I have had the “Ten Keys to Understanding Isaiah” by Elder Bruce R. McConkie in my possession for many years. Even though it is an excellent guide to understanding Isaiah, it is rather comprehensive and daunting for most people who find reading Isaiah a struggle.
One of Elder McConkie’s simple suggestions is to study Isaiah’s works employing the Book of Mormon which he claims is the world’s greatest commentary on the book of Isaiah. Besides being the greatest commentary, it offers three important keys for understanding Isaiah which is a more manageable guideline for such intense study, especially for a beginner. These three guidelines come from Nephi who recognized the complexities of Isaiah’s writing. Nephi acknowledged that Isaiah was hard for many of his own people to understand (2 Nephi 25:1). Nephi loved the teachings of Isaiah and quoted him frequently. His formula for comprehending Isaiah's writings is found in 2 Nephi 25:1,4,7:
1. Understand 'the manner of prophesying among the Jews’. This manner of prophecy can best be learnt through scriptures and their commentaries: "The Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the New Testament - provide quotations and commentaries from 42 of the 66 chapters in the current text of Isaiah. There are also allusions and paragraphs from eight of the other 24 chapters. Thus Isaiah is broadly commented upon by these three sources. No more reliable or enlightening sources are available, and Latter-Day Saints would do well to search these scriptural commentaries along with the book of Isaiah itself to obtain a deeper and fuller understanding of the great words of Isaiah."(Monte S. Nyman, Great Are The Words of Isaiah, Gospel Link 2001). Historical background of the place and time is crucial to understanding Isaiah as he wrote to people of his day using metaphors relative to their way of life and referring to places they were familiar with not explaining in detail what he meant by each word or phrase.
2. Have
the “Spirit of Prophecy”: “Nephi taught that the words of Isaiah “are plain unto
all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy” (2 Nephi 25:4). The
testimony of Jesus [which comes by the power of the Holy Ghost] is the spirit
of prophecy (Revelation 19:10). The spirit of prophecy, however, is far more
than just a belief that Jesus lives. It includes an understanding that Jesus is
the literal Son of God. It includes a correct knowledge of His purpose in
coming into mortality and of the significance and nature of His mission. It
includes an understanding of the gospel plan for His children, particularly
those who spiritually become His sons and daughters through the covenant of
baptism. All of this comes through the power of the Holy Ghost. The prophet Isaiah
wrote under the influence of the spirit of prophecy. His writings must be
interpreted under the influence of that same spirit. Those who desire to
understand Isaiah should learn of Christ and seek the companionship of the Holy
Ghost.” (Understanding Isaiah, Enrichment E, Old Testament Student
Manual). It is true
that knowing the historical background and the manner of prophesying amongst
the Jews is most helpful but in the end, the depth of our understanding of
Isaiah comes from the depth of our own testimony.
3. Recognise when the prophecies of Isaiah are fulfilled. This is probably the most important one but yet the most overlooked. This is our advantage because we live in the times that have been prophesied of. It is of great importance that we recognise fulfillment of these prophecies to gain proper appreciation and testimony of them. Nephi declared that "in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass" (2 Nephi 25:7). One evidence of this is the fulfillment of a prophecy in chapter 29 of Isaiah concerning a sealed book being taken to a learned man. As Latter-day Saints we know that this fulfillment came through Joseph Smith. Non-LDS scholars, however, are still pondering the meaning of this chapter. Personally, it astounds me to read of events of our day that have been written about so long ago and this particular one about the Book of Mormon is a classic.
One cannot read and study Isaiah without feeling his passionate plea to the House of Israel to come unto their God. Isaiah wrote to Israel about the God of Israel. We cannot help but see the admonition to repent and turn to Him who longs to forgive us and to encircle us in the arms of His love. How can we not know Him when we read: "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:3-5).
And
how can we not trust Him when we hear Him say: "For the mountains shall
depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee,
neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath
mercy on thee" (Isaiah 54:10). When scriptures such as these help us find
the Saviour of the world, we will come to proclaim with Him, "Great are
the words of Isaiah" (3 Nephi 23:1)
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
