Help is on the way, proclaims Isaiah. You may be surrounded by chaos and darkness, but God’s light will shine through, in the form of His Son. Jesus is the perfect leader, and He will not give up on you. Whatever happens, His arm is extended to help you.
Chapter Outline
- Jesus will bring light and peace (v. 1-7).
- When you try to rebuild alone, His hand is stretched out still (v. 8-12).
- When you rely on leaders instead of God, His hand is stretched out still (v. 13-17).
- When you selfishly refuse to cooperate with others, His hand is stretched out still (v. 18-21). (See also 2 Nephi 15:25, 2 Nephi 20:4.)
My Takeaways
- The Savior can bring us light and hope, even in the darkest of times.
- Jesus provides the perfect example of righteous leadership.
- Just as God’s arm remains extended to us, we should reach out our arm to help those in need.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Light from Darkness – 2 Nephi 19:2-3
“The People That Walked in Darkness” – 2 Nephi 19:2
Even when we are surrounded by darkness, we can be filled with light. The ancient prophet Micah wrote, “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me” (Micah 7:8). And King David affirmed, “The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness” (Psalm 18:28). Isaiah prophesied that the coming…
❖ The Savior’s Government and Peace – 2 Nephi 19:6-7
What Is the Significance of the Name “Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace?”
Jesus Christ is the perfect leader. He gives good advice, He is powerful, and He brings peace and happiness to those He leads.
Wonderful Counselor – 2 Nephi 19:6-7
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of government and peace there is no end, upon the throne…
Of Government and Peace – 2 Nephi 19:6-7
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of government and peace there is no end, upon the throne…
❖ God’s Patience – 2 Nephi 19:8-21
His Hand Is Stretched Out Still – 2 Nephi 19:12, 17, 21; 20:4
…For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. (2 Nephi 19:12, 17, 21; 20:4; Isaiah 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4) As he describes the rebelliousness of the kingdom of Israel, Isaiah repeatedly uses the phrase quoted above. Four times in two chapters (and once in an earlier chapter—2…
Old Testament Foundations
The Sons of Jacob
Jacob had twelve sons. Each of them was unique, with his own strengths and weaknesses. In the Genesis narrative, as each son is born, we learn not only their name but also the significance of the name to Rachel or Leah (Genesis 29:32-35, Genesis 30:1-24, Genesis 35:18). Some of these boys were their literal children,…
Breaking a Yoke
A yoke is a wooden beam placed on the necks of two animals so that they can pull together. That’s the literal definition. Throughout the scriptures, the term is also used metaphorically to represent servitude or oppression. Perhaps that’s because the Hebrew word for yoke—ol (עֹל)—is related to the verb alal (עָלַל), which means to…
New Testament Parallels
Unto You / Unto Us
The angel told the shepherds that he had good news for everyone, but then he made it personal: “Unto you is born…a Saviour.” The Atonement of Jesus Christ is both universal and personal. It is for everyone, but we receive His power one by one.
To Give Light
Eight days after John the Baptist was born, his parents brought him to be circumcised. At that time, they named him, and his father Zacharias gave him a blessing, known commonly as the Benedictus. (See Bible Dictionary: “Hymns,” “Zacharias.”) The first part of that blessing speaks of the mission of Jesus Christ as a fulfillment…
Church History Connections
A House of Order
I’ve been listening to Supreme Court arguments the past couple of weeks. In each case, the attorneys are seeking a favorable outcome for their client. But because Supreme Court decisions influence outcomes in lower courts, the justices are focused on the broader implications of their decisions. What principles are they applying in this case, and…
All Posts Referencing 2 Nephi 19
- Contents of the Brass Plates (1/3/2026)
- The Prince of Peace (3/3/2024)
- Unto You / Unto Us (12/19/2023)
- No Darkness (12/2/2023)
- “From Darkness to Light” (8/5/2023)
- To Give Light (1/4/2023)
- Unto Us a Child Is Born (12/25/2022)
- The Sons of Jacob (3/5/2022)
- Breaking a Yoke (2/27/2022)
- A House of Order (11/12/2021)
- “The People That Walked in Darkness” – 2 Nephi 19:2 (2/5/2021)
- Words of Comfort and Encouragement from Isaiah (2/20/2020)
- How Can the Words of Isaiah Bring Us Joy? (2/19/2020)
- “Thine Anger Is Turned Away” – 2 Nephi 22:1 (2/18/2020)
- Why Is Light an Appropriate Symbol for the Birth of Christ? (12/7/2019)
- What Is “Stoutness of Heart?” (9/4/2019)
- 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 Anger? (5/9/2019)
- What Is the Significance of the Name “Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace?” (3/16/2019)
- His Hand Is Stretched Out Still – 2 Nephi 19:12, 17, 21; 20:4 (10/11/2018)
- Of Government and Peace – 2 Nephi 19:6-7 (9/19/2017)
- The People That Walk in Darkness – 2 Nephi 19:2-4 (9/18/2017)
- Wonderful Counselor – 2 Nephi 19:6-7 (3/4/2015)