation has been given, it has been recorded. It seems there has been given great promises to the righteous that their records will be preserved. Enos testified that -

"...I had faith, and I did cry unto God that he would preserve the records; and he covenanted with me that he would bring them forth unto the Lamanites in his own due time." (Book of Mormon | Enos 1:16)

But the same promises are not given to the wicked as Isaiah wrote -

"Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:5)

Isaiah explains why this is so with the wicked in that it -

"...shall be as a dream of a night vision.
8 It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:7 - 8)

It is only to the righteous that hear the word of God, that is -

"...unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 63:23)

It is the words of the book that came forth, in a sense, out of the ground that will ever satisfy the soul.

Isaiah 29

The Lord said to the ancient habitants of the Americas -

"...a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah." (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 23:1)

As I have been reading the words of Isaiah, I've pondered why the Lord would emphasize searching the words of Isaiah over many of the other Old Testament prophets for many also prophesied of the last days. One of the reasons caught my attention this morning. Not only did Isaiah prophecy of the coming of the Messiah, he also saw the coming forth a record or another testament of Jesus Christ in the latter days in that -

"...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." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:4)

For as the people in the last days -

"...shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.
9 ¶ 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." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:8 - 10)

He reasons of these people that are blinded seeking only the things of this world or even -

"...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..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:13)

Isaiah writes that the Lord promises with this speech out of the dust of the ground -

"...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." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:14)

In that -

"...in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:18)

The reasons the words of Isaiah or so great or so important is he warns all men -

"Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?" (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:15 - 16)

"For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:
21 That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:20 - 21)

It is Isaiah that explains who will be those that believe the words of the book -

"The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:19)

Who really are -

"...They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine." (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:24)

Whether anyone believes me or not, I know that the book referred to by Isaiah is the Book of Mormon - I know that. Great are the words of Isaiah

Isaiah 25

In the 25th Chapter, Isaiah praises the Lord. But as he does, I also sense the same praise to those that serve as instruments in the Lord's hand -

"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..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 25:4)

I believe this is what the Lord would have us do. In doing so, must still remember -

"...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." (Old Testament | Isaiah 28:16)

We must remember we are just instruments in His hand. He is the Stone, the Sure Foundation.

Isaiah 22

I am not a bible scholar and cannot necessarily tell you who is who, but in this revelation, I sense that Iasiah is referring to the Savior as he writes -

"...I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:
21 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.
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.
23 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.
24 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 22:20 - 25)

In my mind, Isaiah writes of the atonement as the burden of our transgressions are placed on His shoulders. I Isaiah seems to suggest His glory to be his offspring or His seed or as he would later write -

"...who shall declare his generation?" (Old Testament | Isaiah 53:8)

As we contemplate the atonement, Isaiah also wrote of those that had passed on -

"...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." (Old Testament | Isaiah 24:21 - 22)

The works of the Savior did not immediately end on the cross. Isaiah understood that those that had passed on where in a "spirit prison" and were thus visited by the Savior, as we now have a full record of the visit by revelation received by Joseph F. Smith provided in the 138th section of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Isaiah 17

Isaiah prophecies concerning the destruction of all nations (Moab, Egypt, Assyria, and even Israel) that do not worship the one and true God. But right in the middle of these prophecies, it seems Isaiah also sees the day when they do, for -

"At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.
8 And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images." (Old Testament | Isaiah 17:7 - 8)

Now that would be a wonderful world when all did such.

Isaiah 14

After Isaiah had foretold the destruction of Babylon, Assyria, Palistina (which I believe were the Philistines), and even Lucifer's kingdom, he asks -

"What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation?..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 14:32)

Answer to all nations is that when nations are fully ripe, then cometh destruction.

"For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance..." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 1:31)

Isaiah answers the question with the the Lord requires righteousness, purity, and where there is no poor among them -

"That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it." (Old Testament | Isaiah 14:32)

Isaiah 13

The prophecies Isaiah concerning Babylon some 150 years before must be recognized as quite phenomenal. The wickedness of Babylon must have so flagrant, that in modern revelation, the use of the term Babylon represents a wicked generation or "the world" or worldliness or carnility.

At one time, Babylon may have been the greatest city on earth in wealth, power, and luxury. With its great walls, none ever thought it could be conquered. Yet Isaiah went on to prophecy the word of the Lord -

"I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity...And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.
15 Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.
16 Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished." (Old Testament | Isaiah 13:11, 14 - 16)

Isaiah even prophecied who would conquer Babylon -

"...I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.
18 Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.
19 ¶ And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah." (Old Testament | Isaiah 13:17 - 19)

But what is even a greater testimony of the words of Isaiah, he prophesied that Babylon, like Sodom and Gomorrah, would never be rebuilt, for -

"It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.
21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.
22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged." (Old Testament | Isaiah 13:20 - 22)

We have been blessed in our day to know that revelation was completely fulfilled. Isaiah even said of the King of Babylon -

"That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
5 The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.
6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.
7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.
8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.
9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?
11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee." (Old Testament | Isaiah 14:4 - 11)

A reminder is given to all leaders that seek power, that they like the king of Babylon will become weak like them in the world of spirits.

Isaiah 13

It is interesting that years before the greatness of Babylon was established, Isaiah saw its wickedness. We will never be sure how Isaiah received his visions but in doing so, there seems to be an overlap between his day, days shortly thereafter, and the last days whereint is the Day of the Lord. As Isaiah saw the wickedness of the last days, he also referred to it as Babylon - even the burden of Babylon. But he also saw that during this great deal of wickedness in the world of Babylon, he also saw, using the commandment of the Lord -

"Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.
3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness." (Old Testament | Isaiah 13:2 - 3)

Nephi used the wording that brings a little bit more clarity -

"...called my mighty ones, for mine anger is not upon them that rejoice in my highness." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 23:3)

Isaiah saw also amongst the wickedness of Babylon, the Lord's banner upon the high mountain. In previous blogs, I discussed the mountain of the Lord's house as His temples.

Isaiah also saw the righteous saints and missionaries out and about exalting the word, shaking the hand, and seeking out the elect in all parts of the world. These saints and missionaries are they sanctified. Even and army of God (mighty ones) that rejoice in the King of Kings.

For it is -

"...the Lord of Hosts [who] mustereth the hosts of the battle." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 23:4)

Isaiah 12

In his own personal psalm, Isaiah calls the Lord Jehovah. Jehovah is used only a few times in the Old Testament mentioned only be Moses, David, and Isaiah. In Moses's writings, the Lord Himself declares His name as Jehovah. Isaiah writes -

"...I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." (Old Testament | Isaiah 12:2 - 3)

To the Samarian woman at the well, the Savior said -

"...Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (New Testament | John 4:13 - 14)

In my mind, the Savior is declaring to the woman "I am Jehovah" as Isaiah taught that from Jehovah we will draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Isaiah 11

Knowing the current conditions of day, I find the prophecy of Isaiah quite interesting -

"The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them." (Old Testament | Isaiah 11:13 - 14)

I have witnessed in these days the fulfillment of verse 13 where many of the saints are reaching out to build the kingdom of God. But is is verse 14 that is striking and apparent that it is yet to be fulfilled. Their is a great animosity between these two people. I believe that the fulfillment of this prophecy will not be political but spiritual where these people will obey the commandments of priesthood leadership.

Isaiah 11

The 11th chapter of Isaiah has been difficult for me to understand. But yet I know it has great importance for in his initial visits with the Prophet Joseph Smith, Moroni -

"...quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying that it was about to be fulfilled." (Pearl of Great Price | JS-History 1:40)

I am aware of several of the interpretations of this revelation revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the 113th section of the Doctrine and Covenants wherein the questions are asked -


"What is the rod spoken of in the first verse of the 11th chapter of Isaiah, that should come of the Stem of Jesse?
4 Behold, thus saith the Lord: It is a servant in the hands of Christ, who is partly a descendant of Jesse as well as of Ephraim, or of the house of Joseph, on whom there is laid much power.
5 What is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter?
6 Behold, thus saith the Lord, it is a descendant of Jesse, as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the priesthood, and the keys of the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 113:3 - 6)

It almost seems like the "rod spoken of" and "the root of Jesse" is the same person. It could easily be or it may not be. In any case, they are individuals to which priesthood keys have been restore. In my mind, "the rod" represents one with great power that is used as a tool of the Savior to establish the law and/or justice or as I see it, revealed truth.

Where I have had trouble in the past is the root of Jesse. It dawned on me this morning that this root may not be the core root of the Stem of Jesse. I began picturing in my mind many of the trees in my area. The main core roots tend to send out outreaching roots that tend to spring new tree shoots. A new tree may even be a result of a mixture of tree shoots.

I don't know the methods of growth of trees in the region in the days of Isaiah, but I wonder if the root of Jesse and root of Joseph could be the Prophet Joseph Smith where his ancestors would be through both lines which would explain what Moroni said was just about going to be fulfilled. Just speculating.

Isaiah 10

The Lord used the Assyrians as a "tool" to overcome the wickedness of the kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and other nations ("cut of nations not a few")because He was not their God. The Assyrian did not recognize of Whom they were tools. They began thinking that it was all of their own strength and not the strength of the True and Living God. Even the king thought -

"By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 10:13)

The trouble is he eventually came to battle with Judah, whose God was God even though the many of the people were not keeping His commandments. If find the Lord's response to be one to all haughty people -

"Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood." (Old Testament | Isaiah 10:15)

We know that the Assyrians even came to the gates of Jerusalem for a final attack where we read -

"...that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh." (Old Testament | 2 Kings 19:35 - 36)

What caught my attention was the way Isaiah prophecied concerning this event -

"Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.
17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 10:16 - 17)

The record in Kings only reflects that the angel smote those in the camp. I sense from Isaiah that that how they were smote was with a light or holy burning like fire. Sounds very much like that which will take place in the latter days -

"FOR, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." (Old Testament | Malachi 4:1)

Isaiah 9

I would like to begin this morning with a thought. There are differing opinions of the prophecies of Isaiah, whether he is referring to his day, our day, or some future day. There is a common saying that if one does not understand history, it tends to repeat itself. I seem to have the opinion that much of the prophecies of Isaiah are not only for his day, but for our day also if we fail to heed his warnings.

As I read the first several verses of Isaiah, I think he is speaking form directly to us because of the manner of perspective he is writing. He begins by telling us that if we thought the destruction of Israel was bad, it could be worse in out day -

"NEVERTHELESS the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations." (Old Testament | Isaiah 9:1)

Isaiah reminds us that the Light of Christ and His coming has been a light in darkness, even in the worlds of spirits that have passed on -

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." (Old Testament | Isaiah 9:2)

He explains the results of those that were enlightened -

"Thou hast multiplied the nation, and...increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian." (Old Testament | Isaiah 9:3 - 4)

But in the last days, destruction of the wicked will be different than previous experiences as Isaiah explained -

"For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire." (Old Testament | Isaiah 9:5)

Much like Malachi would later say -

"FOR, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." (Old Testament | Malachi 4:1)

And then Isaiah speaks Messanically -

"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. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." (Old Testament | Isaiah 9:6 - 7)

Though the Savior was born in the meridian of time, Isaiah seems to be speaking from the perspective of the second coming when there will be a "burning and fuel of fire".

Isaiah 8

The Lord said to Isaiah -

"For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 8:11 - 12)

One of the definitions of confederacy is -

"a combination of persons for unlawful purposes" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

...or a conspiracy. Confederacy might also mean and alliance or a league or compact for mutual support or common action. I couldn't help but think of the politics of our day with alliances for mutual gain and support even to the point of "secret combinations" like those of old. It appears that what is taking place in our day in political circles was the same as in the days of Isaiah. The Lord counsels Isaiah -

"...neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 8:12 - 14)

Isaiah later wrote of those that fear the Lord -

"...all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Old Testament | Isaiah 54:13 - 14)

Isaiah 7

As I read the words of Isaiah to Ahaz, I can't but help but relate the prophecies to our day. Because of Judah's failure to keep the commandments and remain faithful, Isaiah basically foretells of the physical and economical decline that would come to the nation even that -

"The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria." (Old Testament | Isaiah 7:17)

One of those prophecies was physical in that -

"In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard." (Old Testament | Isaiah 7:20)

I picture in my mind a head or the nation of Judah with all its people compared to the hair of the head. Isaiah prophesied that the day would come that the hair would be removed from the head as if by a razor. What a terrible warning. In other words the land would be desolate of people. With the land being desolate -

"...it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.
19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes." (Old Testament | Isaiah 7:18 - 19)

And the very land that was so economically blessed -

"...that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns." (Old Testament | Isaiah 7:23)

And of the few that will remain will be poor such -

"...that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;
22 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land." (Old Testament | Isaiah 7:21 - 22)

And -

"With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.
25 And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle." (Old Testament | Isaiah 7:24 - 25)

Which means to me that the remaining people will have to hunt for food and raise lesser cattle or in other words sheeps and goats. We know that this prophecy was fulfilled. I can't help but ask that would not the same disobedience and unfaithfulness cause the same in our day? I am reminded of the prophecies in our day -

"Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.
17 Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered.
18 They that remain, and are pure in heart, shall return, and come to their inheritances, they and their children, with songs of everlasting joy, to build up the waste places of Zion—" (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 101:16 - 18)

Note that those that remain or the faithful shall return to build up waste places or places abandoned much like the prophecies of Isaiah.

Isaiah 7

As Isaiah comes to warn Ahaz that it is the will of the Lord that he does not join a confederacy with Syria or Israel, he says to Ahaz -

"Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above." (Old Testament | Isaiah 7:11)

In my mind, Ahaz has an opportunity of a lifetime, but because of lack of faith and his own reliance on the "arm of flesh", he couldn't bring himself to do so but instead answers -

"...I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD." (Old Testament | Isaiah 7:12)

I doubt there was any righteousness to his response when he suggested that he would not tempt the Lord. I sense he just didn't want to admit the Lord was more powerful than he. Some might think that this would have been inappropriate for Ahaz to ask for a sign, but the Lord has taught that -

"signs come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please, but by the will of God." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 63:10)

It is apparent that in this case, it was the wil of the Lord to show a sign. Because of Ahaz's lack of faith, by revelation, Isaiah still gives a sign. In this case a sign to all mankind -

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Old Testament | Isaiah 7:14)

Immanuel meaning "God be with us". In may opinion the following words -

"Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good." (Old Testament | Isaiah 7:15)

...would suggest that this son would not be amongst the noble or wealthy. In my mind, butter and honey would suggest those of limited resources having to live off the land and the milk of farming animals. Isaiah also tells Ahaz that this event will be a future event saying -

"...before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings." (Old Testament | Isaiah 7:16)

Another wonderful testimony of the coming of the Son of God that was not lost or removed with the writings of Isaiah.

Isaiah 6

Though I consider myself no Isaiah, I could relate in a small manner to Isaiah as he records that -

"...I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." (Old Testament | Isaiah 6:8)

Much like many in the Church, Isaiah received a call from the Lord and was willing to aceept and serve Him or in other words "here am I, send me", with the reminder -

"...whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 1:38)

Isaiah shares his thoughts and feelings as he writes -

"...Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 6:5)

Isaiah is not saying he is a wicked man but acknowledges that he has weaknesses and had made mistakes. When he says "woe is me" and that "I am undone" suggests that he feels he is unqualified and somewhat unworthy. I can remember the call I received for my present calling. There was no question in my mind that I was unqualified and in anguish and disstress, I exclaimed to myself "woe is me". I'm sure I am not the only one that has felt that way. We receive comfort from President Monson with his words -

"...Remember that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies." (Duty Calls, MMay Ensign, 1996)

We see the evidence of that as Isaiah then relates -


"Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged." (Old Testament | Isaiah 6:6 - 7)

We must understand that as we demonstrate faith and humility, it is the Lord that purifies, sanctifies, and qualifies us in our service and callings. In the past five years, I have found that to be so true.

Isaiah 5

Isaiah wrote of the anguish and grief of those with a baggage of sin saying -

"Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 5:18)

Isaiah paints of picture of the burden of sin is felt by an individual comparing the loads even to that of an animal. Lehi used a similar analogy in warning his family -

"O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 1:13)

Cain refered to the burden of sin -

"...my punishment is greater than I can bear." (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:38)

David prayed concerning his burden -

"I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me." (Old Testament | Psalms 51:3)

And even Alma said to his son Helaman -

"...was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul." (Book of Mormon | Alma 36:16)

Cords of vanity, a cart rope, and even the chains of hell should be clear enough to describe the great burden of sin if we do not repent.