Lesson 126

Isaiah 30–41

Introduction

Isaiah prophesied that the people of Judah would become weak and would be scattered because of their rejection of the prophets. Isaiah also prophesied about the gathering of Israel in the latter days. During the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah, the Lord miraculously delivered Jerusalem from the Assyrian army. After messengers from Babylon visited King Hezekiah, Isaiah prophesied that the kingdom of Judah would eventually be conquered by the Babylonians. Isaiah also prophesied of the coming of Jesus Christ and testified of His power and desire to strengthen and save His people.

Suggestions for Teaching

Remember the Objective of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion

Remember that “our purpose is to help youth and young adults understand and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven” (Gospel Teaching and Learning: A Handbook for Teachers and Leaders in Seminaries and Institutes of Religion [2012], x).

Isaiah 30–34

Isaiah warns Judah about the consequences of rejecting the prophets and prophesies of events in the latter days

Invite students to think about somebody they know who faithfully obeys the words of the prophet and the standards in the For the Strength of Youth booklet.

• What are some ways we are blessed when we obey the words of the prophets?

• What can happen to people who refuse to follow the counsel of the Lord’s prophets?

Explain that Isaiah 30–31 contains Isaiah’s message of warning to the people of Judah, who were considering making an alliance with Egypt to protect themselves from the Assyrian army. Through His prophet Isaiah, the Lord likened the people to “rebellious children” who ignored the Lord’s counsel and preferred to rely on “the strength of Pharaoh” (Isaiah 30:1–2). The Lord warned that Egypt would not protect them (see Isaiah 30:3–7). The Lord commanded Isaiah to record the Lord’s words regarding the people’s rebellion (see Isaiah 30:8–11).

Invite a student to read Isaiah 30:8–11 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what the Lord commanded Isaiah to write about the people. Invite students to report what they find. Explain that the phrase “smooth things” in verse 10 refers to easy things, actions, or deeds that do not require much of the listener.

• How would you describe the people’s attitude toward the prophets?

Invite a student to read Isaiah 30:12–14 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what Judah’s rebellion against the Lord and His prophets would lead to.

• According to verse 13, what did Isaiah compare the people’s iniquity to?

Explain that in this context, a “breach” is a fracture or crack in a wall.

• What happens structurally to a wall when it has a fracture or a crack? (It is weakened.)

• How is a crack or fracture in a wall an appropriate metaphor for the consequences of sin?

• If the consequences of sin are like a crack in a wall, what happens to us if we sin by rejecting the words of the prophets? (Students may give a variety of answers, but make sure it is clear that if we rebel against God by rejecting the words of the prophets, then we will be weakened. Write this principle on the board.)

Invite students to think about examples of people in the scriptures who became weakened by rejecting the words of the prophets.

• According to verse 14, what will ultimately happen to those who continue to reject the words of the prophets? (After students respond, add the following to the principle on the board: If we continue to reject the words of the prophets, we will suffer spiritually.)

Point out that just as a breached wall’s “breaking cometh suddenly” (verse 13), we may not know when negative consequences will follow sin. In some cases, these consequences may not come until the next life.

• What are some things you can do personally to avoid this breach coming into your life and testimony?

Summarize the rest of Isaiah 30–31 by explaining that although the Lord invited the people to repent, the people refused to do so. Isaiah rebuked them for not relying on the Lord for divine protection and assistance. Chapter 31 also contains a comforting prophecy that in the last days the Lord will defend the righteous inhabitants of Zion.

Invite a student to read aloud the following summary of Isaiah 32–34:

Even though the people of Judah rejected his words, Isaiah continued to fulfill his role as a prophet. As recorded in Isaiah 32–34, Isaiah prophesied of the Restoration of the gospel in the latter days and of the Millennial reign of the Savior, when His “people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation” (Isaiah 32:18). Isaiah also described the Savior’s Second Coming, when the wicked would “be burned in the fire” (Isaiah 33:12) of “the day of the Lord’s vengeance” (Isaiah 34:8).

Isaiah 35

Isaiah prophesies of the latter-day gathering of Israel

Ask students to think of a time when another person’s testimony blessed their lives. Invite several students to share their experiences.

Explain that Isaiah 35 contains Isaiah’s prophecies of the latter-day gathering of Israel. Invite a student to read Isaiah 35:3–6 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what the Lord commanded His followers to say.

• What does it mean to “strengthen … the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees” (verse 3)? (To strengthen the faith of those who are exhausted, discouraged, or fearful.)

• According to verse 4, what does the Lord ask His followers to do to strengthen the faith of others?

• What principle can we identify from these verses about strengthening the faith of others? (Students may use different words, but make sure it is clear that as we testify that the Lord will come to save and heal us, we can strengthen the faith of others.)

• How can bearing your testimony of the Lord help strengthen the faith of others?

Isaiah 36–41

Isaiah teaches that the Lord will comfort and strengthen His people

Explain that during the reign of King Hezekiah, Judah continued to be threatened by the Assyrians. Invite a student to read the following summary of Isaiah 36–38, which recounts events studied in a previous lesson. Ask students to listen for what Hezekiah and his people did.

The Assyrian army was marching toward Jerusalem and threatening its people with destruction. Hezekiah and the people of Judah hearkened to Isaiah’s counsel to not surrender to the Assyrians and instead prayed for the Lord to save them. The Lord defended the city, and a large part of the Assyrian army was destroyed by an angel in one night (see Isaiah 37:33–36). Later, when Hezekiah became very ill, he pleaded with the Lord, and his life was miraculously prolonged for 15 years.

• What did Hezekiah and his people do in these fearful situations that allowed the Lord to bless them? (They listened to the prophet, prayed, and trusted in the Lord to save them.)

Summarize Isaiah 39 by explaining that after Hezekiah recovered from his illness, messengers brought letters and gifts from Babylon. Hezekiah showed them the wealth of Judah’s treasuries and armory. Upon learning what Hezekiah had done, Isaiah prophesied that Hezekiah’s descendants and Judah’s riches would one day “be carried to Babylon: [and] nothing [would] be left” (verse 6). (Remind students that they have already studied the fulfillment of this prophecy—the people returned to idol worship and wickedness after Hezekiah’s death, and Babylon eventually destroyed the kingdom of Judah [see 2 Kings 21–25].)

Invite a student to read Isaiah 40:1–2 aloud. Ask the class to follow along and look for the purpose of Isaiah’s words.

• What was the purpose of Isaiah’s words in these verses? (To comfort the Lord’s people.)

Explain that as recorded in the remainder of Isaiah 40 and in Isaiah 41, Isaiah continued to comfort Judah by teaching about the coming ministry of the Messiah.

Write the following scripture references on the board: Isaiah 40:10–11, 28–31; Isaiah 41:9–14, 17.

Divide the class in half. Assign one half to read Isaiah 40:10–11, 28–31 and the other half to read Isaiah 41:9–14, 17. Ask students to look for truths that they think would have been comforting to the Jews. Encourage students to consider marking important words and phrases in their scriptures or recording them in their study journals. (You may want to explain that the word wait in Isaiah 40:31 means to hope for or trust in. The word worm in Isaiah 41:14 refers to someone who is “meek and humble” [verse 14, footnote a].)

After sufficient time, invite students to report the truths they found. You might consider inviting each student to write his or her statements of doctrine or principles on a piece of paper, and then inviting students to take turns standing and reading their statements aloud to the class. The papers could be posted on the board or on a wall. (Students may identify a variety of principles, including the following: The Lord will care for His flock. The Lord will strengthen those who wait upon Him. When the Lord is with us, we need not fear.)

Explain that one way we can know that the Lord is with us is if we feel the Holy Ghost’s presence and companionship (see Susan W. Tanner, “Stand as a Witness,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 114).

After students share the principles they have written, you may want to ask the following questions:

• What words or phrases in Isaiah 40:11 are most comforting to you?

• What is the Savior’s “flock”? (The Savior’s flock includes members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are striving to follow Him and keep His commandments. See Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Perfect Love Casteth Out All Fear,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 106.)

• What promises in these verses strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ? Why?

• How can knowing that the Lord is with you comfort you when you are worried or afraid?

• When have you felt the Lord sustain you during times of adversity?

• How has the Lord helped you overcome fear?

Invite students to ponder the following two questions and to record their answers in their study journals (it may be helpful to write the questions on the board or on slips of paper for each student):

• What can I do this week to increase my hope and trust in the Savior, Jesus Christ?

• What can I do to better qualify for and maintain the companionship and influence of the Holy Ghost?

Testify that the Lord has power to care for and strengthen us, and as we place our trust in Him, we will not need to fear. If time allows, you may want to conclude the lesson by singing the hymn “How Firm a Foundation” (Hymns, no. 85). Sing verses 1, 2, 3, and 7 of this hymn, and invite students to look for words or phrases that indicate the Lord’s power to help and comfort His people.

Commentary and Background Information

Isaiah 30–31. Contextual background

Latter-day Saint scholars provided contextual background for Isaiah 30–31:

“Judah’s leaders sought an alliance with Egypt against Assyria, contrary to the counsel of the Lord ([Isaiah] 30:1–2). Now Isaiah promises that their reliance on Egypt will be unfruitful and will cause their downfall (30:3). Because of Judah’s wickedness and her rebellion against God, her destruction will come ‘suddenly at an instant’ (30:13). …

“Judah refused to follow the counsel of the Lord concerning her relationship with Assyria, which brought Judah under Assyrian vassalage. Judah’s people then sought to free themselves from the shadow of Assyria by forming an alliance with Egypt, again ignoring the Lord’s counsel, thus adding ‘sin to sin’ (Jer. 2:18). Likewise, we add sin to sin by first rejecting the voice of the Lord and then walking in our own way contrary to His” (Donald W. Parry, Jay A. Parry, and Tina M. Peterson, Understanding Isaiah [1998], 275, 277).

Isaiah 30:9–11. “Speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits”

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) explained what our response to the prophet’s counsel can reveal about us:

“How we respond to the words of a living prophet when he tells us what we need to know, but would rather not hear, is a test of our faithfulness” (Ezra Taft Benson, “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet” [Brigham Young University devotional, Feb. 26, 1980], 3–4, speeches.byu.edu).

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles observed that, like the Israelites, people in our day prefer “smooth gods”:

“Unfortunately, messengers of divinely mandated commandments are often no more popular today than they were anciently. …

“Sadly enough, … it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much, comfortable gods, smooth gods who not only don’t rock the boat but don’t even row it, gods who pat us on the head, make us giggle, then tell us to run along and pick marigolds” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Cost—and Blessings—of Discipleship,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 7).

Isaiah 35:1. “The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose”

“Several General Authorities have seen the settlement of the mountain valleys of the Rockies by the Latter-day Saints as a fulfillment of these verses in Isaiah (see Milton R. Hunter, in Conference Report, Oct. 1965, p. 81; LeGrand Richards, in Conference Report, Oct. 1966, p. 42; Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:346–47; Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 18:145). When the Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847, it could be described as a ‘wilderness’ and a ‘solitary place’ (Isaiah 35:1). The Saints went to work immediately, and soon the desert valleys of Utah began to ‘blossom as the rose’ (v. 1). But this prophecy may also be fulfilled by the settlement of modern Jews in the Holy Land, where similar things are taking place” (Old Testament Student Manual: 1 Kings–Malachi, 3rd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2003], 168).

Isaiah 36–39. The Assyrian army invades Judah

To gain a deeper understanding of the Assyrian invasion, read the Commentary and Background Information for lesson 104, 2 Kings 14–20.

Isaiah 40:3–5. “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness”

These verses have multiple applications. John the Baptist applied this passage to himself while acting as a forerunner of the Lord’s mortal ministry (see John 1:23; see also Matthew 3:1–3; Luke 3:2–6; 1 Nephi 10:7–9). John also fulfilled this prophecy when he appeared to Joseph Smith to restore the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood in preparation for the Lord’s Second Coming (see D&C 13).

President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) taught the following:

“The Lord declared … that before his second coming a messenger should be sent to prepare the way and make it straight. You may apply this to John if you will, and it is true. …

“But I go farther and maintain that Joseph Smith was the messenger whom the Lord sent to prepare the way before him. He came, and under the direction of holy messengers laid the foundation for the kingdom of God … that the world might be prepared for the coming of the Lord” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie [1954], 1:194–95).

Additionally, missionaries and Church leaders in this dispensation are sent as messengers crying, “Repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight” (D&C 33:10).

Isaiah 40:31. “They that wait upon the Lord”

Elder Robert D. Hales (1932–2017) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“In the scriptures, the word wait means to hope, to anticipate, and to trust. To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end.

“To wait upon the Lord means planting the seed of faith and nourishing it ‘with great diligence, and … patience’ [Alma 32:41].

“It means praying as the Savior did—to God, our Heavenly Father—saying: ‘Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done’ [Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:2]. It is a prayer we offer with our whole souls in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

“Waiting upon the Lord means pondering in our hearts and ‘receiv[ing] the Holy Ghost’ so that we can know ‘all things what [we] should do’ [2 Nephi 32:5].

“As we follow the promptings of the Spirit, we discover that ‘tribulation worketh patience’ [Romans 5:3] and we learn to ‘continue in patience until [we] are perfected’ [D&C 67:13]” (Robert D. Hales, “Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 72).