Lesson 39

“How Beautiful upon the Mountains” (Isaiah 50–53)

Church Cirriculum

The official church guide can be seen at the Official LDS Church site for Gospel Doctrine

We encourage you to make sure you are familiar with the official church curriculum as the first step in your lesson preparation, as this is the material recommended by the General Authorities of the church.

Supplementary material here is not intended to substitute for lesson preparation, but hopefully it will enhance your preparations for Sunday School.

A Possible Translation

In order to make Isaiah easy to understand, here is a possible updated English version that may be helpful. This is not authoratitive, but hopefully helpful to understand the imagery of Isaiah.

Isaiah 50

¹ The Lord said, Where are the divorce papers, decreeing I left you? Was it I who sold you into slavery? Behold, you have sold yourselves for your iniquities, and have brought it upon yourselves. ² Why when Jesus came to save my people was there nobody who accepted the Messiah? When Jesus called, no one answered. Has God lost his power? God dried up the Red Sea and has all power.

³ I can cause the sky to be dark during the day as if it were mourning the dead, which I will do at Christ's death. ⁴ The father taught Jesus well, that he should know how to speak a strengthening word to him. The father is constantly with Christ as His disciple. ⁵ Christ was obedient and did not turn away from the atonement. ⁶ Christ allowed himself to be flogged, and they pulled the whiskers from his beard. He did not hide his face from shame and spitting. (SEE NOTE)

⁷ The father will help Christ, who will not be stopped. Therefore Jesus braces himself for the task, and knows he will not fail. ⁸ The Father approves everything Jesus does. Who dares to contend with him? ⁹ The Father will help the Savior. Those who contend against the Savior shall have their day and then fade away and reap the punishment.

¹⁰ Who is loyal to the Lord and is not supported by him? Let all trust in the Lord and be supported by him. ¹¹ Behold all who try to live without God according to your own philosophies rather than Christ's light, you will get what you deseve. Misery awaits those who try to live without God.

Chapter 51

¹ Listen to me, you that seek the Lord. Consider your origins--you came from the finest rock. ² Look at your origins; Abraham and Sarah. You are of the finest heritage. For God called Abraham alone, and blessed and increased him.

³ The Lord will comfort Zion and her waste places. He will make the wilderness like Eden, and the desert like the Garden of Eden. The wonderful reward will be joy, gladness, and thanksgiving. ⁴ Listen to God, for his laws will bring light to the nations.

⁵ Christ's ability to save is available to you. He will personally rule over the nations. The nations of the world shall rely on him, and in his power will they trust. ⁶ Look at the heavens above, and the earth. Even though the earth shall pass away, the salvation that the Savior brings will last forever, and he will triumph over all.

⁷ You who are righteous, you who have taken the gospel to heart, do not fear the insults of men, or their stinging criticism. ⁸ The wicked who revile against the righteous are just like moth-eaten clothing that will disintegrate and disappear. But God's salvation and deliverance will last forever.

⁹ Now, then come, put on the power of the Lord. We ask the Lord to save us like you did in olden days. God has trimmed the proud (Rahab_dragon) down to size, and wounded Satan.

¹⁰ Didn't God dry the Red Sea? He made a path through a deep ocean, and ransomed our fathers from Egypt. ¹¹ Because of the Lord's power, Israel will be saved and return to this land. It will be such a joyous day that they will be singing. Sorrow and mourning will flee away.

¹² God is the one who comforts you. You shouldn't be afraid of mortal men. Fear God, not man, because man's short-lived glory will whither as grass in the scorching sun. ¹³ How can you forget your Creator? Why should you fear mortal men? The day will come when their fury won't reach you.

¹⁴ The day will come when Israel will be set free, no more to die in captivity, and will have plenty. ¹⁵ The Lord God parted the sea, whose waves roared. The LORD of hosts is his name. ¹⁶ God has given you his teachings. He has protected you, and created heaven and earth for you. You are God's covenant people.

¹⁷ Awake and stand up Jerusalem. You have drank the bitter dregs that settles to the bottom of the cup. You have paid through the nose for your wickedness. ¹⁸ Israel has spent many years without prophets.

¹⁹ --Note Book of Mormon refers to 2 prophets-- Two things shall come to you--desolation and destruction, famine and sword. Who shall comfort you? ²⁰ Your people are on their last legs, and are being brought down like a wild animal in a net of wickedness. They are catching the whole fury of the Lord. They are receiving the consequences of sin. ²¹ You are drunk with wickedness. ²² But God has not deserted this people. Christ has suffered the atonement for you, and will save the Jews in the last days. And he will put the cup of his fury against your enemies which have said to you, "Lie down so we can walk over you." You have been walked over, and treated like dirt.

Isaiah 52

Notes

Isaiah refers to Christ's beard being pulled out. Even though this is not mentioned in the New Testament, it was a sign of contempt by those wishing to degrade someone.

See Rahab_dragon for additional understanding.

Additional Teaching Materials

• Prophets. A&E Home video. Chapter 4. 1994. ISBN 0-7670-8501-9.
• Old Testament Institute Manual
• The Old Testament Made Easier Part 3. David J Ridges, 2006. ISBN 1-55517-957-6
• Isaiah Made Easier in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. David J Ridges, 2002. ISBN 1-55517-615-1

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