Isaiah 40-49

Since writing my last essay, I have been catching up on Avraham Gileadi’s more recent work about the book of Isaiah. It is obvious that he has decided to make the book of Isaiah his academic life’s work, and it is also obvious that he hasn’t been idle the last ten years or so since I read him last. He is still an easy read (which means he doesn’t bore me and he doesn’t confuse me), and there is a lot of substance to think about in his work. If you want to immerse yourself in Isaiah, Avraham Gileadi is a good traveling companion to bring along.

While I was working my way through some Gileadi books, my husband was reading Alex Nibley’s new book, written based on his father’s war experiences, entitled Sergeant Nibley PhD: Memories of an Unlikely Screaming Eagle. I mention this along with Avraham Gileadi because Alex Nibley’s book, which talks bluntly about the ugly reality of war, ties in well with Isaiah. Comparing the two perspectives made for interesting reading. I look forward to reading the Nibley book in more detail soon.

This essay could go a couple of directions. Ten chapters is a fairly hefty reading assignment, especially when the chapters are in Isaiah. You know the teacher in your Sunday School class is only going to be able to touch lightly on them. I could write an essay about the verses that seemed particularly noteworthy to me when I read through the assignment, or I could write an essay that focuses on a few of the references cited in the lesson guide. It seems to me that the latter approach makes sense, because that’s where teachers will logically focus their time. However, I would recommend that you look more closely at Isaiah 44, which is particularly good. It might not get a lot of attention in class, but it is excellent. Having said that, let’s get back to the subject at hand.

On page 25 of the lesson guide, the authors suggest an exercise for several scriptural references. The guide says, “As you read each passage, look for answers to the following questions: Which attribute of the Savior is mentioned in this passage? How does knowing of this attribute help increase our faith in the Savior?”

* Isaiah 40:28–31:

The passage reads, “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

What single word sums up the characteristics mentioned here? Perhaps the word is “energy.” I think to appreciate it you have to be an adult, and it helps if you have struggled at times with sickness or the realization that no matter how much you try, you don’t have enough strength to do everything you would like to do. The gift of renewed strength is a significant one, but only if you know what it is to feel weak. If you have felt that renewed strength, perhaps after receiving a priesthood blessing, how can it not increase your faith in a Savior who is willing to help you on so personal a level?

* Isaiah 42:16

Isaiah 42:16 reads, “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.”

The footnote at the bottom of the page points to 2 Nephi 3:5, which reads, “Wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day. And he obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel; not the Messiah, but a branch which was to be broken off, nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord that the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light—yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity even unto freedom.”

The one word that comes to mind for this characteristic is “enlightening.” Again, it helps to have lived for a little while, and to have seen for yourself that you don’t know it all and that you can be fooled. Going through a dark room can be challenging; having someone turn on the light for you so you can see clearly what the room contains can provide a real reason for gratitude.

If you are married, you probably have experienced what it is like to realize that your spouse sometimes looks at things in a way that is utterly different from the way you do. That can be a hard thing, because it involves humbling yourself enough to look fairly at that other point of view, and then (if it is appropriate) to change direction accordingly. Even harder is to take an inventory of your own weaknesses and then ask for divine direction in correcting them. If you go to the Savior and ask for enlightenment (especially about your faults), how does that increase your faith in him? It places you in the role of trusting child, and it gives the Savior the chance to teach you as much as you are willing to be taught. I don’t think you could go through that experience without having an increase of faith as a result.

* Isaiah 43:1–4

The text reads, “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.”

These verses require two words: “loving faithfulness.” I am reminded of 1 John 4:19, which reads, “We love [Christ], because he first loved us.” One illustration of how this works is with parents and their love for a new baby. As the baby grows, the most natural thing in the world is for that baby to love its parents. It is the same with us as adults seeking after God. When you feel the love of God directed personally at you, it is both humbling and overwhelming. Feelings of love are a natural result.

* Isaiah 44:21–23

These verses read, “Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.”

The word here seems to be “redeeming.” I find it interesting that Isaiah clearly ties redemption and joy together. Again, I think he is absolutely right to do so. To recognize it, all you have to do is have one good experience with repentance and the atonement. It is a wonderful gift to feel that you have made mistakes, to feel horrible about having done so, and then to feel yourself forgiven and able to move forward.

* Isaiah 49:14–16

This passage reads, “But Zion said, the Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. 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. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”

I think the word “loyalty” is a good description of these verses. Part of it always reminds me of the character of Lady Macbeth, when she talks to her husband and persuades him to become a murderer. The play itself is all about loyalty, betrayal, and what it means when you don’t think you can turn away from a bad choice. I wonder whether Shakespeare had that passage in mind, at least in part, when he wrote. It seems a natural connection to me.

The other thing about this passage that catches my attention is the reason given at the end; namely, that the Savior remembers us because he was crucified for us, and because he still sees the prints of the nails in his hands. He also says, however, that “thy walls are continually before me.” What does a wall do? It separates you (one is immediately reminded of Robert Frost’s neighbor in the poem “Mending Wall.”). What a brilliant statement this is: we all have our walls, our barriers, that prevent us from being who we ought to be and who we want to be; and that the Savior sees those walls continually. It is a powerful image.

Sunday School Notebook - October 2006 - Susan Morgan