Study Desk

The Lord God is coming with power. He will use his power to rule all the people. He will bring rewards for his people. He will have their payment with him.

Compared to God, all the nations of the world are nothing. Compared to him, they are worth nothing at all.

Can you compare God to anything? Can you make a picture of God?

For the base he chooses special wood, a kind of wood that will not rot. Then he finds a good wood worker, and the worker makes a "god" that will not fall over.

They are like plants that are planted in the ground. But before they can send their roots into the ground, God blows on the "plants"; they become dead and dry, and the wind blows them away like straw.

Surely you know the truth. Surely you have heard. The Lord is the God who lives forever! He created all the faraway places on earth. He does not get tired and weary. You cannot learn all he knows.

Don't worry—I am with you. Don't be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.

I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand. And I tell you, ‘Don't be afraid! I will help you.'

"The poor and needy look for water, but they cannot find any. Their tongues are dry with thirst. I, the Lord , will answer their prayers. I, the God of Israel, will not leave them to die.

The Lord , the true God, said these things. (He created the sky and spread it out over the earth. He formed the earth and everything it produced. He breathes life into all the people on earth. He gives a spirit to everyone who walks on the earth.)

That's because I, the Lord , am your God. I, the Holy One of Israel, am your Savior. I gave Egypt to pay for you. I gave Ethiopia and Seba to make you mine.

The Lord says, "You people are my witnesses and the servant I chose. I chose you so that you would help people believe me. I chose you so that you would understand that ‘I Am He'— I am the true God . There was no God before me, and there will be no God after me.

I am the one who spoke to you, saved you, and told you those things. It was not some stranger who was with you. You are my witnesses, and I am God." (This is what the Lord himself said.)

"I have always been God. When I do something, no one can change what I have done. And no one can save people from my power."

The Lord is the king of Israel. The Lord All-Powerful is the one who will set Israel free. And he says, "I am the only God. There are no other gods. I am the Beginning and the End.

There is no other God like me. If there is, that god should speak now. Let him lay out everything he has done since the time I made these ancient people. Let him show me the signs he gave long ago that prove he knew what would happen in the future.

"Don't be afraid! Don't worry. I am the one who always told you what would happen. You are my proof. There is no other God; I am the only one. There is no other ‘Rock'; I know I am the only one."

When the man wanted a fire, he took some of the wood to keep him warm. He also used some of it to bake his bread. But then he used that same wood to make a statue to worship as a god! That god is only a statue that he made, but he bows down to it!

There is a little of the wood left, so he makes a statue and calls it his god. He bows down before it and worships it. He prays to it and says, "You are my god, save me!"

I will give you the wealth that is stored in secret places. I will give you those hidden treasures. Then you will know that I am the Lord , the God of Israel, who calls you by name.