Jo’s Place

Isaiah Chapter 49 part 1 Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, all you who are far away! The Lord called me before my birth; from within my mother’s womb, he called me, by name. He made my words, of judgment, as sharp as a sword. He has hidden me, in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow, in his quiver. He said to me: “You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.” But, I replied:  “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing… and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God, for my reward.” And now the Lord speaks—the one who formed me, in my mother’s womb, to be his servant, and who commissioned me, to bring Israel back to him. The Lord has honored me, and my God has given me strength. He says:  “You will do more, than just restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” The Lord, the Redeemer, and the ...

Isaiah Chapter 48 part 2 “Listen to me, O family of Jacob, Israel my chosen one! I alone am God, the First and the Last. It was my hand, that laid the foundations of the earth, …my right hand, that spread out the heavens above. When I call out the stars, they all appear in order.” Have any, of your idols, ever told you this? Come, all of you, and listen: The Lord has chosen Cyrus, as his ally. He will use him, to put an end, to the empire of Babylon, and to destroy the Babylonian armies. “I have said it: I am calling Cyrus! says the Lord. I will send him, on this errand, and I will help him succeed. Come closer, and listen to this. From the beginning, I have told you plainly, what would happen.” And now, the Sovereign Lord and his Spirit, have sent me, with this message. This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord, your God, who teaches you, what is good for you, and leads you, along the paths, that you should follow. Oh, that you had listened to my...

Isaiah Chapter 48 part 1 “Listen to me, O family of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, you who are born into the family of Judah. Listen, you who take oaths in the name of the Lord, you who call on the God of Israel. You don’t keep your promises, even though you call yourself the holy city, and you talk about depending on the God of Israel, whose name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Long ago I told you what was going to happen. Then suddenly I took action, and all my predictions came true. Because I know how stubborn and obstinate you are. Your necks are as unbending as iron. Your heads are as hard as bronze. That is why I told you what would happen; …it is why I told you, beforehand, what I would do. Then, you could never say, ‘My idols did it. My wooden image and metal god commanded it to happen!’ You have heard my predictions, and seen them fulfilled, but you refuse to admit it. Now, I will tell you new things, secrets you have not yet heard. They are brand new, not th...