Christ – Isaiah 22; 24-26; 28-30 Lesson 37: “Thou Hast Done Wonderful Things”, Old Testament,

Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual

“Thou Hast Done Wonderful Things”

Lesson 37: “Thou Hast Done Wonderful Things”, Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, Music from Handel’s Messiah

Play a recording of “For unto Us a Child Is Born,” the musical rendition of Isaiah 9:6 from George Frideric Handel’s Messiah.

Isaiah 22; 24–26; 28–30

Purpose

If church were a football game….

If church were a football game, attendance would always be good.

If church were a football game, parking would never be an issue; as a matter of fact, people would be happy to pay to park and walk a mile to get to the building.

If church were a football game, you could have services for three hours and no one would leave.

Now, I will attempt to compare book of Isaiah to football.

Everyone likes to be a winner.  I surely do. I believe that we came here to win [Isaiah taught] that if we stay close to the Lord [strive to become like  Him by following His game plan] we will win. It’s certain that God is not a loser.  

Don’t you just love people who can’t be beaten?  [Christ could not be beaten. Isaiah could not be beaten.] That’s the way the Lord is. Nothing can defeat him. The kingdom is not going to fail. It’s going to roll forth.

Yes, it will break down all other kingdoms and fill the whole earth and stand forever, and you’re part of it.

Isn’t it great to be part of a winning team? Don’t you love a winner? I do; I hate to lose. I think I’m the worst loser in all the world. I don’t believe in losing.

Some say, “It matters not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game.” That may be all right for football or basketball, but it’s not all right for the kingdom of God. No, sir. It makes a lot of difference whether you win or not. I certainly didn’t join this Church to lose my soul.

We came here to win, and [Isaiah taught] we will win if we stick with the Lord because he’s not a loser.

[Christ is our coach.  He calls the plays.  We need to follow His game plan to win.] The kingdom will not fail. Isn’t it great to be part of it? (Let Your Light Shine, HARTMAN RECTOR, JR.  fireside address was given at Brigham Young University on 3 March 1974).

To help class members come unto Christ through recognizing some of the wonderful things he has done.

Tell class members about a family member or friend who has done a wonderful thing for you. Invite class members to talk about people who have done wonderful things for them. Ask them to briefly describe their feelings toward those people. Explain that this lesson will emphasize some of the wonderful things the Savior has done

Some of Isaiah’s most beautiful and profound symbolic language is about the Savior, who is the focus of this lesson. You may want to write on the chalkboard “His name shall be called Wonderful” (Isaiah 9:6). As you discuss the following prophecies about the Savior,

Preparation

Prayerfully study the following scriptures:

a. Isaiah 22:22. The Savior opens the door to Heavenly Father’s presence.	Isaiah 22:22 says that the Messiah has “the key of the house of David.” This is a symbolic way of saying the Savior has the power to admit or exclude any person from Heavenly Father’s presence. (See also Revelation 3:7–8; 2 Nephi 9:41.) What did the Savior do to open this door for us? What must we do to be able to enter? (See 2 Nephi 9: 45.)
b. Isaiah 24:21–22. The Savior shows mercy for those in spirit prison.	Spirit prison is referred to in Isaiah 24:21–22? (Spirit prison, the place where the spirits of some deceased mortals go while awaiting the Resurrection.) Why are the spirits of some deceased mortals in spirit prison? (See D&C 138:32. Some of them did not receive the gospel on earth Others were not valiant in their testimonies. What did the Savior do for the spirits in prison? (See Isaiah 42:5–7; D&C 138:29–37. He organized righteous spirits to teach them the gospel. How did this demonstrate the Savior’s love and mercy? (See Isaiah 49:9–10.)
c. Isaiah 25:1–4; 32:1–2. The Savior is a strength and a refuge.	Isaiah wrote of the Savior strengthening us during the storms, trials. tempests, deserts, and heat of our lives. What do the following images teach about how the Savior helps us when we face such challenges? a. He is a refuge from the storm (Isaiah 25:4). b. He is a shadow (shade, protection) from the heat (Isaiah 25:4). c. He is a hiding place (protection) from the wind (Isaiah 32:2). d. He is a covert (cover) from the tempest (Isaiah 32:2). e. He is rivers of water (refuge) in a dry place (Isaiah 32:2). f. He is the shadow (refuge and protection) of a great rock in a weary (thirsty) land (Isaiah 32:2).
d. Isaiah 25:6–9. The Savior will prepare a feast and destroy the “vail.”	One interpretation of Isaiah 25:6–7 is that the mountain is a symbol for the temple (see also Isaiah 2:2; D&C 58:8–9). What is the feast mentioned in Isaiah 25:6? (A feast of the words and teachings of Christ.) How can temple attendance be like a feast? A veil is a thin covering. Symbolically it often represents the unbelief that prevents people from truly coming to Christ (Moses 7:26). How will the “vail” that is over the earth be destroyed? (See Isaiah 25:7–9.)
e. Isaiah 25:8. The Savior wipes away our tears.	• What do you do when someone you love is crying? How does the Savior “wipe away [our] tears”? (Suggest that class members picture a parent wiping tears away from a child’s face. There is a sense of intimacy in this act. It is a tender gesture that is shared only by people who love and trust each other deeply.) • What are the conditions mentioned in Revelation 21:4 that cause tears? How will the Savior wipe away the tears that are caused by these conditions?
f. Isaiah 26:19. The Savior will bring the Resurrection.	• Isaiah prophesied that when the Messiah would come, he would die and be resurrected (Isaiah 25:8). Who else will be resurrected? (See Isaiah 26:19; 1 Corinthians 15:20–22; Alma 11:43–44. All the children of God who have lived on the earth will be resurrected.)What does Isaiah 26:19 suggest about how we will feel when we are resurrected? (See also D&C 138:12–16, 50.)The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “When the voice calls for the dead to arise, … what would be the first joy of my heart? To meet my father, my mother, my brother, my sister; and when they are by my side, I embrace them and they me” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 295–96).
g. Isaiah 28:16. The Savior is our sure foundation.	What does Isaiah tell us about the Savior by referring to him as a “tried stone”? (See Mosiah 3:17.)How is Jesus Christ our “sure foundation”? (See Helaman 5:12.)What can we do to build on this foundation?What does the Lord promise if we build on this foundation? (See D&C 50:44.)
h. Isaiah 29:4, 9–14, 18, 24. The Savior will restore the gospel to the earth.	Compare the following verses in Isaiah 29 with corresponding passages in the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants to see how some of Isaiah’s prophecies have been fulfilled:
a. Isaiah 29:4	Moroni 10:27
b. Isaiah 29:9–10, 13	Joseph Smith—History 1:18–19
c. Isaiah 29:11–12	Joseph Smith—History 1:63–65
d. Isaiah 29:14	Doctrine and Covenants 4:1; 6:1
i. (Isaiah 29:13).  Isaiah told of people drawing near to the Lord with their mouths while their hearts are far from Him	How can we make sure that we are close to the Lord in our thoughts and actions as well as in our words
j. (Isaiah 29:18, 24). Isaiah said that the Book of Mormon would help the spiritually deaf and blind to hear and see How has this prophecy been fulfilled? How has the Book of Mormon helped you see and hear better spiritually?
k. The Savior knows our trials and directs our paths.	What does Isaiah 30:19–21 teach about adversity? What do these verses teach about what the Savior will do for us when adversity comes? (See also Alma 37:37.)
l. Discuss Isaiah 30:19–21.

Conclusion

Bear your testimony of the Savior, expressing gratitude for the wonderful things he has done for us. Invite class members to review the list on the chalkboard and express how they feel when they think about these things. Discuss what we can do in return. (See Isaiah 35:3–4 for some suggestions.) You may also want to have class members sing “I Stand All Amazed” (Hymns,no. 193).

Additional Teaching Ideas

The following material supplements the suggested lesson outline. You may want to use one or more of these ideas as part of the lesson.

Next Chapter: Lesson 38: “Beside Me There Is No Saviour” »

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