Category: Scripture Notes

There will come a day when all the sealed words from the gold plates will be revealed to the world but that will not come in a day of wickedness. That being the case it would not surprise me if, when those words are revealed publicly, they are revealed with the gold plates being down…

Did the Jews recognize the significance of the fact that the gentiles would seek the stem of Jesse specifically and not Israel generally? When Isaiah had said that the blessings of the covenant will be carried to and by the gentiles before Israel is gathered again this seeking if the stem of Jesse should be…

I keep having the impression that those who follow the Lord can be effectively identified by how they treat the poor, downtrodden, and oppressed. Not only will they treat them humanely but they will seek to alleviate suffering and will support methods to ease the burdens of their fellows and put an end to systemic…

While fire and battle both cause destruction the difference is that one only comes through volition and effort while the other can be naturally occurring. The battle of the warrior doesn’t happen without some human choice and will stop when the humans stop perpetuating that choice. Fire, by comparison, can start without human action, it…

If the people of Jerusalem want to make tries so that they will be strong the Lord will show them that they and their alliances are weak compared to depending on the Lord for their strength.

I hadn’t realized before that the prophecy to Ahaz came after Jerusalem had succeeded in defending itself from the aggression of Syria and Israel. After that outcome it would be natural for Ahaz to either be proud (like the Nephites after one of their last defenses against the Lamanites) or fearful (afraid that their enemies…

The words of Isaiah concerning the destiny of Babylon hold true of any nation which is lifted up in pride—especially those that have been instrumental in the work of the Lord to move His work forward and chasten His people. All such nations can expect to have their haughtiness and pride pulled down and their…

Isaiah reminds Israel to know the difference between the tool and the person wielding the tool. It is easy to fear the axe which has the capacity to cut down any tree but the prize olive tree has nothing to fear when the lord of the vineyard wields the axe because his intent would obviously…

I can imagine that Isaiah took great comfort in the promise that a tenth would return after he was told to make the heart fat, the ears heavy, and shut the eyes of the people until the land was desolate without inhabitant. That would be a tough assignment.

The story of the vineyard on the hill shows that both the blessings and the punishments of the Lord are intended to draw His children toward Him. He protected the vineyard but when it didn’t produce He tried a different tack by removing the protections so that the trees of the vineyard would have to…