The gathering of Israel is a significant theme running throughout the book of Isaiah. It has also been a major theme emphasized by prophets and apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The purpose of this post is to provide some resources for studying the gathering of Israel, both from Isaiah’s perspective and as taught in the Church.
Isaiah lived during the scattering of the northern kingdom and prophesied of Judah’s later captivity and return. Against that background, he repeatedly promised that the Lord would remember His covenant and gather His people. That gathering is accomplished through Jesus Christ, and Nephi’s invitation to liken Isaiah’s words to ourselves helps us see the gathering not only as the history and future of Israel, but also as the Savior’s effort to gather each of us personally to Him.
Context: the scattering of the ten tribes
The scattering of the ten tribes by the nation of Assyria happened during Isaiah’s ministry. Understanding that context helps us understand why the gathering is such a significant theme in Isaiah’s writings.
I discussed the context and history relevant to Isaiah in my post, “How is Isaiah Organized?” It is briefly mentioned here for convenience:
- 1,000 B.C., David
- 970 B.C., Solomon
- 930 B.C., Solomon’s death, and the division of the northern and southern kingdoms
- The northern 10 tribes were called Israel (or Ephraim)
- The southern 2 tribes were called Judah.
- 740 B.C., Isaiah
- 721 B.C., Assyria invades the northern kingdom of Israel and takes the 10 tribes into captivity.
- 586 B.C., Babylonian exile
- 539 B.C., Persia, Cyrus, and the return from Babylon
Isaiah lived through Assyria’s invasion, the conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel (also called Ephraim), and the scattering of the ten tribes. However, he also prophesied of the Babylonian exile and eventual return under King Cyrus of Persia. Because the scattering of Israel was a major part of Isaiah’s life and ministry, it gives us context for understanding why Isaiah wrote so much about the gathering.
The gathering
Because it is a major theme in Isaiah, scriptures about the gathering abound. The following are merely representative:
- Isa. 5:26-30 – He will lift up an ensign to the nations; none shall be weary nor stumble among them
- Isa. 11:10–12 – The Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people
- Isa. 27:12–13 – Ye shall be gathered one by one
- Isa. 35:10 – The ransomed of the Lord shall return
- Isa. 40:10–11 – He shall gather the lambs with his arm
- Isa. 43:2–7 – When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee
- Isa. 49:22–23 – I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles
- Isa. 51:11 – The redeemed of the Lord shall return
- Isa. 54:7–10 – With great mercies will I gather thee
- Isa. 66:18–20 – I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory
There are also many scriptures in the Book of Mormon that talk about this theme. A careful reading of 1 Nephi 11 through 14 shows that Nephi’s vision contains many elements of the gathering, and Nephi also provides tremendous commentary on Isaiah’s writings, such as these:
- 1 Nephi 19:15–16 – Then will he remember the covenants which he made to their fathers
- 1 Nephi 22:3–12, 25 – He gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth
Many scriptures, both in Isaiah and the Book of Mormon, discuss the gathering. This short list helps us see the clear theme that runs throughout Isaiah.
The Savior is the gatherer
The gathering of Israel is a significant theme, but the overriding theme that makes the gathering relevant is Jesus Christ. He is the Lord, the great Jehovah, and it is He who made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which is why He is so concerned with the gathering. The Abrahamic covenant is the reason the gathering is possible. As we read Isaiah, we see that it is the Savior, in His great mercy, who gathers Israel:
- Isa. 9:6–7 – Unto us a child is born
- Isa. 22:22–24 – I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place
- Isa. 25:8–9 – It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God
- Isa. 40:10–11 – He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm
- Isa. 49:14–16 – I will not forget thee. I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands
- Isa. 53:3–6 – Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows
- Isa. 54:7–10 – For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee
- Isa. 61:1–3 – The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me
We often recognize Isaiah’s prophecies of the Savior, but many of those prophecies are closely connected with the gathering. The Savior honors His covenants by working to gather His people. Significantly, Isaiah’s description of the Savior’s suffering and Atonement in Isaiah 53 is followed immediately by the Lord’s promise in Isaiah 54: “with great mercies will I gather thee.”
The gathering is personal to each individual
We think of the “gathering of Israel” as a broad work that applies to someone other than ourselves. But the gathering is very personal. The Savior is seeking not only to find and gather the lost tribes of Israel but also to gather each individual to Him. Isaiah teaches us that the gathering is broad in its scope but also applies to each individual.
The biggest clue to this is found in the Book of Mormon. Nephi explained why he read Isaiah to his brethren: “[T]hat I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.” (1 Nephi 19:23).
The scattering and gathering apply to each of us individually. No matter what we have done, no matter how far we have strayed, no matter whether we have turned our back to Him, He works to gather us individually.
As you read the following scriptures, think about how they might apply to you, how the Lord is working to gather you to Him, and what you might need to do to come unto Him:
- Isa. 1:16-18 – Wash you, make you clean; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow
- Isa. 40:11 – He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom
- Isa. 43:1–2 – Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine
- Isa. 49:14–16 – I will not forget thee; I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands
- Isa. 55:6-7 – Seek ye the Lord; let the wicked forsake his way
- Isa. 57:15 – I dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit
- Isa. 58:6–11 – Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens?
- Isa. 58:13–14 – Call the sabbath a delight
- Isa. 59:1–2 – The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save
You are precious to Him, and He is working to gather you. That gathering occurs as we make every effort to give our hearts to Him.
Latter-day teachings about the gathering
Many prophets and apostles have taught about the gathering. The following are only a few examples:
- Russell M. Nelson, “The Gathering of Scattered Israel,” General Conference, October 2006
- David A. Bednar, “A Reservoir of Living Water,” BYU Speeches, February 4, 2007 (His discussion of gathering in this talk is primarily an illustration of a principle of scripture study, but it made a profound impression on me; so now whenever I think of the gathering, I think of this talk)
- President Russell M. Nelson and Sister Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel,” Youth Devotional, June 3, 2018
- D. Todd Christofferson, “Preparing for the Lord’s Return,” General Conference, April 2019
- Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Russell M. Nelson, Chapter 9, “The Gathering of Israel“
Conclusion
There are many great teachings in Isaiah, but a major theme is the gathering of Israel. The Savior Himself taught, “Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah. For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles.” (3 Nephi 23:1-2).
When the Savior says that Isaiah spoke of “all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel,” that necessarily includes the scattering and gathering of Israel.
But the gathering is not only part of the history of the house of Israel; it also applies to each person individually. When we consider the gathering as applicable to each individual, it becomes closely connected with repentance. The Savior calls us to turn toward Him, come unto Him, and rely upon Him:
The first and natural consequence of trusting in the Savior is repenting and turning away from evil. As we exercise faith in and on the Lord, we naturally turn toward, come unto, and depend upon Him. Thus, repentance is trusting in and relying upon the Redeemer to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Each of us must “[rely] wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save” because only “through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” can we become new creatures in Christ and ultimately return to and dwell in the presence of God.
David A. Bednar, “Gather Together in One All Things in Christ,” General Conference, October 2018.
The Savior stands with open arms ready to receive us if we will come unto Him. Isaiah teaches us that no matter what we’ve done, or how distant from Him we may feel, He is always working to gather us if we are willing to come unto Him.
