“Unit 24: Day 3, Isaiah 10–16,” Old Testament Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students (2014)
“Unit 24: Day 3,” Old Testament Study Guide
Unit 24: Day 3
Isaiah 10–16
Introduction
Isaiah foretold the destruction of both Assyria and Babylon, which can be likened to the destruction of the wicked at the Second Coming. He prophesied of the latter-day Restoration of the Church and its role in gathering Israel. He also prophesied of the destruction of Moab.
Isaiah 10
Isaiah prophesies that Assyria will punish Israel and that Assyria will also be destroyed
You may want to mark the word woe in Isaiah 10:1. Remember that the word woe means intense sorrow and suffering.
Read Isaiah 10:1–2, looking for what actions would bring intense sorrow and suffering upon the people of Israel.
These verses refer to wicked leaders in society creating unrighteous and unjust laws that oppressed the poor, the needy, the widows, and the fatherless.
In Isaiah 10:3–4 we learn that because the leaders and people of Israel had turned away from the Lord through their wickedness, they would be punished and not have the Lord’s help.
Read Isaiah 10:5–6, looking for how the kingdom of Israel would be punished for its wickedness.
In Isaiah 10:8–22 we learn that the king of Assyria failed to recognize that the Assyrians were a tool in the Lord’s hands, and he boasted about his own strength. Isaiah prophesied that after the Assyrians had fulfilled the Lord’s purposes in punishing the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the Lord would destroy the Assyrians also 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.
Isaiah 11–12
Isaiah prophesies of the latter-day Restoration and of the Millennium
Read Isaiah 11:1, 10.
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. Write Stem near the drawing of the tree trunk.
According to verse 1, what comes out of the stem?
Write Rod next to the new growth coming from the stem in the drawing, and write Roots next to the roots.
Sometimes we can better understand the meanings of symbols in the scriptures by referring to explanations found in other scriptures or in the words of modern prophets. The Prophet Joseph Smith explained what the stem, rod, and roots represented in Isaiah 11. These explanations are found in Doctrine and Covenants 113:1–6.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 113:1–2, looking for the meaning of the stem of Jesse. (Remember that Jesse was the father of King David. The term “stem of Jesse” refers to someone who would reign as king over Israel.)
Write Jesus Christ next to the word Stem in the drawing.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles clarified that the branch Isaiah mentioned also represents Jesus Christ: “As to the identity of the Stem of Jesse, the revealed word says: ‘Verily thus saith the Lord: It is Christ.’ (D&C 113:1–2.) This also means that the Branch is Christ” (The Promised Messiah: The First Coming of Christ [1978], 192; see pages 192–94; see also Jeremiah 23:5–6).
Read Doctrine and Covenants 113:3–6, looking for the meaning of the rod and the roots.
Elder McConkie suggested that the rod and the roots could both represent the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Are we amiss in saying that the prophet here mentioned [in D&C 113:6] is Joseph Smith, to whom the priesthood came, who received the keys of the kingdom, and who raised the ensign for the gathering of the Lord’s people in our dispensation? And is he not also the ‘servant in the hands of Christ, who is partly a descendant of Jesse as well as of Ephraim, or of the house of Joseph, on whom there is laid much power’? [D&C 113:4]” (The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man [1982], 339–40).
Write Joseph Smith next to Rod and Roots on the drawing.
After Isaiah described some of the conditions of the Millennium (see Isaiah 11:6–9), he prophesied of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the latter days.
In Isaiah 11:10, Isaiah prophesied that Joseph Smith would serve as an ensign for the people. An ensign is a flag or banner, which an army may sometimes gather under and march behind. Using this interpretation we learn that people will gather to the gospel of Jesus Christ because of what the Prophet Joseph Smith did.
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Answer the following question in your scripture study journal: What did the Prophet Joseph Smith do that would help people gather to the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Read Isaiah 11:11–12, looking for what Isaiah prophesied would happen in the last days.
The phrase “set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people” in verse 11 refers to the latter-day gathering of Israel (see 2 Nephi 25:14–17; Jacob 6:2; D&C 137:6).
Because of latter-day revelation, we understand that the phrase “he will set up an ensign for the nations” in verse 12 refers to the Restoration of Christ’s Church—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
From Isaiah 11:11–12 we learn the following truth: The restored Church is an ensign to gather scattered Israel back to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gathering of Israel occurs as the people of the world join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In Isaiah 11:13–16 we learn that Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would use miraculous means to help gather Israel again.
Read Isaiah 12:1–3, looking for what these Israelites will do because they have been brought to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Think of someone you know who is a convert to the Church. Ponder how that person might have felt when he or she joined the Church.
In Isaiah 12:4–6 we learn that those who are gathered into the gospel of Jesus Christ will praise the Savior during the Millennium.
Isaiah 13–16
The destruction of Babylon can be likened to the destruction of the wicked at the Second Coming
Imagine that you have the opportunity 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 the captain only cares for himself. Think about why you would want to join the first team.
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As you study Isaiah 13–16 look for gospel truths that will help you understand the blessings of choosing to be on the Lord’s side instead of Satan’s side.
In Isaiah 13:1–10, Isaiah prophesied of the destruction of Babylon. These events can be seen as a type or similitude of the destruction of the wicked that will take place at the Lord’s Second Coming.
Read Isaiah 13:11, looking for what the Lord said He would do to the wicked in Babylon.
Seeing this verse as a type of the Second Coming, complete the following truth with what we learn the Lord will do to the wicked when He comes again: When the Lord comes again, He will . Write the completed truth in your scripture study journal under the column labeled “Satan’s side.”
Isaiah 13:12–22 continues Isaiah’s prophecy about the destruction of Babylon.
Read Isaiah 14:3, looking for what the Lord will do for His people after Babylon is destroyed.
Seeing this verse as a type of the Second Coming, complete the following truth with what we learn the Lord will do for His people when He comes again: When the Lord comes again, He will . Write this completed truth in your scripture study journal under the column labeled “The Lord’s side.”
In Isaiah 14:4–11 we read Isaiah’s prophecy of the downfall of the Babylonian king and how this compares to the downfall of Lucifer, or Satan.
Read Isaiah 14:12–14, looking for what Satan desired.
These verses help us understand that Satan wanted to take God’s power in order to become like God (see also D&C 29:36–37; Moses 4:1).
Read Isaiah 14:15–20, looking for what will ultimately happen to Satan.
Consider marking what verse 16 teaches people will say about Satan.
These verses teach us the following truth: Satan will lose his influence and power over mankind, and he will be cast out forever. Write this truth in your scripture study journal in the column labeled “Satan’s side.”
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How might the truths you wrote in your scripture study journal today help you choose to be on the Savior’s side and not Satan’s?
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Consider the truths you wrote in your scripture study journal concerning the consequences that will come to those who choose to be on Satan’s side. Why do you think Satan succeeds in luring some people to his side, even though he will ultimately lose?
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It is important to remember the fate of Satan and his followers when you are tempted to leave the Lord’s side.
In Isaiah 15–16 we learn that Isaiah also prophesied of the destruction of Moab. “The Lord used [the Moabites] as His chastening rod against Israel. Nevertheless, lest Israel feel that the wickedness of the Moabites was preferred before the Lord, Isaiah revealed the Moabites’ destiny in these two chapters. Isaiah promised that someday the Lord would remember His covenants with Israel and gather them from the world and establish His covenant with them forever, while Moab would receive the sentence of destruction. In this sense Moab was also a symbol for the wicked world, and none of her powerful cities nor her lucrative trade routes nor her prominence among her sister nations would be able to stand in that day, but all would be destroyed” (Old Testament Student Manual: 1 Kings–Malachi, 3rd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2003], 155).
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I have studied Isaiah 10–16 and completed this lesson on (date).
Additional questions, thoughts, and insights I would like to share with my teacher: