“Lesson 123: Isaiah 10–16,” Old Testament Seminary Student Material (2018)
“Lesson 123: Isaiah 10–16”
Lesson 123
Isaiah 10–16
Prepare to Learn
Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Showing love and respect for the Lord, others, and the word of God helps you prepare to learn through the Holy Ghost.
Begin your study with prayer.
Have you ever felt nervous about sharing the gospel with someone?
Sharing the gospel can seem like a difficult thing to do, but it may be easier than you think. Watch this video of a young woman named Emma who shared the gospel with her friend.
Two Teams
Imagine that you must choose to join one of two teams. One team is led by a captain who cares very much about his team and wants each team member to succeed. The other team is led by someone who promises great victory and success, but he cares only for himself.
How is this analogy similar to our choice between following the Lord or following Satan?
As recorded in Isaiah 10–16, Isaiah prophesied about what will happen to those who follow the Lord and what will happen to those who follow Satan. As you study these chapters, look for gospel truths that can help you understand the blessings that come from following the Lord.
Prophecies about the Last Days
According to Isaiah 10:1–34, Isaiah prophesied that because of the wickedness of Judah and Israel, the Assyrians would attack both nations. The Lord would no longer protect and help them.
The Assyrian invasion would fulfill the Lord’s purposes in turning Judah to repentance and scattering the nation of Israel. Isaiah also prophesied of the eventual destruction of the Assyrians because of their pride and wickedness. This destruction is symbolic of the destruction the proud and wicked will experience at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Read Isaiah 11:1, 10, looking for symbols that Isaiah used in another prophecy that would be fulfilled in the last days.
What objects did Isaiah refer to in this prophecy?
Stem, Rod, and Roots
The word stem in Isaiah 11:1 is translated from a Hebrew word that can refer to the stump of a tree that has been cut down. Notice that “a rod,” or new growth, comes out of the stem and that the stem has roots. The Lord’s explanation of the meaning of these symbols, given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, is recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 113:1–6.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 113:1–6, looking for what the stem, rod, and roots represent. You may want to record what each symbol represents in your scriptures near Isaiah 11:1 and add a cross-reference to Doctrine and Covenants 113:1–6.
Quiz 1
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According to Doctrine and Covenants 113:1–2, who does “the Stem of Jesse” (verse 1) represent?
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Jesus Christ
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Joseph Smith
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Nephi
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According to verses 3–4, who could “the rod” (verse 3) represent?
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Jesus Christ
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Joseph Smith
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Nephi
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According to verses 5–6, who could “the root of Jesse” (verse 5) represent?
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Jesus Christ
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Joseph Smith
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Nephi
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The Root of Jesse
© Del Parson
Although the stem of Jesse represents Jesus Christ, Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that the “Branch” mentioned in Isaiah 11:1 also represents Jesus Christ (see The Promised Messiah: The First Coming of Christ [1978], 192–94). Elder McConkie also suggested that the “rod” and the “roots” could both represent Joseph Smith (see The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man [1982], 339–40).
After Isaiah described some of the conditions of the Millennium (see Isaiah 11:5–9), he prophesied about the coming of Joseph Smith and the latter days.
Read Isaiah 11:10 again, looking for what the root of Jesse (Joseph Smith) would be for the people.
An Ensign
In Isaiah’s day, an ensign was a flag or banner that signaled which nation an army represented. The ensign was raised up during battle so that members of the army could gather beneath it or march behind it. The ensign Isaiah speaks of in Isaiah 11:10 that the Gentiles would seek is the “everlasting covenant,” or the gospel of Jesus Christ (see D&C 45:9).
1. How is raising an ensign similar to what the Lord has done through the Prophet Joseph Smith?
The Restoration of Christ’s Church
As recorded in Isaiah 11:12, Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would “set up an ensign for the nations.” This phrase refers to the Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Read Isaiah 11:11–12, looking for how you could complete the following phrase as a statement of truth.
The restored Church is an ensign to …
The Gathering of Israel
Here is one way to state the truth we can identify from Isaiah 11:11–12: The restored Church is an ensign to gather scattered Israel back to the gospel of Jesus Christ. To “gather together” (verse 12) scattered Israel back to the gospel of Jesus Christ means to help others join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (see Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie [1956], 3:255).
We read in Isaiah 11:13–16 that Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would use miraculous means to help gather Israel again.
Read Isaiah 12:1–6, looking for what the Lord’s people will do during the Millennium because they have been brought to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our Responsibility to Gather
2. Answer one of the following questions:
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What can we do as members of the Church to help gather scattered Israel to the Lord?
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How have you helped to gather scattered Israel to the Lord?
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If you are a convert, what have members done to help you join the Church and remain converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ?
A Type or Similitude
We read in Isaiah 13–16 that Isaiah prophesied of the destruction of Babylon and Moab, two wicked societies in Isaiah’s day. These events can be seen as a type or similitude (or a representation) of the destruction of the wicked that will take place at the Second Coming of the Savior.
Read Isaiah 14:3, looking for what the Lord will do for His people after Babylon is destroyed. Keep in mind that the events described in this verse are a type or similitude of what will occur at the Second Coming.
What truth can we identify from this verse about what the Lord will do for His people when He comes again?
Rest
From Isaiah 14:3 we can identify the truth that when the Lord comes again, He will be merciful to His people and give them rest.
What are some types of “sorrow,” “fear,” or “bondage” (captivity) people seek deliverance from today?
How could understanding this truth lead others to come unto the Lord?
Satan’s Defeat
We read in Isaiah 14:4–20 that Isaiah prophesied of the downfall of the Babylonian king and compared this to the downfall of Lucifer, or Satan.
Read verses 12–14, looking for what Satan desired.
According to verses 15–16, what will ultimately happen to Satan?
Satan’s Fate
From Isaiah 14:15–16 we can identify the truth that Satan will lose his influence and power over mankind, and he will be cast out forever.
3. Why do you think Satan succeeds in luring some people to his side, even though the scriptures tell us he will ultimately lose?
An Important Choice
We live in a challenging time. Many people in our world struggle to know who they should follow. Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles extended this invitation to all of us:
We live in a challenging time. Many people in our world struggle to know who they should follow. Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles extended this invitation to all of us:
“Because of the wave of confusion and doubt spreading throughout the world today, we must hold ever more tightly to our testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then will our ability to defend truth and justice greatly increase. We will win the daily battles against evil, and, rather than fall on the battlefields of life, we will rally others to the Master’s standards” (Ulisses Soares, “Yes, We Can and Will Win!” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 76).
4. Answer the following question in three or more sentences:
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What did you learn in this lesson that will help you choose to follow the Savior?
Answer Key
Quiz 1: (1) a; (2) b; (3) b