Old Testament - Isaiah 40 & 41 - September 19, 2022

 9/19/2022 – Isaiah 40-41

Chapter 40: Prior to chapter 40, Isaiah had prophesied that the people of Judah would be conquered by the Babylonians—so the purpose of Isaiah in this chapter was to comfort the Lord’s people. Isaiah did this by prophesying of the coming of Jesus Christ. Christ’s coming would occur long after these people were dead, but reminding the people of the greatness of the Lord and of His love for them and of His commandments will would bring them closer to the Lord—and that makes all the difference in our individual lives. Isaiah reminds his people—and us—that Christ “shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” (v11)  

Isaiah goes on to remind them of the great love and power that our Heavenly Father has for us, and will give to us: “Have ye not known? Have ye not heart? Hath it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?” (v21) And then in v 26, Isaiah tells them what will bring them the most help: “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things…by the greatness of his might…”. 

He then continues on in v’s 8-29 helping the people to understand that the Lord is always there—in the best of times and in the worst of times: “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” Isaiah so wants them to understand God’s incomparable power and great concern for each of us: His children.

Isaiah continues to help them find the strength of the Lord. He promises them that if they do the Lord’s work, they shall be sustained…in fact “ye shall be increased”!.  V 31: And “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” 

The principle here is that the Lord strengthens those who trust in Him.

Chapter 41: In this chapter, Isaiah continues his efforts to help the people to truly understand the Lord’s desire to help them and strengthen them, and this will happen as they put their trust in Him. 

In v 6, Isaiah continues to teach: yes, we need to come unto Christ, but we also need to be thinking about those around us. Isaiah explains: “They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.”

He’s telling us all that if we put our trust in Him and His commandments, then we will be creating a firm foundation on which to build our lives. I love the hymn How Firm A Foundation. It is always sung with vigor, and it always lifts me up! V 10 IS How Firm A Foundation: “Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dismayed: for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

V 13: “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”  As we read this, we know that the people of that time had difficult times ahead of them. The Lord has told us of our generations that we surely have difficult times ahead of us. These truths that were told to the Israelites, will still work for us.

In v 17 the Lord explains that He is always there for us if we but ask Him, and then Isaiah gives us examples: “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faitheth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.” And then he goes on to explain just how the Lord will help in those harsh days. Then in v 22 He tells us to ponder these things the Lord has spoken about, focusing on His promises and His power.

Once again, the Lord is pleading with us to place our trust in Him, for then we need not fear. 


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