Lesson 120

Isaiah 3–5

Prepare to Learn

Prepare your mind and heart to be taught by the Holy Ghost. Diligently seek knowledge and understanding through careful study, reflection, and prayer. Then follow the impressions you receive through the Spirit.

Begin your study with prayer.

Do you know someone who feels that God’s commandments limit his or her freedom?

Consider the purpose of the commandments as you watch this short video. How are we blessed by having commandments?

Seeds and Fruit

If you wanted to grow apples, what kind of seeds would you need to plant and nourish? Why would you not expect an orange seed to produce apples?

Just as apple seeds produce apples and orange seeds produce oranges, our choices produce consequences.

As you study Isaiah 3–5, look for principles that can help you make choices that will bring you confidence, peace, and happiness.

“The Fruit of Their Doings”

Isaiah 3:1–9 contains Isaiah’s prophecy about what would happen to the descendants of Judah and the city of Jerusalem because of the Jews’ choices. This prophecy also applies to people in our day.

Read Isaiah 3:10–11, looking for what the Lord wanted the people to know about choices and consequences. Think about the statement “they shall eat the fruit of their doings” in verse 10.

What principles do these verses teach about choices and consequences?

Choices and Consequences

You may have identified principles from Isaiah 3:10–11 similar to the following: If we are righteous, we will enjoy the blessings of our choices. If we sin, we will suffer the negative consequences of our choices.

Read the following scenario:

Mario wants to feel confident, happy, and worthy to attend the temple. However, recently he has been tempted to view pornography.

What negative consequences would Mario suffer by viewing pornography? What must he do to receive the blessings he desires?

Righteous Actions and Blessings

Recognizing the blessings you have received from living the gospel can help you make righteous choices in the future.

1. Answer the following questions:

• When have you or someone you know avoided negative consequences by making righteous choices?

• What is a righteous choice you will commit to make so that you can receive the associated blessings?

Consequences of Sin

Isaiah 3:12–26 notes some of the negative consequences of sinful choices. As recorded in verses 12–15, Isaiah described the leaders of the Lord’s people who had caused the people to go astray and who had failed to help the poor.

Isaiah 3:16–24 contains Isaiah’s description of the behavior of “the daughters of Zion” (verse 16). The term “daughters of Zion” could refer to women of Zion in Isaiah’s day or to the nation of Judah as a whole. The term also applies to women of Zion in the latter days. Even though Isaiah specifically referred to “the daughters of Zion,” his words can also apply to men. According to verses 18–23, Isaiah described the daughters of Zion as being proud, vain, and focused on wealth and fashion. As recorded in verses 25–26, Isaiah declared that as a result of their sins, the daughters of Zion would be humbled, would lose their possessions, and would suffer from war, destruction, and desolation.

Isaiah 4 contains Isaiah’s description of Zion after it has been purified and redeemed in the Millennium. At that time Zion will “be beautiful and glorious” (verse 2). The images of the temple providing shelter from heat, storm, and rain also illustrate how the righteous will enjoy the Lord’s presence and protection (see verses 5–6).

A Scenario

Consider the following scenario:

One of your friends wants to stop attending Church meetings and activities and does not want to live the Lord’s standards anymore. What would you say to your friend?

As you study Isaiah 5, look for a principle that can help you to not turn away from the Lord and to encourage others to follow Him as well.

The Lord’s Vineyard

As recorded in Isaiah 5:1–7, Isaiah compared the house of Israel to a vineyard.

Read Isaiah 5:1–2, looking for what the Lord did for His vineyard.

What kind of grapes did the vineyard produce?

Wild Grapes

Wild grapes can taste sour or bitter. The vineyard referred to in Isaiah 5:2 that produced sour grapes is symbolic of the house of Israel having turned away from, or having rebelled against, the Lord.

Read Isaiah 5:5–6, looking for what the Lord said would happen to the vineyard.

Consequences of Turning Away from the Lord

Isaiah taught what would happen to the Israelites because they turned away from the Lord.

Search Isaiah 5:8, 11, 18, 20, 21, and 22, looking for a word that is repeated in these verses that describes the consequences the Israelites would suffer. Consider marking this word in each verse.

Sorrow and Suffering

The word that is repeated in Isaiah 5:8, 11, 18, 20, 21, and 22 is woe, which means intense sorrow and suffering.

We can identify the following principle from Isaiah 5: If we turn away from the Lord, we will lose His protection and help and experience sorrow and suffering.

It is important to remember that although we may not immediately experience sorrow and suffering, turning away from the Lord will always lead to unhappiness. We can return to the Lord through sincere repentance.

Read the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson, looking for a truth that can help us stay true to the Lord and not turn away from Him:

“Even if ‘everyone is doing it,’ wrong is never right. Evil, error, and darkness will never be truth, even if popular” (“Let Your Faith Show,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 30–31).

Ways People Turn Away

Read Isaiah 5:11–12, 20–23, looking for ways people turn away from the Lord. Isaiah 5:20 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider marking this passage in a distinctive way so you can locate it more easily.

2. Answer at least two of the following questions:

• What is an example of a behavior that is accepted by many as being good but really could turn us away from the Lord?

• When have you seen someone experience sorrow or suffering because he or she turned away from the Lord? (Avoid using the person’s name in your response.)

• What choices will you make to stay close to the Lord and receive His protection and help?

The Sweetness of Living Righteously

Reflect on what you learned today. If every choice you make is like choosing to eat either sweet or bitter fruit, how does the fruit in your life taste?

Decide on a single action you can take today that will help you taste more fully the sweetness of a righteous life.

Doctrinal Mastery Review: Genesis 1:28

Where can we find God’s first commandment to Adam and Eve?

Genesis 1:28 helps teach this key statement of doctrine: God has commanded His children to multiply and replenish the earth (Doctrinal Mastery Core Document [2018], 8.2).

Consider doing the following exercise to help you remember God’s first commandment to Adam and Eve and its location in Genesis 1:

Hold up one finger to represent both the first commandment and Genesis 1. While holding up this finger, repeat the following several times: “Genesis 1:28. God has commanded His children to multiply and replenish the earth.”