Lesson 123:
Isaiah 30–35
Introduction
Instead of
depending on the Lord, the people of Judah sought help from Egypt to defend
themselves against Assyria. Isaiah prophesied that the people of Judah would be
scattered because of their rebellion. He also prophesied concerning the
Apostasy, the Restoration, and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah testified that the Lord
would come to save His people.
---Invite
students to think about somebody they know who cheerfully obeys all 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?
---Invite
students as they study Isaiah 30–31 to look for a principle that
helps them understand what can happen if we 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.
---Read Isaiah 30:1–3, 7 aloud looking for how the people
of Judah rebelled against the Lord when they were under threat of attack.
---How did the people rebel against the Lord?
---Why do you think forming an alliance with
Egypt would have been considered rebellion against the Lord?
---According to verse 7, what did Isaiah say would
happen if the people of Judah sought help from the Egyptians?
---Point out
the phrase “their strength is to sit still” in verse 7, and explain that this phrase
means that the Jews would have received the strength they needed by depending
on the Lord.
---Explain
that Isaiah 30:8 records the Lord’s commandment
to Isaiah to write in a book the Lord’s words regarding the people’s rebellion.
Invite a student to read Isaiah 30:9–11 aloud. Ask the class to follow
along, looking for what the Lord commanded Isaiah to write. Explain that the
phrase “smooth things” in verse 10 refers to false doctrine and
flattering words.
---In what additional ways were the people
being rebellious?
---Invite a
student to read aloud the following statement by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Ask the class to listen for how Elder
Holland likened the people of our day to the people in Isaiah’s day.
“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” (“The Cost—and
Blessings—of Discipleship,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 7).
According to
Elder Holland, how are some people of our day like the people of Isaiah’s day?
---Explain
that a breach is a fracture or an opening in a wall. In Isaiah’s day people
often built walls to protect themselves from their enemies.
---What happens structurally to a wall when
it has a fracture or a crack? (It is weakened.)
---Why is a crack or fracture in a wall an
appropriate metaphor for sin?
---Based on this metaphor, 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.)
---In what ways are we weakened when we reject
the words of the prophets?
---Invite
students to think about how they have seen people rebel against God by
rejecting the words of the prophets.
---Based on verse 14, what will happen to those who
continue to reject the words of the prophets? (After students respond, add the
following words to the principle on the board: … and if we continue to reject
the words of the prophets, we will suffer spiritual destruction.)
---Point out
that sometimes negative consequences do not immediately follow sin. In some
cases, these consequences may not come until the next life.
---Read Isaiah 30:15 aloud and look for what the Lord
promised the people if they repented and depended on Him for protection.
---What did the Lord promise the people if
they repented and depended on Him for protection?
---Summarize
the rest of Isaiah 30 by explaining that the people of
Judah refused to repent. Isaiah prophesied that they would be defeated by the
Assyrians. He also prophesied that Israel would be gathered in the latter days
and would be blessed both temporally and spiritually. Isaiah 31 records that the Lord reproved
Israel for depending on Egypt for help instead of relying on Him for divine
protection and assistance. The chapter also contains a comforting prophecy that
in the last days the Lord will defend the righteous inhabitants of Zion.
---Write the
following questions on the board:
If I were to stand in God’s
presence, would I feel worthy to be in His presence? Why or why not?
---Ask
students to ponder how they would answer these questions.
---Invite
students as they study Isaiah 32–34 to look for a principle that
teaches us what we can do to be worthy to dwell in the presence of God.
---Summarize
Isaiah 32 by explaining that Isaiah
prophesied of the Restoration of the gospel and the Millennial reign of the
Savior. Isaiah 33:1–9 records that Isaiah prophesied
of the wickedness of the world before the Savior’s Second Coming.
---Invite students to report what they find.
---Explain
that the phrase “shall they be burned in the fire” in verse 12 means that the wicked will be
destroyed by the brightness of the glory of the Savior when He comes again (see
D&C 5:19).
---Invite a
student to read the first sentence of Isaiah 33:14 aloud. Point out that Isaiah is
talking about the “sinners in Zion,” meaning certain members of the Church.
---How will these people react to the
Savior’s Second Coming?
---What do you think those questions mean?
---Explain
that Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
explained that these questions are asking who will be worthy to inherit the
celestial kingdom (see “Think on These
Things,” Ensign,
Jan. 1974, 47).
---Invite
students to read Isaiah 33:15–16 silently, looking for who will
be worthy to receive eternal life.
---According to verse 15, what will we need to do in
order to be worthy to receive eternal life? (List students’ responses on the board.)
---To help
students understand verse 15, ask them to explain what each
of the responses listed on the board might mean and how we can live those
standards in our day.
---Based on verses 15–16, what principle can we learn
about being worthy to dwell in the presence of God? (Students should identify
something similar to the following principle: If we walk righteously, speak
uprightly, and do not participate in evil, we will be worthy to dwell in the
presence of God.)
---Help
students understand this principle by explaining that as we walk righteously,
speak uprightly, and do not participate in evil, we become more like God. As we
strive to become more like God every day, we become worthy to return to His
presence.
---Invite
students to look at the responses written on the board, and ask them to
consider what they need to do to become more like God so they will be worthy to
dwell in His presence.
---Invite
them to select one of the items listed on the board and write in their class
notebooks or scripture study journals a goal for how to improve in that area.
---Summarize
Isaiah 33:17–24 by explaining that Isaiah
prophesied of the Millennial glory of Zion. Explain that Isaiah 34 contains Isaiah’s prophecies of
the Lord’s Second Coming and the destruction of the wicked.
---Invite
students to imagine that a family member or friend is tired of trying to be
righteous. Ask students what they would do to help that individual.
---Invite
students to look for a principle as they study Isaiah 35 that can help them know how to
help that family member or friend.
---What does it mean to “strengthen … the
weak hands” and “confirm the feeble knees”? (Isaiah 35:3). (Strengthen the faith of those
who are exhausted, discouraged, or fearful.)
---What principle can we learn 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?
---Invite
students to share about a time when they received strength because of someone
else’s testimony.
---Challenge
them to strengthen the faith of the people around them by sharing their
testimonies.
---Summarize
Isaiah 35:7–10 by explaining that Isaiah
prophesied of the great blessings that will come to the faithful in the latter
days.
Commentary and Background
Information
Isaiah
30–31. Contextual background
“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 explained the following:
“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” (“Fourteen
Fundamentals in Following the Prophet” [Brigham Young University devotional,
Feb. 26, 1980], 28; speeches.byu.edu).
Isaiah
33:14–15. “Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that the phrase “dwell
with everlasting burnings” refers to the environment in which God lives (see
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 224).
Elder
Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles quoted Isaiah 33:14–16 and then described how we can
apply Isaiah’s words:
“Now if I
may, I shall take these words of Isaiah, spoken by the power of the Holy Ghost in the first instance, and give
some indication as to how they apply to us and our circumstances.
“First, ‘He
that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly.’ That is, building on the
atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must keep the commandments.
We must speak the truth and work the works of righteousness. We shall be judged
by our thoughts, our words and our deeds.
“Second,
‘… he that despiseth the gain of oppressions.’ That is, we must act with
equity and justice toward our fellowmen. It is the Lord himself who said that
he, at the day of his coming, will be a swift witness against those that
oppress the hireling in his wages.
“Third,
‘… he that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes.’ That is, we must
reject every effort to buy influence, and instead deal fairly and impartially
with our fellowmen. God is no respecter of persons. He esteemeth all flesh alike;
and those only who keep his commandments find special favor with him. Salvation
is free; it cannot be purchased with money; and those only are saved who abide
the law upon which its receipt is predicated. Bribery is of the world.
“Fourth, he
‘… that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes
from seeing evil.’ That is, we must not center our attention on evil and
wickedness. We must cease to find fault and look for good in government and in
the world. We must take an affirmative, wholesome approach to all things” (“Think on These
Things,” Ensign,
Jan. 1974, 55–56).
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).
Right margin extras:
PowerPoint:
Old Testament lesson 123—Isaiah 30–35
The Cost—and
Blessings—of Discipleship (1:04)
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles warns about apathetic attitudes toward God that exist today. Instead of having a student read Elder Holland’s statement, you might show this video from time codes 8:08 to 9:12.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles warns about apathetic attitudes toward God that exist today. Instead of having a student read Elder Holland’s statement, you might show this video from time codes 8:08 to 9:12.
The Lord’s
Work Moves Forward with Each of Us (1:16)
Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles challenges members to strengthen others by sharing their testimony. Consider showing this video to help students feel the importance of sharing their testimony with others.
Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles challenges members to strengthen others by sharing their testimony. Consider showing this video to help students feel the importance of sharing their testimony with others.
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], 1).
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