Isaiah 43-45, Psalm 150

0:00We are reading Isaiah chapter 43 through 45 and Psalm 150. Here, on Commuter Bible, O T. God's people are precious in His sight, so much so that He has given up other nations in order to ransom them from destruction. Though a time of judgment is coming upon them, the Lord assures them that He will protect His faithful ones in their time of distress. Time and again, God's people have forsaken Him for other gods, but there is no Savior besides Him, and no other God has proven His power, might, and for knowledge like the God of Israel. Idols and those who fashion them are put to shame, for the one who makes them and bows down to them also uses the same wood to cook his dinner. Later, Isaiah prophesied of a king not yet born, king Cyrus of Persia. Isaiah chapters 43 through 45.

1:05Now this is what the Lord says, the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior. I have given Egypt as a ransom for you, Kush and Siba in your place, because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you. I will give people in exchange for you and nations instead of your life.

2:05Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, give them up, and to the south. Do not hold them back. Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the ends of the earth. Everyone who bears my name and is created for my glory. I have formed them. Indeed, I have made them. All of them are gathered together, and the peoples are assembled. Who among them can declare this, and tell us the former things? Let them present their witnesses to indicate themselves, so that people may hear and say, It is true. You are my witnesses. This is the Lord's declaration. And by servant whom I have chosen, may your untolds, will be no more than

3:08And by servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. No God was formed before me, and there will be none after me. I am the Lord. Besides me, there is no Savior. I alone declared, saved and proclaimed, and not some foreign God among you. You are my witnesses. This is the Lord's declaration, and I am God. Also from today on, I am He alone, and none can rescue from my power. I act, and who can reverse it. This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says.

4:08Because of you, I will send an army to Babylon, and bring all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans and the ships in which they rejoice. I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. This is what the Lord says, who makes a way in the sea, and a path through raging water, who brings out the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty one together. They lie down, they do not rise again. They are extinguished, put out like a wick. Do not remember the past events. Pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new, even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.

5:10Wild animals, jackals and ostriches will honor me, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert to give drink to my chosen people. The people I formed for myself will declare my praise. But Jacob, you have not called on me, because Israel you have become weary of me. You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings or weared you within since. You have not brought me aromatic cane with silver or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins. You have weary to me with your iniquities. I am the one. I sweep away your transgressions for my own sake and remember your sins no more.

6:18Remind me. Let's argue the case together. Recount the facts so that you may be vindicated. Your first father, sinned and your mediators have rebelled against me. So I defiled the officers of the sanctuary and set Jacob apart for destruction and Israel for scorn. And now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel whom I have chosen.

7:30This is the word of the Lord your Maker, the one who formed you from the womb. He will help you. Do not fear Jacob, my servant, Jesheron whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground. I will pour out my spirit on your descendants and my blessing on your offspring. They will sprout among the grass like poplars by flowing streams. This one will say, I am the Lord's. Another will use the name of Jacob. Still another will write on his hand the Lord's and take on the name of Israel. This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of Armies, says. I am the first and I am the last.

8:32There is no God but me. Who like me can announce the future. Let him say so and make a case before me since I have established an ancient people. Let these gods declare the coming things and what will take place. Do not be startled or afraid. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God but me? There is no other rock. I do not know any. All who make idols are nothing and what they treasure benefits no one. Their witnesses do not see or know anything so they will be put to shame. Who makes a God or casts a metal image that benefits no one? Look, all its worshippers will be put to shame and the craftsmen are humans.

9:34They all will assemble and stand. They all will be startled and put to shame. The iron worker labors over the coals, shapes the idol with hammers and works it with his strong arm. Also he grows hungry and his strength fails. He doesn't drink water and is faint. The wood worker stretches out a measuring line. He outlines it with a stylus. He shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He makes it according to a human form, like a beautiful person to dwell in a temple. He cuts down cedars for his use or he takes a cypress or an oak. He lets it grow among the trees of the forest. He plants a laryl and the rain makes it grow. A person can use it for fuel. He takes some of it and warms himself.

10:34Also he kindles a fire and begs bread. He even makes it into a god and worships it. He makes an idol from it and bows down to it. He burns half of it in a fire and he roasts meat on that half. He eats the roast and is satisfied. He warms himself and says, I am warm. I see the blaze. He makes a god or his idol with the rest of it. He bows down to it and worships. He prays to it. Save me for you are my god. Such people do not comprehend and cannot understand. For he has shut their eyes. So they cannot see and their minds. So they cannot understand. No one comes to his senses.

11:34No one has the perception or insight to say, I burned half of it in the fire. I also baked bread on its coals. I roasted meat and ate. Should I make something detestable with the rest of it? Should I bow down to a block of wood? He feeds on ashes. His deceived mind has led him astray. And he cannot rescue himself or say, Isn't there a lie in my right hand? Remember these things, Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant. I formed you. You are my servant. Israel, you will never be forgotten by me. I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like a mist. Return to me. For I have redeemed you.

12:37Rejoice heavens for the Lord has acted. Shout depths of the earth, break out into singing mountains, forest and every tree in it. For the Lord has redeemed Jacob and glorifies himself through Israel. This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb, says, I am the Lord, who made everything, who stretched out the heavens by myself, who alone spread out the earth, who destroys the omens of the false prophets, and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise, and makes their knowledge foolishness, who confirms the message of his servant, and fulfills the counsel of his messengers, who says to Jerusalem, she will be inhabited, and to the cities of Judah, they will be rebuilt,

13:39and I will restore her ruins, who says to the depths of the sea, be dry, and I will dry up your rivers, who says to Cyrus, my shepherd, he will fulfill all my pleasure, and says to Jerusalem, she will be rebuilt, and of the temple its foundation will be laid.

14:47The Lord says this to Cyrus, his anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, and disarm kings to open doors before him, and even city gates will not be shut. I will go before you, and level the uneven places. I will shatter the bronze doors, and cut the iron bars into. I will give you the treasures of darkness, and riches from secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, I am the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. I call you by your name for the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen one. I give a name to you, though you do not know me.

15:50I am the Lord, and there is no other, there is no God but me. I will strengthen you, though you do not know me, so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is no one but me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light, and create darkness. I make success, and create disaster. I am the Lord, who does all these things. Heavens, sprinkle from above, and let the skies shower righteousness. Let the earth open up so that salvation will sprout, and righteousness will spring up with it. I, the Lord, have created it. Woe to the one who argues with his maker. One clay pot among many. Does clay say to the one forming it?

16:53What are you making? Or does your work say he has no hands? Woe to the one who says to his father. What are you fathering? Or to his mother? What are you giving birth to? This is what the Lord, the Holy One of Israel and its maker, says. Ask me what has to happen to my sons, and instruct me about the work of my hands. I made the earth, and created humans on it. It was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded everything in them. I have stirred him up in righteousness, and will level all roads for him. He will rebuild my city, and set my exiles free. Not for a price, or a bribe, says the Lord of armies. This is what the Lord says.

17:54The products of Egypt, and the merchandise of Kush, and the Sabians, men of Stature, will come over to you, and will be yours. They will follow you. They will come over in chains, and bow down to you. They will confess to you. God is indeed with you, and there is no other. There is no other God. Yes. You are a God who hides God of Israel, Savior. All of them are put to shame, even humiliated. The makers of idols go in humiliation together. Israel will be saved by the Lord, with an everlasting salvation. You will not be put to shame, or humiliated for all eternity. This is what the Lord says. The creator of the heavens, the God who formed the earth, and made it,

18:54the one who established it. He did not create it to be a wasteland, but formed it to be inhabited. He says, I am the Lord, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, somewhere in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob. Seek me in a wasteland. I am the Lord, who speaks righteously, who declares what is right. Come, gather together, and approach you fugitives of the nations. Those who carry their wooden idols and pray to a God who cannot save, have no knowledge. Speak up, and present your case. Yes, let them consult each other. Who predicted this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times?

19:57Was it not I, the Lord? There is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is no one except me. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, truth has gone from my mouth, a word that will not be revoked. Every knee will bow to me, every tongue will swear allegiance. It will be said about me. Righteousness and strength are found only in the Lord. All who are enraged against him will come to him and be put to shame. All the descendants of Israel will be justified and boast in the Lord.

21:03Psalm 150 Hallelujah. Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty expanse. Praise Him for His powerful acts. Praise Him for His abundant greatness. Praise Him with the blast of a ram's horn. Praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with tambourine and dance. Praise Him with strings and flute. Praise Him with resounding symbols. Praise Him with clashing symbols. Let everything that breathes, praise the Lord. Hallelujah. Today's episode was narrated and orchestrated by me, John Ross, and co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

22:04Psalm 150 is the last Psalm in the book of Psalms, which means we'll be moving on to the book of Proverbs for our secondary reading for the rest of the year. Thanks for listening and remember to trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways, know Him and He will make your paths straight. Thank you.