Come, Follow Me · Week 40 · September 28–October 4

Isaiah 40–49

This Week's Reading

This week's Come, Follow Me reading in Isaiah 40–49 focuses on the glorious return of the Lord and His promise to gather Israel from all nations. The prophet declares that God will come with strength to rule and gently care for His people like a shepherd. These chapters emphasize that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer who created us, redeemed us, and guides us by the way we should go. The reading teaches that despite our failures or distant wanderings, the Savior calls us back to Him with power and tenderness.

Key Passages

Isaiah 40:9–11 invites Zion to proclaim good tidings because the Lord will come with a strong hand to feed His flock gently like a shepherd carrying lambs in His bosom.
Isaiah 42:1–4 describes the Servant whom God upholds, who brings judgment to truth without breaking a bruised reed or quenching smoking flax until He sets justice on earth.
Isaiah 43:1–7 assures Jacob and Israel that they are precious in God's sight, promising protection through waters and fire while gathering His children from every direction to form them for His glory.
Isaiah 44:1–5 commands Jacob not to fear because the Lord has chosen him and will pour out water on the thirsty and His spirit upon His seed to spring up like willows by water courses.
Isaiah 48:17–19 reveals that the Lord is the Redeemer who teaches us to profit and leads us, lamenting that our peace was not a river because we did not hearken to His commandments.

Questions to Ponder

How does the image of the Lord gently carrying lambs in His bosom change your perspective on how He cares for you today?
In what ways do you need the Savior's strength when you feel weak, like a bruised reed or smoking flax that might be broken or quenched?
What does it mean to you personally that God has called you by name and formed you specifically for His glory?
How can you respond with faith when you realize you have not hearkened to the Lord's commandments, trusting that He still leads you by the way?

A Thought to Take Home

The Savior is both mighty in power and tender in love, ready to gather us from every nation and lead us home. We are precious in His sight, and He has not forgotten us even when we wander far from His path. By studying these scriptures and praying with a humble heart, we can find the peace that surpasses all understanding and feel the Spirit guiding our steps.

Further study Isaiah 40:9–11, Isaiah 42:1–4, Isaiah 43:1–7, Isaiah 44:1–5, Isaiah 48:17–19

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This guide was prepared with AI from the scriptures and checked against the text; it can still make mistakes. For the Church's own guidance, read the official Come, Follow Me manual for this week. Nephite Atlas is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Key passages

Isaiah 40:9–11

⁹O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! ¹⁰Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. ¹¹He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Isaiah 42:1–4

¹Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. ²He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. ³A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. ⁴He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

Isaiah 43:1–7

¹But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. ²When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. ³For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. ⁴Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. ⁵Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; ⁶I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; ⁷Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

Isaiah 44:1–5

¹Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: ²Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. ³For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: ⁴And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. ⁵One shall say, I am the LORD's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.

Isaiah 48:17–19

¹⁷Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. ¹⁸O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea: ¹⁹Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.