Isaiah 58-66

 LESSON #1 THE FAST I HAVE CHOSEN (Isaiah 58:3-12)

TRUTH:

True fasting joins devotion to God with compassion for His children.

FIRE IN THE BONES:

What gives me a fire in the bones for teaching are just the excellent insights it gives us on the practice of fasting. Isaiah helps us to discover the greater purpose behind the practice. This lesson can give our students a reason to approach their next fasting experience with greater purpose, generosity, and love.

WHAT THE TEACHER SHOULD KNOW:

There’s a three-part structure to Isaiah’s message on fasting here.  Verses 3-5 describe “the wrong way to fast,” verses 6-7 “the right way,” and verses 8-12 the “Blessings of a True Fast.”

So first, the wrong way to fast. Verse 3 begins with a complaint that the people are making to the Lord. They say:

3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?

They are basically saying, “Hey, we’ve been fasting, but it doesn’t seem like you’re really seeing it, Lord!” You’re not taking knowledge of it? Why do we keep afflicting our souls here?” But there’s something revealed about their attitude towards fasting in the very way they ask the question. They call it “afflicting their souls?” And I don’t think that’s the way the Lord wants us to see fasting? As an affliction. And are we sometimes guilty of this?  Do we wake up with a groan on the first Sunday of the month and say, “Oh no, it’s fast Sunday. Gosh, has it been a month already?”

But because they are seeing it that way, what effect does it have on them? Continuing in verse 3

3 . . . Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

So, when you guys fast, you do whatever you please and you exploit the people around you.

4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

And whoever wrote the footnotes for this chapter really hit the nail on the head with footnote 4b and their interpretation of the word “debate” in that verse. What does it mean to fast, with debate. It says, “Fasting without spiritual motivation only engenders discomfort and irritability.”

And, is that the effect that has on us? Do we find ourselves a little more irritable on that day—annoyed at any little thing, moping around just thinking about our stomachs? Does it make you, what some have humorously coined, “Hangry”? Hungry and angry at the same time.

Or when we fast, do we make our “voice to be heard on high”.  Is our change of mood and aggravation so obvious that people can hear us coming from a mile away. Do we make sure that everybody else knows about it? Do we complain so much that we make everybody else miserable?

5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?

More imagery here. Do we bow down our heads like a weepy weed, a bulrush, lethargically dragging our feet and hanging our heads? And then that next image is Isaiah using a little hyperbole here. I even take it as him being a little sarcastic.  To spread sackcloth and ashes under yourself was a sign of mourning. Deep mourning.  That’s what you did when someone had tragically died. So he’s saying. “Ok people, I’m looking around here at a lot of long faces, and I’m wondering, Is this fast Sunday or a funeral?”

So Isaiah’s just given us a really great description of how not to approach fasting. Don’t despise it, or see it as afflicting your soul. Don’t fast with strife and irritability and don’t fast to draw attention to yourself or with a spirit of complaint and mourning.

How should we fast, then?

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

So where has the focus gone now? Outward. Fasting isn’t just about us. It’s about others. It’s about service.

And Isaiah gives us this wonderful list of all the kinds of things we can do to serve others on the day you fast, particularly the poor and hungry. Now you might be wondering, “Ok wait, what’s the connection between me fasting, and helping the poor and hungry?” Well, what else do we do on fast Sunday? We’re asked to make a fast offering. The fast offering is just as important a part of the experience as the fasting itself. If we fast without making a fast offering, we’ve come up short. And, what’s the connection there between fasting and fast offerings?  Hmmmm. Let’s think about that for a second. On the day I make myself hungry, I make an offering to help the hungry.  Ahhhh? Now I get it. Perhaps one of the reasons the Lord asks us to fast before we make a fast offering is to give us just a small taste of what some people on this earth experience every day. Hunger. Deep hunger. There are many, many people in this world who literally ARE starving to death. So why fast offerings? I think the Lord is hoping that our hunger will make us more sensitive and generous, because in our hearts we’re saying, “Wow, is this what some people are feeling all the time? It’s uncomfortable. It’s difficult. Nobody should have to bear this burden all the time. I think I’m going to be more generous with my means. And, we do as verse 10 says: Draw out our souls to the hungry, and seek to satisfy the truly “afflicted soul.”  And now, our final section—the blessings of fasting. We know that God always rewards us with more in return than we ever give up in our sacrifices. There are so many blessings listed here. It’s the largest section! Bigger than the “how to” and “how not to” parts.

8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.

“Thine health shall spring forth speedily” is an interesting one. God promises to bless us physically for fasting. Additionally, I think it’s fascinating that modern nutrition studies have shown that occasional fasting is very beneficial for your body and acts as a kind of nutritional reset.

9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.

I like to pair that thought from this one in verse 11: And the Lord shall guide thee continually.

Fasting is also a way of bringing the help and guidance of the Lord to us. If there is heavenly counsel or personal revelation that you need, try fasting, and then asking your questions. I can’t assure you that you will get an answer at that time, because that’s not really how God works, but I can promise you that it will make a difference. Remember that the official “fast Sunday” is not the only time that we can draw on this powerful spiritual practice. We can turn to it at times when we feel we need some extra help from God. It shows an increased desire to appeal to him and seek his guidance. And when we call, he shall say, “Here I am”.

Continuing with our blessings here:

If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:

11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

Such great promises there to those who are willing to make this small occasional sacrifice. He’ll make sure our lives are filled with the light of his truth and intelligence, we will have enough and to spare, we’ll set a foundation of faith for future generations, and we will bring restoration and healing to ourselves and others. I think one of my favorite blessings of fasting that comes automatically to me every time I do it, is a deeper and more profound sense of gratitude for what I have. You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone. The best meal of the month is always fast Sunday dinner, right? That food always tastes so much better when you’ve gone without for a while. It repairs our breaches and restores our paths. Why wouldn’t we fast!

Now let’s take this phenomenal insight and turn it into a meaningful lesson for our students.

ICEBREAKER:

Time: 3 min

For a quick icebreaker, I’d show a couple of these funny memes about fasting. Give your students a moment to enjoy them, and then say: “Perhaps you can relate to some of these. Or maybe you’ve had this experience. You wake up, head into the kitchen to make breakfast, and a family member lovingly but triumphantly reminds you, ‘Ah, ah, fast Sunday!’ And your response might not exactly be excitement. I know that when I was younger, I sometimes felt that way. But what does our Heavenly Father want us to discover in fasting? Isaiah 58 can help us to see a deeper purpose in it—one that can change how we approach our next fast Sunday.”

SEARCH ACTIVITY:

Time: 3 min

For the scripture search, divide your class into three groups by having them count off one, two, three around the room. They can stay right where they are. Then explain: “We’re going to look at fasting through three different lenses. Ones, you’re looking for the wrong way to fast. Twos, you’re looking for the right way to fast. And threes, you’re looking for the blessings of a true fast.”

Display these assignments:

1. THE WRONG WAY TO FAST — Isaiah 58:3–5What’s wrong with the way these people are fasting?

2. THE RIGHT WAY TO FAST — Isaiah 58:6–7What does God want their fasting to move them to do?

3. THE BLESSINGS — Isaiah 58:8–12What does the Lord promise those who respond to His invitation?

Give them about two minutes to search, and ask each person to choose one phrase they’d be ready to point out. Then say: “Together, you’re going to help us discover the fast that God has chosen.”

Guided Share

Time: 9 min

Once they’ve had a couple of minutes to search, bring everyone back together and take the groups in order. You could put those three headings on the board: WRONG WAY, RIGHT WAY, and BLESSINGS. Then say, “All right, ones, what did you find? What’s going wrong with their fasting?” Take two or three brief responses, inviting students to point you to the phrases they found, and record a few key words under that heading. Then move to the twos: “What does God want their fasting to move them to do?” And finally, the threes: “What does the Lord promise?” As each group shares, have the rest of the class follow along and mark anything that stands out to them. You don’t need to identify every possible answer. Just gather enough to make the contrast clear, briefly explain any unfamiliar phrases, and then pause so they can see the whole picture. Use your understanding from studying the chapter yourself and what we talked about above to enrich the discussion of what they find. 

If there were any insights that I would prioritize in that discussion or things to add if your class doesn’t identify them would be the importance of not making fasting a mournful chore, the connection between fasting and feeding the poor and hungry, and the power of fasting to bring needed help and guidance into our lives.

TAKE IT TO HEART:

Time: 3 min

For a “Take it to Heart” question, I suggest you give your class a chance to share any faith-promoting personal experiences with fasting that they’ve had. You could ask:

When has fasting been a blessing in your life?

TAKEAWAY:

Time: 3 min

Display the takeaway slide and give the conclusion below. “As you look at that shared bread, remember the invitation we found in Isaiah. The Lord asks us to share our bread with the hungry and lift the burdens of people around us. He wants our fasting to open our hearts.

“So the next time we fast, we can bring Him the questions we’re carrying, the help we need, and the people we’re worried about. And alongside those prayers, we can ask, ‘Father, help me notice someone I can bless.’

“On the day I choose to go hungry, I can help someone who didn’t choose it. I can give according to my means. I can offer practical help. I can change the way I treat someone.

“And while I’m noticing another person’s needs, I can trust that the Lord still knows mine. He promises to guide and sustain His people.

“True fasting joins devotion to God with compassion for His children. I pray that we will all let our fasting open our hearts.”

OPTIONAL LESSON IDEAS:

CROSS REFERENCES:

One additional scripture connection you might include comes from Doctrine and Covenants 59:13–14. Invite your students to read those verses and look for the word the Lord connects with fasting.

Rejoicing.

“Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.”

I love that connection. The Lord wants joy to be part of our experience with fasting.Another connection comes from Matthew 17:20–21.

Briefly explain that the disciples had been unable to deliver a suffering boy. After Jesus helped him, they asked why they had been unable to do so.

Jesus directs their attention to faith, and then says:

“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”

Those first three words in verse 21 really stand out to me. They seem to suggest that there are some problems that can only be solved by this potent one, two punch: prayer AND fasting. I think that very often, when things go wrong, we quickly turn to the first element in that pair. We hit our knees and start praying. But how often do we add that second element? How often do we add fasting to our petitions. Probably not as often, I would imagine. If there is something that we are sincerely struggling with and praying just doesn’t seem to be making a difference, maybe we should say, “Hmmm, perhaps this is the kind of problem that “goeth not out but by prayer AND fasting.”

Just be careful to keep the emphasis on faith in Jesus Christ. We shouldn’t suggest that fasting guarantees a particular outcome or that someone’s continuing difficulty means they haven’t exercised enough faith. Fasting is a way to seek Him and express our dependence on Him.

QUOTE:

From Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

“I bear witness of the miracles, both spiritual and temporal, that come to those who live the law of the fast. I bear witness of the miracles that have come to me. Truly, as Isaiah recorded, I have cried out in the fast more than once, and truly God has responded, “Here I am.” Cherish that sacred privilege at least monthly, and be as generous as circumstances permit in your fast offering and other humanitarian, educational, and missionary contributions. I promise that God will be generous to you, and those who find relief at your hand will call your name blessed forever.”

(Conference Report, Oct. 2014 “Are We Not All Beggars”)

HANDOUT:Another way you could help your students take this message to heart is with this short case study handout. Invite them to imagine that a friend says, “I hate fast Sunday. I just spend the whole day hungry, and I don’t see the point. What’s going without food supposed to accomplish?” Their challenge is to use Isaiah 58:3–12 to help that friend see fasting differently. Have them choose one phrase they would share and write a brief explanation of how it could help. Give them about two minutes to prepare, then invite a few students to share what they would say. Encourage them to respond as though they were actually talking to a friend—with understanding and a sincere desire to help.

LESSON #2 A DELIGHTFUL DAY (Isaiah 58:13-14)

TRUTH:

As we honor the Lord on His holy day, the Sabbath can renew us and deepen our joy in Him.

FIRE IN THE BONES:

I get a fire in the bones for this lesson because hopefully it can help our students to better understand the purposes of the Sabbath and its intended blessings. But sometimes we become so focused on getting through Sunday that we miss what the Lord wants us to receive from it. We get caught up in the meetings, the responsibilities, or the things that we’re setting aside. In chapter 58 Isaiah invites us to see something more. This is a day that can renew us, lift us, and deepen our relationship with God. Helping our students to see the Sabbath in that way could make a real difference in their life every single week.

WHAT THE TEACHER SHOULD KNOW:

Now, Isaiah describes true Sabbath worship as turning away from our own ways and pursuits on that day and instead honoring the Lord. The Sabbath is a day to put aside our own things and give one day of the week a particular focus on God.

In other places in the scriptures, the Sabbath is called a day of rest. But I think rest can have some different implications here. It certainly can include physical rest, and I, for one, enjoy a quick nap after Sunday meetings and responsibilities. But when I served as a bishop—and I know many other callings also carry heavy Sunday responsibilities—it didn’t always seem like a day of rest.

So perhaps we can think about that rest a little more broadly. The Sabbath gives us an opportunity to rest from the worldly labors and concerns that occupy so much of our week. It’s good for our souls to step away from some of the demands and diversions of everyday life and devote our attention to spiritual matters.

When I look at it that way, it changes how I see the so-called “shouldn’ts” of the Sabbath. We can begin to think about things we GET to rest from for one day. We get to step away from professional concerns, shopping, errands, and the pressure to keep getting things done. We get to turn our focus toward God and spiritual renewal. We get to honor Him. And it’s good for us!

Of course, some responsibilities still need our attention. But we can look for opportunities within our circumstances to receive that rest. I’m grateful for a Heavenly Father who understands the importance of renewal in our lives just as much as He values hard work. He set the example Himself in the Creation.

Then, what word does Isaiah use to describe how we can approach this day? Delight. We’re invited to call the Sabbath a delight. That’s such a great word. It suggests something that we welcome, something that brings us deep enjoyment and satisfaction.

I know that as I was growing up, my parents did things that helped make the Sabbath a delight for us. They had a positive attitude toward going to church, having the home teachers over, and enjoying a family gospel lesson together. They tried to stay patient and upbeat, even when getting five children ready for church was a challenge. They’d eagerly ask us what we’d learned, what songs we were singing, and what we’d done in Primary. And in the evening, we had the three D’s: Dinner, Disney, and dessert. My mother would make a special meal, and afterward we’d watch a Disney movie together and eat ice cream.

Those were our family’s traditions, and other families will find their own ways to make the day meaningful. But those experiences helped us look forward to Sunday. Church and family were the focus. My wife and I have tried to bring that same spirit into our own home and help our children welcome the Sabbath.

Then notice something beautiful in Isaiah’s wording. In verse 13, we’re invited to delight in the Sabbath. But in verse 14, he says, “Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.” The blessing reaches beyond our enjoyment of the day. As we honor Him on the Sabbath, we can come to love and find greater joy in the Lord Himself.

Isaiah also says that the Lord will cause His people to “ride upon the high places of the earth.” It’s an image of the Lord lifting and blessing His people. And I think we can see a personal application there. The Sabbath can lift us! It can renew us spiritually and physically.

Life can feel like swimming upstream, and we can’t just keep going forever. Once a week, the Lord invites us to come to the shore and rest. Then, when Monday comes, we can return to our responsibilities with renewed strength and perspective.

Finally, Isaiah promises that we’ll be fed “with the heritage of Jacob.” That points us toward Israel’s covenant inheritance—the blessings God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For us, that can be a reminder of the covenant blessings we cherish: knowledge of the gospel, priesthood blessings, and the promises God makes to families. Think about how Sabbath worship helps us live within that covenant relationship. We partake of the sacrament, learn His word, teach our children, and strengthen our commitment to follow Him. So the Sabbath gives us a regular opportunity to receive spiritual nourishment and remember the promises we’ve made with God. No wonder Isaiah invites us to call it a delight.

ICEBREAKER:

Time: 3 min

For an icebreaker, show your students a few ordinary objects—or pictures of them—and ask how they would get each one working again. A pencil with a broken tip. A flashlight with dead batteries. A bicycle with a flat tire. A clogged sink. Keep it quick. How do you fix the pencil? Sharpen it. The flashlight? Replace the batteries. The bicycle? Repair the tire and put some air in it. The sink? Use Drano, or call a plumber.

Then you explain: “When something isn’t working, when it’s broken, we try to figure out why and make an adjustment so it can accomplish its purpose again. Now, we sometimes talk about ‘breaking the Sabbath.’ And usually, when we say that, we’re talking about doing something that we shouldn’t do on that day. But today, I’d like us to consider another question: Is the Sabbath working in our lives? Is it accomplishing what the Lord gave it to us to accomplish? If not, something may be broken. We might need to make an adjustment so that it can accomplish that again. If Sunday regularly leaves us feeling rushed, distracted, or distant from God, it may be worth asking what we could change. What would help us receive more of the blessing God intends us to receive?  Perhaps we could look at “breaking the Sabbath” in that light—as something that can be repaired or fixed.

Isaiah gives us two short verses that can help us understand what the Sabbath is for. And once we understand its purpose, we can consider what adjustments might help it become more of what the Lord calls it in Isaiah 58:13. And what does he call it? 

A delight! Let’s learn how we might make the Sabbath more of a delight.

SEARCH ACTIVITY:

Time: 12 min

For the search activity, I sometimes like to do a Power Words search. Sometimes, in the scriptures, individual words can carry a lot of meaning and significance.  So since we’re only taking a look at two verses in this lesson, challenge your students to study those two verses as closely as possible and pick out either single words or two words together that teach them truths or insights about the Sabbath Day.  They can mark and pick as many as they want but they should be prepared to share what it was that their words taught them.  Give them a couple of minutes of quiet study time, then open up the class to volunteers to share.

And there’s plenty to choose from. Some that stand out to me:

Turn Away

Holy Day

Delight

Honour Him

Thine Own

Ride

High Places

Feed Thee

Heritage

Each of those words has something to teach us about the Sabbath day. As they share, be prepared to add your own insight or ask follow-up questions to deepen the thoughts they bring up. 

Then I might be sure to ask: “Even when Sunday is a busy day, what does the Sabbath give us an opportunity to rest from?” Let them offer a few thoughts. Work, school pressures, shopping, errands, or the constant feeling that we need to get more done. Then ask, “What can stepping away from those things make room for in our lives?” And hopefully they’ll begin to see it. We get to turn our attention toward God. We have room to worship, reflect, and be spiritually renewed. Physical rest can certainly be part of the Sabbath, but there’s also something refreshing about being able to say, “For today, I can set some of these concerns aside and give my attention to the Lord.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Some additional discussion questions you might want to consider asking during that discussion:

Isaiah asks us to set aside some of our own pursuits while also calling the day a delight. How can those two things work together?

How might our approach to Sunday change if we thought of it as “His holy day”?

What did the Lord intend the Sabbath to accomplish in our lives?

I WILL GO AND DO:

Time: 3 min

What could I set aside or approach differently so there is more room to honor the Lord this Sabbath?

Suggestions:

Set aside a distraction. Take a break from work messages, shopping, or scrolling, and give some of that attention to the Lord.

Simplify something. Let go of an unnecessary expectation that makes Sunday exhausting for you or your family.

Change the way you speak about Sunday. Express something you appreciate about the Sabbath and help others feel welcome in its worship.

Choose one meaningful tradition. Find a simple way to remember the Savior or enjoy time with people you love.

TAKEAWAY:

Time: 3 min

Display the takeaway slide and conclude with something like this:

“I’m grateful for a Heavenly Father who understands our need for rest and renewal. He gives us a day to step away from the ordinary demands of life, remember His Son, and strengthen our relationship with Him. We begin by learning to call the Sabbath a delight, and through that, we come to delight more deeply in the Lord. So remember the choice you made today. Give it a place in your coming Sabbath. Your Sunday may still have responsibilities and challenges, but it can also hold something sacred and renewing. So Isaiah reminds us, “God created the Sabbath FOR YOU! This day is to bless and inspire and renew YOU.”  So let’s enjoy it! Our lives are better week by week because of this delightful day.

OPTIONAL LESSON IDEAS:

VIDEO:

Another way you could help your students see the Sabbath as a blessing is to show the Church video entitled “The Sabbath Is a Delight.” Before you show it, invite them to watch with this question in mind: What does the Sabbath give us a chance to rest from, and what does it make room for? Then invite a few students to share what stood out to them.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2015-12-0008-the-sabbath-is-a-delight?lang=eng

QUOTE:

A quote from Russell M. Nelson

“Not pursuing your “own pleasure” on the Sabbath requires self-discipline. You may have to deny yourself of something you might like. If you choose to delight yourself in the Lord, you will not permit yourself to treat it as any other day. Routine and recreational activities can be done some other time. . . .

Faith in God engenders a love for the Sabbath; faith in the Sabbath engenders a love for God. A sacred Sabbath truly is a delight.”

(Conference Report, Apr. 2015 “The Sabbath is a Delight”)

OPTIONAL ICEBREAKER:

Another way you could introduce this lesson is to display the following rebus puzzle and see if your students can figure out the scripture phrase it represents. Encourage them to say the clues out loud if they get stuck. You have a phone call, the word “the,” a saw minus the W, a bath, and then “a,” D, and a light. Put it all together and you get: “Call the Sabbath a delight.” If they need a little extra help, invite them to look in Isaiah 58:13 for the answer. Then ask:

Why do you think the Lord chose the word “delight” to describe what the Sabbath could be?

LESSON #3 THE SAVIOR ISAIAH KNEW (Isaiah 60-65)

A quick note before we begin. We’ve spent time getting to know the Savior throughout our study of Isaiah, and this week we’re going to continue that discovery. Jesus Christ is at the heart of Isaiah’s message, and these final chapters offer some especially meaningful descriptions of His character. Let’s see what they can add to our understanding of Him.

TRUTH:

As we come to know Jesus Christ’s character, we find greater reason to trust Him.

FIRE IN THE BONES:

I get a fire in the bones for this lesson because I’ve learned over my years of studying and teaching from the scriptures that a single phrase of scripture can significantly deepen the way we see the Savior. We believe that He loves us. But then we read that He carries His people, that He binds up broken hearts, or that He gives beauty for ashes, and with images like that, His love becomes more personal. Isaiah gives us words that we can remember when life gets difficult. And I believe that as we see the Savior more clearly, we find greater reason to put our trust in Him.

WHAT THE TEACHER SHOULD KNOW:

Now for this lesson, we’re going to focus on four short passages from these final chapters of Isaiah. Each one teaches us something about the character of Christ. We’ll give our students a chance to read all four and share which descriptions stand out most to them. But before we do that, let’s look at a few insights that can help you guide that conversation.

First, Isaiah 60:19–20. In these verses, Isaiah tells us that the Lord will be our everlasting light. The sun and moon are no longer described as our sources of light because God Himself will be our glory.

Now, I wouldn’t get too caught up in a discussion of how the sun and moon will function in the Millennium. Think about what light does for us. It helps us see. It guides us. It brings warmth, comfort, and life. Those things can help us understand what the Savior offers His people.

And what kind of light is He? An EVERLASTING light. I love that word. Other sources of light fade or go out. But His goodness, His truth, and His power to guide us endure. Isaiah is looking forward to a day when mourning ends and God’s people live in His light. And even as we wait for that fulfillment, we can turn toward Him for light now.

Then we come to Isaiah 61:1–3. These are a particularly important set of verses because Jesus reads from the opening of this passage in the synagogue at Nazareth. In Luke 4, after reading those words, He declares, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

So of all the passages He could have used to describe His mission, this is the one He reads on that occasion. This is Jesus’s job description. And what does He tell us He came to do? Preach good tidings. Bind up the brokenhearted. Proclaim liberty to the captives. Comfort those who mourn.

Think of ways He accomplished those things during His mortal life. AND think of ways He continues to do them. He still teaches us through His scriptures and living prophets. He still binds up broken hearts. He still offers freedom to people who feel trapped by sin, fear, or darkness.

Then I really love verse 3. Beauty for ashes. The oil of joy for mourning. The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Ashes were a sign of mourning, and Isaiah pictures the Savior giving His people something beautiful in their place.

What does that teach us about Him? He has the power to restore. He can bring hope and joy into lives that have known deep sorrow. That doesn’t mean every broken heart heals immediately. But it does mean we have someone to turn to with our broken hearts. Healing and comforting are part of the work He came to do.

Now Isaiah 63:7–9 gives us another beautiful description of the Savior. One of my favorite words in these verses is “lovingkindnesses.” Isaiah uses it twice in verse 7. Such a great word. It invites us to think about the ways the Lord’s love becomes kindness toward His people.

Then look at verse 9. What does He do for them? He redeems them. He bears them. He carries them. And why? “In his love and in his pity.” Pity here carries the sense of compassion. He sees their suffering and cares about it.

And notice that opening phrase: “In all their affliction he was afflicted.” What a tender description of the Lord’s relationship with His people. Their suffering matters to Him.

Well, I fervently believe that these verses can help us understand His feelings toward us as well. He is still a Savior of lovingkindness, goodness, and mercy. We are His people. And when we read that He carried them “all the days of old,” we have reason to trust that He can sustain us in the days we’re living through now.

And finally, Isaiah 65:24. In the middle of this beautiful description of a renewed world, the Lord makes this promise:

“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”

Oh, I love that promise. Before they’ve even finished asking, He’s already responding. What does that help us understand about His character? He’s attentive. He knows His people. He hears them.

Sometimes in this life, we wait for answers, and we may wonder if God is listening. This verse looks forward to a beautiful fulfillment, so I wouldn’t use it to promise an immediate answer to every prayer today. But I would let it deepen our confidence in the God we’re praying to. The One who makes this promise is someone we can approach with trust.

ICEBREAKER:

Time: 3 min

To teach this lesson, I’d start with the following icebreaker.  I’d use one of these images that takes a moment to figure out. For time’s sake, you might want to choose just one or two so that the activity stays brief.

You could use this sign that says JESUS when you look at it correctly, but people often miss it because they’re focused on the wrong spaces.  If needed, you can show them the  highlighted version to point out how the letters are formed.

Or you could use this one.  Tell them to stare at this strange pattern without blinking for at least 30 seconds, and then, close their eyes. And what do they see?  And what they’ll see is an image of Jesus.

Or you could use the image of these girls standing on a sidewalk. Begin by asking the class to notice what they see at first glance. Then invite them to soften their focus or squint slightly and look again. Point out the image of Jesus if they need help seeing it.

Whichever image you choose, make the same transition:

“Sometimes looking a little more carefully helps us notice something we missed at first. Today, we’re going to look carefully at a few passages in Isaiah and see what they help us to understand about Jesus Christ. We’ll look at what He does, what He promises, and what those things reveal about His character.”

SEARCH ACTIVITY:

Time: 9 min

The search activity for this lesson is quite simple. Invite them to study all of the suggested passages and to pick out at least one phrase that helped them to see the Savior better. What was their favorite description of Him and why?

Isaiah 60:19-20

Isaiah 61:1-3

Isaiah 63:7-9

Isaiah 65:24

And that’s basically it. I mean, I really don’t think you need to do much more than that. After they’re done studying, you can just ask for volunteers to share. Or call on students to share their phrase and why they liked it.

Now you should be prepared as the teacher to discuss or respond to their findings, but for this lesson, most of what is shared is going to come from your students.  But, you as the teacher should also be prepared to share some of your favorite insights about Christ from those references.

As they share, you could write the words and attributes they discover about Jesus up on the board.

TAKE IT TO HEART:

Time: 3 min

For a “Take It To Heart” moment, give the class a moment to look back at all the words and descriptions the class has gathered and ask:

Which phrase from today’s passages would you want to remember during a difficult week—and why?

TAKEAWAY:

Time: 3 min

Then I might conclude by showing this takeaway slide and ending with something like this:

“At the beginning of the lesson, we looked at an image that took us a moment to see clearly. Now, as we finish, I hope these passages have helped us see something more clearly about the Savior Himself.

“Isaiah shows us a Redeemer who brings beauty for ashes, carries His people in love, gives everlasting light, and hears them when they call. Those promises help us to truly understand His character.

“And that matters when we pray. It matters when we’re grieving, when we’re uncertain, or when we need strength. We can remember whom we’re turning to.

“So keep the phrase you chose close to you this week. Return to it. Think about what it helps you see in Jesus Christ.

“I believe that as we come to know Him more deeply, we can find greater reason to trust Him. That’s one of the great gifts Isaiah has given us these past few weeks.”

OPTIONAL LESSON IDEAS:

VIDEO:

Another resource you could use here is the Church video “Christlike Attributes.” It’s just under three minutes long and shows qualities of the Savior through scenes from His life. Before showing it, invite your students to keep the passages we’ve studied in mind. You could say, “As you watch, look for something that reminds you of a phrase we read in Isaiah.” Then afterward, take a couple of brief responses. What connection did they see? This can help them connect Isaiah’s descriptions with the way Jesus actually treated people. He binds up broken hearts. He responds with compassion. His actions help us understand His character.

QUOTE:

For a quote to accompany this lesson, I like the following from President Spencer W. Kimball:“I challenge you to add one little thing to Jesus to make him better. You can't make him more just, more righteous, more honest, more loving, or more kind. Jesus stands on the horizon of human experience as the only one who cannot be improved.”

 (”The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 9)

HANDOUT:

Another way you could help your students carry this lesson with them is with this take-home handout. It has the name JESUS formed from phrases we’ve studied in Isaiah. Give each student a copy and invite them to find and circle the phrase they most want to remember this week. Then encourage them to put it somewhere they’ll see it—inside their scriptures, beside their bed, or on a mirror. When they notice it, they could pause and consider: What does this phrase help me understand about the Savior? How could remembering that help me trust Him today? Hopefully, it can become a small reminder that the Savior Isaiah knew is the same Savior we can turn to in our own lives.