“Lesson 126: Isaiah 30–41,” Old Testament Seminary Student Material (2018)
“Lesson 126: Isaiah 30–41”
Lesson 126
Isaiah 30–41
Prepare to Learn
Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Be ready to take notes and to mark scriptures to help you record personal insights and lessons you learn.
Begin your study with prayer.
When we are faced with trials, we can choose whether or not we will trust in the Lord.
Consider what Elder Richard G. Scott (1928–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said about why we can trust in the Lord completely.
The Rebellious People of Judah
What can happen if we refuse to follow the prophets?
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.
Through His prophet Isaiah, the Lord called the people “rebellious children” who ignored the Lord’s counsel and preferred to rely on “the strength of Pharaoh” (Isaiah 30:1–2). The Lord warned that Egypt would not protect them (see Isaiah 30:3–7). The Lord also commanded Isaiah to record His words regarding the people’s rebellion (see Isaiah 30:7–8).
Read Isaiah 30:8–11, looking for what the Lord commanded Isaiah to write about the people. The phrase “smooth things” in verse 10 can refer to easy things or actions that do not require much of the listener.
How would you describe the people’s attitude toward the prophets?
A Crack in the Wall
Read Isaiah 30:12–14, looking for what Judah’s actions would lead to. The word breach in verse 13 means a fracture or crack in a wall.
Quiz 1
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According to verse 13, Isaiah compared a breach to the people’s
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faithfulness.
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humility.
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iniquity.
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When a wall has a breach, or crack, it
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is strengthened and will remain standing.
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is weakened and will fall.
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will not be affected at all.
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According to verses 12–13, what did Isaiah say the people were doing that was like creating a breach in a wall? Select all that apply.
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They were persecuting each other.
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They were rebelling against the Lord.
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They were rejecting the prophets.
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They were keeping the Sabbath day holy.
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According to verses 13–14, what did Isaiah say would happen if Judah continued to rebel against the Lord and His prophets? Select all that apply.
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All of Judah would be destroyed.
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Judah would become weak.
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Judah would suffer spiritual destruction.
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The Lord would forget Judah.
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Consequences of Rejecting the Prophets
We can identify the following principles from Isaiah 30:12–14: If we rebel against God by rejecting the words of the prophets, then we will be weakened. If we continue to reject the words of the prophets, we will suffer spiritually.
Just as a breached wall’s “breaking cometh suddenly” (Isaiah 30:13), we may not know when negative consequences will follow sin. In some cases, these consequences may not come until the next life.
What are some things you can do personally to avoid this breach coming into your life and affecting your testimony?
Prophecies of the Latter Days
The rest of Isaiah 30 and Isaiah 31 explain that although the Lord invited the people to repent, the people refused. Isaiah rebuked the people for not relying on the Lord for divine protection and assistance. Isaiah 31 also contains a comforting prophecy that in the last days the Lord will defend the righteous inhabitants of Zion.
Even though the people of Judah rejected his words, Isaiah continued to fulfill his role as a prophet. As recorded in Isaiah 32–34, the Lord revealed through Isaiah some of the events to come in the latter days. Isaiah prophesied of the Restoration of the gospel and of the Millennial reign of the Savior, when His “people shall dwell in peaceful habitation” (Isaiah 32:18). Isaiah also described the Savior’s Second Coming, when the wicked would “be burned in the fire” (Isaiah 33:12) of “the day of the Lord’s vengeance” (Isaiah 34:8).
Isaiah 35 contains Isaiah’s prophecies of the latter-day gathering of Israel. As you study this chapter, look for a principle about strengthening the faith of others.
The Lord’s Command
Think of a time when another person’s testimony has blessed your life.
Read Isaiah 35:3–6, looking for what the Lord commanded His followers to say to strengthen the faith of others.
What principle can we identify from these verses?
An Invitation to “Strengthen … the Weak Hands”
From Isaiah 35:3–6 we can identify the principle that as we testify that the Lord will come to save and heal us, we can strengthen the faith of others.
The phrase “strengthen … the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees” (verse 3) means to strengthen the faith of those who are exhausted, discouraged, doubting, or fearful.
1. Answer one of the following questions:
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How can bearing your testimony of the Lord help strengthen the faith of others?
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When have you received strength because of someone else’s testimony?
King Hezekiah
During the reign of King Hezekiah, the kingdom of Judah continued to be threatened by the Assyrians.
The Assyrian army was marching toward Jerusalem and threatening its inhabitants with destruction. Hezekiah and the people of Judah hearkened to Isaiah’s counsel to not surrender to the Assyrians and instead prayed that the Lord would save them. The Lord defended the city, and a large part of the Assyrian army was destroyed by an angel in one night (see Isaiah 37:33–36).
Later, when Hezekiah became very ill, he pleaded with the Lord, and miraculously, Hezekiah lived for 15 more years. In these fearful situations, Hezekiah and his people listened to the prophet, prayed, and trusted in the Lord, which allowed the Lord to save them.
According to Isaiah 39, after Hezekiah recovered from his illness, messengers brought letters and gifts from Babylon. Hezekiah showed the messengers the wealth of Judah’s treasuries and armory. When Isaiah learned that Hezekiah had done this, Isaiah prophesied that Hezekiah’s descendants and Judah’s riches would one day “be carried to Babylon: [and] nothing [would] be left” (verse 6).
Read Isaiah 40:1–2, looking for what Isaiah said to the people after he prophesied that they would be conquered by the Babylonians.
The Savior’s Flock
How might the promises recorded in Isaiah 40:2 have been comforting to the people? The word warfare means time of service. The phrase “hath received of the Lord’s hand a double portion for all her sins” means that the Lord has punished Jerusalem twice as much for all her sins.
As recorded in the remainder of Isaiah 40 and in Isaiah 41, Isaiah continued to share words of comfort with Judah by teaching about the Lord.
Read Isaiah 40:10–11, 28–31, looking for words and phrases that were meant to comfort the Jews. Consider marking them in your scriptures. In verse 10, hand and arm represent the Lord’s power; in verse 29, those who are “faint” are weak or weary; in verse 31, to wait upon the Lord means to have hope in Him and be faithful to Him.
What principles can you identify from the words and phrases you found?
Strength from the Lord
You may have identified the following principles from Isaiah 40:10–11, 28–31: The Lord will care for His flock. The Lord will strengthen those who wait upon Him.
Elder Robert D. Hales (1932–2017) explained what it means to wait upon the Lord. You can read the text of this video here: “Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 72.
The Savior’s “flock” mentioned in Isaiah 40:11 includes members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are striving to follow the Savior and keep His commandments (see Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Perfect Love Casteth Out All Fear,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 106).
2. Answer the following questions:
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When have you felt the Lord sustain you during times of adversity? How has trusting in the Lord strengthened you?
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What is one thing you can do this week to increase your hope and trust in the Savior, Jesus Christ?
Words of Comfort
Read Isaiah 41:9–14, 17. In verse 11, incensed means angry, confounded means humiliated, and strive means contend. The word worm in verse 14 refers to someone who is meek and humble. As you did earlier, look for words and phrases in these verses that were intended to comfort the Jews. Consider marking them in your scriptures.
What principle can you identify from these verses?
No Need to Fear
The following principle can be identified from Isaiah 41:9–14, 17: When the Lord is with us, we need not fear.
You can know that the Savior is with you when you feel the Holy Ghost’s companionship and influence (see Susan W. Tanner, “Stand as a Witness,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 114).
3. Answer two of the following questions:
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How can knowing that the Lord is with you comfort you when you are worried or afraid?
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When has having the Lord with you helped you to overcome difficulty, doubts, or fear?
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How will understanding this principle help you go forward and face your challenges with faith in Him?
“How Firm a Foundation”
Think about a trial right now that you are currently facing and would like the Lord’s help with.
Watch this priesthood choir and congregation sing the hymn “How Firm a Foundation” (Hymns, no. 85). Follow the lyrics of the hymn in the hymnbook and take note of phrases that impact you. This video can be found on LDS.org.
Answer Key
Quiz 1: (1) c; (2) b; (3) b, c; (4) b, c