LDS

Isaiah 13 (2 Nephi 23) – Exclusively Temple-worthy Soldiers Battling Babylon?

Verse 3

The JST and BoM change the KJV text.

I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones, for mine anger even is not upon them that rejoice in my highness.

While I am thinking about the Mede-Persian warriors (separated out for a work) in the beginning of this verse, Don Parry, Jay Parry, and Tina Peterson in Understanding Isaiah, declares the identity of the “sanctified ones”: 

Jehovah’s sanctified ones (Josh. 3:5) are those who are temple worthy, who actually attend the temple, and who are made holy by Christ’s power.  In ancient Israel the soldiers prepared for the holy war by participating in holy rituals connected with the temple (Deut. 23:10-15).  In this dispensation, Jesus Christ’s soldiers (members of the Church) prepare for the battle against Babylon by participating in temple rituals (131).

Verse 15

And in this verse, the JST and BoM seem to try to make the wicked Mede-Persian warriors more saintly than they really are.

Every one that is found proud shall be thrust through; yea, and every one that is joined unto them to the wicked shall fall by the sword.

But reading on in the context, you will find that the soldiers are vile and awful.

Isaiah 12 (2 Nephi 22)

I love the emotional response commanded in Isaiah 12:6, “Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion:  for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

John Bytheway writes: 

2 Nephi 22:6.  “Cry out and shout”  Normally we don’t condone shouting in Church, but our joy will be such in the millennial day that perhaps shouting praises will be appropriate, as it is on those rare occasions when we participate in the thrilling “hosanna shout.”  (Isaiah for Airheads, p. 146)

In the margin, the KJV translators pegged this personification of Israel as a woman, the “inhabitress”.  Let this woman sing high and clear that all may hear.  She didn’t deserve it.  But this God—who is infinite, eternal, unchangeable, and characterized by wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, truth, love, peace, faithfulness, mercy, kindness, and love —this God has saved her!

She had everything to fear; but by clinging completely to the Holy One, she is completely secure.

Once again the ancient words of the prophet (Is. 12:3) connect our church family in Idaho Falls to the words of the apostle John (John 4), which we will soon be feasting upon this Lord’s Day.

Isaiah 11 (2 Nephi 21) – Is this chapter a crossroads between saints and latter-day saints?

Upon reaching chapter 11, I walked joyfully into a mountain meadow, bathed in golden rays of sun and filled with wildflowers.  This chapter occupied my mind with brilliant rainbows of color, vividly connecting precedent studies about the Messiah in Romans 15:12 and latter meditation in John 3:34.  The Spirit brought the pieces together for me in three biblical books of my investigation to drive home to my heart the supreme exaltation of Jesus Christ as the rod, the branch, and the root.  He is everything to mankind, both Jews and Gentiles. 

Obviously, the natural concern of any missionary heart, especially when he or she looks around, is this question:  “Will Gentiles glorify God?”  The answer is yes!  Paul tells every Christian who is yearning for people to glorify God for his mercy, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13).

The work of the Triune God (Spirit, Father, Servant-Messiah) in Isaiah 11:2a is actually fulfilled right in front my eyes with such verses as John 2:32-33 and 3:34-35.  No wonder the wrath of God is involved for unbelief (John 3:36).

So with the Spirit teaching me such amazing things about the Christ in Scripture, I become astonished when later reading LDS interpretations of verses like Isaiah 11:1 and 10. (more…)

Isaiah 10 (2 Nephi 20)

Because I live in the I-15 Idaho/Utah corridor, this entry by John Bytheway in his book, Isaiah For AirHeads (2006) is interesting on Isaiah 20:28-32:

Elder Gerald N. Lund described the enemy that covenant Israel in the kingdom of Judah faced at this time:  “The Assyrians are renowned for their brutality in warfare.  They tortured their captives.  Their armies were seemingly invincible!”  Elder Lund suggested that we imagine ourselves as covenant Israel, hiding not in Jerusalem, but on Temple Square in Salt Lake City (geography with which we are more familiar).  Then Elder Lund described the volume of territory already conquered by Assyria: (more…)

Eugene H. Peterson on John 3:31-36

I am attracted to Eugene’s meditations on John 3:31-36, stumbling over them today, for he is seeing the very things I am exegeting.  And he is asking the very same heart question that I am posing to you, friends.

Jesus is not just a better version of Moses, or David, or Elijah–or John.  He is different entirely: “from heaven.”  Jesus is not a word about God, but the very word of God.  His presence brings us into the fullness of God.  In him we have not just a fragment of truth but the whole picture of redemption. 

What is the difference between John and Jesus (247).

 – A Year With Jesus (2006)

John Bytheway’s Favorite Quote on God

In many ways, John and I are alike.  We are married to the girls of our dreams, hearts swept up in fervent commitment and beyond mere fancy.  Physically, we are both skinny (no, I take that back—I am beginning to grow a little pooch—definitely, not good).  Neither one of us have a “hoary” head (at least not yet).  Professionally, we love to teach, to write, and to basically communicate in a winsome way.  We are both passionate about what we believe.  We desire, yea, even deeply long to see young people excited about what we are discovering in scripture, and often pray that our personal presentation doesn’t hinder the joyous adventure of scripture itself.  Specifically, we both even carry a King James Version of the Bible.

But . . . (more…)

The Controversy over God in the Corridor

We had a big wind storm yesterday on I-15 in Idaho.  Many cars wrecked in the swirling dust.  But I grieve over the bigger storm, a spiritual storm raging on I-15 in Idaho and Utah.

 

After laying out his personal quest in chapter one of the book, Why Would Anyone Join The Mormon Church, Brad Brase begins chapter two, zeroing right in on the number one, fundamental issue in the corridor:  “The True Nature of the Godhead”. (more…)

Angry Over Anti-material

I often look at the book section in the local Walmart. Yesterday, there was a crowd.

I find it very interesting what Walmart sells for books in the evangelical section. Joel Osteen is popular over how to make you better and bigger. But I have never seen many books being sold that solely make God big and you small, except the Bible.

lds-book.gifLooking over the large LDS section in Walmart, I did buy a book, Why Would Anyone Join The Mormon Church? (Springville: Cedar Fort, 1998) by Brad V. Brase. The book has a new 2005 cover by Lyle Mortimer.

Stephen Davidson writes on the back, “Every member of the Church needs to know about this book. It delivers exactly what I’ve always wanted to say to my non-member and less-active friends and family. This book is the greatest non-scripture missionary resource I’ve seen in my more than forty-five years of missionary work.”

As I started reading, Brad is basically seeking to dismantle and destroy the core of everything precious that God has taught me about Himself in Scripture. (more…)