And now, behold, I would speak unto you concerning things which are, and which are to come; wherefore, I will read you the words of Isaiah. And they are the words which my brother has desired that I should speak unto you. And I speak unto you for your sakes, that ye may learn and glorify the name of your God.
He is serious when he says he “will read you the words of
Isaiah.” The rest of the chapter is quotations from Isaiah and his commentary
on it, and then chapters 7 and 8 are just quotes from Isaiah. I mentioned
before that the Book of Mormon contains a lot of the writings of Isaiah
(especially in the books of Nephi). I think it is very important to study and
understand these prophecies of Isaiah… but not for an initial
overview/understanding of the Book of Mormon. It is complex, multi-layered, and
symbolic—too much for me to cover in a blog post (and I don’t know what a lot
of it means yet anyway, to be honest).
But this commentary from Jacob in 2 Nephi 6:8-11 gives a good
overview about the general topic of these three chapters. He is
speaking/prophesying about the future of the Jews and the covenant people of
the Lord.
8 And now I, Jacob, would speak somewhat concerning these words. For behold, the Lord has shown me that those who were at Jerusalem, from whence we came, have been slain and carried away captive.
9 Nevertheless, the Lord has shown unto me that they should return again. And he also has shown unto me that the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, should manifest himself unto them in the flesh; and after he should manifest himself they should scourge him and crucify him, according to the words of the angel who spake it unto me.
10 And after they have hardened their hearts and stiffened their necks against the Holy One of Israel, behold, the judgments of the Holy One of Israel shall come upon them. And the day cometh that they shall be smitten and afflicted.
11 Wherefore, after they are driven to and fro, for thus saith the angel, many shall be afflicted in the flesh, and shall not be suffered to perish, because of the prayers of the faithful; they shall be scattered, and smitten, and hated; nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them, that when they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be gathered together again to the lands of their inheritance.
I’ll also point out these verses that I especially like in
Chapter 8. They are an important reminder for me to care more about what the Lord
thinks and does than what other people think and do.
7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart I have written my law, fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool. But my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
12 I am he; yea, I am he that comforteth you. Behold, who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of man, who shall die, and of the son of man, who shall be made like unto grass?https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/6?lang=eng2 Nephi 6-8
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