Jacob Teaching from Isaiah -- 2 Nephi 8

What Happens

"Jacob continues reading from Isaiah: In the last days, the Lord will comfort Zion and gather Israel—The redeemed will come to Zion amid great joy."
2 Nephi 8 Chapter Heading


Commentary

In our last episode, Jacob was preaching to the people of Nephi, and was reading to them from Isaiah.  This chapter continues that sermon.

The first few verses seem to be referring us back to God and perhaps our ancestors (the rock from whence we are hewn), and reassuring us that God will fulfil his promises.  And as the verses turn forward in time instead of looking back, some of those promises are amazing... gardens instead of deserts, and comfort and joy.  God will be our light and our salvation.

Verse 6 tells us that the "heavens shall vanish away like smoke" and that those that dwell on the earth will die, but that salvation and righteousness will still be around, even if the heavens and the earth are gone or changed.  A good reminder about what matters, and what lasts.

I really like "fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings" in verse 7.  Verse 12 adds that man isn't any more permanent than grass, but we are assured that God's righteousness and salvation are more permanent, and that he "hast feared continually every day" for us.  I'm not sure if God is ever actually "afraid," or if being afraid for us is just another way of saying that he loves us and cares about what we are faced with, but either way, the idea remains that God is actively involved in our lives, and he doesn't stop helping us ever, for even a day.

Verse 16 reminds us that God blesses us to speak his words and that he covers us in the shadow of his hand. ... He protects us, always.  Then Isaiah gets into talking about some things that will happen at the second coming, but his theme is still the same.  Even during the "desolation and destruction" (verse 19) spoken of, God will help us, and save us.  One metaphor here is drinking the cup of God's fury, which ... doesn't sound very appetizing.  He says that he has taken that cup out of the hands of his people, and that he will put it into the hands of those that afflict them, which is a good reminder that we likely want to work on being part of his people, rather than being on the afflicting side. :)

The last verse in this chapter (verse 25) has an interesting phrase in it: "shake thyself from the dust."  That seems to carry the idea of taking action... doing something with our lives.  The verse ends with slavery imagery, I think basically asking us to free ourselves... both from the bondage of sin, but perhaps also the trap of thinking that we can't change.  It is an interesting echo of something that Lehi said to his sons just a few chapters before: "arise from the dust, my sons, and be men."  Isaiah and Lehi, singing the same gospel. :)  Which just means that they were both in tune with God, and a reminder to us about what a good idea that is. :)

Tune in next time as Jacob teaches us more.

Jacob's Sermon Continues -- 2 Nephi 7

What Happens

"Jacob continues reading from Isaiah: Isaiah speaks messianically—The Messiah will have the tongue of the learned—He will give His back to the smiters—He will not be confounded."
2 Nephi 7 Chapter Heading


Commentary

In our last episode, Jacob was preaching to the people of Nephi, and was reading to them from Isaiah.  This chapter continues that sermon.  It is only 11 verses long, but it gets deep right away.

In the first verse God basically asks how he has abandoned us, and says that he hasn't... we have abandoned him.  He is still there, and he still has the power to redeem us.  I really like in verse 4 where Isaiah tells us that "When ye are weary he waketh morning by morning." God is concerned for us, and he keeps his prophets busy, trying to save us.

Verses 7 and 8 remind us that the Lord is trustworthy.  Even when bad things happen to us, we know that the Lord will keep his promises.  I like "Who will contend with me? Let us stand together."  The chapter has a lot of the "if you fight with God, God will win" idea, which of course is a good thing to keep in mind since we too often set our wills against his, which only causes us pain.  This particular phrase though seems softer.  An offer of unity--the idea of let's not fight; let's figure it out together.  God knows more than we do, even about ourselves and our lives.  If we can learn to trust him, instead of harming ourselves by demanding things that we can't and shouldn't have, we can work with God to find ways to satisfy our needs and wants in ways that will help us find some long-term happiness.

Verses 9 and 10 assure us that God will help us.  The question in verse 10 asking who obeys the Lord and walks in darkness is rhetorical.  The answer is no one.  If we walk with God, we will always have light in our lives.

Verse 11 is interesting talking about people who create sparks.  I think that it is paired with verse 10, and really the whole chapter talking about whether we're trusting God or not.  If we try to light our own lives by kindling our own light--tiny sparks that are quickly extinguished--we can only find eventual sorrow.  God's light is as the sun, brightening everything and helping us see clearly.  With him, we never have to walk in darkness, and we will be able to discern the right path.

Some great advice from Jacob, Isaiah, and of course, God.  Tune in next time as Jacob continues reading from Isaiah as part of his sermon.

Jacob's Sermon Begins -- 2 Nephi 6

What Happens

"Jacob recounts Jewish history: The Babylonian captivity and return; the ministry and crucifixion of the Holy One of Israel; the help received from the Gentiles; and the Jews’ latter-day restoration when they believe in the Messiah."
2 Nephi 6 Chapter Heading


Commentary

In our last episode, Nephi made his younger brothers Jacob and Joseph priests and teachers over his people after they split apart.  This seems to be a record of one of Jacob's sermons.

 I'm impressed in verse 3 by the reason that Jacob is doing this.  He is concerned about the welfare of the souls of the people around him.  How often do we really think about one another's souls? :)  Doing so might pull us out of our short-term thinking a little bit, as we go throughout our day thinking about how we can help one another on a spiritual level.

In verse 4 he says "I would speak unto you concerning things which are, and which are to come; wherefore, I will read you the words of Isaiah."  I like this idea of talking about now and about the future... looking forward.  And then he reads from Isaiah, which in some ways seems like the past, right?  But just like we recently read in past chapters, these prophets saw the future, including our day, and so they can help us with thinking ahead as well.

In verse 6 he starts quoting Isaiah, and Isaiah is always good.  Interesting to think about likening it all to us (verse 5) though.  How do these scriptures apply to us?  Jacob gives us one hint in verse 5 as well.  We are of the house of Israel (either by blood or by adoption if we covenant to follow the Lord).  I like the line in verse 7 "they shall not be ashamed that wait for me."  Looking to and waiting on the Lord--trusting him, is never something that we need to be ashamed of, because God is there to back us up and make sure that our trust is not in vain... specifically with reference to the Second Coming, which Isaiah is leading up to here, but also a promise in general, that God will always keep his covenants with us.  It's our side that we have to worry about. :)

Jacob jumps in here and explains how this applies to the people (which is awesome, especially with Isaiah).  The Lord showed him that Jerusalem was sacked, and part of Isaiah's promise here was that it would be restored.  Then he goes back to quoting Isaiah, furthering this idea of restoration.  God's message throughout these verses is that he will deliver his covenant people. 

Isaiah, as always, is many-layered, so I think in talking about his covenant people he means specifically those at Jerusalem (mentioned in verse 8), but also the Gentiles (mentioned in verse 12), so in essence, all of us who "repent and fight not against Zion" (verse 12). He specifically also mentions that "none will he destroy that believe in him" (verse 14), which is a pretty amazing promise, likely specific to this event, but also true in a general, eternal sense.

My favorite part in the last part of this chapter (verse 17) is "I will contend with them that contendeth with thee."  The idea that God will fight our battles for us is an amazing promise.  I think, again, that the meaning here is many layered.  God likely doesn't mean that he will fight all of our battles for us, since we need to learn to handle things as well, but specifically the ones at the Second Coming are included, as are, perhaps, other battles like that... ones where we have done all we can, and only a miracle will do.

I think sometimes we see that in our own lives, where we are the prey (verse 16), because we have broken God's laws.  It would be perfectly just to punish or destroy us, but in repentance, instead, we find God willing to save us even from ourselves.  ... I think that is what the atonement is--Christ willing to fight our battles for us in a spiritual way, just like he will fight this physical one (or at least partly physical) for us at the Second Coming.

The chapter ends with a cool quote: "all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."  I like the idea that eventually everyone will know the Lord.  I also think it is cool that Isaiah was talking about a different Jacob, but that it also applies to the Jacob who is quoting it here, any other Jacob, and really... all of us.  God is our mighty one.  He will save us.

Tune in next time as Jacob reads us more Isaiah. :)  Good stuff.