Lesson 38: “Beside Me There Is No Saviour”

Isaiah 40-49

Purpose: To help class members understand that Jesus Christ is incomparable in his devotion to his people and that he has a great work for them to do.

LESSON DEVELOPMENT

1. Isaiah teaches that the Savior is incomparable
2. Isaiah describes the Savior’s incomparable qualities
3. The world (Babylon) competes with the Savior for our devotion
4. Isaiah describes the mission of latter-day Israel

Last week we talked about some passages from the first few chapters of Isaiah. Today we leap ahead to Chapters 40-49. That is not only a major leap through the book of Isaiah, but a long leap forward in time, as well. To help us understand what Isaiah is talking about, I think we need to do a very brief review of the history of Israel.

[Draw timeline on board throughout this discussion.]

You’ll recall that the Kingdom of Israel was first a united country, with kinds like Saul and David and Solomon.

Shortly after the death of Solomon, the kingdom was divided into two smaller kingdoms. The Northern Kingdom, called Israel, with its capital at Samaria, consisted of 10 tribes. The Northern Kingdom was conquered by Assyria in 721 BC; the people were taken away as captives, and never returned. Because their later history was unknown to the writers of the Bible, they are known as the “lost 10 tribes.”

The Southern Kingdom, called Judah, with its capital at Jerusalem, consisted of 2 tribes, plus a scattering of all the tribes who had settled at Jerusalem. After the Assyrians captured the Northern Kingdom, they attacked the Southern Kingdom. That Southern Kingdom was able to resist the attacks with the help of God. The passages of Isaiah that we discussed last week date to this war with the Assyrians.

Over the next 100 years, Israel fought a series of wars with Assyria, and, after Assyria was destroyed, with Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzer of the Babylonians took many Jewish prisoners into Babylon in 606 BC, and continued to fight against Israel until the walls of Jerusalem were torn down and the temple burned in 586 BC, with nearly all of the Israelites carried as captives to Babylon. (We can fit Book of Mormon history into the timeline at this point: Lehi led his family away from Jerusalem as these wars were heating up, before Babylon conquered Jerusalem entirely.)

Almost 70 years later, Babylon was conquered by another kingdom, the new kingdom of the Persians, with Cyrus as its king. Cyrus allows the Jewish prisoners to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their city walls and their temple.

The part of Isaiah that we will be talking about today comes from this period, when Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem.

There are two points about this timeline that sometimes cause trouble for Latter-day Saints. I want to mention them here, not because they are particularly important, but just in case someone, perhaps on the internet, throws these at you. You’ll know that other Latter-day Saints are aware of them, and that there are answers.

First is with Isaiah himself. If he was an adult when he gave the oracles we talked about last week, in about 700 BC, how old would he be when he gave the oracles associated with Judah’s return from captivity in about 520 BC? For this and other, related reasons, Biblical scholars for hundreds of years have concluded that the book of Isaiah was written by at least three prophets, and that it was the second man, sometimes called Second Isaiah, whose words are recorded in the chapters we’re looking at today.

That shouldn’t cause us any problem, really, but there are some Latter-day Saints who insist that Isaiah was all written by one man, and that when Isaiah referred to Persia and Cyrus, he wasn’t talking about events that he witnessed, but was prophesying of something that would happen in the future. That’s okay, too – I don’t think that’s the right understanding of either prophecy or of the book of Isaiah, but that’s okay.

The problem for Latter-day Saints is why some scholars find it necessary to argue that Isaiah was all given by a single prophet. Let’s look at the timeline again. When did Lehi leave Jerusalem? He took with him Laban’s plates of brass, with the Hebrew scriptures recorded on them. If the Brass Plates and their record of Isaiah were absolutely up to date, what is the latest prophecy that could have been recorded on those plates? And yet, Nephi quotes chapters from the book of Isaiah that, according to most Biblical scholars, were written at least 70 years after Nephi took the brass plates from Laban.

This apparent problem is one that anti-Mormons sometimes throw at us, to “prove” that Joseph Smith made up the whole Book of Mormon. This claim does not bother me at all, and maybe it doesn’t bother anyone else in this room. But it can surely sound convincing if you’ve never heard of the problem, and someone throws a one-sided account at you. If you’re interested now, or if someone tries to stump you with this question sometime in the future, be aware that this is something that Latter-day Saint scholars are completely aware of, and have been studying for at least a generation now. The answers are more detailed than we can address in this Sunday School class, but if you need answers, Google terms like Book of Mormon/Isaiah/problem, and look for articles written by the Neal A. Maxwell Institute at BYU, or by FAIRMormon.org. There are answers, and Latter-day Saints do not hesitate to face these questions, no matter what our accusers sometimes say.

So, let’s take a look at some passages from this part of Isaiah, understanding that they refer to a period in Israel’s history when Jerusalem has been conquered, the Jews have been carried away captive into Babylon, and after two or three generations Cyrus, king of the Persians, allows them to go back home and rebuild Jerusalem.

[Do a close reading of as much of Isaiah 48-49 as there is time for. Questions and discussion should focus on:

1. Persuading class members that they can, in fact, understand Isaiah by reading carefully and using easily available helps, such as the footnotes, comparison of Isaiah to quoted chapters in the Book of Mormon, and sources that help “translate” King James English.

2. Understanding that Isaiah is speaking directly to Israel of his day, but that the prophecy can also be understood as referring to latter-day Israel.

3. Turning attention back to the speaker of these chapters; i.e., recognizing that Jesus is the Messiah by whom these chapters are spoken, and identifying how he feels toward us and what he expects us to do.]

Isaiah 48

1 Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.

Isaiah, speaking as the Lord, is addressing whom? Israel of Isaiah’s day, or us, or both? What are the “waters of Judah”?

1 Nephi 20:1 Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism …<?em>

This draws attention to their noble heritage – but it is entirely positive? Is there ever any hint of the same hypocrisy in our own claiming of our noble heritage? i.e., do we make that claim a living thing, and do it in righteousness?

2 For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name.

They claim to be [“stay themselves”] the people of God.

3 I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.

4 Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

What is a more common scriptural label for “neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass”? [stiff-necked] What does that mean?

5 I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.

What is at least one purpose of prophecy? [To forestall claims that idols, prayed to in times of emergency, are responsible for the good that God does for Israel.] What are some modern-day “idols” to which we might give credit for success?

6 Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.

Do we remember to “declare” the things of the past, when the Lord has kept his promises?

How can that last sentence be understood as continuing revelation?

7 They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.

What does Isaiah/the Lord say is one reason for speaking anew? Is continuing revelation always a reward for righteousness? – what do these verses suggest in that regard?

8 Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.

9 ¶For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.

10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

The image of refining silver and gold is used multiple times in the Old Testament. Let’s talk about this symbol for a minute … [Include definition of “dross” and how sometimes the refining process results in pollution of the silver rather than in refining it.] Does this analogy seem to apply to trials in peoples’ lives today, especially with challenges relating to spiritual and ecclesiastical matters?

11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.

We hear so very often that we are children of God, that he is our Father, that he loves us, that he will bless and save us, that he will bless and reward us for righteousness, and so on. Perhaps we subconsciously have the idea from all this that our creation, our lives, our destiny is the most important thing in creation. What do verses like this suggest about our relative importance with God’s in the universe?

12 ¶Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

God is first and last – what does that mean? Where, then, is our place?

13 Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.

14 All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? The Lord hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.

15 I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.

Who is the Lord’s “called” one (ones)? Can we be among the called?

In Isaiah’s day, “Babylon” and “the Chaldeans” referred to specific enemies of Israel. What might they symbolize in our own outlook? What does it mean for the Lord’s chosen ones to “do their pleasure” on Babylon or put their “arm” on the Chaldeans?

16 ¶Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.

Has the Lord been silent, or kept his plans quiet?

17 Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

19 Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.

In Isaiah’s day, how great was the contrast between their captivity in Babylon and the vision the Lord had for them? Is there any counterpart in our day? That is, what can you imagine our situation might be had we always followed the Lord’s direction, compared to where we are now?

20 ¶Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob.

The Lord called forth the surviving children of Israel out of Babylon, and Cyrus, king of the Persians, assisted in their going out of captivity and returning to Jerusalem.

What forms of captivity does the Lord call us to flee today?

21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.

What event does this recall? How is it relevant to the Israelites’ flight from Babylon? to our leaving behind evils in order to live more nearly by the word of God?

22 There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.

Isaiah 49

1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

We claim to be latter-day Israel, so these verses ought to describe us. How universal is our call to be servants of God? How universal is our mission? Let’s look at the images in verse 2 – what do they mean? how do they refer to Israel’s mission in the world?

4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.

To Israel of Isaiah’s day, in captivity, their temple destroyed and their holy city torn down, it must have seemed that all their work, all the suffering of the people and the teaching of the prophets, had come to nothing. Are there times when latter-day Israel might reasonably feel the same way? What if, in future days, due to world conditions, missions had to be closed and some temples passed out of our hands – can you imagine that we might feel this verse was applicable?

But reading on, we see that the Lord promises Israel, even in the extremes of captivity and loss, Israel will still have the power to bring about the will of God:

5 ¶And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.

6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

7 Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

8 Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.

10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.

12 Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.

13 ¶Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

This is a glorious image for the future of Israel – but Isaiah says that Israel will hesitate to believe it:

14 But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.

The Lord responds:

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

17 Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.

18 ¶Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.

19 For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.

20 The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.

Over and over, the Lord has to reassure doubting Israel of the love of God:

21 Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?

22 Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

24 ¶Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?

25 But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

26 And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

Conclusion

[Summarize, according to whatever way the lesson has gone, selecting bits of discussion that reinforce our ability to read and understand the Old Testament, our place as modern-day Israel in the Lord’s plan for the world, and the role of Jesus Christ as the Messiah who, as outlined in these chapters of Isaiah, will redeem Israel.]