Wednesday, July 17, 2013

The people may see and know, may consider and understand

Isaiah 41:1-29
The Lord - with the first of them and with the last - I am he.
The Lord says to his servant, Jacob. "You are my servant, I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strenghen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
For I myself will help you , declares the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
The people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this that the Holy One of Israel has creadted it. He turns the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into springs.
v2 Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service?
v 25 I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes- one from the rising sun who calls on my name. He treads on rulers as if they were mortar, as if he were a potter treading the clay.
See, they are all false! Their deeds amount to nothing; their images are but wind and confustion. There works are utterly worthless; he who chooses you is detestable. - the idle and their followers
Why?
The Lord is my God, He is with me, so I do not fear, do not be dismayed. He is my redeemer, the Lord will help me. Almighty God may turn desert to pool of water, creates new thing to me.
One from the North is Babyron and one from east and the rising sun who calls on the name of God, is Cyrus the Persian (from Israel the route was north, then east)
God's tone is that of the stern lawyer as he brigs the nations to court.
With God's own people he is infinitely loving and tender. He is at hand to help They have nothing to fear.
My servant: THe nation as God's servant is a recurring theme in Isaiah.
God calls the gods of the nations - who are no gods- to account. Only God, the one true God, can do that.
The Lord may stir up an enemy to against people who are evildoer and goes with them who follow his words.
How?
Those who hope in the Lord will not dispointed for the Lord creates new ways and new things to me. What I should fear? Praise the name of the Lord!

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