Ways to Better Understand or Enjoy Isaiah
As trees grow, their roots became stronger and maybe even more complicated. Much like our understanding of scriptures.
I was listening to the Maxwell Institute Podcast about Isaiah 40-49 this week and I heard some good tips on how to better understand these chapters and Isaiah in general. Isaiah was written more directly for the people of his time so it can be harder to read and understand for us. The words written by Isaiah are incredibly valuable to us because he saw and speaks of our time, but his primary audience were people of his time. As Latter-Day Saints we are not always used to reading this way since the Book of Mormon, which we read often, was written for the Jews and the Gentiles of our time. Mormon's primary audience was us. Not the same as the book of Isaiah.
In the podcast Kristian Heal, a research fellow with the institute gives us a few points of advice, and Truman Callens, a research assistant gave some really good points about how scripture works in our lives. I'll try to paraphrase them here in 3 points that stuck out to me, while adding in some my thoughts as well. Hopefully I can do them justice.
Even Christ himself told us to study the words of Isaiah, so they have great worth for us. But Isaiah focuses on Israel, and his words are very specific to that time and those areas. Remember as you read this, that when we understand who God is, we can better understand our place and who we are in relation to God. Search in these chapters to see who God is and what his relationship with Israel was then and now. That has helped me better understand the nature of God and my relationship with him.
The more we can work to understand the historical and cultural context of Isaiah's time, the better we will understand his writings and prophecies. Start by simply using a map to understand the kingdoms and people of the time. Remember that the Old Testament is not fully in chronological order. Isaiah is speaking of a time we studied in the Come Follow Me program months ago. Use commentaries or study guides to understand the people, the wars, or the politics of the time that Isaiah was writing. You don't need to be an expert, but the more you know the more it will help.
Remember that scriptures are different than other writings and other books. They are not like normal literature. Our understanding of them will continue to grow as our faith and our relationship with God grows and matures. Each time we come back to them we will receive a different message as we build on our understanding of God and of our Savior. Focus on what message you are receiving this time and write it down so you can remember those messages and thoughts later. If you don't understand it all today, take that as a wonderful blessing - next time you come back to it you have more to learn. Don't be discouraged, look forward to coming back and learning more next time. Focus on what you feel and learn today, not on the fact that some of it is confusing, or you can't make sense of everything in them.
If you would like to listen yourself the link is here.
