Jacob's quotes include a traditionally Messianic passage. It reads:
The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season unto thee, O house of Israel. When ye are weary he waketh morning by morning. He waketh mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiter, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. And the Lord is near, and he justifieth me. Who will contend with me? Let us stand together. Who is mine adversary? Let him come near me, and I will smite him with the strength of my mouth. (2 Nephi 7: 4-8.)
These verses are clearly descriptive of Christ. But they are also instruction, prophecy and description of the way in which those who would follow Him are treated. The Lord's Saints must also suffer afflictions for their faith. Persecution in the days of Joseph Smith and the early Church certify as a testimony of rejection, they were on the Lord's cause. The world will continue to reject and persecute those who are determined to follow Him and reject the world. Nephi has foreseen this, and we are living through these final events. As we do, we should not expect to be spared the difficulties which our Lord experienced. If we want to follow Him, a price will have to be paid. This is necessary for everyone who will receive an inheritance with Him. These statements about the Lord are also statements about His sheep.
The themes of Jacob, using Isaiah as his material, are the same as Nephi's. Nephi records this sermon from Jacob as a part of Nephi's record because they echo and reaffirm the testimony of Nephi, himself. It is another example of Nephi using a "second witness" to confirm the message he delivers to us.
We are not going to spend the time to make a verse-by-verse treatment of the Jacobian Isaiah materials. They reiterate themes we have already looked at. We are going to move on to the other Second Nephi materials from Isaiah. It should be clear, however, than none of the treatment of any of these materials is intended to be exhaustive. They are intended to alert you to what Nephi is doing, and why he is doing it, and to suggest a framework within which you can read and benefit from the materials. It would be futile to attempt to exhaust meanings.
The message of the text is challenging. It warns and informs us. As we live in the final scenes of mankind's rebellious history, we can anticipate facing expected challenges. We should not be surprised by them. Rather, as they unfold around us we should take renewed faith and confidence in that Lord who has and does declare these things beforehand to confirm the reason for faith in Him. "My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning; therefore my hand shall be over thee." (Abr. 2: 8.)
As the difficulties of these times unfold, we should take comfort in the foreknowledge God gave to Nephi. Nephi has, to the best of his ability, shared it with us. True enough, he has been inhibited from being too direct in how he has presented it to us. Nevertheless, he has found a way to bear testimony, if we are willing to receive it.
Nephi is doing us the greatest of kindnesses. He is being candid with us about the perilous times in which we find ourselves. He is warning us against the very real difficulties we face in our day. If we are willing to listen, he can help move us through these hazards.
Nephi was a brilliant prophet-writer. He complied fully with the Lord's injunction to him to "not write" the vision he received. But he gave us the words of another which describes the lessons of his own vision. This is so clever that Nephi's record deserves far greater respect than it has received. Although we are exploring meanings in this book, we are showing primarily how to read Nephi's Isaiah. The fullness of Nephi's meanings is left to you to discover, as you employ the method discussed here. Nephi has given us a wonderful, stimulating text. You do not need to know Isaiah's meaning or consider Isaiah's intent. You only need to know what Nephi intended as he borrowed Isaiah's words. And Nephi has provided us clear explanations of his intent.