1  Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus,
   Whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him.
   I will loose the loins of kings, to open the doors before him; the gates will not be shut.
2  I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight.
   I will break in pieces the gates of brass,
   And cut asunder the bars of iron.
3  I will give thee the treasures of darkness,
   And hidden riches stored in their secret places,
   That thou mayest know that I, the LORD,
   Which call thee by thy name,
   Am the God of Israel.
4  For Jacob, my servant's sake,
   And Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name.
   I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

1. This speaks to Cyrus by name, but since he is a type or pattern for both the Lord's servant in the last days and also Jesus himself, these verses can be taken as if they were written about either of them. Just imagine that the servant's name is Cyrus for these few lines. The Lord has strengthened him to accomplish his mission of subduing the nations of the world, including kings. The image is of defenses falling apart before the servant so he can be successful in bringing them the truth. This might also refer to "kings" of the church who have been slow to accept additional truths, or maybe even having rejected them.
2. The Lord promises to go before the servant, leveling and clearing his path of any and all interferences. Iron bars and brass gates suggests that the Lord's servant is going to meet with some great obstacles, most likely it will be people that resist him, thinking that they have all the answers they need--much like the Jews of Jesus time.
3. Cyrus is promised the riches of the world, but to the Lord's servant this means scriptural riches, even treasures like the "Pearl of Great Price;" It means the books of Job, Jonah, Isaiah, etc.. In other words, scriptural truths that have been hidden from the world in parables, types, and metaphors. These riches will bring the Jews back to God.
 

 

5  I am the LORD, and there is none else; there is no God beside me,
   I girded thee about, though thou hast not known me,
6  That they may know from the rising of the sun,
   And from the west, there is none beside me.
   I am the LORD, and there is none else.
7  I form light and create darkness.
   I make peace and create evil.
   I, the LORD, do all these things.
8  Shower down, O ye heavens, from above,
   And let the skies pour down righteousness;
   Let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation,
   And let righteousness spring up together;
   I the LORD have created it.
9  Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!
   Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth.
   Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou?
   Or shall the clay say to him that worketh it, His hands hath no skill?
10 Woe unto him that would say unto his father, What begettest thou?
   Or that would say unto the woman, What hast thou brought forth?
11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel and his Maker,
   Will ye ask me of things to come concerning my sons?
   Or, command me concerning the work of my hands?
12 I have made the earth and created man upon it.
   I, even my hands, stretched out the heavens,
   And all their host have I commanded.

5-6. This tells us that the Lord has strengthened the servant so he can accomplish his mission, which is that the whole world will come to know the true God.
7. The Lord is making sure that Israel knows who he (God) is, that he does everything that is done. The only way a righteous God could say that he creates evil is to mean that he gives men their agency, and then they are free to do evil. In that way, so to speak, God creates evil---God creates men; therefore God creates evil.
8. "Shower down, O heavens," refers to the showering of knowledge. Heaven is the source of all knowledge, and is the same as the treasures of verse two. Knowledge is what the Lord's servant is going to bring to Israel. This could be construed to be a commandment to the Lord's servant to shower Israel with the knowledge that he has been given. All this knowledge will lead to righteousness and salvation for Israel.
9-10. This is a warning to those who would fight against God, resisting the knowledge that God is sending by way of his servant; to those that assume they have the answers; to those that might say, A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.
11-12. This means, If it is not plain to you, then ask God who has all the answers--"I am Jehovah, the Creator; hear my words.

 

13 I have raised him up in righteousness.
   And I will direct all his ways,
   He shall build my city,
   And he shall let go my captives,
   Not for a price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.
14 Thus saith the LORD, The labor of Egypt,
   And merchandise of Ethiopia, and of the Sabeans, men of stature,
   Shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine; they shall come after thee.
   In chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee.
   And they shall make supplication unto thee,
   Saying, Surely God is in thee,
   And there is none other,
   No God besides him.
15 Verily thou art a God,
   That hideth thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior.
16 They shall be a shamed and also confounded, all of them;
   They shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.
17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation.
   Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded worlds without end.
18 For thus saith the LORD, he that created the heavens,
   God himself that formed the earth and made it;
   He hath established it, and not in vain.
   He formed it to be inhabited.
   I am the LORD, and there is none else.
 
13. God raised up this servant to accomplish these things, and the servant will do it. He will build up Jerusalem in a spiritual sense, not just a city, and give Israel the information they need to free themselves from captivity by the wicked world. The servant's motives will be pure and righteous, desiring no reward for himself.
14. People from the world will come (voluntarily) bound in the chains of sin, seeking the knowledge that will free them.
15. This is the second time Isaiah has referred to the fact that God is hidden.
16. This sums up what happened to them. They turned away to idols and other false gods, forgetting about Jehovah. It is the same for all that turn to idols.
17. But now Israel is never to make that mistake again. They are to know God, and be partakers of his salvation.
18. Here he is saying that Israel is to make this change and become spiritually strong, which means that the land will be inhabited or will not be a desert. Israel is considered to be a desert when none of God's children have the truth and their progression is stopped.

 

19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place.
   I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain.
   I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together,
   Ye that are escaped of the nations;
   They have no knowledge,
   That carry graven images of wood,
   And pray unto a god that cannot save.
21 Tell ye them of it, and bring them near,
   Yea, and then let them take councel together.
   Who hath declared this unto you from ancient time?
   Who hath told it from that time? have not I, the LORD?
   For there is no other God beside me,
   A just God, and Savior.
   There is none,
   Besides me.
22 Look unto me,
   And be ye saved,
   All the ends of the earth;
   For I am God, and there is none else.
23 I have sworn by myself; the word is gone out,
   From my mouth in righteousness, and it shall not return,
   That unto me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall swear.
24 Surely, shall one say, Only in the LORD have I righteousness and strength;
   Even to him shall men come, and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

19. Here God tells them that he doesn't speak to them through soothsayers or other
mediums that operate in the dark, in cemeteries in the middle of the night, trying to communicate with spirits. He has not lied to Jacob. Salvation is there to find, and every word will be fulfilled.
20. It means, Come ye that are ignorant of God, that have no more knowledge then to worship graven images. Yea, come and learn of the true God, all men, of every nation.
21-23. This is most likely a command to the Jews to tell the world. They know better than any who it is that declared this from ancient time; and that nobody else has foretold anything, certainly not the idols. Everyone is to know the truth, and every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One.
24. Most likely these will be the words of the Lord's servant; i.e., "In the Lord have I righteousness, and strength." His words will attract the righteous, and the opposition will be put to shame.
25. This is the greatest promise the Lord can make to anyone. Israel is to find God and learn of his ways, even until they are justified by the Spirit, and obtain their glory.

 

CHAPTER 46

1  Bel boweth down; Nebo stoopeth;
   Their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle;
   Your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to a weary beast;
2  They stoop, they bow down together, they could not deliver the burden;
   But they themselves are gone into captivity.
3  Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob,
   And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
   Which have been borne by me from the belly,
   Which have been carried from the womb.
4  And even to your old age, I am he,
   To hoar hairs will I carry you.
   I have made, and I will bear.
   Even I will carry, and will deliver you.
5  To whom will ye liken me, and make my equal,
   And compare me, that we may be found to be alike?
6  They lavish gold out of a bag, and weigh silver in the balance,
   And hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it into a god.
   They fall down, yea, and they worship it.
7  They bear him upon the shoulders,
   They carry him, and set him in place, and he standeth.
   From his place he shall not move; yea, and one shall cry unto him,
   Yet, he can not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

1. Bel and Nebo are false gods of Babylon. Their gods (idols) are a burden to them, both literally and spiritually. These beasts represent people. Beasts and cattle are used, metaphorically, for people who haven't advanced spiritually. They (the people) are wearied with the load of falsehoods. Their weariness from the burden of false gods is in contrast to the burden of Jesus: "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt.11:30). See note V8.
2. They cannot save the burden anymore then the burden can save them. Both go into captivity.
3-4. Instead of being a burden to you, as your false gods are, the true God has taken you for his burden, even from Israel's creation in Egypt has he carried you. In a broader sense this means the same thing for all of us; he will faithfully carry us and deliver (save) us.
5. His conclusion is: "If I, your God, would carry you throughout your existence, why in the world would you worship a god that you have to carry about. To which one would you liken me?"
6. Time and time again God has told them that he is the creator, that he made them. Here he is contrasting that to their creating of false gods. Look at the results of his creation, man; and look at the results of their creation, a block of wood. How silly it is.
7. How silly is it? They have to move it about; and it can do nothing but stand where they put it. It cannot hear their cry or do anything to help them when they have problems. God is everything that these false gods are not. They, themselves, amount to more than do their false gods that they carry about on their shoulders and bow down to   .

 

8  Remember this, and show yourselves men,
   And bring it again to mind,
   O ye transgressors.
9  Remember the things of old,
   For I am God; and there is none else.
   I am God, and there is none like unto me;
10 That hath declared the end from the beginning,
   And from ancient times the things that are not yet done;
   And saying, My counsel shall stand,
   And I will do all my pleasure;
11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east,
   The man that executeth my counsel from a far country.
   Yea, I have spoken it, and will bring it to pass.
   I have purposed it, and I will also do it.
12 Hearken unto me, all ye stouthearted,
   That are far from righteousness.
13 I bring near my righteousness.
   It shall not be far off,
   And my salvation shall not tarry;
   And I will place salvation in Zion for Israel, my glory.


8. He admonishes them to remember these things about false gods, and to cease to be a beast of burden. He says, "Show yourselves [to be] men," not beasts and cattle burdened with falsehoods. Referring to men as beasts is akin to referring to them as natural man, as opposed to the spiritual man. A natural man is a carnal man, one who operates at an animal level. Adam Clark said, "The animal man--the man who is in a state of nature, and lives under the influence of his animal passions." It is not a stretch to refer to such men as beasts.
9. He says to look back and see who it was that told you what would happen!
10. He has told you of the end right from the beginning. And all that has been, and will be, is exactly as he has said it would be, right from the beginning.
11. Now he is doing exactly that again; i.e., telling them what is to come. He returns to the main theme of these chapters; i.e., the Lord's servant of the last day. He calls him a ravenous bird, meaning one who is hungry for the word of God, even ravenously hungry, searching relentlessly like a bird of prey to devour every word that has come out of the mouth of God. The linking words "from a far country" establishes that the servant is to be from outside of Israel, and most likely a Gentile as we shall see. This servant will accomplish all that God has in store for him to do. God will see to it by helping him.
12. We must assume that "stouthearted" means the same as hardhearted or stiff-necked because he is  speaking to the unbelieving, "that are far from righteousness."
13. "Righteousness" and "my salvation," are pseudonyms for "the servant" and Christ respectively. Christ will bring salvation to Israel. The servant, as the right hand of Christ, will bring knowledge of Christ to them.

 

CHAPTER 47

1  Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon.
   Sit on the ground, on no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans,
   For thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.
2  Take the millstones, and grind the meal;
   Uncover thy locks; make bare the leg,
   Uncover the thigh, and pass over the rivers.
3  Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame seen;
   For I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.
4  Our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is my name, the Holy One of Israel.
5  Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans;
   For this thing thou shalt no longer be called, The lady of kingdoms.
6  I was wroth with my people, so I have polluted mine inheritance,
   Given them into thine hand; that didst show them no mercy.
   Upon the aged hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.
7  And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever.
   So that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart,
   And neither didst thou consider the latter end of what might happen.


1-15. Other expositors see this chapter as a prophecy predicting the destruction of Babylon. It is not that, and it seems contradictory that it could have been interpreted that way by Cyrus, king of Babylon, or why would he have let Israel go. In the previous chapter Israel was accused of following Bel and Nebo, the Babylonian gods. Now, because of their worship of these idols, Israel is derogatorily called the daughter of Babylon, the daughter of the Chaldeans, instead of daughter of Zion or the bride of Jehovah. It is the same pattern found in Chapter one, where Israel is called Sodom and Gomorrah because she had become just as sinful.
1-4. Now the fair maiden, Israel, is likened to a daughter of nobility (the bride of Jehovah), being dethroned and sold into slavery, to experience all of the degrading aspects of a slave. She is even told to remove her veil, which only an harlot was allowed to go without. Many times the Lord called wayward Israel an harlot for chasing after false gods.
5. Israel is to go into darkness, which is metaphorical for their spiritual slide into ignorance. It means they are to lose their knowledge of God----cease being his bride.
6. This verse points back to the Chaldeans of verse five, but means the world which is represented by the Chaldeans. Israel is scattered because of their sins.
7-8. This refers to Israel again, because they were the only ones who were made promises of becoming the Lord's bride. Because Israel was the "chosen people" only they could feel so confident and arrogant to say, "I am, (meaning I am the Lord's bride), and there is none else but me."

 

8  Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly,
   That saith in thine heart, I am, and there is none else besides me;
   I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children.
9  But these two things shall come unto thee in a moment, in one day:
   The loss of children, and widowhood--they shall come upon thee,
   In their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries,
   And for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
10 For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness.
   Thou hast said that none seeth me.
   Thy wisdom and thy knowledge,
   It hath perverted thee.
   Thou hast said in thy heart,
   I am, and none else besides me.
11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee.
   Thou shalt not know from whence it riseth.
   And mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off.
   And desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.

8-9. Israel's women did suffer these things, but a broader and more significant meaning would be that Israel, as a nation, was to lose children, until only a small remnant was left, and Israel was to be a widow because of her lose of the "bridegroom" which is the Lord.
10-11. Because of their previous spiritual knowledge (being the sons of Abraham and being fanatical about it, even to being blinded to any new truth) this condemnation is justified. This would not apply to Babylon because Babylon, in their spiritual ignorance, could not be found guilty of these things. Where there is no knowledge, there is no sin. Cf. verse 8.

 

12 Stand now with thine enchantments,
   And with the multitude of thy sorceries,
   Wherein thou hast labored at even from thy youth:
   If so be thou shalt be able to profit,
   If so be that they mayest prevail.
13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels.
   Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators,
   Stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
14 Behold, they shall be as stubble, and the fire shall burn them up.
   They shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame;
   There shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before.
15 Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast labored,
   Even trafficked with, all the way from thy youth;
   They shall wander everyone in his own way;
   None shall save thee.


12-13. Persist with your worship of false gods if you wish, but you are only weakened by them. All that Jehovah has said will happen. None of your false gods will change anything that he has promised. You are wearied with their many and conflicting ideas.
14. If the idols amounted to anything at all, one would think that after they were burned there would at least be coals to warm oneself before; but no, not even that much good will they be.
15. All who have pursued them, astrologers etc., will find that they have been in pursuit of nothing. They cannot save anyone from what the Lord will do, not in a physical sense or in a spiritual sense. They will not be there to help in any way.

   You might be wondering why the Lord continues to issue indictments against Israel, as this chapter does, especially after he has made such beautiful and wonderful promises about their end times. Why does he keep bringing up the past? At least part of the answer can be found in the structures that tie the whole book of Isaiah together. Although the first 39 chapters are primarily indictments and curses, and the remainder are primarily promises and blessing, there is a small intermixing of each in the other. Avraham Gileadi explains these structures, somewhat, in his book, THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. He has schooling in the ways of the Jews, having actually studied in Israel. He has written other books about Isaiah, which are very informative from a literary standpoint. Up to a point they help in understanding Isaiah, especially when it comes to synonymous parallelisms, chiastic structures, literary patterns, allegories, types, code names, key words, linking words, and other mechanical tools.

 

CHAPTER 48

1  Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob,
   Who are called by the name of Israel,
   And are come forth out of the waters of Judah,
   Who swear by the name of the Lord,
   And make mention of the God of Israel;
   Yet they swear not in truth nor in righteousness;
   Nevertheless, they call themselves of the holy city,
   But they do not stay themselves upon the God of Israel, 
   Who is the LORD of hosts; yea, the Lord of Hosts is his name.
3  Behold, I have declared the former things from the beginning,
   And they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them;
   I did show them suddenly, and they came to pass;
4  And I did it because I knew that thou art obstinate,
   And thy neck is as an iron sinew, and thy brow as brass.
5  And I have even from the beginning declared it to thee,
   And I showed them for fear lest thou shouldst say--
   Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image,
   And my molten image hath commanded them.

Compare to 1 Nephi 20.
1. Come and listen to these words all ye exiles, ye Jews, who claim to be the chosen of the Lord but do not act like it. This summons to come forth is more appropriate to the Jews scattered all over the world today than it was to ancient times. (See A companion to your study of the Book of Mormon by Daniel H Ludlow, pg 120, for a discussion of the phrase "or out of the waters of baptism," which I did not include because this summons, "to hear," is directed to the apostate, exiled Jews who have not heard the word yet, let alone be baptized.) A computer search could not find the expression, "waters of Judah" anywhere else in the scriptures to help us understand its meaning. It appears to mean the same as "out of the loins of Judah," in the sense of being born of the mother's waters.
2. They call themselves Jews after Jerusalem, the Holy City, and, therefore, have a responsibility to the God of that city to be better. They do not rely upon the God of that city, nor do they even know him.
3-5. From their beginning Jehovah told them of their future, and he brought it to pass, that they might know that he is Jehovah. He did it to prevent them from saying there idol told them these things. Until now, was the "former things." Now he is again telling them of things that are to come, which were given to them in the beginning but they have not been understood before.

 

6  Thou hast seen and heard all this;
   And will ye not declare them?
   And I showed thee new things from this time,
   Even hidden things, and thou didst not know them before.
7  They are shown unto thee now, and were not from the beginning;
   Even before the day thou heardest them not they were declared unto thee,
   Lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.
8  Yea, thou heardest them not;
   Yea, and thou also knewest them not;
   From that time thine ear was not opened;
   For I knew thou wouldest behave treacherously,
   And wast called a transgressor even from the womb.
9  Nevertheless, for my name's sake will I defer mine anger,
   And for my praise will I refrain from thee, that I cut thee not off.
10 For behold, I have refined thee; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
11 For my own sake, yea, for mine own sake will I do this;
   For I will not suffer my name to become polluted,
   And I will not give my glory unto another?

6. Now, today, he is showing them things given anciently, but yet are new to them because they have been hidden. These "secret things" will result in the spiritual redemption of Israel, which will commence from this time forth. These hidden things are the truths that are now being revealed, especially by the Book of Job as we shall see in the next chapter , and the other hidden books mentioned in 45:3 and 15.
7. I have corrected 7a to agree with verses 5-6, 7b, 8, and 16, which all say it was created in the beginning. This "new" information came forth in the beginning; that way Israel couldn't claim to come up with it now, giving some other source credit for it.
8. From of old they could not have known these things, because God did not open their ears to hear it. God knew he had to do it this way so there would be no doubt. He  suggests that the effectiveness of these new things would have been annulled had he  not kept them secret.
9. He is ending their trials for his own sake, apparently to prevent the world from thinking Israel's God does not exist, or his promises of old are not valid after 2000 years. Israel will praise him forevermore for this extension of mercy,  especially since they had virtually given up on ever being "the chosen people" again.
10. They have been prepared (refined like silver) to again receive their God; that is, they have been humbled through affliction, enough to listen to the truth.
11. The Lord states that his reputation is at stake, if he doesn't do something to show that Israel is worthy to be called the Lord's chosen people. No one would ever believe the true God was on their side, based on their history, at least for the last 2000 years. Cf. verse 9.

 

12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called,
   For I am he; I am the first, and I am also the last.
13 Mine hand hath also laid out the foundations of the earth,
   And with my right hand I have spanned the heavens.
   I call unto them and they stand up together.
14 All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear.
   Who among them hath declared these things unto them?
   The Lord hath loved him; yea, and he will fulfill his word,
   Which he hath declared by them, and he will do his pleasure on Babylon,
   And also his mighty arm shall come down upon the Chaldeans.
15 Also saith the Lord: I the Lord, yea I have spoken,
   Yea, I called him to declare.
   I have brought him,
   And he shall make his way prosperous.
16 Come ye near unto me; I have not spoken in secret.
   From the beginning, from the time it was declared have I spoken.
   And the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
17 And thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
   I have sent him, the LORD thy God who teacheth thee to profit,
   Who leadeth thee by the way thou shouldest go, hath done it.


12-13. It is really Jehovah of old, the creator, that now speaks to Israel in the last days, and they will finally understand.
14. Israel is to hear this from the Lord's servant. God has called him to bring these words to Israel as well as the rest of the world, and God will make sure of his success.
15.  The Lord verifies that this servant is divinely called. He also declares that he will be successful in the restoration of Israel.
16. The Lord gave Israel this information in the very beginning and did not keep it secret; but they have not understood it. But now, Jehovah and the Spirit of God, meaning the Holy Ghost, has sent the servant to declare the message of old.
17. The Lord verifies that he has sent the "Lord's servant" to declare these things.

 

18 O that thou hadst hearkened unto my commandments!
   Then thy peace had been as a river,
   And thy righteousness,
   As the waves on the seashore.
19 And thy seed also had been as the sand,
   The offspring of thy bowels as the gravel thereof.
   His name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.
20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans,
   With a voice of singing declare ye;
   Tell it; utter it to the ends of the earth;
   Say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob,
21 And they thirsted not as he lead them through the deserts.
   He caused the water to flow out of the rock for them.
   He clave the rock, and the waters gushed out.
22 And notwithstanding he hath done all this,
   And greater also, there is no peace,
   Saith the LORD, unto the wicked.

18-19. The Lord laments Israel's past. It could have been different if they had only listened and obeyed long ago. Their peace (Shlm, as applicable to the coming salvation) would have been like a river, plentiful and lasting; and their offspring would be as abundant as the sands of the sea. Though he laments their past, this suggests how it will be for them in the future, if they will only hear.
20. Israel is admonished to leave the wicked world, spiritually, and come back to Jehovah. They are to joyously declare that the Lord has redeemed Israel, his servant Jacob, even unto the ends of the earth. All this in these latter days as a result of the servant of the Lord.
21. Shades of Mosses, but this also holds true for the great exodus of Israel from the wicked world of today. Again the waters (truth) gushes out of the "rock" (Jesus Christ) to bring them out of the desert.
22. He closes with a warning that there is no other way than righteousness, which is his way. The wicked will not find "peace like a river" because they will still not understand.

   This chapter has talked about "the new thing," which is a revelation that will turn Israel around. The next chapter is a high point of Isaiah, which has the "new thing" talk to us directly; it is The Book of Job. Chapter 50 then goes on to talk about the Lord's servant who takes this news to the Jews. From this high point, it is break forth into singing, dance, put on thy beautiful garments, O Israel for your salvation has come.

 

CHAPTER 49

1  Listen, O isles,
   And hearken ye people from afar.
   The LORD hath called me forth from the womb,
   From the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
2  And he hath made my mouth like a sharpened sword;
   In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me;
   He hath made me as a polished shaft,
   In his quiver hath he hid me.
3  And he said unto me,
   O Israel,
   Thou art my servant,
   In whom I will be glorified.
4  Then I said, I have labored in vain,
   I have spent my strength for naught, and in vain,
   Surely my justice is with the LORD, and my work is with my God.
5  And now, saith the LORD, that formed me from the womb that I should be his servant,
   To bring Jacob again to him, that Israel might be gathered together;
   Yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD,
   And my God shall be my strength.

   Compare to 1 Nephi 21.
 1. This summons everyone, and is calling us to hear the words of someone new to Israel, but at the same time old, even since the beginning. He tells us of his special mission to bring back Israel and the Gentiles. He is not Israel, collectively, as in 41:8&9, nor is it the Lord's servant from the East or from the North, as in 41:2,41:25,42:1,42:19,48:15. It is Job who is emblematic of Israel.  Job speaks to us in the first person, as if he is real. The Book of Job is an allegory hiding the thoughts of Jesus during his crucifixion. Job's suffering and complaints are really the suffering of Jesus while he was on the cross. It was his final trial.
2. The Lord has given Job great power, even as a sharp sword, to defeat any arguments that arise, but he has been hidden in the shadow of God's hand until now. "Shadow" has been chosen carefully, as it also used to mean the same as echo, type, prefigures, parable or allegory. Job is like a sharp sword, or polished shaft of an arrow that can pierce a heart with a wholesome wound, to be called forth in the fullness of time when the Lord will  use him.
3. Job is the personification of Israel, even though in the allegory he is from the land of Uz.
4. From Job's creation by the Lord "in the beginning", he soon slipped into obscurity, not to be understood for some 3000 years. He expresses some regret for being ineffectual for so long, but he never had doubts about his great, unused power. He is saying, "Until now, I, Job, have labored in vain, accomplishing nearly nothing for the Lord, but now I will be of great value to him."
5. Job, was created long ago to bring Jacob back from exile in the wicked world of today; and now, when "new things" come forth, Job shall become glorious in the eyes of the Lord, to glorify God in the eyes of the whole world, Jew and Gentile.

 

6  He said, It is a light thing,
   That thou be my servant,
   To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
   And to restore the preserved of Israel;
   I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles,
   That thou mayest be my salvation unto all the ends of the earth.
7  Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, even Jesus Christ,
   To him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nations abhorreth, to servants of rulers:
   Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful.
8  Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, O isles of the sea,
   And in a day of salvation have I helped thee, and I will preserve thee,
   And give thee my servant for a covenant of the people,
   To establish the earth,
   To inherit desolate heritages.
9  And to say unto the prisoners, Go forth;
   And to them that sit in darkness, Show yourselves.
   They shall feed in pastures in high places.
10 They shall not hunger nor thirst,
   Neither shall the heat of the sun smite them;
   For he that hath mercy on them shall lead them along,
   Even by the springs of water shall he guide them along the way.
11 I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.

6. But, it is not enough that Job brings Israel back to God, he will also be used to teach the Gentiles, that all the world will come to know the Lord and be numbered with the House of Israel, and gain salvation.
7. The Lord declares to Job, his servant, of what is to come. Kings will see the truth, just as the Lord's princes shall. This means both spiritual kings and worldly kings.
8. The Lord "gives" Job, his servant, to save ("in a day of salvation") Israel and the Gentiles. Speaking to the people of the world (on the isles of the sea as seen from the perspective of heaven), the Lord tells them he has given them this servant, Job, "as a covenant," or in other words, to fulfill a covenant made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob long ago. To establish desert heritages means to restore all those ignorant of the true God to the truth.
9. They shall feed on the "bread" of heaven, that will free the prisoners of the darkness; even great truths shall they "feed" upon, in rich well watered high pastures, even high upon the Lord's mountain.
10. They shall not hunger or thirst for the truth any longer. Knowledge of God will be abundant and clear. No outside influences will deter them from the truth. The Lord will lead them by the way of clear waters---precept upon precept, line upon line.
11. The Lord's mountain will be the way for all. It is the high road, or high way,
meaning the righteous way. "High ways" also refer to the Lord's temples, which is an exalted way.

 

12 And then, O house of Israel, behold, these shall come from far;
   And lo, these, from the north and from the west;
   And these, from the land of Sinim.
13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth;
   For the feet of those in the east shall be established.
   Break forth into singing, O mountains; for they shall be smitten no more;
   For the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
14 But behold, Zion hath said: The LORD hath forsaken me;
   And my Lord hath forgotten me;
   But he will show that he hath not.
15 For can a woman forget her sucking child?
   That she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?
   Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.
16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;
   Thy walls are continually before me.
17 Thy children shall make haste,
   Against thy destroyers;
   And they that made thee waste,
   Thy masters, shall go forth of thee.
18 Lift up thine eyes round about thee and behold;
   All these gather themselves together, and shall come to thee.
   And as I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with all of them,
   As with an ornament, thou shalt bind them upon thee, even as a bride.

12. All are to come to the Lord, even from as far away as Sinin (China), which is about as far away as anyone can get, sort of---at least long ago.
13. With the abundance of knowledge (cool water), the Lord's mountain will be the way, an exalted way, for everyone.
14. Zion, the bride has said that she has been forgotten by the Bridegroom, the Lord, but he shall show them otherwise.
15. But no! The Lord cannot forget, anymore than a mother can forget her child. Even if there is a mother that can forget, God cannot.
16. Look, how could he forget when the scars from the crucifixion are engraved into the palms of his hands, a reminder of his great sacrifice for them. "Walls" is a term referring to their safety, or of their doings, or their well-being; it is based upon safe, fortified city walls, or the safety of their house walls, or even their tent walls. It means, then, that Israel's well-being is continually before the Lord.
17. Israel's wicked rulers, or rulers that simply don't know and lead others astray, will be gone.
18. The Gentiles from all over the world will come to join the Jews, especially the missionaries with the truth, and they should be accepted and treated as ornaments would be by a bride. These are marvelous plays on words, since Israel is the bride of the Lord and the Gospel is a great treasure to be put on, even a covering of the Lord.

 

19 For thy waste and desolate places, the land of thy destruction,
   Shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants.
   And they that swallowed thee shall be far away.
20 The children that thou shalt have then,
   After thou hast lost the others,
   Shall say in thine ears,
   This place is too strait for me;
   Make a place for me that I may dwell therein.
21 Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these,
   Seeing I have lost my children and am desolate,
   A captive, and removing to and fro?
   And who hath brought up these?
   Behold, I was left alone;
   These, where have they been?
22 Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold,
   I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles,
   And set up my standard to the people from afar,
   And they shall bring thy sons cradled within their arms,
   And thy daughters shall be carried in safety upon their shoulders.

19. The spiritual condition of Israel, that of waste and desolation, in which they have so long existed, will now be too narrow and confining for them because of their expanded knowledge from the new light. Israel's "swallowers," or the wicked world, will be far away in time. This suggests the Millennium would have started, or be starting.
20. Israel's children of the last days, with their new light and knowledge, will desire a new place to live because the old is to "straight" (narrow) for them, meaning they desire to live in Zion, above the realm of Satan and his hosts, even on the mountain of the Lord.
21. Now the people of Israel, the bride, steps forth to speak. She was forsaken by her Bridegroom, and suffered the loss of her children, but now she is amazed at the restoration taking place.
22. The Lord will bring about this great change through the Gentiles. "Standard" is used the same way "Ensign" is, and has meant God's Church, but it could also be a pseudonym for his servant Job. In any event they will be responsible for this great host of converts that will come to Zion---spiritual Zion, primarily.

 

23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers.
   They shall bow down low unto thee with their face towards the earth,
   And lick the dust of thy feet, and know that I am the LORD;
   For they shall not be made ashamed that wait for me.
24 Shall a prey be taken away from the mighty?
   Or captives be freed from a tyrant?
25 Thus saith the LORD,
   Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away,
   And the prey of the terrible shall be delivered from his chains.
   For I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
26 I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh, their strong arm.
   They shall be drunken with their own blood, as with wine.
   And all flesh shall know that I, the LORD,
   Am thy Savior and thy Redeemer,
   The mighty One of Jacob.

23. The spiritual kings and queens of the Lord, those who have the truth, those who bear the Priesthood of God and have the promise to be kings and queens in the hereafter, will come to serve Israel by bringing them the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who wait for the Bridegroom will never be ashamed.
24-25. Israel, or the Jews, has been the captives of the mighty of the earth, and yes, they will be taken from the wicked, to Zion. The lawful captives? Maybe lawful because the Lord himself scattered them among the nations. They will be delivered from the jaws of the wicked one through the intervention of Jehovah. He will save the children of Israel.
26. Instead of having truth (the bread of life) to feed on, and the living water or wine which ends ones spiritual thirst, Israel's oppressors will have only their own flesh and wine (man's superstitions and philosophies) to "eat and drink."
Up to this point, most of the things are referred to in the future tense. Now it changes to be more current or even in the past tense, as if Israel is free from the chains of the wicked world and now follows the true God of Israel, who is Jesus. This is because Job is what starts the change in Israel. He is Jesus as shown by the allegory of Job. You should have had a sense of building up to a climax as we have gone along. Learning about the Book of Job in nearly to that climax. All that is left is to repeat what this means to all the children of Israel, and then comes the most important verses in all the scriptures and the high point of Isaiah. That chapter is, of course, fifty-three, which is so clearly about our Savior and his accomplishments.

 

CHAPTER 50

1  Yea, for thus saith the Lord,
   Have I put thee away, or cast thee off for ever?
   Where is your mother's bill of divorcement, that put her away?
   To whom have I put thee away? or to which of my creditors have I sold you?
   Behold, it was for your iniquities that ye have sold yourselves;
   And for your transgressions is your mother put away.
2  Wherefore, when I came there was no man;
   When I called, yea, none answered.
   O house of Israel,
   Is mine hand shortened,
   So that it cannot redeem thee?
   Or have I no power to deliver thee?
   Behold, at my rebuke I have dried up the sea.
   I make their rivers a wilderness and their fish to stink,
   Because the waters are dried up, and they die because of thirst.
3  I clothe the heavens with the blackness of mourning,
   And I put on sackcloth for their covering.
4  The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned,
   That I should know how to speak a word in season unto the weary.
   He waketh morning by morning: he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

   Compare to 2 Nephi 7.
1. It was not the Lord who caused the separation between himself and Zion, the mother of Israel, to whom he was betrothed. She put herself away by choosing other gods. But there is no divorcement, no bill of sale, nothing to prevent her from returning. (Cf. 50:1; 54:1; 54:4-8; 57:7-9.) The Lord's promises to Israel are still in effect.
2. But when the Lord looked for righteousness, there was no one. There was no one among them that understood. But he still has the power to deliver, for it was he who dried up their river of knowledge, metaphorically making them stink spiritually. He can dry up their living waters until they thirst for knowledge.
3. The heavens have been closed, metaphorically, from giving living waters or light, causing the darkness. There has been no light and knowledge for the Jews through God's prophets for a very long time. It dried up after Malachi.
4. Verse one said they were not separated forever, even though they left the Lord. Verse two says that he took away their knowledge and he can give it back; i.e., through the Lord's servant who now speaks. He will bring them the Gospel of deliverance with his learned tongue, which has gained through the teaching of the Lord. His message will be especially for the weary of Israel. "Morning by morning" suggests that his learning will go on and on. His ear is awakened by God to the learning just as Israel's ear will be awakened to the knowledge that the Lord's servant brings.

 

5  The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither did I turn away.
6  I gave my back to the smiter, and my cheeks to them that pluck off hair.
   I hid not my face from the shame and spitting.
7  The Lord GOD will help me;
   Therefore shall I not be confounded.
   Therefore have I set my face like a flint,
   And I know I shall not be ashamed.
8  He is near that justifieth me.
   Who will contend with me?
   Let us stand together.
   Who is my accuser?
   Let him come near to me.
9  For the Lord, the LORD will help me.
   And who is there, then, that shall condemn me,
   Behold, they shall wax old as a garment,
   And the moth shall eat them up.
10 Who among you fears the LORD,
   And obeyeth the voice of his servant,
   That walketh in darkness and hath no light?
11 Behold all ye that kindle a fire, yea all of you,
   That encircle yourselves about with the sparks for light,
   That walk in the light of the fire that ye yourselves have kindled,
   This shall ye have of mine hand: ye shall lie down in sorrow.

5-6. When the Lord called, the servant responded willingly, even when he knew there would be trouble ahead. Will the troubles be just as these verses indicate, or are these words meant to be taken figuratively? We will have to wait for the answer to that question, to see just how bad things will get for him. But for sure, Satan will be actively trying to stop him. Third Nephi says that he will be "marred," which is used quite consistently in other scriptures to mean "destroyed." But it goes on to say that he will be healed (See 3 Nephi 21:8-10).7. The trouble that is mentioned in verses five and six suggests that there might be many who refuse to accept this new knowledge, and try to shame the Lord's servant. He stands firm as a piece of flint because he has complete faith in what he does; that it is the Lord's work, and the Lord will always be there to defend him.
8. Knowing that the Lord is behind him, he asks who would be foolish enough to challenge him. He is ready for such a challenge. It would be like challenging the Lord directly.
9. He knows the Lord would help in this kind of situation, and that if there are any that would contend with him, they will be summarily defeated.
10. The Lord speaks again, asking, Who will hear the Lord's servant and obey the teachings that he brings to them? Who will walk in the light of the Lord?
11. Now he speaks to those who do not respond to the Lord's servant (the opposite of those in verse 10). It is to those who wish to walk in their own light, in their own fire, which is in opposition to the Lord's light (which the servant brings). Those of verse 10 shall lie down in green pastures, beside the still waters, safe and peaceful; but these shall have sorrow.

 

CHAPTER 51

1  Hearken unto me,
   Ye that pursue righteousness.
   Look unto the rock from whence ye were hewn,
   And to the hole of the pit from whence ye were digged.
2  Look unto Abraham, your father, and unto Sarah that bare you;
   For I called him when he was alone, to bless him and make him many,
3  Now the LORD shall comfort Zion; and he will comfort all her waste places,
   And he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like unto the garden of the LORD.
   Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of song.
4  Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation;
   For the law shall proceed forth from me,
   And I will make my justice a light for the people.
5  My righteousness is near, and my salvation is gone forth;
   The isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they have trust.

   Compare to 2 Nephi 8
1. Then look back at the example of Abraham, the epitome of faithfulness, even a rock. Hewn from a rock or digged from a pit, refers to the origin of all men; i.e., from the dust, or from the earth.
2. The Lord came to Abraham, one man, and took him out from among idol worshipers, to bless all the nations of the earth; and now, just as before there was no one to hear so he will call on one man, the servant, to again bless all the nations of the earth.
3. Zion is as a waste place, a spiritual desert, because there is no one there who is the Lord's. Now he says that he will change all that to make it like his personal garden. And it will not be just a pretty garden. There will be joyful people in this new spiritually filled Israel. They will be joyful and glad to once again have the truth, and be accepted and taught by Jehovah, or Jesus Christ.
4. It will be his law (commandments and ordinances) that will cause this great change, actually it will be their living of the laws that will bring about the change.
5. It appears that "righteousness," is a pseudonym for the servant. Then "salvation," is a pseudonym for Jesus who has brought salvation to all who will listen and obey. Jesus is the "arm" of the Father. "Isles" is used to mean all the children of God who live on this planet of water, on the isles that is. "To wait on the Lord," is to trust that he will come, bringing salvation.

 

6  Lift up your eyes to the heavens above, and look down upon the earth beneath.
   The heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment,
   And they that dwell therein shall die in a like manner.
   But my salvation shall be for ever,
   And my righteousness shall not be abolished.
7  Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness,
   In whose heart I have written my law.
   Fear ye not the reproach of men,
   Neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
8  For the moth shall eat them up like a garment,
   And the worm shall eat them up like wool.
   But my righteousness shall be forever,
   And my salvation, unto endless generations.
9  Awake, awake! Put on strength, O arm of the LORD,
   Awake, as in ancient time, as in the generation of old.
   Art thou not he that cut Rahab to pieces, wounding the dragon?
10 Art thou not he which dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep,
   That hath made in the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?
11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion.
   And everlasting joy and holiness shall be upon their heads,
   And they shall obtain gladness and joy.

6. Unlike all the earth and all of its inhabitants, everything the eye can see in this world, will pass away, but God's salvation will not pass away. It is eternal, just as those who receive it will be eternal.
7. Those who choose righteousness in this world are not to ever fear because of what the wicked might do to them.
8. The wicked are to pass away, while the righteous will go on for eternities.
9. The Lord falls into the background, while it appears that those who seek after righteousness, who would delight in the promises of verses 2 thru 8, cry out for the Lord to commence in this mighty change to Israel that he has been leading up to. Jehovah, as Jesus in the flesh, is the one who dried up Satan's sea, the home of the dragon (Cf. Rev. 21:1, Isa. 27:1). He defeated Satan (the dragon or Rahab), overcoming death and sin.
10. He, Jesus, in the image of the Red Sea miracle, is the one who dried up the Red Sea for Israel to pass over. This event is symbolic of the escape from the wicked world that he made possible for all mankind. He has made a way for all God's children to pass by/over a spiritual death. All of God's children, of course, are the ransomed.
11. Again there are two levels of meaning: first, is the physical redemption of the State of Israel, and second, their spiritual return to Zion/God.

 

12 Sorrow and mourning shall all flee away, for I am he; yea, I am he that comforteth you;
   Behold, who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a mortal that shall die,
   And of the son of man which shall be made as the grass;
13 That thou forgettest the LORD, thy maker, who stretched forth the heavens, 
   And laid the foundations of the earth; that fears continually because of his fury,
   As if he were ready to destroy? Where is the fury of the oppressor now?
14 He hasteneth that the bowed down captives shall soon be made free,
   That he should not die in the pit, nor have his bread fail.
15 I am the LORD thy God, the LORD of hosts is my name,
   That stirs up the sea so that its waves roar.
16 And I have put my words in thy mouth;
   And in the shadow of mine hand,
   Have I covered thee;
   That I may plant the heavens,
   And lay the foundations of the earth,
   And say unto Zion, Behold, thou art my people.
17 Wake thyself, wake thyself up, stand up, O Jerusalem,
   Which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury.
   Thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung it out.

12-13. The Lord comes forward again, verifying: Yes, "I am he [Jehovah]. Who art thou [Israel], that thou shouldest be afraid of [me] a mortal man that shall die, and of the son of man [Jesus Christ], which shall be made as grass; [Who art thou] that forgettest the LORD, thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth [the creator]; [Who art thou] that hast feared because of the fury of the oppressor Satan], as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor [now]? [Defeated]" Son of Man is a title for Jesus Christ that is found in the Gospels about 80 times, used by him in speaking of himself, but never used by anyone else in speaking of him(From the L.D.S. Bible dictionary). That is the case here. Jehovah, or Jesus Christ, is speaking of himself. See these references using "Son Of Man," all found in Matthew: 8:20, 9:6, 10:23, 11:19, 12:8, 12:32, 12:40, 16:13, 16:27, 16:38, 17:9, 17:12, 17:22, 18:11, 19:28, 20:18, 24:27, 24:30,24:37. See these references to understand the oppressor: Job 3:18; Psalms 72:4; Prov. 3:31; Isa. 14:4; Jer. 21:12, 22:3, 25:38; and Zech. 9:8. Jehovah defeated Satan in the person of Jesus Christ, when he died on the cross. He died, as the grass dies, to prove that he was perfect, and, therefore, worthy to atone for the sins of mankind. The oppressor? Swept away, not to be seen again.
15-16. The Lord is sovereign over Satan and the deep. Satan and his followers can only raise a big fuss/"waves." The Lord has put his words into Israel's mouth, to testify against Satan and for the Lord, to bring about a new world, one worthy to be called Zion.
17. Do you feel the climax growing, as if this will all happen any minute? Wake up Israel from your long drunken sleep in darkness, from your many years of suffering at the hand of the Lord. Wake up, Israel, which has done more than just drink from the cup of the Lord's fury, but has drained it dry. (Cf. Ezek. 23:32-34.)

 

18 And there is none to guide her among all her sons that she hath brought forth,
   Neither is there any to take her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up.
19 But now these two sons are come unto thee, and who shall be sorry for thee?
   Desolation and destruction? famine and the sword? 
   By whom shall I comfort thee?
20 Thy sons have all fainted,
   Save these two, they lie at the head of all the streets;
   As a bull in a net, they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.
21 Therefore hear now this, you who are afflicted and drunken, and not with wine.
22 Thus saith thy Lord, yea, even the LORD thy God,
   That pleadeth the cause of his people.
   Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling,
   Even the wrung out dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again.
23 But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee,
   Which said to thee, Bow down, that we may go over.
   And thou hast laid thy body down,
   As the ground,
   As a street to them that went over.

18. Israel has no prophets from the past to guide her (as far as she knows), to take her by the hand to lift her up. They have become ineffectual because of ignorance.
19-20. But there are two (prophets/"sons") that have not fainted/lost their effectiveness, who will come to comfort her from out of the past. They are as anxious to be freed (to give their testimony) as an antelope in a net. These two are powerful witnesses, filled with the fury of the Lord,, (By the mouth of two witnesses shall all truth be established. Duet. 17:6.). They are Job and Jonah.
21-23. Through the testimonies of these "two sons," the Lord will take from Israel's hand the cup of his fury, and give it to those who have inflicted them. The end of your suffering has come. No more will you be walked upon by others, if they will only hear and believe.

 

CHAPTER 52

1  Awake, awake, and put on thy strength, O Zion;
   Put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city;
   For henceforth there shall no more come unto thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
2  Shake thyself from the dust; arise and sit down, O Jerusalem.
   Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck,
   O captive daughter of Zion.
3  For thus saith the LORD,
   Ye have sold yourselves for naught,
   And ye shall be redeemed without any money.
4  For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down afore time,
   Into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.
5  Now therefore, what is it I have here, saith the LORD,
   That my people are taken away for naught?
   They that have rule over them,
   Maketh them to howl, saith the LORD.
   My name continually, all day, is blasphemed.
6  Therefore my people shall know my name.
   Yea, they shall know in that day,
   That it is I that doth speak; here I am.
7  Then they shall lift up their voices with song:
   How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him,
   That bringeth good tidings unto them, that publisheth peace,
   That bringeth good tidings of great joy, that publisheth salvation,
   That saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

   Compare to 2 Nephi 9:1, and to 3 Nephi 20:36-45.
1. The time has come for the redemption of Israel, in a spiritual sense.
2. They are to be given their freedom; so here the image is one of a slave sitting in the dust in chains, loosening the chains and sitting on a throne. For over 2000 years of exile they have been treated as slaves or outcasts. Not only will they not be walked upon anymore (from 51:23), but they shall return to their former glory.
3. Ye sold yourself for nothing, to idols, representing the things of the world.
4. Israel had gone down to Egypt as guests, only to wind up as slaves. Later they were sent out into the world as exiles, and again wound up no better than slaves.
5. What the Lord has here, is his people enslaved by a wicked world, when the world made no payment for them as slaves; therefore their treatment was unjust.
6. This implies that conditions will change for them as soon as they know his name, also that they haven't known his name for a very long time; therefore, there must be another name that they are about to learn; and that name is Jesus Christ, which is another name for Jehovah. This is proven to them by the Book of Job, backed up by the second witness, Jonah.
7. And with song, they will praise the feet of any of God's servants that bring them the truth, that brings them salvation, and says: Thy God reigneth!

 

8  Listen, thy watchmen shall lift up their voice,
   And with their voices together shall they sing for joy;
   For they shall see eye to eye when the LORD shall come to Zion.
9  Break forth into joy, sing ye together, O ye waste places of Jerusalem,
   For the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The LORD hath bared his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations,
   That the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence,
   And touch not that which is unclean;
   Go ye out of the midst of her;
   Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go out in flight,
   For the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rearguard.
13 Behold, my servant shall be wise; he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
14 As many were astonished at thee--his appearance was so marred, more than any man,
   And his form more than the sons of men.
15 So shall he sprinkle many nations.
   The kings shall shut their mouths at him,
   For what had not been told them, shall they see,
   And that which they had not heard, shall they consider.

8. Indeed, it is a great day and all will sing for the return of Zion.
9. It was Jesus who died for the sins of mankind, redeeming them from a spiritual death. Nothing could be more comforting to mankind than to know that salvation is possible.
10. This wonderful event that is taking place is for all the world, all the earth will see, not just Israel. Israel is to be the Lord's witness that this is true.
11. Depart from Babylon (the world), lift yourselves up to live on the Lord's mountain, on a higher level of life. This requires one to be clean spiritually.
12. No reason to panic; the Lord is in control and will lead you, and protect your back.
13. The Lord's servant will be successful in all that the Lord expects of him.
14. It seems the Lord's servant will bring astonishment, almost as great as Jesus brought to the world. According to Job, Jesus' appearance was "marred" greatly by his experiences on the cross, even more that any man. This was because he thought he had failed and sunk to the lowest of depths of despair, enough to break his heart. His form was reduced to bones, according to Job.
15. The Lord's servant shall sprinkle knowledge on many nations/Gentiles. The kings, both spiritual kings and national kings, will be astonished to receive knowledge which they had not heard before. The astonishment will come because this knowledge has been right there before them all the time and they failed to understand. They assumed that they already knew all there was to know about the Bible, perhaps because they have the Book of Mormon which is so clear and seems to be sufficient by itself. But this confidence has resulted in a terrible waste of the Old Testament. How could it be when Jesus himself admonished, commanded, that we study Isaiah, saying that great are the words of Isaiah?

 

CHAPTER 53

1  Who hath believed our report, and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, as a root out of dry ground.
   He hath no form nor comeliness that we should look at him,
   And no appearance that we should notice him.
3  He is despised and rejected;
   A man of sorrows,
   And acquainted with suffering.
   Like one from whom men hide their faces,
   He was despised, and we esteemed him as nothing.
4  Surely he has borne our grief, and carried our sorrows,
   Yet we did esteem him as stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.
   The chastisement of our peace was placed on him, and with his stripes we are healed.
6  We all like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way,
   And the LORD hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all.

       Compare to Mosiah 14.
1. This remarkable chapter tells us exactly what we should all be singing praises about; that Jesus has suffered and died for our benefit; that he has paid for our sins and saved us from a spiritual death. Eight times (4,5,6,8,10,11,12) this chapter tells us the reason that Jehovah came down in the flesh to suffer and die----to bring the people salvation, by taking upon himself the punishment for their sins. (Cf. Matt. 8:17.)
2. Jesus came as a tender shoot (a baby), growing out from the dying root of a felled giant (Davidic line). This says that he didn't have the stately appearance of a king, although he was. There was nothing about his person to indicate his royalty, that he was in the line of King David or that he was the Messiah and the Son of God. "Dry ground" refers to the spiritual condition of his time.
3. Keil-Delitzsch say the "men" in this verse means, men of distinction, men of rank, which would refer to the apostles that forsook him when he was arrested. It most likely also means the Jewish leaders of his day. Jesus knew sorrow and grief to the extreme degree, enough that it broke his heart and caused his death. It happened because he didn't know that God, the Father, was going to "forsake" him, and that his death wouldn't come quickly; this caused him to come to the conclusion that he had failed as the Messiah and was being punished for it (See Introduction to Job).
4. The Jews thought Jesus' suffering was deserved, but now they confess to know he suffered for their sins---suffering which was inflicted by God, but through their hands.
5. He was wounded, bruised, and chastised for their sins, for their peace/salvation. The word "peace" comes from the word "shalom" in Hebrew, and means much more. It means a condition of salvation brought about by healing, which the next line explains has come to them as a result of his stripes/suffering, and death.

 

7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
   Yet he opened not his mouth.
   He is brought like a lamb to the slaughter,
   And as a sheep before her shearers is silent, he openeth not his mouth.
8  He was taken from prison and from judgment;
   Who considered it in his generation?
   He was cut off from the land of the living,
   For the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9  And he made his grave with the wicked,
   And with the rich, in his death,
   Because he had done no evil,
   Nor was there deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him,
   For transgression he hath put him to grief.
   When he shall make his soul an offering for sin,
   He shall see his seed, and he shall prolong his days,
   And the pleasures of the LORD shall prosper in his hands.
11 He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.
   By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many;
   For he shall bear the heavy burden of their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide his portion with the great.
   And he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
   Because he poured out his soul unto death:
   Was numbered with the transgressors;
   And he bare the sins of many,
   And made intercession,
   For transgressors.

7. The image of an obedient lamb following the shepherd is quite descriptive. He opened not his mouth (Matt. 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:2-5; John 18:28:38).
8. Jesus was taken from prison and tried before the Sanhedrin. His trial was the epitome of injustice as it violated every law of his time. John the Baptist "declared it in his generation," which is suggested by the play on words, "cut off," referring to John's head. Oppression and persecution, lacking any justice, was Jesus' lot.
9. He was crucified beside two criminals (Matt. 27:38; Luke 23:32; John 19:18). He was buried in a borrowed tomb of a rich man (Matt. 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42).
10. Yet in the face of his pure innocence, God was pleased that Jesus accepted this injustice.
11. It is through his knowledge, being the greatest of all in the flesh, that he was able to complete the Atonement. Through his Atonement we may be justified before God the Father, meaning being made clean of our sins. Our sins will have been accepted and paid for by Jesus, if we have sincerely repented, which the scriptures admonish us to do on nearly every page.
12. His reward will be great because of his great sacrifice for us. He died for our transgressions, and becomes our intercessor before the Father. This is exactly opposite to Satan, who continually accuses us before the Father (Rev. 12:10---"the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.")

 

CHAPTER 54

1  Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear, break forth into singing;
   And cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child;
   For more are the children of the desolate,
   Than the children of the wife,
   Saith the LORD.
2  Enlarge the place of thy tent;
   Stretch forth the curtains of thine habitation;
   Spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
3  For thou shalt break forth on the right hand, and on the left hand.
   Thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
4  Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed, nor shalt thou be confounded;
   For thou shalt not be put to shame by me any longer,
   And thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth;
   And thou shalt not remember the reproach of thy youth,
   And shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
5  For thy Maker is he who espouses thee, the LORD of hosts is his name;
   And thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel---The God of all the earth is he called.
6  For the LORD called thee back as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit,
   As a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
7  For a small moment have I forsaken thee,
   But now with great mercies will I gather thee back.
8  In overflowing wrath I hid my face from thee for a little moment,
   But with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

Compare to 3 Nephi 22
1. This chapter is addressed to Jerusalem, which is emblematic of Israel, not in a nationalistic sense but in a spiritual sense. It is Israel that tried to give birth to a righteous nation (Zion) but failed. Now Israel's children (the Jews, and the wife) are more plentiful than they were before Jehovah (the bridegroom) scattered them all over the world. The children of the desolate refers to the descendants of Israel that have not known Jehovah.
2-3. Because of all the children that are to "gather," Israel is to grow, both nationally and spiritually, far beyond the old borders. (3b) This line explains that the Gentiles will be responsible for changing Israel from a desolate condition to one of spiritual richness (of men), changing the beasts of the desolation (See note 46:8) into "men."
4. Israel is to forget the past and their shame, because now there is going to be a change that will be so glorious that the past shame will be forgotten.
5-6. Jehovah, thy Creator, is reclaiming his bride, Israel. It has been two thousand years since Israel went after other gods, causing the Lord to hide his face.
7. To the Lord it has been only a small moment since he sent her away.
8. These lines recap the previous lines, emphasizing that the relationship between Jehovah and Israel is changed for the good of Israel, for everlasting.

 

9 For this is like the waters of Noah unto me;
   For as I swore the waters should no more go over the earth,
   So now have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
10 For the mountains may depart, and the hills may be removed,
   But my unfailing love shall not depart from thee;
   Nor shall my covenant of peace be removed,
   Saith the LORD, that hath compassion upon thee.
11 O thou afflicted, tossed by tempest, and not comforted,
   Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors:
   I will lay thy foundations with sapphires;
12 I will make thy windows of agates,
   And thy gates of carbuncles,
   And all thy borders of precious stones.
13 And 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.
15 Behold, if it gathers together against thee, it is not by me.
   Whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall down for thy sake.
16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals of the fire,
   And that bringeth forth an instrument for his work:
   I have created the waster to destroy;
17 But no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper,
   And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.
   This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
   And their righteousness is of me,
   Saith the LORD.

9-10. The Lord announces that he is making a covenant with them, and he swears that like the covenant of Noah, that nothing like the exile would ever happen again. This means, of course, that Israel will never chase after false gods again.
11-12. Figuratively, the Lord of light will build Jerusalem or Israel on a foundation of precious stones, which means on a foundation of treasures, even hidden treasures, which means great spiritual riches of knowledge---a sure foundation of truth.
14. Israel is to be made more glorious then ever before, based on righteousness. When people live so righteously they have nothing to fear from Satan, as he will have no power over them.
15. Never again will any nation come up against Israel and succeed in destroying them, especially like Assyria or Babylon which were instruments in the hand of the Lord.
16. Satan, who stirs things up, is a creation of God's in a sense. He will not be able to turn Israel away from the truth again.
17. This concludes by saying that the people of Israel are now servants of the Lord, that their salvation has come due to their righteousness.

 

CHAPTER 55

1  Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.
   And all ye that hath no money, come ye, and buy, and eat;
   Yea, come, and buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread,
   And your labor for that which satisfieth not?
   Hearken diligently unto me,
   And eat ye of that which is good,
   And let your soul delight itself in fatness.
3  Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live,
   And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
4  Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people,
   As a leader and commander to the people.
5  Behold, thou shalt call a nation,
   That thou knowest not,
   And nations that knew not thee,
   Shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God,
   And for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.

1. This is addressed to all those who have come to listen because of their faith in the promises made in previous chapters. They are spiritually thirsty for the living waters, which is truth and knowledge from God---knowledge that will take them to eternal salvation with God. The only cost is the personal effort to learn, and then to obey. God has given us everything we need to find the way, but we must go find it. Wine and milk means the same thing as living water; i.e., truth and knowledge about God and his ways. (Cf. 2 Nephi 26:25.)
2. He asks: Why have you spent your time and money on false things of the world? We should "harken" to his words, which means we should study his words. They have already been said, so there is no reason to expect more. There is an abundance of truth available, which is referred to here as fatness. It means treasures of truth of the richest kind. It is bread from heaven, which will satisfy our spiritual cravings.
3. Don't expect him to speak any other words. We are to listen to his written words. "If you will only listen to this knowledge," implies that you must also do what is learned. Then you shall live. Jehovah makes the same promises now, that he made to David of old. God stands behind this covenant, still.
4-5. This must be speaking to the Lord's servant that we have seen so many times. He is to call a nation that he does not know, namely Israel, but many others will see and believe and join Zion. It is the work of Jehovah, but accomplished through his servant.
6. This verse goes back to speaking to all those addressed in verse one, repeating the same idea; i.e., come and learn.

 

7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.
   Let him turn unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him;
   And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   Neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9  For just as the heavens are so much higher than the earth,
   So are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither,
   But watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud,
   That it may give seed to the sower,
   And bread to the eater;
11 So shall my word be,
   That goeth forth of my mouth;
   It shall not return unto me void,
   But it shall accomplish that which I please,
   And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace;
   The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you in singing,
   And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree,
   And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree.
   And it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign,
   That it shall not be cut off.

7. This adds to the ideas of verse three. It is the next step after learning God's laws and ordinances and statutes. We are to do away with the sinful ways and follow the  ways of Jehovah---what we have learned.
8. God's ways are not man's ways, and man must look to God to find the way, and not to the wisdom of the world.
9. It seems foolish to think that man could ever get anywhere without God, let alone put words in his mouth like so many of the world have done.
10-11. These verses likens the waters from the clouds to the words of God. That they are both sprinkle down from the heavens for the benefit of man. This analogy is used to a very great extent in all of the Old Testament as we have seen many times before this.
12. Mountains and hills and trees are again used to represent people. They are the spiritually great people who have brought you this knowledge, and as we will soon learn, and very clearly, they are the Gentiles that have the truth. They are "before you" and will celebrate your return to Jehovah with singing and clapping.
13. The unbelievers (thorns and briers), will also become great trees, both fir and myrtle trees, when they follow Jesus.

 

CHAPTER 56

1  Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye justice and do righteousness;
   For my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
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.
3  Neither let the son of the stranger that hath joined himself to the LORD speak,
   Saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me away from his people;
   Neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
4  For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths,
   That choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant,
5  Even unto them will I give in mine house, and within my walls,
   A place and a name better than of sons and of daughters;
   I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.
6  And also to the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD,
   To serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, and to be servants unto him;
   To every one that keeping 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.

1. The commandment: We are to KEEP the commandments and DO righteousness, not just believe in him and produce no works. If we do keep his commandments and do righteousness then the Atonement, which brought (or bought) mercy for us can come into play to give us salvation. Cf. James 2:22-25; 3:14-26.
2. This verse emphasizes and clarifies verse one. He that doeth will be blessed with salvation. The Lord states it directly. Blessed is the man that does right, that keeps my law, that keeps the Sabbath, and that does no evil. Salvation is near for those that do these things.
3. A stranger to the Jews is a foreigner, anyone outside the House of Israel. This says all will be welcomed if they will DO right; i.e., those who have been outside the House of Israel can be part of it if they will only keep God's commandments as given to Israel. Then to clarify his point, he goes on to include the eunuch who has always been an outcast in Jewish society. All are acceptable and "chosen," if they keep his commandments, even if physically not perfect, or regardless of race. (Cf. Matt. 21:7 to Matt. 21:13.)
4-5. Whether a person has children or not, the Lord promises him something better than children. They are to receive it within the walls of his house, in his Holy Temple. This speaks of the Temple Endowment that is received in the House of the Lord through the Holy Priesthood.
6. This verse closes out the thought started in verse three. That the stranger is also welcome to listen and change his ways, to keep the commandments of Jehovah.
7. Everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does righteousness will be included among his chosen people and eligible for salvation. "My holy mountain" is paralleled with "house of prayer." This means the Holy Temple. It is the same as "high way" as we have already seen.

 

8  The Lord GOD which gathereth in the outcasts of Israel saith,
   Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
9  All ye beasts of the field, come to devour,
   Yea, all ye beasts in the forest.
10 His watchmen are all blind;
   They are all ignorant;
   They are dumb dogs,
   They cannot bark;
   Sleeping,
   Lying down,
   Loving to slumber.
11 Yea, they are greedy dogs,
   Dogs which can never have enough;
   And they are shepherds that cannot understand,
   They all look to their own way, for his own gain, and his own advantage.
12 Come ye, say they, let us fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink;
   For tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

8. This verse is quite clear, and is not to be passed over lightly because it is the subject of the rest of this chapter; i.e., gathering in all God's children.
9. Others see this as an invitation to the heathen to come into Israel to sack and "devour" the wicked. But it is not. It is a parallel statement to verse eight. "Beasts of the field" are those that have not found God and changed their wicked ways; they are part of that field that is "white, ready to harvest." They are invited to come and "eat" of the "bread," which comes down from heaven. Then they will also become men instead of beasts. "Beasts of the forest" means the same thing. They are also the wicked that are among us, that is, among the trees that bear good fruit. See note of 46:8.
10. The Lord has been inviting the wicked to come unto him, so "his watchmen" has to mean the Lord's opponents, or in other words Satan and his helpers, whether they be in the flesh of not. Then, Satan's watchmen, who are supposed to be on guard watching to bring down the righteous of the flock, are not of any value. Besides being ignorant of any truth, this suggests that part of the problem is their laziness. They are quite satisfied with their spiritual condition, desiring nothing more. They will not heed the warnings or the promises because it would take effort. These lines suggest that it is easy to escape from Satan, or worldly things, if one really tries.
11. Being greedy and not satiated, suggests that they choose the carnal things of life, that which is immediately obtainable, without any regard to the consequences or the future, long term. Satan and his followers, unlike the "true shepherd," do not care for "the flock" and cannot understand such behavior. They are only interested in themselves. They see no end to their ways, which are "easy" ways, without any law.
12. Their ignorance is displayed in their attitude of uncaring and self-indulgence, thinking that all is well and will never be any different. It is the mentality similar to that of those living on handouts, never thinking that the  handouts will come to an end.

 

CHAPTER 57

1  The righteous perisheth, but no man layeth it to heart;
   And merciful men are taken away, none considering,
   The righteous is taken from the evil to come.
2  He shall enter into peace;
   They shall rest in their beds,
   Each one walking in his uprightness.
3  But draw hither, ye sons of the sorceress,
   The offspring of the adulterer and of the whore.
4  Against whom do ye make sport, and whom are ye mocking?
   Against whom make ye a wide mouth, and put out your tongue?
   Are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
5  Inflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree,
   Slaying children in the valleys under the cliffs?
6  Among the smooth river stones is thy portion.
   They, they are thy lot; but even to them,
   Hast thou poured out a drink offering,
   And hast offered a meat offering.
   Should I be appeased with these?
 
1-2. Sometimes the righteous are taken by the Lord, so that they will not have to suffer the terrible events that are to come. The righteous shall have their peace, salvation, in the image of lying beside still waters, bedding down in safety.
3. But Israel, who has been so wicked, is to draw near and listen carefully. Their sins have been most grievous to draw criticism this strong from the Lord. It means they are, in effect, fatherless.
4-5. The Lord sees them as completely disrespectful, even sassy to the extent of jeering and openly mocking him. They have been inflaming themselves in sexual orgies before their idols, which are in groves of trees in high places. They also sacrificed their own children in fires in the fashion of the wicked Canaanites. This behavior might be explained to some extent by reviewing the Old Testament and taking everything literally. With eyes that are blind and ears that cannot hear, it is understandable how they could misread things and degenerate spiritually to such a level; e.g., God says he is the rock, and he does so many times; Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son. The Lord's mountain is used many times to represent a higher spiritual plane, and could be taken literally to mean that he is on the mountains or is the mountains. Cf. verse 15.
6. Instead of being in a high place on the Lord's mountain with other rocks, speaking spiritually, they will be at the very bottom with the troubled, ever stirred up, stones of the river. They have even worshiped the smooth stones of the river .

 

7  Upon a high mountain hast thou set up thy bed,
   Even thither wentest thou up to offer thy sacrifice.
8  Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy symbols,
   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 nakedness.
9  And thou wentest to Molock with ointment,
   And didst increase thy perfumes.
   Thou didst send messengers far off,
   And didst debase thyself even unto hell.
10 Thou art wearied in the excessiveness of thy ways,
   Yet saidst thou not, There is no hope.
   Thou hast found new strength; therefore thou wast not grieved.
11 And of whom hast thou been afraid, t`hat thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me,
   Nor laid it to thy heart? Have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?
12 I will declare thy righteousness and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.
13 When thou criest, let thy companies of idols come forth to deliver thee;
   But a wind shall carry them all away, a breath will take them away.
   But he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land,
   And shall inherit my holy mountain.

8. "Behind the doors and posts" makes reference to the fact that they now do just the opposite as they should. They were taught to put up remembrance of him on the front of the door post when they were in Egypt. Now as evidence that they follow another God, in rebellion, they do something different. They love their wicked way.
9. They looked far and wide for other ways to debase themselves, and the bed that they choose was one of whoredom, not one of peace and safety (Cf. Verse 2)
10-11. This seems to jump forward in time, to today. Their wicked ways have become tiring and common place for them, but they still hold out hope they are right. It seems strange that Jehovah would ask the question, Have I turned my face away to long? when only he knows the answer.
12. He will expose what they think is righteousness, and thy works (or the lack of) and show them the truth.
13. They are not going to like what they hear (v12), but he challenges them to bring forth their idols to prove him wrong. But their idols are nothing but wind, and a mere whisper of wind will blow them all away.

 

14 And it shall be said,
   Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way;
   Take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people.
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 of a contrite and humble spirit,
   To revive the spirit of the humble, and the heart of the contrite ones.
16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth,
   For the spirit should fail before me,
   And the souls which I have made.
17 For the iniquity of his greed was I wroth;
   And I smote him, and hid my face and was wroth,
   But he went on frowardly in the way of his own heart.
18 I have seen his ways and will heal him; I will lead him also,
   And restore comforts unto him, and to all the mourners in Israel.
19 I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him that is far off;
   And also to him that is near, saith the LORD, and I will heal him.
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest,
   Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.


14. Cast up the way, or prepare the way, means to cast up a temple and the truth. Stumbling blocks are Satan's many lies or false beliefs that he has given mankind to lead them away from the truth.
15. It is Jehovah who speaks.
16. Jehovah says that he will not contend with wicked Israel forever, that doing so might do irreversible harm.
17. Jehovah says that he tried to turn them but they would not. Again He says he has hidden himself from Israel. "Froward" means: Stubbornly contrary and disobedient: obstinate.
18. The Lord says that he will turn them. Evidently because they will listen now.
19. The "fruit of the lips" is the praises of thanksgiving that men give to the Lord. Peace is the great gift of Jesus. See John 14:27, 16:33, 20:19, 20:21, 20:26, Romans 15:33. When people come near to Jesus by repenting, he will heal them, and bring them peace.
20-21. But the wicked will get no rest/peace. This is a similar image as that of the smooth stones in the river of verse six.

 

CHAPTER 58

1  Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet,
   And show my people their transgressions,
   And the house of Jacob their sins.
2  Yet they seek me daily,
   And delight to know my ways,
   As if a nation doing righteousness,
   And forsaking not the ordinances of God.
   They ask of me for the ordinances of justice,
   And they take great delight in approaching to God.
3  Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not?
   Wherefore do we afflict our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?
   Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and oppress workers.
4  Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with a fist of wickedness.
   Ye shall not do such a fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
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, to spread sackcloth and ashes?
   Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

1. This is possibly a commandment to the Lord's servant, but the Lord goes on to do what he has commanded, and explains their errors himself.
2. But even in error, the Lord says that they are energetic and have a great desire to worship him. Perhaps this is part of the reason that he is now going to forgive them and gather them back to himself.
3. They know fasting is the correct thing to do, and even approved of in the eyes of the Lord, but they don't know why their fasting hasn't been effective. They don't understand that God has withdrawn from them, and for a very long time, in their eyes. They have lost the true spirit of the fast and seek after pleasures. They still pursue their work, and oppress those that serve them.
4. This suggests that their fasting makes them irritable, accomplishing little else.
5. The Lord suggests that a fast is much more than the physical discomfort from not eating, or of putting on a show of humility.

 

6  Is not this the kind of 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 breaketh every kind of yoke?
7  Is it not to share thy bread with the hungry,
   And bring the poor that are cast out into thy house?
   And when thou seest the naked one, that thou covereth him;
   And that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8  Then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
   And thy health shall spring forth speedily;
   Thy righteousness shall go before thee,
   And the glory of the LORD shall be thy rearward.
9  Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer.
   Thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am!
   If thou put away from the midst of thee the yoke,
   The putting forth of the finger, and of speaking evil;
10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry,
   And satisfy the afflicted soul,
   Then shall thy light rise from obscurity,
   And thy darkness be as the brightness of noon day.

6-7. An acceptable fast in the eyes of the Lord is one done along with charitable acts. This suggests that if we desire the Lord's approval and companionship through fasting, that the way to do it is to mimic the kinds of the things the Lord does. One cannot read this without thinking of Moroni 7:47 , which says that charity is the pure love of Christ. It is a very prominent character trait of Jesus.
8. To fast in this manner will lead to salvation, and never to have any fear.
9 (c). See verse six to see that the yoke is a yoke of oppression; so it means to cease your oppression of others.
9 (d). Putting forth of the finger is to point at those judged lower than yourself. In our time, putting forth the finger is a vulgar expression that really means the same thing. Surely, the Lord means both, since it is not a brotherly thing to do and these verses are spelling out the need to love our fellow man.
10. This verse asks us to be charitable and forgiving of our fellow man. As the scriptures say (paraphrasing), If you don't have charity, then all else is a waste.

 

11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually,
   And satisfy thy soul in drought,
   And make strong thy bones.
   Thou shalt be like a watered garden,
   And like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12 And they that be of thee shall build the old waste places,
   And thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations.
   And thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach,
   And, The restorer of paths with places to dwell.
13 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,
   Honorable;
   And shalt honor him,
   Not doing thine own ways,
   Nor finding thine own pleasure,
   Nor the speaking of thine own words;
14 Then thou shalt 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.


11. "Whose waters fail not," means, whose knowledge fails not, that they will not be found to be wrong. To make "thy bones fat" is to make a desolate person spiritual. It is the same thing Ezekiel describes when he says "them dry bones" will put on flesh and sinew and begin to breathe (Ezek. 37).
12. This is still talking primarily, and figuratively, of people being rebuilt, a generation which will be the beginnings of many righteous generations.
13-14.. "To turn away your foot" is to turn away from worldly things. Keeping the Sabbath day holy is used here to symbolize keeping all of Jehovah's laws. It is probably the most outward and distinguishing thing about the followers of Jehovah in the eyes of outsiders. Keeping the Sabbath Day holy is a beginning. Not only will you delight in the Lord, but you will be, figuratively, on the Lord's high mountain, even Zion.

 

CHAPTER 59

1  Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
   Neither is 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.
3  For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity.
   Your lips have brought forth lies, and your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
4  None calleth for justice, nor did any plead for truth.
   They trust in vanity, and speak lies.
   They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
5  They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web.
   He that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed,
   Breaketh out into a viper.
6  Their webs shall not become garments,
   Neither shall they cover themselves with their works.
   Their works are works of iniquity; the act of violence is in their hands.

1. This continues the order given in 58:1, to tell Israel what their sins have been. It is apparent to all that Israel's relationship to God is not what it once was, but it is not because God has changed. He, we know, is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He has seen, and he has heard, regardless of how it seems.
2.The change in their relationship with God is solely because of their iniquities. Although he says that he has turned away from them because of their sins, in a real sense they have separated themselves from him. God has accused them of rejecting him over and over in Isaiah, accusing them of chasing after false gods. It was only then that he turned away.
3-4. They are guilty of both words and deeds.
5. What they do destroys people, which is expressed here in the image of them producing offspring of harmful, poisonous creatures.
6. And just as clothing can be made from silken strands of spider's webs, the Lord points out that such foul clothing will never cover their sins or be of any use, as the covering of the Lord will be. This also suggests that our works contribute to the covering of the Lord that covers our sins. Part of those works would certainly be repentance, which requires us to change our ways. Then the covering of the Lord would come into play, through mercy. See 22:7; 25:7-8; 29:1; 61;10; 64:6; Zech.3:3.

 

7  Their feet run to evil; and they make haste to shed innocent blood.
   Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
8  The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings.
   They have made their pathways crooked for themselves;
   Whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
9  Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us.
   We wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
10 We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes.
   We stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.
11 We all roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves;
   We look for judgment, but there is none;
   For salvation, but it is far from us.
12 For our transgressions are multiplied before thee,
   And our sins testify against us;
   For our transgressions are with us.
   As for our iniquities, we do know them:
13 In transgressing and lying against the LORD,
   Departing from our God, speaking oppression and revolt,
   Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
14 Judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off,
   For truth is fallen down in the street, and equity cannot enter in.
15 Yea, truth faileth, and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey.
   The LORD saw it, and it was displeasing in his eye that there was no judgment.
 

7-8. They have been a very wicked people.
9 This suggests that at least some know that they are in apostasy, that the Lord has been missing for many years.
10. The Jews have the prayer wall, which surely, Isaiah is referring to here. They grope for God not knowing that their ways are not the right way to approach God. This suggests that "light" is available, but they just can't see it.
11. They complain like an irritable bear, and cry like a dove, which suggests that they know something is wrong, that the promises of the scriptures is not yet theirs.
12-15. They speak for themselves, and seem to know what the problem is.

 

16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor.
   Therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate; and also an helmet of salvation upon his head;
   And he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.
18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries,
   Recompense to his enemies: to the islands he will repay recompense.
19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west,
   And his glory from the rising of the sun.
   For he shall come in like a flood,
   Driven by the wind of the Lord.
20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion,
   And unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob.
21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD:
   My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth,
   Shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed,
   Nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD,
   From henceforth and forever.
 

16. Even though these lines seem to apply primarily to Israel, Israel is emblematic for all mankind. So what is said to Israel applies to all mankind also. The Lord God himself became intercessor for all mankind, bringing them salvation through his righteousness, meaning his sinlessness while in the flesh.
17. Righteousness was at the heart of Jesus. Salvation for all men was on his mind. He was filled with vengeance toward Satan, to take back what was lost to sin. He was filled with zeal to accomplish his goal, which was to bring all mankind salvation.
18. According to the deeds or sins of each of us, will he pay (has paid). Justice and death are his enemies; justice, because it requires that we pay for our sins, and in his great love for us he desires that we need not have to do it. It is justice and death that he has overturned or defeated directly. Indirectly he has defeated Satan, who has tried to destroy all of us by causing us to follow falsehoods and to do wrong. Here, his burning wrath is revealed to be against sin, in love, in behalf of us. The islands mean the earth, as we have seen before (See 23:1).
19. They will "fear" (respect and honor) the Lord, "when he comes in like a flood"----This is the linking words used throughout Isaiah to refer to the missionaries who will bring the "vengeance" of the Lord, which will be salvation for those who repent. Lines c and d are in agreement with the New International Version and the Revised Version.
21. Israel is never again to be "exiled" from the Lord, or lose the true Gospel. This verse stands as the very best evidence that the book of Isaiah really applies to the last days, and not just to the exiles in Babylon as this had not happened yet.

 

CHAPTER 60

1  Arise, shine, for thy light is come, the glory of the LORD has risen upon thee.
2  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people,
   But the LORD shall arise, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3  And the Gentiles shall come to thy light,
   And kings to the brightness of thy rising.
4  Lift up thine eyes round about and see;
   All they gather themselves together; they come to thee:
   Thy sons shall come from far; thy daughters shall come upon the arms.
5  Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged,
   Because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee;
   The wealth of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
6  The multitude of camels shall cover thee,
   The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah.
   All they from Sheba shall come.
   They shall bring gold and incense,
   And they shall show forth the praises of the LORD.


1. "Arise and shine" means for Israel to come forth and begin to shine spiritually, especially in the eyes of the Lord, even to shine forth with a righteous continence.
2. This verse repeats and adds to verse one. They are to shine forth now, after being in the darkness for two thousand years. Now they will return to righteous ways.
3. These Gentiles are not just Gentiles in the general sense, but the Gentiles that have the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It will be their missionaries that will bring the truth (Cp. V5). The truth and their acceptance of it is what will make Israel shine.
4. Those who gather and come with the "light" are the Gentiles of verse three. They are Israel's sons and daughters through adoption, if not directly through the blood lines of the ten tribes, such as the tribe of Ephraim.
5. Then "thou" (Israel) "shall see" (understand), and flow together with the Gentiles that bring the truth.  The exiled have been lost among the world, which is to say, scattered in the sea (darkness of the deep) with the others that await conversion to the true church. An "abundance of the sea," means the many that have been converted from Satan's realm, or those who bring the truth, even the "fishers of men." The Jews will be caught ("converted") to the truth by the "wealth of the Gentiles." "Forces of the Gentiles is changed to read "Wealth of the Gentiles" in both the New International Version and the Revised Standard Version.
6-7. In the image of long caravans of supply across the desert, all of the spiritual riches of "gold and incense" (truth and knowledge) of the Gentiles shall come to thee.

 

7  All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee,
   And all the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee.
   They shall come with acceptance on mine altar,
   And I will glorify the house of my glory.
8  Who are these that fly as a cloud,
   As the doves to their windows?
9  Surely the isles shall wait for me,
   And the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far,
   Their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God,
   And to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls,
   And their kings shall minister unto thee.
   For in my wrath I smote thee,
   But in my favor have I had mercy on thee.
11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually;
   They shall not be shut day nor night,
   That men may bring into thee,
   The wealth of the Gentiles;
   And that their kings may be brought.
12 For the nation or kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish,
   Yea, all those nations shall be utterly laid to waste.


8. Those that come, come swiftly, swarming like a cloud or homing pigeons to their coup. Who are they? They are the missionaries of the Gentiles that hold the true Priesthood of God.
9. "Isles" again means the continents of the earth, all of them. They will "wait" on the Lord, meaning that they will hear and follow "His" teachings. They come, the vessels of the Lord from all over the world.
10. The "sons of strangers" is the same as the "sons of the Gentiles," and here it is paralleled with "their kings." It means spiritual kings, which are those that have the promise of the priesthood of being kings with Christ in his kingdom. "Build up thy walls" is equivalent to building the people up, or ministering to them by teaching them the truth. It also means administering the ordinances of the priesthood, such as baptisms, sealings, and endowments, taking them to "peace" behind spiritually strong walls, even to a point of being worthy of salvation in the highest kingdom (In my fathers house are many mansions.)
11. This says that Israel will open its doors to the missionaries, which means there will be a big change from the way it is today. The wealth of the Gentiles is the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is to say, the Keys of the Priesthood of God. The priesthood bearers are their kings. See verse 5 above to explain "forces" changed to "Gentiles."
12. This means, simply, that any nation or individual that does not respond to the true message of Jesus Christ will ultimately face destruction, He is the only way.

 

13 And the glory of Lebanon shall also come to thee,
   The fir tree, the pine tree, and box together,
   To beautify the place of my sanctuary.
   And I will make the place of my feet glorious.
14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee,
   And all they that have despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet,
   And they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee,
   I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles,
   And shalt suck the breast of kings,
   And then thou shalt know,
   That I, the LORD,
   Am thy Savior,
   And thy Redeemer,
   The mighty One of Jacob.
17 For brass, I will bring gold,
   And for iron, I will bring silver,
   For wood, brass, and for stones, iron.
   I will also make peace to be thy overseers,
   And replace thy exactors with righteousness.

13. Besides meaning beautiful kinds of woods to rebuild the temple, trees also refer to righteous people, the kind of people that bear "good fruit." The temple, which is often referred to as his footstool, will be glorious because of the righteous people in it.
14-15. "Them that afflicted thee" (Israel), means the whole world. Israel will be known to the world once again as a people of the true God. The people of the world will then honor Israel, symbolized by their bowing down to her. Israel is to remain righteous forever.
16. This is obviously meant metaphorically. It only repeats what has been said above. The kings are used the same way as verses 3 and 10. These Gentile kings are "fat" with "milk," meaning they have truth and knowledge of God in abundance, to "feed" (administer) to Israel. From this abundance of truth and knowledge, the next lines explain Israel will come to know their God, even their Savior and Redeemer, even Jesus Christ.
17. Compared to their present knowledge, which is represented by iron and brass and wood, he will replace it with gold and silver. He will rebuild their knowledge with divine truths. He will give them "peace," and become their "taskmaster," but a purely righteous one.

 

18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land,
   Neither devastation nor destruction within thy borders.
   Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day,
   Neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee,
   But the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light;
   Thy God shall be unto thee thy glory.
20 Thy sun shall no more go down,
   Neither shall thy moon withdraw itself,
   For the LORD shall be thine everlasting light,
   And the days of thy mourning shall end.
21 Thy people shall be all righteous,
   And inherit the land forever,
   The branch of my planting,
   The work of my hands,
   That I may be glorified.
22 A little one shall become a thousand,
   And a small one shall become a strong nation.
   I the LORD will hasten it in my time.


18. He has promised them peace, and these lines describe a peace almost beyond belief in this world.
19-20. The gist of these verses is that the light of Christ will be so abundant that, relatively speaking, it will outshine the great lights of the heavens, even so much the son and the moon will not be comparable as "lights." It means that their will be a flood of knowledge to come forth unequaled in the history of the world.
21. This verse uses the image of Israel being a vine, and now a vine of righteousness that will glorify the Lord.
22. These are promises of peace and prosperity for Israel, soon.
22c. JST changed "his time" to "my time."

 

 CHAPTER 61

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 in darkness;
2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD'S favor,
   And the day of vengeance of our God;
   To comfort all that mourn;
3  To endow them that mourn in Zion,
   With a crown of beauty, instead of ashes;
   With the oil of gladness, instead of mourning,
   And a garment of praise for the spirit of heavyness,
   That they may be called trees of righteousness,
   A planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.


1. Jesus tells us in Luke 4:16-20 that he was the fulfillment of this prophecy; but, because it goes on to talk about the last days and the riches of the Gentiles, etc, it also has to, typologically, apply to the Lord's servant. Jesus did all of the things mentioned in this chapter for all mankind; i.e., for spiritual Israel. The Lord's servant will only be instrumental in bringing the Jews to an understanding of what Jesus has done. This knowledge will change the nation, but only after it changes the people.
2. The "day of the Lord's vengeance" is the same as "the year of his favor" which is the same as line 1c through 3e. That may be a surprise, but what else would you expect from a God of perfect love. His vengeance, then, is directed toward Satan, who brings sin and spiritual death, and also toward our physical death. Both had to be overcome or defeated by him. (Cf. D&C 133:49-51.)
3. "To appoint" is not clear in this line. Others use "reward," "endow," and even "to put upon." "Endow" is the right idea, especially since in Hebrew it means to make a contract with a bride, which the lines following agree. God's church is his bride, collectively, and we are his bride, individually. The lines following definitely suggest the temple endowment: first, there is a crown of beauty (3b) and the promise to become kings and queens in the kingdom of God---which is what is meant by becoming his bride; second, there is an anointing of oil (3c) with blessings given; third, there are garments (3d) given, representing the metaphorical "covering of the Lord," with blessing promised if worn faithfully. See verse ten for an additional insight into this interpretation.

 

4  And they shall build up the ancient ruins,
   And raise up the former desolations;
   They shall repair ruined cities,
   And the desolations of many generations.
5  And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks;
   The sons of aliens shall be your plowmen and your vine dressers.
6  And then ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD.
   Men shall call you the Ministers of our God.
   Ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles,
   And in their glory boast yourselves.
7  Instead of your shame ye shall have double,
   And for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.
   Therefore in their land they shall possess the double,
   Everlasting joy shall be unto them.
8  For I the LORD love justice,
   I hate robbery for burnt offerings.
   And I will direct all their work in truth,
   And I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

4. We are talking about a spiritual renewal primarily, but the nation of Israel will also rebuild to the glory of old, to the glory of Kink Solomon or King David's time.
5. The "strangers" are the Gentiles that have brought the truth. They will "feed" the flocks ("His lambs" ) "bread from heaven" and "living waters." The "vine," Israel, shall be "dressed" (taught) by the Gentile's sons and daughters, who will come as missionaries.
6. Ye shall be once again the children of Jehovah, receiving all of the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, even a priest unto the Most High God. "Eating the riches of the Gentiles" will cause this to happen. Israel will be united with the Gentiles, but again only those Gentiles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. No other church has the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
7. The "double" will bring them shame and joy, because while it exposes their errors of the past, it also shows them the correct path to take in the future (cf. 40:2). The double consists of the books of Job and Jonah, which are two powerful testimonies that Jesus is the Christ when understood. These books also bring about rejoicing because they lead the Jews back to Jehovah, restoring all that made them great in the past. Also compare Zech. 9:11-17 which promises grain and wine (bread and water), which is metaphorically the same thing as books.
8. This is a promise that the law of the harvest will be upheld (cf. Gal. 6:7). Our works do matter. The wicked will never be rewarded for their wickedness, the law of the harvest is clear: As ye sow, so shall ye reap.

 

9  And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles,
   And their offspring among the people,
   And all that see them shall acknowledge them,
   That they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall be joyful in my God,
   For he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,
   He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness,
   As a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments,
   And as a bride adorneth herself with jewels.
11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud,
   And the garden causeth the things sown in it to spring forth,
   So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations.
 

9. The great spiritual change in the Jews will be apparent to the rest of the world. They will then know that the promises made to Abraham are being carried out by God. But in a broader sense, spiritual Israel, which includes all those that accept and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, will also be recognized as the people of the true God. For the first time since Babylon, the world will know that the House of Israel is a chosen people of the Lord.
10. In this verse we see more clearly the use of the "covering of the Lord" or "robes of righteousness." The Lord's covering, in general, covers our sins, making us righteous before God. We are considered naked until we repent and put on this covering. Israel closes with the great rejoicing because "his" nakedness is clothed in the righteousness of the Lord. This verse closes with a play on words in that when we are clothed in these robes it makes us the Lord's bride. (Cf. 22:17, 25:7-8, 30:1.)
11. Clearly, the Lord, Jehovah, is the one responsible for these great changes, any others players are only as tools in his hand.

 

CHAPTER 62

1  For Zion's sake, I will not hold my peace,
   And for Jerusalem's sake, I will not remain still,
   Until her righteousness thereof go forth as a brightness,
   And the salvation thereof as a torch that burneth;
2  And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness,
   And all their kings shall see thy glory;
   And thou shalt be called by a new name,
   Which the mouth of the LORD shall give.
3  And thou shalt also be a crown of glory,
   And a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
4  And thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken one,
   Neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate,
   But thou shalt be called Delightful, and thy land Married,
   For the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
5  For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee;
   And as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride,
   So shall thy God rejoice over thee.

1. The Lord is speaking, and his words are reminiscent of Moses 1:39: "For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Our eternal life is his goal, and he will not rest until he has done everything he can to accomplish it.
2. When the righteousness of the Jews shines, the Gentiles shall see it because they will have been instrumental in bringing it about; i.e., through their kings (those who hold the priesthood of God and are promised to be kings in the eternities, based on their faithfulness). The Jews are to receive a new name. Because these lines are connected with the Gentiles of the same verse, the new name is likely to be something common to the gentiles, or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is the name given them by the Lord (See D&C 115:4).
3. Without question, the Jews will be glorious again in the eyes of God.
4. "Hephzibah" (KJV) means, "my delight is in her": "Beulah" (KJV) means, "married." These lines are an extension of the Bridegroom and bride scenario. Israel will be a delight spiritually, and married to Christ (the Bridegroom), which will fulfill an ancient prophecy to Abraham.
5. Israel's future sons shall accept the new Zion, and the new name, as a groom accepts his bride, even as Jehovah, Christ, accepts his bride and rejoices over her.

 

6  I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem,
   Which shall never be silent day nor night.
   Ye that make mention of the LORD,
   Keep not silent,
7  And give him no rest, till he establish,
   And till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
8  The LORD hath sworn by his right hand,
   And by the arm of his strength,
   Surely I will no more give thy grain to be meat for thine enemies,
   And the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for which thou hast labored.
9  But they that have harvested the grain shall eat it, and praise the LORD,
   And they that have gathered the grapes shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.
10 Go through, go through the gates, prepare ye the way of the people.
   Cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up an standard for the people.
11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed it abroad unto the end of the world.
   Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh.
   Behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
12 And they shall call them, The Holy People,
   The Redeemed Of The LORD.
   And thou shalt be called,
   Sought out,
   A City Not Forsaken.
 
6. The watchmen on the walls must mean prophets. That they will be there to guide all unto the truth.
7. You who follow Jehovah, pray without rest for these promises to be brought to fruition.
8. In addition to the obvious literal meanings, these lines also refer to the truth and knowledge (bread and wine, or water) which was taken away from Israel and given to the Gentiles. This suggests a meaning to the lines from Matt. 19:30, "But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." In other words, the Jews were first to receive the gospel anciently, the Gentiles being last; but they are last to receive it in the last days, as the Gentiles have received it first and will take it to the Jews.
9. This not only says that they shall receive the truth, but that they will receive it in the courts of the temple. We recognize that the temple is a place of learning, among its other functions.
10. Go through the "strait gate" or in other words, repent and be baptized by the Lord's Elders. Prepare yourselves to enter the temple. Cast up a "highway" means, Cast up a temple; and gather out the stones means, first, to gather out the faithful stones, like Jesus, and second, gather building stones, to build a temple. The temple of the Lord is an icon of the very best spiritually, a worthy standard for all men to seek.
11. These lines clearly connects salvation with the temple of the previous verses. Salvation is of the Lord, but it is given in the temple of the Lord, through His Holy Priesthood. The Lord's reward for us is our salvation, it is with him now because of the work that he accomplished before in the flesh. Cf. Rev. 22:12
13. They shall be called, A Holy People---Saints, even Latter-day Saints of the Church of Jesus Christ.

 

CHAPTER 63

1  Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?
   He that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?
   It is I, that speaks in righteousness, mighty to save.
2  Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel,
   And thy garments like him,
   That treadeth in the wine vat?
3  I have trodden the winepress alone;
   And of all the people, there was none with me.
   For I tread them in mine anger, and trampled them in my fury.
   Their blood sprinkled upon my garments, and I stained all my raiment;
4  For the day of vengeance was in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed has 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.

1. Someone is asking these rhetorical questions. The questions are asked of Jesus Christ, who has been down to the world, emblemized by Moab and Bozrah, cities of Moab representing the world. According to Smith's concordance "Edom" means a place of red dye, and "Bozrah" means a sheep fold. He is glorious in his apparel because he is clothed in robes of righteousness. He is strong because he has proven himself to be the master over Satan and sin. He answers that he is righteousness, since one of his names is righteousness.
Because of his righteousness, he is the only one that is "mighty to save."
2 -3. His garments are red with the blood of our sins, which he has taken upon himself during the Atonement. Jesus had to make his sacrifice alone, no one could help. Surely it doesn't mean that he tread down the people literally. Instead, it means he tread down the people's sins, and pride; i.e., he causes us to become humble and submissive to his teachings. It's interesting that such a great and loving sacrifice is described as being done in his anger and fury. His anger is directed towards sin and Satan.
4. His day of vengeance was his day on the cross when he defeated Satan and death, that all might be redeemed.
5. This great burden, to be the redeemer of all mankind, was his responsibility alone. No one else could do it or help him.
6. The same anger (love) tramples down men to humbleness, so that they can be raised up and saved.

 

7  I will mention the loving kindnesses of the LORD,
   And the praises of the LORD according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us,
   And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them,
   According to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
8  For he said, Surely, they are my people,
   Children that will not lie;
   So he was their Savior.
9  In all their affliction, he was afflicted,
   And the angel of his presence saved them.
   In his love and in his pity he redeemed them, and he bare them,
   And carried them all the days of old; but they rebelled and vexed his holy spirit,
   Therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people.
   Where is he that brought them up out of the sea,
   With the shepherd of his flock?
   Where is he that put his holy spirit within him?
12 That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm,
   Dividing the water before them, to make for himself an everlasting name?
13 That led them through the deep, like an horse in the wilderness, that they stumble not?
14 As a beast goeth down into the valley, the spirit of the LORD causeth him to rest;
   So didst thou lead thy people to make thyself a glorious name.

7. Then as if to define the Lord's anger and fury of v6, he speaks of loving kindnesses, which is his demeanor in trampling men down. In this verse Isaiah parallels "us" with the "house of Israel." He has been speaking in very general terms referring to all his children, and this is no different in that all of his children will be of the house of Israel, either by blood line of by adoption. He has trampled down Israel, to humble them and make them teachable. If they are not of Israel, or his sheep, they will rebel and be cast out from the house of Israel.
8. Now he remembers Israel of old, how they were his chosen people but that they rebelled against him, and so he scattered them and punished them. These verses seem to indicate that he remembers his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
10-14. This continues to rehearse the Exodus of Israel from Egypt with the LORD'S  careful and loving help.
 

 

15 But now look down from heaven and behold thy people,
   From thy habitation of holiness and glory.
   Where is thy zeal and thy strength,
   The compassion of thy heart,
   Of thy mercies toward us?
   Are they restrained?
16 Doubtless thou art our father,
   Though Abraham be ignorant of us,
   And though Israel acknowledge us not.
   Thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer,
   And thy name is from everlasting to everlasting.
17 O LORD, why hast thou suffered us to err from thy ways,
   And to harden our hearts so that we have no more fear of thee?
   Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes that are thine inheritance.
18 Thy people of thy holiness didst possess it but a little while:
   But now our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.
19 We are become as those thou never barest rule over,
   As those that were not called by thy name.

15. They plead for help on the basis that they are the chosen children of Israel (Thy people). They remind the Lord of his earlier zeal for them as a reason for help now.
16. They use the fact that Jehovah is their God to plead for him to come down to their aid. They express faith in him, recognizing that Abraham is dead and is not going to help them. This acknowledges that their unrighteous pride in being Abraham's children, or the "chosen" children of Israel is gone, and their attention is properly placed in Jehovah and his teachings.
17. This is a continuation of the pleadings above. Israel has been called the Lord's servant, so "he" asks, for Israel's sake, that the Lord return the tribes of Israel. The answer to this question is agency. The people of Israel went their way because it was their choice. God does not intervene in our choices.
18. This refers to the temple, and suggests that he return for the sake of the temple.
19. Israel has become like their neighbors, the heathen of their time, those who did not know the Lord, which is another pleading for the Lord to return and heal them. (cp. NIV and RSV.)
 

 

CHAPTER 64

1  Oh, that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down,
   That the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
2  As when a melting fire burneth brushwood,
   And causeth the waters to boil,
   To make thy name known to thine adversaries,
   That all the nations may tremble at thy presence.
3  As when thou didst terrible things we looked not for,
   Thou camest down, and mountains flowed down at thy presence.
4  For as far back as the beginning of the world, men have not heard,
   Nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, besides thee,
   That doeth all that he hath prepared for them that waiteth for him.
5  Thou meetest and rejoiceth in him that worketh righteousness,
   And those that remembereth thee in all thy ways.
   Behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned;
   In our sins there is long continuance,
   And shall we be saved?

1 -3. Their pleading for Jehovah to come down continues from chapter 63, and uses the imagery of the manifestations on mount Sinai. Earthquakes cause mountains to flow down. It is probably a plea for the Millennium to begin, after which things will improve.
4. This verse argues that no other God foretells the future and keeps his word perfectly has Jehovah has done. False gods cannot foretell the future, let alone see that it happens. "That waiteth for him," again alludes to the Hebrew marriage custom of the bride waiting for the bridegroom to prepare a mansion in his father's house for her. It means to have faith in him, and show it by keeping his commandments.
5. Thou meetest him," means he comes forth as a friend, or comes forth to help him that keeps his commandments. From this line we learn that to remember the Lord is the same as following his ways. He that remembers the Lord does righteousness and good works. They go on to confess their knowledge of their sins which have gone on for so long. This is the first step of repentance.

 

6  But we are all as an unclean thing;
   Our righteousnesses are as filthy rags,
   And we do all fade away like a decaying leaf,
   And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
7  And there is none of us that calleth on thy name,
   That stirreth up himself to take hold of thee.
   For thou hast hid thy face from us,
   And thou hast also consumed us,
   Because of our iniquities.
8  Yet, O LORD, thou art our Father;
   We are the clay, and thou art our potter,
   And we all are the work of thy hand.
9  Be not wroth very sore, O LORD;
   Neither remember our iniquity for ever.
   Behold, see, we beseech thee, that we are all thy people.
10 Thy holy cities are a wilderness; Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
11 Our holy and our beautiful temple, where our fathers have praised thee,
   Is burned up with fire, and all our pleasant things are laid waste.
12 Wilt thou refrain thyself forr doing these things, O LORD?
   Wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

6. Israel continues to confess her sins, saying that she is as filthy rags, instead of being covered by robes of righteousness. Cf. 22:7; 25:7-8; 29:1; 61;10; 64:6; Zech.3:3. They seem to express hopelessness.
7. Israel continues to confess her sins.
8-11. Israel remembers that she is or was the chosen people of the Lord and asks for forgiveness. Israel prays for Jehovah to help them, giving several reasons to motivate him. First, we are thy people; second, his holy cities are destroyed; third, his holy temple is burned; forth, the holy vessels are gone.
12. How long will it be before the Lord will show his boundless love and mercy? Will he continue to afflict us so sore?

 

CHAPTER 65

1  I was ready to be sought by those that asked not for me.
   I was on hand for them that sought me not.
   I said, Behold me, here am I,
   Unto a nation that did not call my name.
2  I spread out my hands all day to a rebellious people,
   Which walketh in a way not good, after their own thoughts;
3  A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my very face;
   That sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;
4  Which remain among the graves, even spending their nights among the monuments;
   Which eat swine's flesh, and the broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
5  Which say, Stand by thyself, and come not near me, for I am holier than thou.
   Such people are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

1. In response to their prayers of chapter 64, the Lord comes back saying that he has always been their for them, pleading hard for them to see and hear.
2. They would not hear, even though he used every means available to him.
3. Israel did all that the Lord commanded them not to do, even to sacrificing their children to the idols in the gardens of the high places. This even suggests that they went out of their way to defy his commandments. This is shown by their sacrificing on bricks, when they had always been taught to build their alters with unhewn stones. Any other kind was an abomination. (Cf. 66:4)(Also see Duet 18:9-11; 1:29; 57:5.)
4. They sought answers about the future from the dead through secret séances, or by sleeping by the dead, expecting to have dreams foretelling the future. They are thought to have even worshiped the dead. All of this dealing with the dead is in sharp contrast to what they had been taught by Jehovah. They even polluted their bodies (vessels) with forbidden foods, possibly swine offered in sacrifice. They were rebellious in every way, to the extreme.
5. But they were even worse than rebellious, breaking every law given to Moses for their benefit. They had a holier than thou attitude toward all other people because they looked on themselves as being the chosen people of Jehovah, never thinking that being chosen by God required their obedience. They let the Lord's words, that they were his "chosen people," go to their heads. They were as irritating to God as smoke in the nose, and then unrelenting.

 

6  Behold, it is written before me; I will not keep silent,
   But will recompense, yea, recompense into their bosom,
7  Their iniquities, and the iniquities of their fathers together, saith the LORD;
   Which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills;
   Therefore will I measure their former works into their bosom.
8  Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster,
   And one saith, destroy it not, a blessing is in it.
   So I do it not, for my servants' sake,
   That I may not destroy them all.
9  I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob,
   And out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains;
   And mine elect people shall inherit it.
   And my servants shall dwell there.
10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks,
   And the valley of Achor, a resting place for herds to lie down,
   For my people that have sought after me.
11 But ye are they that forsake the LORD,
   That forget my holy mountain,
   That prepare a table for Fortune,
   That furnish a drink offering unto Destiny,

6-7. These harsh words are really just the natural consequences of their actions; i.e., the law of the harvest. As they have sown, so shall they reap---at least up to the point where mercy takes over after repentance. (Cf. 57:7; Hos.4:13; Ezek.6:113.)
8. The Lord promises to save a remnant of them, for Israel's sake.
9. The Lord will save a remnant of Jacob, who will again possess the "Lords mountain," when they again live the Gospel. Notice that "flocks" and "herds" are paralleled with "people." They, those that seek the Lord, will have good pastures (spiritual food) on the Lord's mountain.
10. The image of peace takes in all of Israel, from the Mediterranean to Jericho. All will be tranquil and peaceful. This vision of peace has been brought to our attention many times by Isaiah. Cf. 2:4; 11:6-9; 12:1; 13:20; 17:2; ........
11. "Prepare a table" alludes to pagan rites (Cf. Jer. 7:18). "Fortune and Destiny are sometimes translated as "luck and fortune." They are modern names for "Meni and Gad," which are either the planets Jupiter and Venus which were worshiped as the stars of prosperity, or they were simply heathen gods. Either way, the meaning is pretty much the same. Our honoring such things as rabbits feet and four leaf clovers amounts to worshiping these heathen gods, and is a carry-over from those days.

 

12 Therefore will I number you to the sword,
   And ye shall all bow down to the slaughter,
   Because when I called, ye did not answer;
   When I spake, ye did not hear,
   But did evil before mine eyes,
   And did choose that wherein I delighted not.
13 Therefore this is what the Lord God has to say,
   Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry;
   Behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty;
   Behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed;
14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart,
   But ye shall cry for sorrow of heart,
   And shall howl from the vexation of spirit.
15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen,
   For the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name.
16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth,
   And he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth,
   Because the former troubles are forgotten,
   And because they are hid from mine eyes.


12. "Number you for the sword" is equivalent to "destine you for the sword".
13. The righteous will eat and drink (truth and knowledge), but the wicked will go without, they will remain in ignorance. These contrasts must be given more in a rhetorical sense then anything else, because he has said earlier, many times, that all will come over to him. It is possible that they are only repeated here to complete some of the literary structures (See Gileadi's The Book of Isaiah, Pg. 7).
15. This is the second time he has mentioned that they will have a new name. The old one has been disgraced so badly, it must be necessary. It means that those who are called after the Holy City (meaning the Jews), will be called by the new name (See 62:2).
16. These promises point back to "his servants" of verse 15, meaning they will hold the priesthood or have the sealing power. What ever they do on earth, give blessings or make swearing, (e.g. sealings such as father to son etc, and marriages for time and eternity) will still be in force in heaven (Cf. 22:21). Their blessings and ordinances will be approved of and sanctioned by God.

 

17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth,
   And the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
18 Therefore be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create.
   For behold, I create in Jerusalem a rejoicing, and in her people a joy.
19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and have joy in my people.
   The voice of weeping shall no more be heard in her,
   Nor the voice of crying.
20 There shall no more be an infant,
   Nor a man that hath not filled his days;
   For the child shall die an hundred years old;
   And the sinner an hundred years old shall be cursed.
21 And they shall build houses, and they shall inhabit them.
   And they shall also plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22 They shall not build houses to have another inhabit them;
   And they shall not plant vineyards, and another eat.
   As the days of a tree are the days of my people,
   And mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 For they shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble,
   For they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD,
   And their offspring with them.
24 In that day it shall come to pass,
   That before they call, I will answer;
   And while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25 And the wolf and also the lamb shall feed together,
   And the lion shall eat straw like the bullock.
   But dust shall be the serpent's meat.
   They shall not hurt, nor destroy,
   In all my holy mountain,
   Saith the LORD.

17-24. All of these verses describe a glorious time for Israel, which sounds very much like we expect the Millennium to be. However, I don't think it means that. Instead, I think the change for Israel will be so great, to the good, that to them it might as well be the Millennium. If everyone were to keep the commandments as the previous chapters say they will, then it will be like the Millennium. One thing is for sure. They will have embraced the true gospel of Jesus Christ and will be living his gospel.
25. Most likely these verses, (a) and (b), are not to be taken literally, but are only an image of the peace that will prevail. Line (c), is most likely a prophecy of Satan's end, the "dust" of the grave, even a spiritual grave. Until the Millennium, Satan will be present, but his influence will not be heeded by the righteous Israelites; therefore "they [Satan's beasts] shall not hurt, nor destroy, in my holy mountain."

 

CHAPTER 66

1  Thus saith the LORD:
   The heaven is my throne,
   And the earth is my footstool;
   What house would ye build for me?
   Where would be the place for my rest?
2  For all these things hath mine hand made;
   All have been, because of me, saith the LORD.
   Yet to this man will I look, to him that is poor,
   And of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my words.
3  And them: He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man;
   He that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck;
   He that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood;
   He that burneth incense upon the alter, as if he blessed an idol.
   Yea, they have all chosen their way, they delighteth in abominations.
4  I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fear upon them,
   Because when I called, none did answer, and when I spake, they did not hear.
   But they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I taketh no delight.
5  Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; your brethren that hate you,
   And cast ye out for my name's sake, say, Let the LORD show us his glory!
   But he shall appear to your joy, and they shall all be ashamed.

1. "House" refers to the Holy Temple. The Hebrew word this comes from means both----house/temple.
2. The thread in verses one and two is that God is the creator of everything. What is man that he should build a house for God, or anything else for that matter? In his great majesty, he looks for the humble in spirit, of a contrite heart.
3. But "them," Israel, has done wickedly. These verses repeat the Lord's indictments of Israel made so many times before.
4. Those that fear the Lord, are on the road to salvation, so this verse promises that the Lord is going to help them learn reverence for him.
5. The unbelieving challenge the Lord to show himself, and he says that he will (at his second coming), to the joy of the believing, and the shame of the unbelieving.

 

6  Hark, a voice of noise from the city, from the temple;
   It is the voice of the LORD that will be heard,
   That rendereth recompense unto his enemies.
7  Before she travailed, she brought forth;
   Before her pain, she was delivered of a man child.
8  Who hath heard of such a thing? Who hath seen such things?
   Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day?
   Or shall a great nation be born at once?
   For as soon as Zion was in travail,
   She brought forth her children.
9  Shall I bring to the birth, `
   And not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD.
   Shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.
10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her, all ye that love her.
   Rejoice with joy with her, all ye that mourn for her,
11 That ye may suck and be satisfied from her consoling breasts ,
   That ye may drink deeply and delight in the abundance of her glory.
12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
   And the glory of the Gentiles like an overflowing stream;
   Then shall ye nurse and be borne upon her hip,
   And be dandled upon her knees.
 

6. The Lord will render recompense to his enemies by dying on the cross. The Lord's enemies are the sinners, which means all of us. .
7. Before Israel's total destruction by Rome (her greatest pain), a man child (Jesus) was  born, and even though he was brought forth, it didn't mean Israel would become a great  nation overnight, which was the expectation of the Jews when their Messiah came.
8. Things seem to be reversed, but only if taken literally. Shall a great nation, Israel be born at once, or will it take 3000 years to accomplish it? Cf. 26:18; 37;3.
9. Israel was brought forth, shall it continue to languish, even until dead? These questions suggest that the answer is no, and Israel will soon be a glorious nation like never before, even exceeding David's and Solomon's times.
10. Everyone is to rejoice with Jerusalem (emblematic of Israel), which is to receive great consolations, returning her to even greater glory than ever before.
11. Metaphorically, the world is to drink from Israel's new found glory, which is the result of their knowledge of Jehovah, which has been lost. They are to share in this glory with her.
12. This glory, to be shared with the world, has come from the Gentiles; that is, the Gentiles who have had the truth. Israel will have been "nursed (taught) at their side, and be dandled upon their knees" before sharing, as mentioned in verses 10 and 11, this new knowledge with the world. Notice that "peace," meaning salvation, is synonymously paralleled with, "the glory of the Gentiles." It means that the Gentiles will be bringing "peace" (salvation) to them. (Cf. 13:3-5, 29:7.)

 

13 As a mother comforts hers,
   So will I comfort you:
   Ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
14 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice,
   And your bones shall flourish like a sprouting herb.
   And the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants,
   And his indignation shall be toward his enemies.
15 For behold, the LORD will come with fire,
   With his chariots like a whirlwind,
   To render his anger with fury,
   And his rebuke with fire.
16 For by fire and by his sword,
   The LORD will plead with all flesh,
   And those slain by the LORD shall be many.
17 They that sanctify themselves and purify themselves,
   In the gardens, behind one in the midst,
   Eating swine's flesh,
   And the abomination, and the mouse,
   Shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
18 And because I know of their works and of their thoughts,
   I will come and gather all nations and tongues,
   And they shall come and see my glory.


13. This promises that the glory to come will come to Jerusalem, in a gentle loving way.
14. One cannot help wondering why the Jews have not seen this statement for 3000 years, as this suggest they are just now going to see it. Perhaps it is only now that they will really understand it because of the blindness that has been imposed upon them by the Lord.
15. The Lord will come with the fire of the Holy Ghost, to convert. "Chariots" link back to the missionaries, who will come in pairs, to teach them the truth and to baptize them.
16. For by fire (the Holy Ghost), and by the sword (the word of his mouth), will he plead with the world; and the slain (baptized) of the world, will be many.
17. The Lord will miss no one, not even those that have worshiped idols in the gardens of the high places.
18. All nations and tongues are to see and know his glory.

 

19 And I will set tokens among them;
   And send those that survive,
   Unto the nations,
   To Tarshish, Pul, and Lud,
   That draw the bow; and to Tubal,
   And to Javan, and to the isles afar off,
   That have not heard of my fame, nor seen my glory;
   And there they shall declare my glory among all the nations.
20 They shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD,
   Out of all the nations, upon horses, in chariots, in litters, upon mules,
   And upon all swift beasts, unto my holy mountain in Jerusalem, saith the Lord,
   As the children of Israel brought offerings in clean vessels to the house of the LORD,
21 I will take some of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.
22 For, as the new heavens and the new earth,
   Which I will make,
   Shall remain, saith the LORD,
   So shall your seed and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another,
    From Sabbath to Sabbath, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
24 And they shall go out and look upon the carcasses of men,
   That have transgressed against me.
   Their worm shall not die,
   Neither shall their fire be quenched,
   And they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
 
19. "Those that survive" are those that are converted, the escapees of "Babylon." Those who receive the Gospel will be sent to share, meaning to all the nations of the world.
20. They shall bring out of "Babylon" all the children of the Lord, your brothers. They will be the "clean vessel," following their baptism, and their offering will be a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
21. Some will again serve the Lord as Priests.
22. Your name, and your children, will endure, but it will be the new name, which was foretold of earlier. (See 65:15, 62:2.)
23. This clearly sounds like the Millennium, when Christ will reign in glory.
24. The image is that of there being only one way to gain salvation. Either you are a follower of Jesus Christ, Jehovah, or you are destroyed. There is no other way as stated by Mosiah 13:17&18 "And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.  For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ."

SEND A COMMENT

READY REFERENCES
BIBLIOGRAPHY

THE PROPHETS. (Trans. from the Masoretic text) The Jewish Publishing . Society of America,    Philadelphia, 1982.

THE NEW LAYMAN'S PARALLEL BIBLE. (King James Version, New International Version,
   Revised Standard Version, Living Bible Version) Zondervan Bible
   Publishers, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1981

COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT. C.F Keil and F. Delitzsch, Volume 7, Isaiah.       
Trans. from the German by James Martin, William B. Eerdmans Publishing, Grand Rapids, Michigan

THE ONE VOLUME BIBLE COMMENTARY. Rev. J.R. Dummelow, New York,
   Macmillan Publishing, 1936.

THE BOOK OF MORMON. Translated by Joseph Smith; The Church of Jesus Christ
   of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.

OLD TESTAMENT STUDENT MANUAL. (1Kings--Malachi), The Church of Jesus Christ
   of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City, Utah.

HARMONIZING ISAIAH: COMBINING ANCIENT SOURCES. F.A.R.M.S. Brigham Young University,
Provo, Ut. 2001

THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. Avraham Gileadi, Deseret Book Co. Salt Lake City, Utah.1989

THE LAST DAYS. Avraham Gileadi, Deseret Book Co. Salt Lake City, Utah. 1991

JOSEPH SMITH'S NEW TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE. Herald Publishing, Independence, Missouri.1970

JESUS THE CHRIST. James E. Talmage, Deseret Book Co. Salt Lake City, Utah,1962

LEHI IN THE DESERT, AND THE WORLD OF THE JEREDITES. Hugh Nibley, Bookcraft, SLC, Utah, 1988.

THE BOOK OF JOB AND THE ATONEMENT Keith Hepworth,, not published.
   Salt Lake City, Utah.   801-485-9385

Fairbain, Patrick. The Typology of Scriptures. Vol. I and II. Edinburgh. T. & T Clark. 1975.

Gileadi, Avraham. The Book of Isaiah. Deseret Book Co. Salt Lake City, Utah. 1989

Gileadi, Avraham. The Last Days: Types and Shadows from the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
           Covenant Press.. Salt Lake City, Utah. 1991

Habershon, Ada R. The Study of the Types. London; Morgan and Scott LTD.. 1907.

McConkie, Joseph Fielding. Gospel Symbolism. Salt Lake City, Utah. Bookcraft. 1986

Trent, Kenneth E. Types of Christ in the Old Testament. New York. Exposition Press. 1960

Wilson, Walter Lewis. Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types. Grand Rapids, Michigan.    
   Wm. B. Eerdman's Publishing Co.. 1975, 1983.