Maybe we're being too confined in our thinking as we seek to understand Isaiah for ourselves. I have personally tried to apply direct and detailed meaning to Isaiah, as have many commentators I have read. I have never sought to see for myself, what Isaiah saw.
I suspect that God would not show me everything Isaiah saw, it is more likely that God would show me, like he showed Nephi, only that which applies to me and to my stewardship. Nephi's details seem to be focused on his family, their experience, needs and influence. What happens to the descendants of Benjamin, or Levi, or Cain are less specifically mentioned and wouldn't be mentioned at all except that The Book of Mormon would one day reach them, convert some of them who would then reach out to Nephi's descendants. I hope to look at Isaiah in a whole new light now that I've observed this. It puts a whole new light on "liken the scriptures" to ourselves, for me. While Isaiah said nothing of Christ's eventual appearance in America, that, by the Gift of the Holy Ghost, is what reading Isaiah produced for Nephi.
I believe that if I fail to have similar experiences to those of Nephi, within the realm of my stewardship, it is because I don't believe.
33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.When I put my name into this verse personal, new and divine meaning reaches into my heart.
2 comments:
Great thoughts....
I struggle through Isaiah and usually rely on anothers interprtation. I do pray over each reading, but not this specifically.
today I 'saw'
verse 26
For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.
Where God is, there is light ,for he is light. He dispels the darkness. As soon as he arrives the dark is filled up, and no longer exists. I'm not saying that God can't exist in darkness, but it is like trying to find dark with a torch. As soon as you aim the light towards it, the dark has fled. I do not think of dark as the opposite of light, but the absence of light.
Alone in my dark bedroom, I often find God. The room doesn't contain actual light, but my soul 'brightens'. (In fact, I almost always pray with my eyes closed....) In actual fact the room may be dark and physical perception is even darker, but there in the dark, I find God.
I love that notion. There is light even in the darkness. Thanks so much for helping me realize that. Especially today.
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