Isaiah 17–28

Lesson 124
Introduction
• Isaiah prophesied that the Israelites would be scattered because they
had forgotten God. He also prophesied of the ensign raised up to
gather scattered Israel to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. Additionally, Isaiah testified of the future Davidic king, even
the Messiah, and taught about Jesus Christ’s power to deliver the
oppressed. Isaiah prophesied that the wicked will be destroyed and
the righteous will receive great blessings at the Savior’s Second
Coming. Isaiah also testified that the Savior is the only sure
foundation on which to build our lives.
 Isaiah 17–21
• Guess the number of missionaries currently serving,
the number of missions currently in operation, and
the number of missionary training centers currently
in operation.
• 54,539 (Missionaries), 411 (Missions), 10
(Missionary Training Centers). The Church's
missionary program is one of its most recognized
characteristics. Latter-day Saint missionaries can be
seen on the streets of hundreds of major cities in the
world.
• As students study Isaiah 17–21, invite them to look
for how Isaiah prophesied of the great latter-day
missionary effort of gathering.
• In Isaiah 17, it was “a message of doom” (verse 1,
footnote a) for Damascus, the capital city of Syria,
and for the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
• Isaiah then prophesied of a future time when
several nations would turn to the Lord. Write the
following words on the board: land, ambassadors,
messengers, ensign, trumpet
 Isaiah 18:1–3
• How can each of the words listed on the board relate
to the restored Church? (The land can refer to the
Americas, where the Restoration of the Church
began. Ambassadors and messengers can refer to
Apostles and missionaries, who travel all over the
world to spread the gospel. An ensign is a flag or
banner around which armies gather for battle, and a
trumpet can be used to call people together, so both
an ensign and a trumpet can symbolize the latter-day
call to gather to the restored Church of Jesus Christ.)
Summary
• In Isaiah 19, Isaiah prophesied that because of
Egypt’s idol worship and evil practices the Lord
would smite Egypt. However, Isaiah also
prophesied that the Egyptians would eventually
recognize their need for the Lord and turn to
Him.
• In Isaiah 20–21, Isaiah prophesied that other
wicked nations would be destroyed.
Summary
• In Isaiah 23, Isaiah prophesied that the coastal
city of Tyre, located in modern-day Lebanon,
would also be destroyed.
• In Isaiah 24, it records a prophecy of the
destruction of the wicked at the Second Coming.
• In Isaiah 25 contains a poetic celebration of the
blessings the Lord will give to the righteous.
 Isaiah 25:6–9
• Look for what the Lord will do when He comes again.
• According to Isaiah 25:8, what will the Lord do for His people
in the Millennium?
• How did the Savior “swallow up death in victory”,verse 8?
• What do you think it means that the Lord “will wipe away
tears from off all faces” (verse 8)?
• According to verse 9, what does it mean for us to wait for the
Lord?
• If we wait for the Lord, then we can receive His salvation and
rejoice.
 Following statement by Elder Robert D. Hales
(1932–2017) of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles.
• “In the scriptures, the word wait
means to hope, to anticipate,
and to trust. To hope and trust in
the Lord requires faith, patience,
humility, meekness, long-
suffering, keeping the
commandments, and enduring
to the end” (Robert D. Hales,
“Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will
Be Done,” Ensign or Liahona,
Nov. 2011, 72)
• What blessings have you received as you have trusted in or waited for
the Lord?
• In Isaiah 26–27, Isaiah testified that we can trust in the Lord forever
and promised “perfect peace” to those who do (see Isaiah 26:3).
Isaiah also used the imagery of a vineyard to show how the Lord cares
for His people.
• In Isaiah 28, Isaiah condemned “Ephraim” (verse 1), or the inhabitants
of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, for their wickedness. He reminded
them that the Lord teaches “precept upon precept; line upon line … ;
here a little, and there a little” (verses 10, 13). The people did not
think they needed the word of the Lord, because they believed other
things would save them from the problems they would experience.
The Lord told the inhabitants of the Northern Kingdom of Israel that
they would be swept away because they believed they could build on
something other than the Savior.