Isaiah 38-40

Battering-ram, sappers and archers from the Lachish relief.

Isaiah 38-40 Study Guide: To be discussed February 16
Note: The events recorded in Isaiah 38-39 may have preceded the events in Isaiah 36-37. Also, Isaiah 38:21-22 should be read between Isaiah 38, verses 6 and 7. At the time of this prophecy, Hezekiah had no heir to succeed him on the throne.
Day 1: Read Isaiah 38:1-8 and 21-22 (with footnote 21a), 2 Kings 20:1-11
1. What did Hezekiah do when Isaiah told him his illness was fatal?


2. Why do you think the Lord directed Isaiah to administer to Hezekiah and bless him with more years? Why didn’t he do this in the first place?


3. What sign did the Lord offer as a witness that Hezekiah’s life would be spared and lengthened?


Day 2: Read Isaiah 38:9-19 (with footnotes 12b, 14a, 16a, 17a), Alma 34:32-34
4. When Hezekiah was sick, how did he feel about dying? (See Isaiah 38:9-13.)


5. How did Hezekiah show humility? (Note: An alternate translation for Isaiah 38:15 reads, “… I won’t walk in bitterness….”).


6. Compare Hezekiah’s words in Isaiah 38:18-20 with Amulek’s words in Alma 34:32-34. What did both Hezekiah and Amulek understand about Christ’s atonement?


BONUS: To whom did Hezekiah say he would “make known the truth”?

Day 3: Read Isaiah 39:1-8, 2 Kings 20:19-20
7. Why did Hezekiah show his treasures to the king of Babylon?


8. What did Isaiah prophesy regarding Babylon? Why might it have been a bad idea to take the Babylonians on a tour of the temple?


9. What was Hezekiah’s reaction to Isaiah’s prophetic statement? (See also 2 Kings 20:19-20.)


Day 4: Read Isaiah 40:1-8 (with footnotes 2a, 4b,f), Exodus 22:4,7, D&C 101:22-23, D&C 33:9-11, D&C 124:7-8
Note: The Hebrew word translated “comfortably” in Isaiah 40:2 could alternately be translated “tenderly” or “kindly.”
10. Read Exodus 22:4, 7 with Isaiah 40:1-2. What was the law in Israel regarding theft or loss of property? Why did Isaiah say Israel would receive “double” for all her sins?


11. Read D&C 101:22-23 with Isaiah 40:3-5. How can we help prepare the way, or remove obstacles, so the glory of the Lord may be revealed? (See also D&C 33:9-11.)


12. Read D&C 124:7-8 with Isaiah 40:6-8. In what ways are all people like grass or flowers? Is not our eternal life God’s work and glory?*
Day 5: Read Isaiah 40:9-17
13. In Isaiah 40:9, Isaiah tells covenant Israel to (1) go to the temple and (2) lift up their voices and “Behold your God.” List characteristics and attributes of God from Isaiah 40:10-11.



14. In Isaiah 40:12-25, the prophet asks, rhetorically, in various ways, “Who can compare with our God?” Read Isaiah 40:12-17, looking for physical manifestations of the Lord’s power.


15. Now re-read Isaiah 40:12-17, looking for spiritual manifestations of the Lord’s power.


Day 6: Read Isaiah 40:18-25, Isaiah 55:18-19, Psalm 121:1-4, Matthew 26:40
16. How do man-made idols compare with the Lord?


17. Isaiah 40:20 indicates idol worship is not only a rich man’s folly. Even the poor can carve themselves idols of wood. How do we carve out our own idols today?


18. Read Isaiah 55:8-9. How will understanding Isaiah contribute to humility?


Day 7: Read Isaiah 40:26-31 (with footnotes 27a, 28c, 31a)
19. Where is the reader directed to look in Isaiah 40:26? Why? Rewrite the question in Isaiah 40:27 in your own words.


20. Read Isaiah 40:28-30 with Psalm 121:1-4 and Matthew 26:40. What comforting attribute of God is described by Isaiah in these verses?


21. How does faith and hope in the power of the atonement renew your strength?**



*From the Institute Manual: Isaiah 40:6–8 . What Does “All Flesh Is Grass” Mean? The metaphors the prophets drew from the land of Canaan had poignant spiritual messages. The spring rains, called the “latter rains” ( Jeremiah 3:3 ), fall through April and May. During these rains the grass springs up in Israel as a spontaneous, green carpet over the land in such abundance and splendor that it seems it could never fail. Within a very short time the rains end, however, and the fierce summer heat turns the grass brown almost overnight. [Sounds like San Diego!] It simply seems to disappear across the barren hills. The withered, lifeless grass was the metaphor Isaiah chose to describe the wicked whose ways seem to be so attractive to the world but cannot endure long. Only those sanctified of the Lord will withstand the glory of His coming, for the wicked will be as the dried grass before a blazing fire.
** Regarding Isaiah 40:31: The greater promise reserved for those who have been true and faithful in keeping the commandments by waiting upon the Lord is found in their being able to “run and not be weary” and to “walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 ; compare D&C 89:18–21 .) To have the strength to run the race of life without becoming weary is a valuable promise; to be able to journey with safety and not faint or fall away from the truth is a great blessing. What consolation and encouragement it is to those who wait upon the Lord to be able to serve mightily and not weary of it, to walk with certainty and not fall away.