Day 206 of My 3rd Bible Study Journey - 25 July 2023 reflections
Day 206, 25 July 2022
1) Isaiah 40,41,42,43
Isaiah 40
Comfort for God's People
1 (Isa 51:12; 51:3) Comfort, O comfort, My people, says your God.
2 (Isa 61:7; Jer 16:18) Speak kindly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare has ended,
that her iniquity has been pardoned,
that she has received of the hand of the Lord
double for all her sins.
3 (Mal 3:1; Jn 1:23; Mal 4:5-6 ) The voice of him who cries out,
"Prepare the way of the Lord
in the wilderness,
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
4 (Isa 45:2; Eze 21:26 ) Let every valley be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low,
and let the rough ground become a plain,
and the rough places a plain;
5 (Isa 1:20; 52:10) then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it."
6 (Job 14:2; Ps 102:11) The voice said, "Cry out."
And he said, "What shall I cry out?"
All flesh is grass,
and all its loveliness is as the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
because the Spirit of the Lord blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
8 (Mt 5:18; 1Pe 1:25) The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God shall stand forever.
9 (Isa 25:9; 12:2) O Zion, bearer of good news,
get yourself up onto a high mountain;
O Jerusalem, bearer of good news,
lift up your voice with strength,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the cities of Judah,
"Here is your God!"
10 (Isa 62:11; Rev 22:12) See, the Lord God will come with a strong hand,
and His arm shall rule for Him;
see, His reward is with Him,
and His recompense before Him.
11 (Eze 34:23; Mic 5:4) He 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.
12 (Pr 30:4; Heb 1:10-12) Who has measured the waters
in the hollow of His hand,
and meted out heaven with the span,
and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure,
and weighed the mountains in scales,
and the hills in a balance?
13 (Ro 11:34; 1Co 2:16 ) Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord,
or as His counselor has taught Him?
14 (Col 2:3; Job 21:22) With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him,
and taught Him in the path of justice,
and taught Him knowledge,
and showed to Him the way of understanding?
15 (Jer 10:10) Certainly the nations are as a drop in a bucket,
and are counted as the small dust of the balance;
He takes up the coastlands as a very little thing.
16 (Mic 6:6-7) Lebanon is not sufficient to burn,
nor the beasts sufficient as a burnt offering.
17 (Ps 62:9) All nations before Him are as nothing,
and they are counted by Him as less than nothing
and meaningless.
18 (Isa 46:5; Ac 17:29; Ex 8:10) To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to Him?
19 (Ps 115:4-8; Hab 2:18-19) The workman melts a graven image,
and the goldsmith spreads it over with gold,
and casts silver chains.
20 (1Sa 5:3-4; Isa 41:7) He who is too impoverished for such an offering
chooses a tree that will not rot;
he seeks for himself a skillful workman
to prepare a graven image that shall not totter.
21 (Ac 14:17) Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told to you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 (Nu 13:33; Ps 104:2) It is He who sits upon the circle of the earth,
and the inhabitants are as grasshoppers,
who stretches out the heavens as a curtain,
and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in.
23 (Job 12:21; Ps 107:40) He brings the princes to nothing;
He makes the judges of the earth meaningless.
24 (Isa 41:16; 17:13) Scarcely shall they be planted;
scarcely shall they be sown;
scarcely shall their tree take root in the earth,
when He will also blow on them,
and they will wither,
and the whirlwind will take them away as stubble.
25 (Isa 40:18) To whom then will you liken Me,
that I should be equal to him? says the Holy One.
26 (Ps 89:11-13; Isa 48:13) Lift up your eyes on high,
and see who has created these things,
who brings out their host by number;
He calls them all by name,
by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power;
not one of them is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and assert, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my justice escapes the notice of my God"?
28 (Ps 147:5; Ge 21:33; Isa 57:15) Have you not known?
Have you not heard,
that the everlasting God, the Lord,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
does not faint, nor is He weary?
His understanding is inscrutable.
29 (Isa 41:10) He gives power to the faint,
and to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 (Isa 9:17) Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall,
31 (2Co 4:16; Ps 103:5; Ex 19:4) but those who wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
and they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40
[1] Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
[2] Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is
accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the
LORD's hand double for all her sins.
[3] The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of
the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
[4] Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made
low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
[5] And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it
together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
[6] The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass,
and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
[7] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD
bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
[8] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall
stand for ever.
[9] O 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!
[10] Behold, 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.
[11] He 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.
[12] Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out
heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure,
and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
[13] Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath
taught him?
[14] With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in
the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of
understanding?
[15] Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the
small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little
thing.
[16] And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof
sufficient for a burnt offering.
[17] All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less
than nothing, and vanity.
[18] To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto
him?
[19] The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over
with gold, and casteth silver chains.
[20] He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree
that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven
image, that shall not be moved.
[21] Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from
the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
[22] It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the
inhabitants
thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain,
and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
[23] That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth
as vanity.
[24] Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their
stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them,
and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
[25] To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
[26] Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things,
that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the
greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
[27] Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from
the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
[28] Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the
LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?
there is no searching of his understanding.
[29] He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he
increaseth strength.
[30] Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall
utterly fall:
[31] But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they
shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 41
The Lord Helps Israel
1 (Hab 2:20; Zec 2:13) Keep silent before Me, O islands,
and let the peoples renew their strength.
Let them come near, then let them speak;
let us come near together to judgment.
2 (Isa 40:24; 45:1) Who raised up the righteous man from the east,
called him to His foot,
gave the nations before him,
and made him rule over kings?
He makes them as the dust with his sword,
and as driven stubble with his bow.
3 He pursued them, and passed safely,
by paths his feet have not traveled.
4 (Isa 41:26; 48:12) Who has performed and done this,
calling the generations from the beginning?
I, the Lord, am the first,
and with the last. I am He.
5 (Jos 5:1; Ps 67:7) The coastlands saw it and feared,
the ends of the earth were afraid;
they drew near and came.
6 Every one helped his neighbor,
and every one said to his brother, "Be of good courage."
7 (Isa 40:19-20) So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith,
and he who smooths metal with the hammer
encourages him who strikes the anvil,
saying, "It is ready for the soldering";
and he fastened it with nails so that it should not totter.
8 (2Ch 20:7; Jas 2:23) But you, Israel, are My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
the seed of Abraham, My friend.
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
and called from its remotest parts,
and said to you, "You are My servant;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you."
10 (Jos 1:9; Isa 41:13-14) Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
11 (Isa 45:24; Ex 23:22) Certainly all those who were incensed against you
shall be ashamed and humiliated;
they shall be as nothing,
and those who strive with you shall perish.
12 (Ps 37:35-36; Job 20:7-9) You shall seek them
and shall not find them, even those who contended with you.
Those who war against you
shall be as nothing, as a thing of nonexistence.
13 (Isa 45:1) For I, the Lord your God,
will hold your right hand,
saying to you, "Do not fear;
I will help you."
14 (Ps 22:6; Isa 43:14) Do not fear, you worm Jacob,
and you men of Israel.
I will help you, says the Lord
and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
15 (Mic 4:13; Hab 3:12) See, I will make you a new sharp threshing instrument
with double edges;
you shall thresh the mountains, and beat them small,
and shall make the hills as chaff.
16 (Jer 51:2) You shall fan them, and the wind shall carry them away,
and the whirlwind shall scatter them;
and you shall rejoice in the Lord,
and shall glory in the Holy One of Israel.
17 (Isa 30:19; 42:16) When the poor and needy seek water,
and there is none,
and their tongues fail for thirst,
I, the Lord, will hear them,
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
18 (Ps 107:35; Isa 30:25) I will open rivers in high places,
and fountains in the midst of the valleys;
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
and the dry land springs of water.
19 (Isa 55:13; 60:13) I will plant in the wilderness
the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive tree;
I will set in the desert
the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together,
20 (Job 12:9) that they may see, and know,
and consider, and understand together,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
and the Holy One of Israel has created it.
[1] Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their
strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near
together to judgment.
[2] Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot,
gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as
the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.
[3] He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not
gone with his feet.
[4] Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the
beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
[5] The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew
near, and came.
[6] They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother,
Be of good courage.
[7] So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with
the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering:
and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.
[8] But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of
Abraham my friend.
[9] Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from
the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have
chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
[10] Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I
will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with
the right hand of my righteousness.
[11] Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and
confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall
perish.
[12] Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended
with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a
thing of nought.
[13] For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear
not; I will help thee.
[14] Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee,
saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
[15] Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth:
thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the
hills as chaff.
[16] Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the
whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt
glory in the Holy One of Israel.
[17] When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue
faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not
forsake them.
[18] I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the
valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land
springs of water.
[19] I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the
myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the
pine, and the box tree together:
[20] That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together,
that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath
created it.
The Futility of Idols
21 Present your case, says the Lord.
Bring forth your arguments, says the King of Jacob.
22 (Isa 45:21; 46:10) Let them bring them forth, and show us
what shall happen;
let them show the former things, what they were,
that we may consider them
and know their outcome,
or declare to us things to come.
23 (Isa 42:9; 44:7-8) Show the things that are to come hereafter,
that we may know that you are gods;
do good, or do evil,
that we may be dismayed and see it together.
24 (Ps 115:8; 1Co 8:4) Indeed you are nothing,
and your work amounts to nothing;
he who chooses you is an abomination.
25 (Isa 41:2; 2Sa 22:43) I have raised up one from the north,
and he shall come;
from the rising of the sun he shall call on My name;
and he shall come on princes as on mortar,
and as the potter treads clay.
26 (Isa 41:22; 44:7) Who has declared from the beginning, that we may know?
And from former times, that we may say, "He is right!"?
There is no one who shows,
no one who declares,
no one who hears your words.
27 (Isa 40:9; 52:7) Formerly I said to Zion, "Look, here they are,"
and to Jerusalem, "I will give one who brings good news."
28 (Isa 63:5) But when I look, there is no man,
even among them, and there is no counselor
who, when I ask of them, could answer a word.
29 (Isa 41:24; Jer 5:13) See, they all are vanity;
their works are nothing;
their molded images are wind and emptiness.
[21] Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons,
saith the King of Jacob.
[22] Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew
the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the
latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
[23] Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye
are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it
together.
[24] Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is
he that chooseth you.
[25] I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising
of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as
upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.
[26] Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime,
that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea,
there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.
[27] The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to
Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.
[28] For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no
counseller, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
[29] Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten
images are wind and confusion.
Isaiah 42
The Servant of the Lord
1 (Isa 43:10; 52:13) Here is My servant, whom I uphold,
My chosen one, in whom My soul delights.
I have put My Spirit upon him;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations.
2 (Zec 9:9) He shall not cry out, nor lift up his voice,
nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
3 (Ps 96:13; 147:3) A bruised reed he shall not break,
and the smoking flax he shall not quench;
he shall bring forth justice faithfully.
4 (Ge 49:10; Isa 60:9) He shall not be disheartened nor be discouraged,
until he has set justice in the earth;
and the coastlands shall wait for his law.
5 (Ac 17:25; Job 12:10) Thus says God the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread forth the earth and that which comes out of it,
who gives breath to the people on it,
and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 (Lk 2:32; Isa 49:6; 49:8) I the Lord have called You in righteousness,
and will hold Your hand,
and will keep You and appoint You
for a covenant of the people,
for a light of the nations,
7 (Isa 35:5; 61:1; 49:9) to open the blind eyes,
to bring out the prisoners from the prison,
and those who sit in darkness out of the prison house.
8 (Isa 48:11; Ex 20:3-5) I am the Lord, that is My name;
and My glory I will not give to another,
nor My praise to graven images.
9 (Isa 43:19) See, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.
[1] Behold 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.
[2] He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the
street.
[3] A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not
quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
[4] He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the
earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
[5] Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them
out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he
that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk
therein:
[6] I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand,
and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light
of the Gentiles;
[7] To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and
them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
[8] I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another,
neither my praise to graven images.
[9] Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do declare:
before they spring forth I tell you of them.
A Song of Praise
10 (Ps 33:3; 40:3) Sing to the Lord a new song,
and His praise from the ends of the earth,
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
the coastlands, and the inhabitants.
11 (Isa 32:16; 60:7) Let the wilderness and the cities lift up their voices,
the villages that Kedar inhabits.
Let the inhabitants of Sela sing,
let them shout from the top of the mountains.
12 Let them give glory to the Lord,
and declare His praise in the islands.
13 (Ps 78:65; Hos 11:10) The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man;
He shall stir up zeal like a man of war.
He shall cry out, yes, raise a war cry;
He shall prevail against His enemies.
[10] Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the
earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and
the inhabitants thereof.
[11] Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the
villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let
them shout from the top of the mountains.
[12] Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.
[13] The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like
a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his
enemies.
The Lord's Help Is Promised
14 I have for a long time held My peace;
I have been still and refrained Myself.
Now I will cry like a travailing woman;
I will destroy and devour at once.
15 (Isa 50:2; Na 1:4-6) I will lay waste mountains and hills
and dry up all their vegetation,
and I will make the rivers islands,
and I will dry up the pools.
16 (Isa 29:18; 32:3 ) I will bring the blind by a way that they did not know;
I will lead them in paths that they have not known.
I will make darkness light before them
and crooked things straight.
These things I will do for them
and not forsake them.
17 (Ps 97:7; Isa 1:29) They shall be turned back,
they shall be greatly ashamed,
who trust in graven images,
who say to the molded images, "You are our gods."
[14] I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained
myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at
once.
[15] I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and
I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
[16] And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead
them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before
them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not
forsake them.
[17] They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in
graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
Israel's Disobedience
18 (Isa 29:18) Hear, you deaf;
look, you blind, that you may see.
19 (Jer 5:21; Eze 12:2) Who is blind, but My servant?
Or deaf, as My messenger whom I sent?
Who is blind as he who is at peace with Me,
and blind as the servant of the Lord?
20 You have seen many things, but you do not observe them;
your ears are open, but no one hears.
21 The Lord is well pleased
for His righteousness' sake
to magnify the law and make it honorable.
22 (Isa 14:17) But this is a people robbed and despoiled;
they are all snared in holes,
and they are hidden in prison houses;
they are for a prey,
and no one delivers,
for a spoil,
and no one says, "Restore them."
23 (Isa 48:18) Who among you will give ear to this?
Who will listen and hear for the time to come?
24 Who gave up Jacob as spoil,
and Israel to the robbers?
Did not the Lord,
against whom we have sinned?
For they would not walk in His ways,
nor were they obedient to His law.
25 (Hos 7:9; Isa 57:11) Therefore, He has poured on him the fury of His anger
and the strength of battle;
and it has set him on fire all around, yet he did not recognize it;
and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
[18] Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
[19] Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who
is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's servant?
[20] Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he
heareth not.
[21] The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify
the law, and make it honourable.
[22] But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in
holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none
delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.
[23] Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the
time to come?
[24] Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the
LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways,
neither were they obedient unto his law.
[25] Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the
strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew
not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
Isaiah 43
The Redeemer of Israel
1 (Isa 43:7; 44:2) But now, thus says the Lord
who created you, O Jacob,
and He who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
2 (Ps 66:12; Da 3:25-27) When you pass through waters,
I will be with you.
And through the rivers,
they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire,
you shall not be burned,
nor shall the flame kindle on you.
3 (Ex 20:2; Pr 21:18) For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 (Ex 19:5-6) Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honorable,
and I have loved you;
therefore, I will give men for you,
and people for your life.
5 (Isa 49:12; 44:2) Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
and gather you from the west;
6 I will say to the north, "Give them up,"
and to the south, "Do not keep them back.
Bring My sons from afar,
and My daughters from the ends of the earth,
7 (Ps 100:3; Isa 43:1) even everyone who is called by My name,
for I have created him for My glory;
I have formed him, and I have made him."
8 (Isa 6:9; Eze 12:2) Bring forth the blind people who have eyes,
and the deaf who have ears.
9 (Isa 41:1; 43:26) Let all the nations be gathered together,
and let the people be assembled.
Who among them can declare this,
and show us former things?
Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified;
or let them hear and say, "It is true."
10 (Isa 41:4; 42:1) You are My witnesses, says the Lord,
and My servant whom I have chosen
that you may know and believe Me,
and understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
nor shall there be after Me.
11 (Hos 13:4; Dt 6:4) I, even I, am the Lord,
and besides Me there is no savior.
12 (Dt 32:12; Isa 43:10) I have declared, and have saved, and I have shown,
when there was no strange god among you;
therefore, you are My witnesses, says the Lord, that I am God.
13 (Ps 90:2; Job 9:12) Indeed, from eternity I am He;
there is no one who can deliver out of My hand;
I act, and who can reverse it?
14 (Isa 23:13) Thus says the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
For your sake I have sent to Babylon,
and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans,
into the ships in which they rejoice.
15 (Isa 43:1) I am the Lord, your Holy One,
the Creator of Israel, your King.
16 (Ps 77:19; Isa 51:10) Thus says the Lord,
who makes a way in the sea
and a path in the mighty waters,
17 (Isa 1:31; Ex 14:4-9) who brings forth the chariot and horse,
the army and the mighty men
(they shall lie down together, they shall not rise;
they are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick):
18 (Isa 65:17) Do not remember the former things
nor consider the things of old.
19 (Ex 17:6; Nu 20:11) See, I will do a new thing,
now it shall spring forth; shall you not be aware of it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert.
20 (Isa 48:21; 13:22) The beast of the field shall honor Me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I give waters in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert,
to give drink to My people, My chosen ones.
21 (1Pe 2:9; Ps 102:18) This people I have formed for Myself;
they shall declare My praise.
[1] But 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.
[2] When 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.
[3] For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave
Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
[4] Since 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.
[5] Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and
gather thee from the west;
[6] I 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;
[7] Even 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.
[8] Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
[9] Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be
assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let
them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them
hear, and say, It is truth.
[10] Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen:
that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me
there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
[11] I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
[12] I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no
strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD,
that I am God.
[13] Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out
of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
[14] Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your
sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the
Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
[15] I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
[16] Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the
mighty waters;
[17] Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power;
they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they
are quenched as tow.
[18] Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
[19] Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not
know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
[20] The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls:
because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give
drink to my people, my chosen.
[21] This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
Pleading With Israel
22 (Mic 6:3; Mal 1:13) But you have not called upon Me, O Jacob;
but you have been weary of Me, O Israel.
23 (Am 5:25; Zec 7:5-6) You have not brought Me the sheep
for your burnt offerings,
nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings,
nor wearied you with incense.
24 (Isa 1:14; 7:13) You have bought Me no sweet cane with money,
nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices;
but you have made Me burdened with your sins;
you have wearied Me with your iniquities.
25 (Isa 37:35; 44:22) I, even I, am He who blots out
your transgressions for My own sake,
and will not remember your sins.
26 (Isa 1:18; 43:9) Put Me in remembrance;
let us plead together;
state your cause, that you may be justified.
27 (Jer 5:31; Isa 28:7) Your first father has sinned,
and your teachers have transgressed against Me.
28 (Jer 24:9; Ps 79:4) Therefore, I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary,
and have given Jacob to the curse,
and Israel to reproaches.
[22] But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of
me, O Israel.
[23] Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings;
neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to
serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.
[24] Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled
me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy
sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.
[25] I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own
sake, and will not remember thy sins.
[26] Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou
mayest be justified.
[27] Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed
against me.
[28] Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given
Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.
2) Our Daily Bread for 25 July 2022 titled
Every Grief
Revelation 21:1-6
The New Heaven and the New Earth
1 (Isa 66:22; 2Pe 3:13) Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth."(Isa 65:17.)
For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no
more sea.
2 (Heb 11:10; Rev 3:12) I, John, saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned
for her husband.
3 (2Co 6:16; Rev 7:15) And I heard a loud voice from heaven, saying,
"Look! The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them.
They shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them
and be their God.
4 (Isa 25:8; 35:10; 1Co 15:26) 'God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
There shall be no more death.'(Isa 25:8.) Neither shall there be any more
sorrow nor crying nor pain, for the former things have passed away."
5 (Rev 4:9; 20:11) He who was seated on the throne said,
"Look! I am making all things new." Then He said to me,
"Write, for these words are faithful and true."
6 (Rev 1:8; 22:13; Jn 4:10) He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha
and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the spring
of the water of life to him who thirsts.
[1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the
first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
[2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of
heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
[3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle
of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his
people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
[4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no
more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for the former things are passed away.
[5] And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And
he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
[6] And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and
the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water
of life freely.
"I measure every Grief I meet," the 19th-century poet Emily Dickinson wrote,
"With narrow, probing, eyes - / I wonder if It weighs like Mine - / Or has
an Easier size." The poem is a moving reflection on how people carry the
unique ways they've been wounded throughout their lives. Dickinson concludes,
almost hesitantly, with her only solace: the "piercing Comfort" of seeing at
Calvary her own wounds reflected in the Saviour's:
"Still fascinated to presume / That Some - are like my own -."
The book of Revelation describes Jesus, our Savior, as a "Lamb, looking as
if it had been slain" (5:6; see v. 12), His wounds still visible. Wounds
earned through taking upon Himself the sin and despair of His people
(1 Peter 2:24-25), so that they might have new life and hope.
And Revelation describes a future day when the Saviour will "wipe every tear"
from each of His children's eyes (21:4). Jesus won’t minimize their pain, but
truly see and care for each person's unique grief-while inviting them into the
new, healing realities of life in His kingdom, where there is "no more death
or mourning or crying or pain" (v. 4). Where healing water will flow
"without cost from the spring of the water of life" (v. 6; see 22:2).
Because our Savior has carried our every grief,
we can find rest and healing in His kingdom.
By: Monica La Rose
Reflect & Pray
When have you felt truly seen in your pain?
How has God comforted you in hard times?
Dear God, thank You for seeing, understanding, and carrying all my grief.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 3 - Let the Word Dwell in You
Col 3:16
16 (Eph 5:19; Col 1:28; Ro 10:17) Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Every day, whether we are aware of it or not, our minds are
bombarded by 20th Century values: "Dress for success!" "Get ahead!"
"You deserve a break today ...." Television, radio, and the incessant
voices that surround us distract our attention and keep us from
focusing on what is really important in our lives.
Paul's instruction to the Colossian Church brings us back to God's
value system: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."
When we give attention to the Word of God, we put ourselves in a position
to hear a higher truth the clamour of immediate demands
and the expectations of the world around us. We can experience peace
in the midst of struggle and rest in a restless environment.
God's Word is a powerful force for good in our lives - not merely
an attractive philosophy, but true power to overcome the pressures
of daily life.
Dwelling on the Word of God, and letting it indwell us, takes many forms.
Scripture memory, music, meditation, talking with others about the
goodness of God all help us keep our attention focused on Christ rather
than on the values of the world around us.
We can choose to listen to Christian radio or tapes. We can take time
daily for quiet meditation on his Word. We can commit the Word to memory
and draw on its power during the day. And as we listen to the voice
of the Spirit rather than the noise around us, we can enter into
his peace and live in communion with him.
Application
a) What pressures do I face that tend to distract me from the reality
of Christ's presence?
b) How can I "let the word of Christ dwell richly" in me, so that I
an regain my focus on him?
c) What practical changes can I make in my life to help me focus
my attention on Jesus and his word?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Gen 13:2,5-6,14-17
2 (Ge 24:35; Ps 112:1-3) Abram was very wealthy in livestock,
in silver and in gold.
5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.
6 (Ge 36:6-7) But the land was not able to support them
both dwelling together because their possessions were so great.
14 (Ge 28:14; Dt 3:27) After Lot had departed from him,
the Lord said to Abram,
"Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are,
northward and southward and eastward and westward.
15 (Ge 12:7; 2Ch 20:7) All the land that you see I will give to you
and to your descendants forever.
16 (Ge 28:14; Nu 23:10) I will make your descendants like the dust
of the earth, so that if a man could number the dust of the earth,
then your descendants could also be numbered.
17 Arise, and walk throughout the land across its length
and its width, for I will give it to you."
2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together:
for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him,
Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward,
and southward, and eastward, and westward:
15 for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it,
and to thy seed for ever.
16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man
can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it;
for I will give it unto thee.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Generous Provision
Ps 145:13b-21
13 Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon You,
and You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
and loving in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him,
to all who call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and will save them.
20 The Lord preserves all those who love Him,
but all the wicked He will destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all people bless His holy name
forever and ever.
13 And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
14 The LORD upholdeth all that fall,
And raiseth up all those that be bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon thee;
And thou givest them their meat in due season.
16 Thou openest thine hand,
And satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways,
And holy in all his works.
18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him,
To all that call upon him in truth.
19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him:
He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20 The LORD preserveth all them that love him:
But all the wicked will he destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD:
And let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Where do Muslims live?
Canada is a land of immigrants. And Muslims are coming in increasing numbers
to our shores. Where do they live? How can we pray for these areas? Use this as
your more effectively for Muslims in Canada.
Data for those population figures is extrapolated for the 2011 National
Household Survey and population growth projections by Pew Forum. These have
also been adjusted by +40% as reliable sources state that on 60% of Muslims
self-identify on government surveys and forms. These estimates are still on
the conservative end of the spectrum. Percentages represent that of the total
Canadian population, not provincial
BC - 136493 - 7.5%
AB - 195240 - 11%
SK - 17279 - 1%
MB - 21349 - 1.2%
ON - 1001542 - 55%
QC - 418946 - 23%
NB - 4543 - 0.003%
NS - 14629 - 0.1%
PEI - 1127 - 0.0006%
NFLD - 2065 - 0.001%
Yukon - 69 - 0.00004%
NWT - 473 - 0.0003%
NU - 86 - 0.00005%
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 25 of the Month
a) Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or
community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.
(Acts 2: 41,47b
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized,
and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
47 ... And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:
and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
47 ... And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
)
b) Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true
justice for all.
( Prov 11:1
1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is His delight.
1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD:
But a just weight is his delight.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to Lord to know him as the One who gives you
strength and as redeemer.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear God, thank You for seeing, understanding,
and carrying all my grief."
Pray to the Lord and pray for the Word of the Lord to dwell in you richly.
Pray to the Lord and pray to remember the Lord's blessings.
Pray to the Lord and pray to remember His Righteousness.
Pray for Muslims in Canada to know Jesus as Saviour.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or
community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.
Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true
justice for all.
Pray that the economic crisis in Lebanon will give believers further
opportunities to share the hope of the Gospel.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
1) Isaiah 40,41,42,43
Isaiah 40
Comfort for God's People
1 (Isa 51:12; 51:3) Comfort, O comfort, My people, says your God.
2 (Isa 61:7; Jer 16:18) Speak kindly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare has ended,
that her iniquity has been pardoned,
that she has received of the hand of the Lord
double for all her sins.
3 (Mal 3:1; Jn 1:23; Mal 4:5-6 ) The voice of him who cries out,
"Prepare the way of the Lord
in the wilderness,
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
4 (Isa 45:2; Eze 21:26 ) Let every valley be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low,
and let the rough ground become a plain,
and the rough places a plain;
5 (Isa 1:20; 52:10) then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it."
6 (Job 14:2; Ps 102:11) The voice said, "Cry out."
And he said, "What shall I cry out?"
All flesh is grass,
and all its loveliness is as the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
because the Spirit of the Lord blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
8 (Mt 5:18; 1Pe 1:25) The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God shall stand forever.
9 (Isa 25:9; 12:2) O Zion, bearer of good news,
get yourself up onto a high mountain;
O Jerusalem, bearer of good news,
lift up your voice with strength,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the cities of Judah,
"Here is your God!"
10 (Isa 62:11; Rev 22:12) See, the Lord God will come with a strong hand,
and His arm shall rule for Him;
see, His reward is with Him,
and His recompense before Him.
11 (Eze 34:23; Mic 5:4) He 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.
12 (Pr 30:4; Heb 1:10-12) Who has measured the waters
in the hollow of His hand,
and meted out heaven with the span,
and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure,
and weighed the mountains in scales,
and the hills in a balance?
13 (Ro 11:34; 1Co 2:16 ) Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord,
or as His counselor has taught Him?
14 (Col 2:3; Job 21:22) With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him,
and taught Him in the path of justice,
and taught Him knowledge,
and showed to Him the way of understanding?
15 (Jer 10:10) Certainly the nations are as a drop in a bucket,
and are counted as the small dust of the balance;
He takes up the coastlands as a very little thing.
16 (Mic 6:6-7) Lebanon is not sufficient to burn,
nor the beasts sufficient as a burnt offering.
17 (Ps 62:9) All nations before Him are as nothing,
and they are counted by Him as less than nothing
and meaningless.
18 (Isa 46:5; Ac 17:29; Ex 8:10) To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to Him?
19 (Ps 115:4-8; Hab 2:18-19) The workman melts a graven image,
and the goldsmith spreads it over with gold,
and casts silver chains.
20 (1Sa 5:3-4; Isa 41:7) He who is too impoverished for such an offering
chooses a tree that will not rot;
he seeks for himself a skillful workman
to prepare a graven image that shall not totter.
21 (Ac 14:17) Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told to you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 (Nu 13:33; Ps 104:2) It is He who sits upon the circle of the earth,
and the inhabitants are as grasshoppers,
who stretches out the heavens as a curtain,
and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in.
23 (Job 12:21; Ps 107:40) He brings the princes to nothing;
He makes the judges of the earth meaningless.
24 (Isa 41:16; 17:13) Scarcely shall they be planted;
scarcely shall they be sown;
scarcely shall their tree take root in the earth,
when He will also blow on them,
and they will wither,
and the whirlwind will take them away as stubble.
25 (Isa 40:18) To whom then will you liken Me,
that I should be equal to him? says the Holy One.
26 (Ps 89:11-13; Isa 48:13) Lift up your eyes on high,
and see who has created these things,
who brings out their host by number;
He calls them all by name,
by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power;
not one of them is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and assert, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my justice escapes the notice of my God"?
28 (Ps 147:5; Ge 21:33; Isa 57:15) Have you not known?
Have you not heard,
that the everlasting God, the Lord,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
does not faint, nor is He weary?
His understanding is inscrutable.
29 (Isa 41:10) He gives power to the faint,
and to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 (Isa 9:17) Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall,
31 (2Co 4:16; Ps 103:5; Ex 19:4) but those who wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
and they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40
[1] Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
[2] Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is
accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the
LORD's hand double for all her sins.
[3] The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of
the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
[4] Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made
low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
[5] And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it
together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
[6] The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass,
and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
[7] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD
bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
[8] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall
stand for ever.
[9] O 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!
[10] Behold, 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.
[11] He 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.
[12] Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out
heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure,
and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
[13] Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath
taught him?
[14] With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in
the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of
understanding?
[15] Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the
small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little
thing.
[16] And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof
sufficient for a burnt offering.
[17] All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less
than nothing, and vanity.
[18] To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto
him?
[19] The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over
with gold, and casteth silver chains.
[20] He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree
that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven
image, that shall not be moved.
[21] Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from
the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
[22] It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the
inhabitants
thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain,
and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
[23] That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth
as vanity.
[24] Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their
stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them,
and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
[25] To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
[26] Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things,
that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the
greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
[27] Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from
the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
[28] Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the
LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?
there is no searching of his understanding.
[29] He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he
increaseth strength.
[30] Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall
utterly fall:
[31] But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they
shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 41
The Lord Helps Israel
1 (Hab 2:20; Zec 2:13) Keep silent before Me, O islands,
and let the peoples renew their strength.
Let them come near, then let them speak;
let us come near together to judgment.
2 (Isa 40:24; 45:1) Who raised up the righteous man from the east,
called him to His foot,
gave the nations before him,
and made him rule over kings?
He makes them as the dust with his sword,
and as driven stubble with his bow.
3 He pursued them, and passed safely,
by paths his feet have not traveled.
4 (Isa 41:26; 48:12) Who has performed and done this,
calling the generations from the beginning?
I, the Lord, am the first,
and with the last. I am He.
5 (Jos 5:1; Ps 67:7) The coastlands saw it and feared,
the ends of the earth were afraid;
they drew near and came.
6 Every one helped his neighbor,
and every one said to his brother, "Be of good courage."
7 (Isa 40:19-20) So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith,
and he who smooths metal with the hammer
encourages him who strikes the anvil,
saying, "It is ready for the soldering";
and he fastened it with nails so that it should not totter.
8 (2Ch 20:7; Jas 2:23) But you, Israel, are My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
the seed of Abraham, My friend.
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
and called from its remotest parts,
and said to you, "You are My servant;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you."
10 (Jos 1:9; Isa 41:13-14) Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
11 (Isa 45:24; Ex 23:22) Certainly all those who were incensed against you
shall be ashamed and humiliated;
they shall be as nothing,
and those who strive with you shall perish.
12 (Ps 37:35-36; Job 20:7-9) You shall seek them
and shall not find them, even those who contended with you.
Those who war against you
shall be as nothing, as a thing of nonexistence.
13 (Isa 45:1) For I, the Lord your God,
will hold your right hand,
saying to you, "Do not fear;
I will help you."
14 (Ps 22:6; Isa 43:14) Do not fear, you worm Jacob,
and you men of Israel.
I will help you, says the Lord
and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
15 (Mic 4:13; Hab 3:12) See, I will make you a new sharp threshing instrument
with double edges;
you shall thresh the mountains, and beat them small,
and shall make the hills as chaff.
16 (Jer 51:2) You shall fan them, and the wind shall carry them away,
and the whirlwind shall scatter them;
and you shall rejoice in the Lord,
and shall glory in the Holy One of Israel.
17 (Isa 30:19; 42:16) When the poor and needy seek water,
and there is none,
and their tongues fail for thirst,
I, the Lord, will hear them,
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
18 (Ps 107:35; Isa 30:25) I will open rivers in high places,
and fountains in the midst of the valleys;
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
and the dry land springs of water.
19 (Isa 55:13; 60:13) I will plant in the wilderness
the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive tree;
I will set in the desert
the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together,
20 (Job 12:9) that they may see, and know,
and consider, and understand together,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
and the Holy One of Israel has created it.
[1] Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their
strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near
together to judgment.
[2] Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot,
gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as
the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.
[3] He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not
gone with his feet.
[4] Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the
beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
[5] The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew
near, and came.
[6] They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother,
Be of good courage.
[7] So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with
the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering:
and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.
[8] But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of
Abraham my friend.
[9] Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from
the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have
chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
[10] Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I
will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with
the right hand of my righteousness.
[11] Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and
confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall
perish.
[12] Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended
with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a
thing of nought.
[13] For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear
not; I will help thee.
[14] Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee,
saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
[15] Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth:
thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the
hills as chaff.
[16] Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the
whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt
glory in the Holy One of Israel.
[17] When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue
faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not
forsake them.
[18] I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the
valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land
springs of water.
[19] I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the
myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the
pine, and the box tree together:
[20] That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together,
that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath
created it.
The Futility of Idols
21 Present your case, says the Lord.
Bring forth your arguments, says the King of Jacob.
22 (Isa 45:21; 46:10) Let them bring them forth, and show us
what shall happen;
let them show the former things, what they were,
that we may consider them
and know their outcome,
or declare to us things to come.
23 (Isa 42:9; 44:7-8) Show the things that are to come hereafter,
that we may know that you are gods;
do good, or do evil,
that we may be dismayed and see it together.
24 (Ps 115:8; 1Co 8:4) Indeed you are nothing,
and your work amounts to nothing;
he who chooses you is an abomination.
25 (Isa 41:2; 2Sa 22:43) I have raised up one from the north,
and he shall come;
from the rising of the sun he shall call on My name;
and he shall come on princes as on mortar,
and as the potter treads clay.
26 (Isa 41:22; 44:7) Who has declared from the beginning, that we may know?
And from former times, that we may say, "He is right!"?
There is no one who shows,
no one who declares,
no one who hears your words.
27 (Isa 40:9; 52:7) Formerly I said to Zion, "Look, here they are,"
and to Jerusalem, "I will give one who brings good news."
28 (Isa 63:5) But when I look, there is no man,
even among them, and there is no counselor
who, when I ask of them, could answer a word.
29 (Isa 41:24; Jer 5:13) See, they all are vanity;
their works are nothing;
their molded images are wind and emptiness.
[21] Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons,
saith the King of Jacob.
[22] Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew
the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the
latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
[23] Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye
are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it
together.
[24] Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is
he that chooseth you.
[25] I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising
of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as
upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.
[26] Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime,
that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea,
there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.
[27] The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to
Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.
[28] For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no
counseller, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
[29] Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten
images are wind and confusion.
Isaiah 42
The Servant of the Lord
1 (Isa 43:10; 52:13) Here is My servant, whom I uphold,
My chosen one, in whom My soul delights.
I have put My Spirit upon him;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations.
2 (Zec 9:9) He shall not cry out, nor lift up his voice,
nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
3 (Ps 96:13; 147:3) A bruised reed he shall not break,
and the smoking flax he shall not quench;
he shall bring forth justice faithfully.
4 (Ge 49:10; Isa 60:9) He shall not be disheartened nor be discouraged,
until he has set justice in the earth;
and the coastlands shall wait for his law.
5 (Ac 17:25; Job 12:10) Thus says God the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread forth the earth and that which comes out of it,
who gives breath to the people on it,
and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 (Lk 2:32; Isa 49:6; 49:8) I the Lord have called You in righteousness,
and will hold Your hand,
and will keep You and appoint You
for a covenant of the people,
for a light of the nations,
7 (Isa 35:5; 61:1; 49:9) to open the blind eyes,
to bring out the prisoners from the prison,
and those who sit in darkness out of the prison house.
8 (Isa 48:11; Ex 20:3-5) I am the Lord, that is My name;
and My glory I will not give to another,
nor My praise to graven images.
9 (Isa 43:19) See, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.
[1] Behold 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.
[2] He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the
street.
[3] A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not
quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
[4] He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the
earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
[5] Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them
out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he
that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk
therein:
[6] I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand,
and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light
of the Gentiles;
[7] To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and
them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
[8] I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another,
neither my praise to graven images.
[9] Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do declare:
before they spring forth I tell you of them.
A Song of Praise
10 (Ps 33:3; 40:3) Sing to the Lord a new song,
and His praise from the ends of the earth,
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
the coastlands, and the inhabitants.
11 (Isa 32:16; 60:7) Let the wilderness and the cities lift up their voices,
the villages that Kedar inhabits.
Let the inhabitants of Sela sing,
let them shout from the top of the mountains.
12 Let them give glory to the Lord,
and declare His praise in the islands.
13 (Ps 78:65; Hos 11:10) The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man;
He shall stir up zeal like a man of war.
He shall cry out, yes, raise a war cry;
He shall prevail against His enemies.
[10] Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the
earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and
the inhabitants thereof.
[11] Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the
villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let
them shout from the top of the mountains.
[12] Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.
[13] The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like
a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his
enemies.
The Lord's Help Is Promised
14 I have for a long time held My peace;
I have been still and refrained Myself.
Now I will cry like a travailing woman;
I will destroy and devour at once.
15 (Isa 50:2; Na 1:4-6) I will lay waste mountains and hills
and dry up all their vegetation,
and I will make the rivers islands,
and I will dry up the pools.
16 (Isa 29:18; 32:3 ) I will bring the blind by a way that they did not know;
I will lead them in paths that they have not known.
I will make darkness light before them
and crooked things straight.
These things I will do for them
and not forsake them.
17 (Ps 97:7; Isa 1:29) They shall be turned back,
they shall be greatly ashamed,
who trust in graven images,
who say to the molded images, "You are our gods."
[14] I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained
myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at
once.
[15] I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and
I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
[16] And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead
them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before
them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not
forsake them.
[17] They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in
graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
Israel's Disobedience
18 (Isa 29:18) Hear, you deaf;
look, you blind, that you may see.
19 (Jer 5:21; Eze 12:2) Who is blind, but My servant?
Or deaf, as My messenger whom I sent?
Who is blind as he who is at peace with Me,
and blind as the servant of the Lord?
20 You have seen many things, but you do not observe them;
your ears are open, but no one hears.
21 The Lord is well pleased
for His righteousness' sake
to magnify the law and make it honorable.
22 (Isa 14:17) But this is a people robbed and despoiled;
they are all snared in holes,
and they are hidden in prison houses;
they are for a prey,
and no one delivers,
for a spoil,
and no one says, "Restore them."
23 (Isa 48:18) Who among you will give ear to this?
Who will listen and hear for the time to come?
24 Who gave up Jacob as spoil,
and Israel to the robbers?
Did not the Lord,
against whom we have sinned?
For they would not walk in His ways,
nor were they obedient to His law.
25 (Hos 7:9; Isa 57:11) Therefore, He has poured on him the fury of His anger
and the strength of battle;
and it has set him on fire all around, yet he did not recognize it;
and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
[18] Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
[19] Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who
is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's servant?
[20] Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he
heareth not.
[21] The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify
the law, and make it honourable.
[22] But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in
holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none
delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.
[23] Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the
time to come?
[24] Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the
LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways,
neither were they obedient unto his law.
[25] Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the
strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew
not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
Isaiah 43
The Redeemer of Israel
1 (Isa 43:7; 44:2) But now, thus says the Lord
who created you, O Jacob,
and He who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
2 (Ps 66:12; Da 3:25-27) When you pass through waters,
I will be with you.
And through the rivers,
they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire,
you shall not be burned,
nor shall the flame kindle on you.
3 (Ex 20:2; Pr 21:18) For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 (Ex 19:5-6) Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honorable,
and I have loved you;
therefore, I will give men for you,
and people for your life.
5 (Isa 49:12; 44:2) Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
and gather you from the west;
6 I will say to the north, "Give them up,"
and to the south, "Do not keep them back.
Bring My sons from afar,
and My daughters from the ends of the earth,
7 (Ps 100:3; Isa 43:1) even everyone who is called by My name,
for I have created him for My glory;
I have formed him, and I have made him."
8 (Isa 6:9; Eze 12:2) Bring forth the blind people who have eyes,
and the deaf who have ears.
9 (Isa 41:1; 43:26) Let all the nations be gathered together,
and let the people be assembled.
Who among them can declare this,
and show us former things?
Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified;
or let them hear and say, "It is true."
10 (Isa 41:4; 42:1) You are My witnesses, says the Lord,
and My servant whom I have chosen
that you may know and believe Me,
and understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
nor shall there be after Me.
11 (Hos 13:4; Dt 6:4) I, even I, am the Lord,
and besides Me there is no savior.
12 (Dt 32:12; Isa 43:10) I have declared, and have saved, and I have shown,
when there was no strange god among you;
therefore, you are My witnesses, says the Lord, that I am God.
13 (Ps 90:2; Job 9:12) Indeed, from eternity I am He;
there is no one who can deliver out of My hand;
I act, and who can reverse it?
14 (Isa 23:13) Thus says the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
For your sake I have sent to Babylon,
and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans,
into the ships in which they rejoice.
15 (Isa 43:1) I am the Lord, your Holy One,
the Creator of Israel, your King.
16 (Ps 77:19; Isa 51:10) Thus says the Lord,
who makes a way in the sea
and a path in the mighty waters,
17 (Isa 1:31; Ex 14:4-9) who brings forth the chariot and horse,
the army and the mighty men
(they shall lie down together, they shall not rise;
they are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick):
18 (Isa 65:17) Do not remember the former things
nor consider the things of old.
19 (Ex 17:6; Nu 20:11) See, I will do a new thing,
now it shall spring forth; shall you not be aware of it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert.
20 (Isa 48:21; 13:22) The beast of the field shall honor Me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I give waters in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert,
to give drink to My people, My chosen ones.
21 (1Pe 2:9; Ps 102:18) This people I have formed for Myself;
they shall declare My praise.
[1] But 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.
[2] When 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.
[3] For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave
Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
[4] Since 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.
[5] Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and
gather thee from the west;
[6] I 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;
[7] Even 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.
[8] Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
[9] Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be
assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let
them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them
hear, and say, It is truth.
[10] Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen:
that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me
there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
[11] I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
[12] I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no
strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD,
that I am God.
[13] Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out
of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
[14] Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your
sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the
Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
[15] I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
[16] Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the
mighty waters;
[17] Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power;
they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they
are quenched as tow.
[18] Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
[19] Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not
know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
[20] The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls:
because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give
drink to my people, my chosen.
[21] This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
Pleading With Israel
22 (Mic 6:3; Mal 1:13) But you have not called upon Me, O Jacob;
but you have been weary of Me, O Israel.
23 (Am 5:25; Zec 7:5-6) You have not brought Me the sheep
for your burnt offerings,
nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings,
nor wearied you with incense.
24 (Isa 1:14; 7:13) You have bought Me no sweet cane with money,
nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices;
but you have made Me burdened with your sins;
you have wearied Me with your iniquities.
25 (Isa 37:35; 44:22) I, even I, am He who blots out
your transgressions for My own sake,
and will not remember your sins.
26 (Isa 1:18; 43:9) Put Me in remembrance;
let us plead together;
state your cause, that you may be justified.
27 (Jer 5:31; Isa 28:7) Your first father has sinned,
and your teachers have transgressed against Me.
28 (Jer 24:9; Ps 79:4) Therefore, I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary,
and have given Jacob to the curse,
and Israel to reproaches.
[22] But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of
me, O Israel.
[23] Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings;
neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to
serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.
[24] Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled
me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy
sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.
[25] I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own
sake, and will not remember thy sins.
[26] Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou
mayest be justified.
[27] Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed
against me.
[28] Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given
Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.
2) Our Daily Bread for 25 July 2022 titled
Every Grief
Revelation 21:1-6
The New Heaven and the New Earth
1 (Isa 66:22; 2Pe 3:13) Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth."(Isa 65:17.)
For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no
more sea.
2 (Heb 11:10; Rev 3:12) I, John, saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned
for her husband.
3 (2Co 6:16; Rev 7:15) And I heard a loud voice from heaven, saying,
"Look! The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them.
They shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them
and be their God.
4 (Isa 25:8; 35:10; 1Co 15:26) 'God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
There shall be no more death.'(Isa 25:8.) Neither shall there be any more
sorrow nor crying nor pain, for the former things have passed away."
5 (Rev 4:9; 20:11) He who was seated on the throne said,
"Look! I am making all things new." Then He said to me,
"Write, for these words are faithful and true."
6 (Rev 1:8; 22:13; Jn 4:10) He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha
and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the spring
of the water of life to him who thirsts.
[1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the
first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
[2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of
heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
[3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle
of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his
people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
[4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no
more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for the former things are passed away.
[5] And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And
he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
[6] And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and
the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water
of life freely.
"I measure every Grief I meet," the 19th-century poet Emily Dickinson wrote,
"With narrow, probing, eyes - / I wonder if It weighs like Mine - / Or has
an Easier size." The poem is a moving reflection on how people carry the
unique ways they've been wounded throughout their lives. Dickinson concludes,
almost hesitantly, with her only solace: the "piercing Comfort" of seeing at
Calvary her own wounds reflected in the Saviour's:
"Still fascinated to presume / That Some - are like my own -."
The book of Revelation describes Jesus, our Savior, as a "Lamb, looking as
if it had been slain" (5:6; see v. 12), His wounds still visible. Wounds
earned through taking upon Himself the sin and despair of His people
(1 Peter 2:24-25), so that they might have new life and hope.
And Revelation describes a future day when the Saviour will "wipe every tear"
from each of His children's eyes (21:4). Jesus won’t minimize their pain, but
truly see and care for each person's unique grief-while inviting them into the
new, healing realities of life in His kingdom, where there is "no more death
or mourning or crying or pain" (v. 4). Where healing water will flow
"without cost from the spring of the water of life" (v. 6; see 22:2).
Because our Savior has carried our every grief,
we can find rest and healing in His kingdom.
By: Monica La Rose
Reflect & Pray
When have you felt truly seen in your pain?
How has God comforted you in hard times?
Dear God, thank You for seeing, understanding, and carrying all my grief.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 3 - Let the Word Dwell in You
Col 3:16
16 (Eph 5:19; Col 1:28; Ro 10:17) Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Every day, whether we are aware of it or not, our minds are
bombarded by 20th Century values: "Dress for success!" "Get ahead!"
"You deserve a break today ...." Television, radio, and the incessant
voices that surround us distract our attention and keep us from
focusing on what is really important in our lives.
Paul's instruction to the Colossian Church brings us back to God's
value system: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."
When we give attention to the Word of God, we put ourselves in a position
to hear a higher truth the clamour of immediate demands
and the expectations of the world around us. We can experience peace
in the midst of struggle and rest in a restless environment.
God's Word is a powerful force for good in our lives - not merely
an attractive philosophy, but true power to overcome the pressures
of daily life.
Dwelling on the Word of God, and letting it indwell us, takes many forms.
Scripture memory, music, meditation, talking with others about the
goodness of God all help us keep our attention focused on Christ rather
than on the values of the world around us.
We can choose to listen to Christian radio or tapes. We can take time
daily for quiet meditation on his Word. We can commit the Word to memory
and draw on its power during the day. And as we listen to the voice
of the Spirit rather than the noise around us, we can enter into
his peace and live in communion with him.
Application
a) What pressures do I face that tend to distract me from the reality
of Christ's presence?
b) How can I "let the word of Christ dwell richly" in me, so that I
an regain my focus on him?
c) What practical changes can I make in my life to help me focus
my attention on Jesus and his word?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Gen 13:2,5-6,14-17
2 (Ge 24:35; Ps 112:1-3) Abram was very wealthy in livestock,
in silver and in gold.
5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.
6 (Ge 36:6-7) But the land was not able to support them
both dwelling together because their possessions were so great.
14 (Ge 28:14; Dt 3:27) After Lot had departed from him,
the Lord said to Abram,
"Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are,
northward and southward and eastward and westward.
15 (Ge 12:7; 2Ch 20:7) All the land that you see I will give to you
and to your descendants forever.
16 (Ge 28:14; Nu 23:10) I will make your descendants like the dust
of the earth, so that if a man could number the dust of the earth,
then your descendants could also be numbered.
17 Arise, and walk throughout the land across its length
and its width, for I will give it to you."
2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together:
for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him,
Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward,
and southward, and eastward, and westward:
15 for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it,
and to thy seed for ever.
16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man
can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it;
for I will give it unto thee.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Generous Provision
Ps 145:13b-21
13 Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon You,
and You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
and loving in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him,
to all who call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and will save them.
20 The Lord preserves all those who love Him,
but all the wicked He will destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all people bless His holy name
forever and ever.
13 And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
14 The LORD upholdeth all that fall,
And raiseth up all those that be bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon thee;
And thou givest them their meat in due season.
16 Thou openest thine hand,
And satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways,
And holy in all his works.
18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him,
To all that call upon him in truth.
19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him:
He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20 The LORD preserveth all them that love him:
But all the wicked will he destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD:
And let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Where do Muslims live?
Canada is a land of immigrants. And Muslims are coming in increasing numbers
to our shores. Where do they live? How can we pray for these areas? Use this as
your more effectively for Muslims in Canada.
Data for those population figures is extrapolated for the 2011 National
Household Survey and population growth projections by Pew Forum. These have
also been adjusted by +40% as reliable sources state that on 60% of Muslims
self-identify on government surveys and forms. These estimates are still on
the conservative end of the spectrum. Percentages represent that of the total
Canadian population, not provincial
BC - 136493 - 7.5%
AB - 195240 - 11%
SK - 17279 - 1%
MB - 21349 - 1.2%
ON - 1001542 - 55%
QC - 418946 - 23%
NB - 4543 - 0.003%
NS - 14629 - 0.1%
PEI - 1127 - 0.0006%
NFLD - 2065 - 0.001%
Yukon - 69 - 0.00004%
NWT - 473 - 0.0003%
NU - 86 - 0.00005%
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 25 of the Month
a) Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or
community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.
(Acts 2: 41,47b
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized,
and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
47 ... And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:
and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
47 ... And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
)
b) Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true
justice for all.
( Prov 11:1
1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is His delight.
1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD:
But a just weight is his delight.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to Lord to know him as the One who gives you
strength and as redeemer.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear God, thank You for seeing, understanding,
and carrying all my grief."
Pray to the Lord and pray for the Word of the Lord to dwell in you richly.
Pray to the Lord and pray to remember the Lord's blessings.
Pray to the Lord and pray to remember His Righteousness.
Pray for Muslims in Canada to know Jesus as Saviour.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or
community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.
Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true
justice for all.
Pray that the economic crisis in Lebanon will give believers further
opportunities to share the hope of the Gospel.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.