Thursday, March 08, 2007
Great Are the Words of Isaiah
If I can count any decision I made as a New Year's Resolution, it was this: I decided that 2007 would be the year of Isaiah. This would be the year I really truly study the book of Isaiah. All my life I've been told that it's a great thing to do. My last semester at BYU, I took a class on Isaiah from probably the LDS Church's foremost Isaiah authority. That helped some, but I have never really felt like I have a firm grip on the teachings of Isaiah like I should. So I decided I was going to do something about that.
Starting on January 1st, I began to map out a plan. I have at my disposal, both in hard and electronic copy (go GospeLink 2001!), a lot of reference books and study helps for Isaiah. I spent the better part of two months just gathering background information, learning about the history of ancient Israel, reading Deuteronomy (suggested (and with good reason) for better understanding of Isaiah), and so forth. Finally, about two weeks ago, I started actually delving into the text itself. And it's slow going. Just tonight I finally finished looking at Chapter 1. I'm doing some knock-down-drag-out scripture study, but I think it's paying off. At least as regards Chapter 1, I think I have a really good handle on it.
I don't say this to brag or be holier-than-thou. I'm just reporting on a significant development in my life that I think is paying off. Also, like my wife's well-chronicled commitment to get to the gym, I am now responsible to the world to finish all 66 chapters of Isaiah. At this rate, I'll be done sometime in mid-2009. So much for 2007 being the year of Isaiah.
Starting on January 1st, I began to map out a plan. I have at my disposal, both in hard and electronic copy (go GospeLink 2001!), a lot of reference books and study helps for Isaiah. I spent the better part of two months just gathering background information, learning about the history of ancient Israel, reading Deuteronomy (suggested (and with good reason) for better understanding of Isaiah), and so forth. Finally, about two weeks ago, I started actually delving into the text itself. And it's slow going. Just tonight I finally finished looking at Chapter 1. I'm doing some knock-down-drag-out scripture study, but I think it's paying off. At least as regards Chapter 1, I think I have a really good handle on it.
I don't say this to brag or be holier-than-thou. I'm just reporting on a significant development in my life that I think is paying off. Also, like my wife's well-chronicled commitment to get to the gym, I am now responsible to the world to finish all 66 chapters of Isaiah. At this rate, I'll be done sometime in mid-2009. So much for 2007 being the year of Isaiah.
Comments:
Years ago I decided to read through the Old Testament. I got as far as Isaiah. Now this was not one of those Book of Mormon I-quit-once-I-got-to-the-Isaiah-passages things. No, in my case I stayed in Isaiah. Stayed there for years, in fact. There is such beauty and wonder in Isaiah's writing that it is a joy to study.
My key to understanding Isaiah: Read it as poetry.
Post a Comment
My key to understanding Isaiah: Read it as poetry.
