Isaiah 51–52 — "Hearken to Me"

Teacher notes

Supplies, board work and timing. Never printed on the cards.

SUPPLIES: board markers in two colours — the two-column chart is the heart of this lesson and the manual is right about it. Also the handout 'The Lord's Invitations and Promises to His Covenant People' (manual p. 472), which is what makes the group work possible. HEARKEN IS THE WHOLE LESSON: President Russell M. Nelson taught that to hearken means 'to listen with the intent to obey' ('Hear Him,' Liahona, May 2020, 89). That definition is the hinge — hearing is free, hearkening costs something, and every promise in these chapters is attached to the second one. THE CHART: left column 'The Lord's Invitations,' right column 'The Lord's Promises.' Model it first with 51:1–3 (keep our covenants / comfort, joy and gladness), then let them fill it from the handout. The manual's jigsaw is worth doing if the class is big enough: small groups each take a portion, then reshuffle so every new group has someone from each portion. THIS IS THE SEQUEL TO LAST WEDNESDAY. On 09-30 the class sat with Isaiah 49:14 — 'the Lord hath forsaken me' — and heard that they are graven on His palms. Isaiah 52:1–2 is what He says next to the same person: awake, put on thy strength, shake thyself from the dust, ARISE. Being remembered was Wednesday; standing up is today. Say that out loud, it is the connection they will feel. THEME LINKS, AND 52:3 IS THE BEST ONE WE HAVE FOUND: 'Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money' answers panels six and seven head-on — the water has no price. Pair it with the theme page's line that free is not the same as easy: redeemed without money, and still 'how beautiful upon the mountains,' which is to say still up a hill. 52:7 is panel three at scripture scale — the one who walks back down publishing peace. 51:3's 'joy and gladness... thanksgiving, and the voice of melody' is panel two. D&C 113:7–10 IS THE MANUAL'S OWN KEY to 52:1–2 and worth reading aloud: Moroni asked the same question these students will — what does 'put on thy strength' mean. REARWARD (52:12) means the one who guards from behind; it is the closing comfort and most students will not know the word. VOCABULARY TO PRE-EMPT: hearken, hewn, revilings, watchmen, rearward, 'made bare his holy arm' (a display of power). TIMING: the chart will eat the clock. If you are behind at 7:00, cut the 51:6–8 section and keep 52:1–3 and 52:7 — the lesson still lands.