By
Isaiah’s time, Israel, a chosen nation of God had sunk into such spiritually
depraved condition that Isaiah referred to them as Sodom and Gomorrah (Isaiah
1:10). Their hypocritical performances of the Mosaic offerings and feasts was a
clear indication of their superficial form of worship devoid of repentance
(1:11).
As
per Jehovah’s inexhaustible mercy, the following hope was issued to Israel that
they can still remain chosen:
“Come
now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they
shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
Even
though this beautiful promise can be applied to individual members of Israel,
it was originally issued to Israel as a nation: “No matter how many prophets
the Lord sent to Israel and Judah, the how many times he pleaded with them, all
through their history they were rebellious. Here we find a promise that if they
would return to the Lord, their past sins would be forgotten, and he would
again receive them as his people and bless them abundantly, and they should
continue to be his covenant people.” (President Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers
to Gospel Questions, 2:180)
The
House of Israel has had a treacherous past but its destiny remains. This
destiny is centred on the Millenial Day when “out of Zion shall go forth the
law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (2:3).
“Jerusalem
shall be the gathering place of Judah and his fellow of the house of Israel,
and Zion shall be the gathering place of Ephraim and his fellows, upon whose
heads shall be conferred ‘the richer blessings’. These two cities, one in the
land of Zion [America] and one in Palestine, are to become capitals for the
kingdom of God during the Millennium (Old Testament Student Manual 1 Kings
– Malachi p 139). In other words, the House of Israel will be the theocratic governing
body of the world with Christ as its head during the Millenium age.
In
chapter 2 of his book, Isaiah summarized the basic spiritual problems that
troubled Israel in his day and made this a dualistic prophecy applicable to the
last days before the Second Coming:
·
Verse
6: Ancient Israel looked to the religious philosophies and the gods of the
Assyrians and other heathen countries for power and for sustenance. Today
people look to may other religions and philosophies of men for wisdom and
guidance instead of the gospel of Jesus Christ;
·
Verse
6: Ancient Israel was joining the heathen nations in all their wickedness, and
modern society is joining with the influences of the world rather than looking
to the Lord;
·
Verse
7: The people were wealthy and materialistic. Their hearts were set on the
things of the world. In the last days, materialism runs rampant.
·
Verse
7: The land was “full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots”.
The horse was a symbol of warfare as was the chariot. Today is an age
characterized by wars and military power.
·
Verse
8: The land was filled with idolatry then, and people still turn to false gods
today, though not necessarily to idols made of wood or stone.
·
Verse
9: Nephi’s quotation of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon says that the “mean man
boweth NOT down, and the great man humbleth himself NOT (2 Nephi 12:9). Here
Isaiah was referring to the fact that men would not worship the true God. In
the preface to the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord indicated this failure
would be a major concern of the last days (D&C 1:16).
-
(Old
Testament Student Manual 1 Kings – Malachi, p 139)
To
fulfil our destiny as the Millenial Nation we need to heed this call:
“O
house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5)
Like
Israel of old
I
foolishly sought man’s protection
Until
you showed me the strength
Of
Your invincible arm
And
how much easier You can make
My
journey’s difficult path.
How
foolish I was to trust in man’s might,
How
foolish to seek mortal comfort
And
settle for feeble sentries of the heart.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
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