1 Nephi 20:1-2

1 Nephi, chapter 20 is the first time we see Nephi quoting from Isaiah. This chapter is from Isaiah, chapter 48. Remember that Nephi quotes him because he wants to more fully persuade us to believe in the Lord our Redeemer (see 1 Nephi 19:23). I hope to keep that overall purpose in mind as we review the verses that Nephi quotes from Isaiah. We also need to keep in mind that in order to understand Isaiah's teachings and prophesies, we need to know the history and context of the places Isaiah was. I don't know what they are. I remember that Isaiah was called upon a number of times to help kings know how to fight their wars. Some obeyed and some did not. Because the focus is about the Savior, Isaiah has many prophesies of Him. So, this is perhaps the main focus that I will take. Another connection that I've drawn was that not only did the Savior say that the prophesies of Isaiah were great (see 3 Nephi 23:1), but I think that Nephi thought they were, too. They were relatively new scripture for his day. Isaiah lived about 750 B.C. and Nephi left Jerusalem in 600 B.C. This is only a 150 year difference. It would be like how we feel about the Doctrine and Covenants. We feel that this is great scripture. We understand the words because we are familiar with the context of the Doctrine and Covenants. Nephi was familiar with the context of Isaiah. He was taught somewhat in all the learning of his father (see 1 Nephi 1:1). He knew of the culture of the Jews in Jerusalem, but did not pass it on to his family (see 2 Nephi 25:1-2).

"1 Now I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words which I have written, which have been spoken by the mouth of Isaiah. For behold, Isaiah spake many things which were ^ahard for many of my people to understand; for they know not concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews.

"2 For I, Nephi, have not taught them many things concerning the manner of the Jews; for their ^aworks were works of darkness, and their doings were doings of abominations."

Thus, I believe that we will see many prophesies from Isaiah calling them to repentance. Now on to the chapter heading quote. Th chapter headings help us to understand the gist of the chapter. The chapter heading reads the same in both chapters (1 Nephi 20 and Isaiah 48):

The Lord reveals his purposes to Israel—They have been chosen in the furnace of affliction and are to go forth from Babylon

In the first couple of verses, we see that the people of the house of Jacob (remember the comparison to the bough of branches growing over the well which means that they are a large group of people) or Israel are being baptized (perhaps figuratively as well as literally) and thus promising to the Lord that they would be righteous, but it is not truthful or done righteously. Verse 2 states that they call themselves part of the holy city (Jerusalem?), but they do not stay themselves on the God of Israel, the Lord of Hosts. I take this as meaning that they do not build their foundation on the rock like the wise man. They do not do the daily things that they are supposed to do to follow the Savior. So, this is a perfect time for the Lord to have the prophet call them to repentance.