Old Testament - Isaiah 13 & 14 - September 12, 2002

 9/12/2022 – Isaiah 13-14

The first verse of chapter 13 tells us of “the burden of Babylon” (a prophet message about).  It was once a mighty kingdom with a powerful ruler, it is now to be destroyed.  In v 11 the Lord explains the reason for Babylon’s upcoming destruction: “And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity: and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.”  Babylon has now become a symbol of pride, worldliness, and sin.  Not only shall it be destroyed, but “it shall never be inhabited neither shall it be dwelt in form generation to generation; neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. But the wild beasts of the desert shall lie there.” (v 20).  The student manual explains that Isaiah’s prophesies of the destruction of Babylon can be seen as a type or similitude of the destruction of the wicked that will take place at the Second Coming of the Savior.

Chapter 14’s synopsis: “Israel shall be gathered and enjoy millennial rest; Lucifer cast out of heaven for rebellion; Israel shall triumph over Babylon (the world). 

In the first verse the Lord promises His people that “the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land”. At this point in time, Israel has been going through difficult times as they try again and again to follow the Lord’s commandment, but then they seem to fall short. In v 3 He gives them hope for a different future: “And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.” 

Then Isaiah goes on to tells us what it will be like when the Lord comes again, and at that time He will be merciful to His people and give them rest. “The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.” (V 7). And “all the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.” (V18.) It is at that time that Lucifer will certainly see that the Lord’s way will prevail, and Lucifer will not inherit the earth, but will be “brought down to hell” (v15) and will no longer be able to exert his power upon the Lord’s children.

Isaiah’s warnings to Babylon are similar to the prophecies we have about the world prior to the Savior’s Second Coming.  Once again: “And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.” 

Tad Callister wrote in The Infinite Atonement: “Isaiah spoke repeatedly of the Lord’s healing, calming influence His spirit heals, it refines; it comforts; it breathes new life into hopeless hearts. It has the power to transform all that is ugly and vicious and worthless in life to something of supreme and glorious splendor. He has the power to convert the ashes of mortality to the beauties of eternity.”


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 6:24-52 - January 19, 2022

 1/19/2022 – Moses 6:24-52 The Old Testament tells us just a little about Enoch, but the Book of Moses greatly increases our understanding of his life, his ministry and his teachings. Enoch was the seventh generation from Adam. In those seven generations, many had left the teachings of the Lord. It was when Enoch “journeyed in the land among the people” (v 26) that “He heard a voice from heaven, saying, Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people, and say unto them—Repent, for thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off.” (v 27). I read this and I feel the warning to us that we are not to rely only on our ‘earthly vision’. The Lords rewards are not always immediate. But if we keep the commandments, keeping our eyes focused on the ultimate reward that the Lord holds in store for us, THEN we will be able to “see afar off”.  In v...
Read more

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 7:16-47 - January 29, 2022

  1/29/2022 - Moses 7:16-47 I didn’t realize I was repeating Moses 6 until I was finished with it the 2nd time. But what was beautiful to me is that studying the same scriptures a second time simply brought more thoughts and understanding and desires to be sure to return to my Father in Heaven….to finish my earthly life with the same goals that I started it. I LOVE studying the scriptures! There were now so many people on earth who had chosen not to follow the ways of the Lord. V 16: And from that time forth there were wars and bloodshed among them; but the Lord came and dwelt with his people, and they dwelt in righteousness.”  V 18: “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.” V 19: “And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.”  Zion was est...
Read more

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 6:40-56 - January 27, 2022

 1/27/2022 – Moses 6:40-59 [I’m still in Moses 6—haven’t figure out I’m reading this again) Enoch has seen and spoken with the Lord, and he follows the Lord’s instructions no matter what they entail.  President Monson once said: “It’s not enough to wish, it’s not enough to dream, it’s not enough to promise. We must do.”  And that’s just what Enoch did! He is going into areas where there is much evil. When the people there ask about him, he tells simply and honestly: “I came out of the land of Cainan, the land of my fathers, a land of righteousness unto this day. And my father taught me all the ways of God.” (v 41) Enoch answers their questions, he teaches them many things about God, but he keeps the profound spiritual things the Lord has revealed unto him to himself. The people he is teaching, are not ready to receive a higher law or standard. In v 46 Enoch tells them that his people keep a “book of remembrance” that they have written, according to the pattern given by th...
Read more