Something I learned for a wonderful institute teacher (shout out to Sis McMullin), is to use the actual writings in Isaiah when reading when Nephi quotes. The footnotes used in the bible are sometimes more helpful! But Nephi is also helpful when he likens these scriptures as well. If you take time to look at each verse from this chapter compared to the verses in Isaiah it is so fascinating!
Notice that this is The Lord revealing his purposes to Israel, He is the one talking to us here. The content of the chapter starts with addressing those people who have been baptized but don't do all in truth and righteousness (v1-2). In v3 the "former thing" is the omniscience of God or the foreknowledge of Him. So we see Isaiah has explained those former things because those people from v1-2 are obstinate (stubborn) and have stiffneckedness (v4).
The Lord goes on to say that he has showed them new and hidden things but they have declared it not nor heard it (v5-8). Being honest here I don't fully understand v9 except he is expressing his anger or at least deferring it from the wicked. This life is a trial and a time for The Lord to refine us into better people, so when he says he has "chosen thee in the furnace of affliction" (v10) it is for His own sake (v11).
The Lord is all powerful. That's what I got out of v12-13. Then I think Isaiah is speaking in v14 and is speaking to those in his days about the Chaldeans. He continues to speak the Lord's words in v15-19 when speaking of The Lord calling upon us to declare his words because they are not secret. It also says that if we follow the commandments our "peace been as a river, and [our] righteousness as the waves of the sea" which are never ending (v18).
Isaiah is talking to Babylon again in v20-22 about preaching the gospel as they flee from the Chaldeans. We are to say, "The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob....there is no peace...unto the wicked."
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