“And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words (2 Nephi 11:2).”
Nephi explains in devastating simplicity why most of us have difficulty in delighting in the words of Isaiah: “the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy (2 Nephi 25:4)”. . . . “I know that the Jews do understand the things of the prophets, and there is none other people that understand the things which were spoken unto the Jews like unto them, save it be that they are taught after the manner of the things of the Jews (2 Nephi 25:5)”. . . “I know concerning the regions round about; . . . and concerning the judgments of God (2 Nephi 25:6).”
In order to delight in Isaiah’s words we need to understand the spiritual and cultural and geographical barriers that separate us. This is not an overwhelming task. Nephi was telling us that Isaiah can be comprehended if we (1) seek the Holy Ghost as we study the words of Isaiah, (2) understand the manner of prophesying among the Jews, (3) become acquainted with geography of the Holy Land, and (4) know the judgments of God (specifically the blessing versus the cursing relationship as outlined in the law of Moses, Deuteronomy 28).
Seek the Holy Ghost as We Study the Words of Isaiah
The spirit of prophecy is still a necessary condition to understanding prophecy. Recall the complaint of Laman and Lemuel because their father, Lehi had taught things which were “hard to be understood (1 Nephi 15:3).”
Nephi chided them, “Have ye inquired of the Lord? (1 Nephi 15:8).” And then he proffered the formula that the Lord had given for understanding: “If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you (1 Nephi 15:11).”
Nothing can substitute for the Holy Ghost. The words of Isaiah will remain sealed until the natural man “yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord (Mosiah 3:19).” “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things (Moroni 10:4-5).” “And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith (D&C 42:14)” if we will stop before we read the words of Isaiah and ask in humble prayer for the Spirit or the Lord to enlighten our minds as we ponder the words of Isaiah.
Understand the Manner of Prophesying Among the Jews
“The manner of the Jews” refers to the law of Moses and to the traditions of the Jewish fathers associated with the law. Our appreciation for Isaiah will increase to the extent that we understand the first five books of the Old Testament. It is not important to the understanding of Isaiah that we comprehend all the Jewish traditions and apostasies. Nephi said, in essence, “I have not taught my children after “the manner of the Jews, for their works were works of darkness and their doings were doings of abomination (2 Nephi 25: 2).” However, Nephi is quick to point out “notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled. . . yet we keep the law because of the commandments. . . And, inasmuch as it shall be expedient, ye must keep the performances and ordinances of God until the law shall be fulfilled which was given unto Moses (2 Nephi 25:24-25, 30).”
A key to understanding Isaiah is to recognize that Isaiah understood and appreciated the law of Moses and was an avid supporter of the spirit as well as the letter of the law. Members of the Church tend to regard the words of the Old Testament as somewhat equal in value. This was untrue of the Hebrews despite their hypocrisy. The Law (Torah) supersedes in value the sayings of the prophets or the Psalms. What we refer to as the Old Testament was separated into the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms by Jesus in Luke 24:44. I believe, as does Sidney B. Sperry, that it would be of great value for our students to think of the Old Testament, not as the Old Testament, but as the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms or writings. If we are to appreciate Isaiah, we will view the Law as paramount, with the Prophets and the Psalms as satellites of lesser importance. A more suitable analogy may be to view the Law as the hub of the wheel, with the Prophets and Psalms as spokes going out therefrom. The inescapable reality is that Isaiah saw himself, a prophet, as a commentator on the law of Moses. Isaiah was constantly pointing the minds of the people back to the covenants of the Law. Without question it is the prime objective of Isaiah to call the people to repentance, to repent and conform with the spirit of the performances and ordinances of the law of Moses.
With an understanding of the great role that the law of Moses held in the hearts of the Hebrews, it is not surprising, the, to note that the first words of Isaiah, his introduction, is a quote from the Law: “Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth (Deuteronomy 32:1).” When Isaiah said this, the Hebrews knew that Isaiah had reference to the portion of Deuteronomy that scholars have designated as Chapter 32, verse 1. What better way for Isaiah to begin than by quoting the Law and then going on to comment about what would happen to the chosen people if they continued to violate the spirit of the law of Moses.
Jeremiah followed a similar course in quoting from the Law and using a portion of a phrase to bring authority to his statements. (See Jerimiah 6:19.) It should also be noted at this point that most Hebrews were so familiar with all of the Law that it was not necessary to quote the entire text for the hearer to be aware of the reference, but only refer to it with one or two key words or phrases. To illustrate this point in a modern setting for members of the Church, one could excerpt two words from a well-known statement from President David O. McKay, “No success. . . “ If one were to ask an active member of the Church to complete that phrase they would quickly do so by saying, “No success can compensate for failure in the home” So often has President McKay’s statement been quoted in church meetings that one need only refer to the entire concept by using the words “No success.” Isaiah needed only to mention Sodom and the hearer could call to mind the spiritual decay of that people. If, the, we have succeeded in understanding the importance of the law of Moses in relation to Isaiah, we will have taken the second great step in our quest to delight in the words of Isaiah and in being “taught after the manner of the things of the Jews (2 Nephi 25:5).”
Become Acquainted with the Geography of the Holy Land
When I teach Isaiah, at the very outset of the class I require the students to memorize a very simple map of the Holy Land. The first few minutes of every class for five weeks are consumed in drill and review of the map. As the class progresses we fill in meaningful geographical information.
Nephi said, “I, of myself, have dwelt at Jerusalem, wherefore I know concerning the regions round about (2 Nephi 25:6).” It is difficult to assume that the meaning of Isaiah 10:27-34 could be understood with the impact intended by the Lord and by Isaiah without knowing the geographical relationship of the twelve towns mentioned in those verses. Aiath is the first village at the northern border of Judah about ten miles north of Jerusalem.
Because of the anointing and the covenant of God, the Lord promises to preserve his people or a remnant thereof. He will not allow the mighty nations of the world (Assyria) to destroy Jerusalem, the daughter of Zion. (Even though the mightiest nation with all her armies is only ten miles away, don’t worry, for the Lord will deliver you.) The next eleven towns mentioned by Isaiah lie in a ten‑mile path heading south until you come to Nob, a hamlet of priests outside the walls of Jerusalem which looks directly onto the eastern gates of the temple. Even though the Assyrians “remain at Nob that day” (vs. 32), I the Lord will deliver you. It is wonderful what an understanding of geography does for many verses of Isaiah. In the spirit of “likening the scripture unto us,” assume for a moment that we compare Assyria to Red China and Cache Valley to Judah. Imagine that 105,000 Red Chinese soldiers have just crossed the Utah border and entered Lewiston, Utah. The city is a shamble. Cove is utterly wasted in their path, Richmond has been annihilated, and Smithfield destroyed. Hyde Park is trodden under the feet of the soldiers—there is not a single building left standing. North Logan is left without habitation. All have fled to the Logan temple grounds. The Red Chinese camp for the night in what remains of North Logan. Tomorrow they will shake their fist at Logan and at the temple prior to their work of destruction. The Lorde speaks to his prophet, Russell M Nelson and instructs him to tell the people that Logan and temple will be spared and delivered because God will keep his covenant to preserve a remnant of the seed of Abraham.
This is an example of how understanding the geography of an area can help us delight in the words of Isaiah. It is also the third step in understanding the words of Isaiah.
Know the Judgments of God
Nephi promised that in the last days men shall understand Isaiah (2 Nephi 25:8) and that the words of Isaiah “shall be of great worth unto them (2 Nephi 25:8).”
A major theme in Isaiah is much like themes found in the Book of Mormon or in The Miracle of Forgiveness: “The tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance (1 Nephi 1:20).” “And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; . . . and inasmuch as thy brethren shall rebel against thee, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord (1 Nephi 2:20-21). “
And so it is that Isaiah calls upon the “Law” and the judgments therein to point the mind of the people to God and to the blessings and cursings of obedience and disobedience respectively, as found in Deuteronomy chapter 28. Isaiah is constantly turning the thoughts of the people to chapter 28. In Isaiah’s chapters 1, 3 through 5, 7 through 9, and in chapters 47, 51, 55, 59, 62, 65, and 66, Isaiah gives one to two-word references to Deuteronomy chapter 28. The afflictions that were coming upon Judah and Jerusalem were the natural consequences of disobedience. In D&C 101:1-6 and 105:1-6, this same message is recounted for our day. The judgments of God are conditional.
“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated (D&C 130:20-21).”
As we comprehend the message of the ages and understand that Isaiah made prophetic application of that message, we take the fourth step in preparing ourselves to delight in the words of Isaiah.
“And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah. For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore, it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles. And all things that he spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake (3 Nephi 23:1-3).”
“It just may be that my salvation (and yours also) does in fact depend upon our ability to understand the writings of Isaiah as fully and truly as Nephi understood them.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Ten Keys to Understanding Isaiah,” Ensign, October 1973, p. 78.)
In summary, as we seek the Holy Ghost, appreciate the significance of the law of Moses in the writings of Isaiah, become acquainted with the geography, and understand the relationship of the blessings and cursings that befall mankind as a consequence to disobedience, we will have taken four very important steps in our quest to delight in the words of Isaiah.