This is the beginning to two great sections.
44:24- ch.48  is our temporal deliverance / salvation
49-53 is our spiritual salvation

(A1) Cyrus: Rebuild Zion (44:24-28)

(A2) Cyrus: Irresistible Conqueror (45:1-8)

(B1) Israel: Despite complaints, Lord asserts his right to rule, has Cyrus as builder (45:9-13)

(B2) Israel still at center of Lord’s plans (45:14-25)

(B1′) Israel: Despite complaints, Lord asserts his constant care, Cyrus as Savior (46)

(A2′) Babylon: Conquered  (47)

(A1′) Babylon: Captives Liberated  (48)

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At first glance, this is a generic screed against idol worship. But the points he makes are deeper than you might initially realize. Every point he makes applies every bit as much to us as it did to people making idols from stones and stumps. If anything, it applies to us even more.

So, as you read this section, think about how this would apply to us.

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More Isaiah for the interested student!

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The previous section was the Gospel to the House of Israel.
This section is the Gospel to the Gentiles.
We also get to look at the first of the four Servant Songs.
But what I think is interesting is the identity of the Servant… there is more depth there than I originally supposed.

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After a lengthy delay, we return with more Isaiah!

As I mentioned in the previous post, chapters 40 & 41:1-20 are the gospel proclaimed, to Israel. In the next post, this will be extended to the Gentiles. But this has more depth than you might guess at first glance. The central part of this chiasmus askes the question, Do you really understand, or believe the Doctrine of the Creation? Then we look at future events (it would have been future events for the people of Isaiah’s time) and ask, Do you still believe God is in control? Let’s look at this in more detail.

Three Voices of Comfort (40:1-11)
* The Voice of him that crieth in the wilderness  (40:3-5)
* What shall I cry? All flesh is grass (40:6-8)
* O Zion that bringeth good tidings… say unto the cities of Judah, Behold! Your God!  (40:9-11)

The Lord is a Creator, who rules his Creation (40:12-31)
The Lord is the Ruler of history and of the world  (41:1-7)

Three Examples of Comfort (41:8-20)
* I will help thee (41:8-13)
* From worm to harvesting mountains (41:14-16)
* Needy sustained in the desert (41:17-20)

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The Servant Songs are well known passages in Isaiah in the middle third of the book (so called Second Isaiah). In Isaiah the Prophet, by J Alec Motyer, (perhaps the best book on Isaiah), he points out there are corresponding songs – poetic testimonies – in the latter third of the book (Third Isaiah). But that strongly suggests there should be corresponding songs/testimonies in the first third of the book (First Isaiah), following the Temporal/Spiritual/Synthesis pattern I have shown previously.

Please take a moment and read each of these. There is a reason Isaiah is called the 5th Gospel.

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In the chapters up until now, we have seen what was wrong with Jerusalem and all Israel and how God transformed them.

And in particular, we have seen the our enemy defeated. But were they the real enemy, or just an interim opponent, a temporary terror? But if Assyria is not the real enemy, who is? We did see in the text thus far, indications that the Lord has great plans for the latter-day Assyria. And like us, it will not be without pain. (more…)

Here, we are closing out the first section of Isaiah. The emphasis has been on Temporal Salvation, and the Messiah as the King of Jerusalem and all Israel. The primary antagonist and geo-political foe, was Assyria, even as the Prophet rebukes the Lord’s own people. But here we are at the end. The wicked have been destroyed, or carried away, and the Assyrian armies advance on Jerusalem itself.

But in spite of the fact the Lord called Assyria to punish the wicked, the Lord Jehovah, Jesus Christ, is the King of Jerusalem. And when Sennacherib challenges the Jerusalem, the Lord shows that he, indeed, is the actual king. Thus, this historical interlude is not placed at random. It is the capstone and the historical realization of everything before it. It is the Lord demonstrating his divine patience and ultimately, his power.

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These chapters end the current section (28-35) of the text.

The corresponding chapter (29:15-24) ends with the world turned upside down, as if Isaiah wanted to end with, “Cats and Dogs living together! Mass Hysteria!” And that is what we see here. But instead of cats and dogs, we see righteousness exalted and victorious, and the sinner sinking into destruction and ruin. The theme here and 29:15-24 is Transformation, both of Israel and of the World.

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These chapters are parallel with chapter 29, including the verse about ‘a marvelous work and a wonder’. Like Ch. 29, this shows that the Lord’s plans are unaffected by invaders, and that the Lord always has the last word. (31:1-8) The theme of ch. 29 is the need for and the work of divine transformation, the “Marvelous Work and a Wonder”, which is the doctrinal / spiritual perspective. Ch. 31-32 discuss the work of divine transformation from a temporal perspective.

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The Prophet Nephi applied this chapter to the Book of Mormon, and that is it’s best and most significant fulfillment. But I would also suggest a wider interpretation also. This chapter is about rediscovering the scriptures (v. 1-14), and how the Holy Scriptures will transform the world (v. 15-24).

Nephi expands on this chapter, in 2nd Nephi 27, but I will leave that alone for now. But this is important for understanding. I used the Book of Mormon text and JST here, with textual clarifications. Nephi’s recording should be used with caution, because his explanation is clearly interpolating. What he says is true and important, but not all of it is the original text.

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The previous section (ch. 13—27) was about the Fall of Babylon. But that is only important insomuch as there is something to replace it. Otherwise, Babylon would reestablish itself in short order.

This section is about how God will establish Zion and in particular, how the Word of God will transform the world. If I summarized this next section (28-35), it would be with this quote from Spencer W Kimball

“I am convinced that each of us, at some time in our lives, must discover the scriptures for ourselves—and not just discover them once, but rediscover them again and again.” 
How Rare a Possession – The Scriptures! The Ensign Sept. 1976, 2, 4

And not merely learn the scriptures, but how they will transform society, individually and collectively. We must rediscover the power in the Word of God. Chapter 29 is attributed to the Book of Mormon, and this is true, but I wonder if it is broader than that. I suspect that when the Ten Tribes Return, they will see this as applicable to themselves as well.

Chapters 28 & 29 are the Doctrine and we see the Application in chapters 30-35.

Word of God Rejected, yet Taught: Doctrine (28), Application (30)

A Marvelous Work & a Wonder: Doctrine (29:1-14), Application (31-32)

Society Transformed: Doctrine (29:15-24), Application (33-35)

This part discusses a Strong City, as opposed fallen Babylon. This strong city is Zion.

Of course, this isn’t a particular geographical city, but the victory of the Kingdom of God, over the Church of the Devil, or the ways of the World.

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The corresponding part of the chiasmus covering chapters 24-27 involves the destruction of Babylon. In contrast, this is about gathering and nurturing Zion. Zion is the garden that God nurtures.

A God’s victory in Heaven, the Great Sword (v. 1)

B The Lord’s vineyard, destined to fill the world (v. 2-6)

C The Lord’s dealings with his people (v. 7-11)

B The Lord’s harvest, gathered from all the world (v. 12)

A God call on earth, the Great Trumpet (v. 13)

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This chapter is the center, or focus of the chiasmus covering chapters 24-27. It discusses the Second Coming, referring to it as a Feast. This chapter also is paraphrased in D&C 58:8-11, which ties this feast to also the Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matt 22:2-14, Luke 14:16-24).

The most important part of the structure here is:

Praise: Individual praise for Temporal salvation (v. 1-5)

Feast: God’s Richest Blessings (v. 6-8)

Praise: Communal Praise for Spiritual Salvation (v. 9-12)

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