Tag: 2 Nephi

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…

We may assume that the Lord removed capable leaders from the people as a punishment (“the Lord of Hosts, doth take away…The mighty man…the man of war…the judge…the prophet…the prudent…the ancient…”) which is certainly sometimes true but it sounds like the leadership vacuum is mostly caused by those with the capacity to lead refusing to…

It is not common that the Lord invites people to ask for a sign (I’m not sure He invited Gideon to ask but He certainly allowed it) but what does it say about Ahaz that he would not ask? Some might view that as faithful (“I will not tempt the Lord”) but the Lord sounds…