Would you rather have excitement or peace? In this chapter, Isaiah contrasts the quiet waters of Shiloah in the city of Jerusalem with the powerful Assyrian army, like a river overflowing its banks. Don’t be alarmed, he says. Build your foundation on God and trust in His word.
Chapter Outline
- Isaiah names his son “Maher-shalal-hash-baz,” indicating that an Assyrian invasion is imminent (v. 1-4)
- He contrasts the peaceful waters of Shiloah with the raging Assyrian army (v. 5-8)
- Don’t trust your alliances. They will not save you. (v. 9-15)
- Build your foundation on the law of God (v. 16-22)
My Takeaways
- Find time to be quiet and peaceful, not rushed or anxious.
- Don’t let current events unsettle you. Trust God and let Him be your anchor.
- Waiting requires two kinds of discipline: trust and deferred gratification.
- The scriptures can help us recognize truth and avoid falsehoods.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Soft vs. Strong Waters – 2 Nephi 18:6-8
The Waters of Shiloah – 2 Nephi 18:6-8
6 Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son; 7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria and all his glory; and he shall come up over all his…
❖ Don’t Panic – 2 Nephi 18:12-13
Say Ye Not, A Confederacy – 2 Nephi 18:12-13
12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. (2 Nephi 18:12-13, Isaiah 8:12-13) The Hebrew word which is translated as…
❖ Waiting – 2 Nephi 18:17
I Will Wait upon the Lord – 2 Nephi 18:17
17 And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. (2 Nephi 18:17, Isaiah 8:17) Sometimes it’s hard to see God’s hand in our lives. We may feel abandoned and forgotten when things aren’t going well, and especially when there are dark…
Waiting for Clarity
Our brains crave certainty. When coupled with impatience, this urge can be harmful. It can cause us to settle for easy answers. Isaiah said, “I will wait upon the Lord.” Faith in God includes trusting that He will eventually resolve all ambiguities.
❖ Building on a Solid Foundation – 2 Nephi 18:19-20
To the Law and to the Testimony – 2 Nephi 18:19-20
19 And when they shall say unto you: Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and mutter—should not a people seek unto their God for the living to hear from the dead? 20 To the law and to the testimony; and if they speak not according to this word, it…
Old Testament Foundations
Emmanuel
The author of Psalm 46 wants us to know that God is not a distant and detached monarch. He is very much involved in our lives, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” We may be surrounded by turmoil. “The waters” may “roar and be troubled,” and “the mountains” may “shake,” but the author…
God With Us
Isaiah prophesied that a virgin would bear a son and call him “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” As Abinadi testified, God Himself came to earth. Jesus fulfilled that prophecy. We are not only walking toward God and Christ. We are walking with Them.
All Posts Referencing 2 Nephi 18
- Contents of the Brass Plates (1/3/2026)
- Waiting for Clarity (3/2/2024)
- God With Us (12/24/2023)
- Emmanuel (1/7/2023)
- “They Shall Not Be Ashamed That Wait for Me” (1/24/2021)
- Words of Comfort and Encouragement from Isaiah (2/20/2020)
- Which of Isaiah’s Writings Are Quoted in the Book of Mormon? (5/31/2019)
- What Is the Historical Context for the Book of Isaiah? (5/30/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Fear? (5/8/2019)
- I Will Wait upon the Lord – 2 Nephi 18:17 (10/10/2018)
- Say Ye Not, A Confederacy – 2 Nephi 18:12-13 (9/17/2017)
- To the Law and to the Testimony – 2 Nephi 18:19-20 (3/3/2015)
- The Waters of Shiloah – 2 Nephi 18:6-8 (3/3/2015)