Resuming our study of "Gather" (Isaiah 40:9-11)

Today is the first reference to the "gathering" we look at from Isaiah. It may take some time to do a thorough job but we do not care about that. We have all the time in the world and we are not in a race. We want to think "deep thoughts" and ponder the words of this great Prophet.

Isaiah 40:9-11

"O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!"

Lets take this verse by verse and see what can be gleaned from Isaiah's writing:

Isaiah begins by speaking to two groups, Zion and Jerusalem. Zion is to get up into the "high mountain." Let's look at who Zion is comprised of in the Book of Mormon.

After discussing/foretelling the destruction of the Gentiles (including members of the Church) the Savior throws in one caveat:

"But if they will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob unto who I have given this land for their inheritance.
And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem." (3 Nephi 21:22-23)

The Gentiles ("they") who "hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts," does not refer only to the Gentiles who believe in the origins of the Book of Mormon, (as mentioned in the previous post, [that was not planned by the way])but those Gentiles who receive the prophecies and promises contained therein and apply themselves to fulfill them. Those Gentiles who repent are joined with the tribes of Israel who were given this land for their inheritance. This represents a "melting pot" of people. It involves Lehi's descendants, (both Lamanites and Nephites from tribes of Joseph,) Mulekites who represent Jews who could claim a lineal right to the throne of Israel. They were descendants of Judah, Jessie and king David. Throw in however many Gentiles with faith who repent, join the Church of Christ and enter the covenant with the Lord, (primarily from the tribe of Ephraim,) and you have the inhabitants of Zion Isaiah speaks of. (3 Nephi 21:22-23) Zion will be added to as the tribes of Israel begin gathering to her but to begin, this is how the foundation and construction of Zion begin to be established so Israel will have some central point where they gather and claim their endowments and other blessings associated with covenants of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints are generally familiar with Zion being a synonym of the "New Jerusalem". They also link Zion to Jackson County, Missouri. We generally associate Zion with the "land of the pure in heart" as it relates to Enoch and his city that was translated. What often gets overlooked is the historical/Biblical meaning of Zion: "It commonly referred to a specific mountain near Jerusalem (Mount Zion), on which stood a Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David and was named the City of David." (Wikipedia, "Zion")
Logically, if there is to be a new Zion, would there not be a new David?

"Although David was a king, he never did obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and the fulness of the Priesthood; and the Priesthood that he received, and the throne and kingdom of David is to be taken from him and given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage." (TPJS. pg.339) Another quote implying the same concept is:

"The city of Zion spoken of by David, in the one hundred and second Psalm, will be built upon the land of America, "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads." (Isaiah 35:10): and then they will be delivered from the overflowing scourge that shall pass through the land." (TPJS. pg.17) One must wonder why David is talking about Zion? Was it just a passing reference to a prophecy or was the Lord revealing it to him because it involved his posterity?

The final quotation is:

"Christ, in the days of his flesh, proposed to make a covenant with them, but they rejected Him and His proposals, and in consequence thereof, they were broken off, and no covenant was made with them at that time. But their unbelief has not rendered the promise of God of none effect: no, for there was another day limited in David, which was the day of His power; and then His people, Israel, should be a willing people;-and He would write His law in their hearts, and print it in their thoughts; their sins and their iniquities He would remember no more." (TJPS. pg.15)

It appears Joseph Smith saw some correlation to a latter-day David and the gathering of Israel. I present that point for your consideration and return to the matter at hand.

Going back to our verse in Isaiah, Zion is instructed to take their "good tidings" and head for a "high mountain." This line is pregnant with meaning. First, consider the good tidings. For that answer we return to the Book of Mormon (a pattern I am trying to demonstrate here.)

"Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord-I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God.
For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now are they not his seed?
Yea, and are not the prophets, every one that has opened his mouth to prophesy, that has not fallen into transgression. I mean all the holy prophets ever since the world began? I say unto you that they are his seed.
And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth! (Mosiah 15:11-14)

It appears from the previous passage that those who have "good tidings" to bear are the prophets who foretold the coming of Christ and remained faithful. Consequently, for Zion to have good tidings, Zion must have living prophets who actively and openly declare the coming of Christ. And where do they take the good tidings given them from these prophets? To a high mountain. What does the "high mountain" imply? I can think of two potential interpretations, both of which are relevant. First, Moses would always go to a high mountain to speak with the Lord. A high mountain became a sacred temple for those prophets who resorted to them. It was on mountain tops where God revealed Himself to His prophets. It was there they received instruction from on high. Zion is counseled to take their good tidings and seek the Lord's face at the temple. Zion, as a body is a group of people, much the same as Israel was when Moses led them to Sinai. The difference being, Zion will make good on God's covenant promise wherein Israel did not. Israel remained on the foothills of Sinai while Moses alone sought the Lord's face. For this, Israel was rejected. (D&C 84:19-25) Zion will not make the same mistake and the people the Lord gathers to Zion will be a "willing people" who have His laws written in their hearts. (3 Nephi 21:25)

A secondary meaning for "high mountain" is a point raised by Avraham Gileadi in his books. In Isaiah, (Gileadi asserts) the word "mountain" is essentially a synonym for nation. The "high" nation suggests the land where Zion is established will be a proud nation, "high" being a synonym for proud.

Well, that is quite a lot to squeeze from one line and what we have may only be the tip of the iceberg. Still, that will suffice for one day.