Study Desk

But you are the Lord our God, so please save us from the king of Assyria. Then all the other nations will know that you are the Lord , the only God."

But who was it that you insulted and made fun of? Who was it that you spoke against? You were speaking against the Holy One of Israel. You acted like you were great and he was nothing.

Then the Lord said, "I will give you a sign to show you that these words are true. You will not be able to plant seeds this year, so next year you will eat grain that grew wild from the previous year's crop. But in the third year, you will eat grain from seeds that you planted. You will harvest your crops, and you will have plenty to eat. You will plant vineyards and eat grapes from them.

I thought I would live a full life. But now, in the middle of my life, the time has come for me to die.

All night I cried as loud as a lion, but my hopes were crushed like a lion eating bones. You finished my life in such a short time.

I cried like a bird and moaned like a dove. My eyes became tired, but I continued looking to the heavens. Lord, I am so depressed. Promise to help me."

Hezekiah asked Isaiah, "What is the sign that proves I will get well and go to the Lord 's Temple?" This is the sign from the Lord to show you that he will do what he says: "Look, I am causing the shadow that is on the steps of Ahaz to move back ten steps. The sun's shadow will go back up the ten steps that it has already been on." This is the letter from Hezekiah when he became well: I thought I would live a full life. But now, in the middle of my life, the time has come for me to die. So I said, "I will not see the Lord Yah in the land of the living again. I will not see the people living on earth. My home, my shepherd's tent, is being pulled down and taken from me. I am finished like the cloth someone rolls up and cuts from the loom. You ended my life in such a short time. All night I cried as loud as a lion, but my hopes were crushed like a lion eating bones. You finished my life in such a short time. I cried like a bird and moaned like a dove. My eyes became tired, but I continued looking to the heavens. Lord, I am so depressed. Promise to help me." What can I say? He told me what would happen, and he will make it happen. I have had these troubles in my soul, so now I will be humble all my life. Lord, use this hard time to make my spirit live again. Help my spirit become strong and healthy. Help me become well! Help me live again! Look, my troubles are gone! I now have peace. You love me very much. You did not let me rot in the grave. You took my sins and threw them away. The dead cannot praise you. People in Sheol cannot sing praises to you. Those who have died and gone below are not trusting in your faithfulness. People who are alive, people like me, are the ones who will praise you. Fathers should tell their children about how faithful you are. So I say, "The Lord saved me. So we will sing and play songs in the Lord 's Temple all our lives."

Grass dies and flowers fall, but the word of our God lasts forever."

No, but some people make statues from rock or wood, and they call them gods. One worker makes a statue. Then another worker covers it with gold and makes silver chains for it.

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.

But those who trust in the Lord will become strong again. They will be like eagles that grow new feathers. They will run and not get weak. They will walk and not get tired.

You were in a faraway country, but I reached out to you. I called you from that faraway place. I said, ‘You are my servant.' I chose you, and I have not rejected you.

Look, some people are angry with you, but they will be ashamed and disgraced. Your enemies will be lost and disappear.

You will look for the people who were against you, but you will not be able to find them. Those who fought against you will disappear completely.

People of Israel, descendants of Jacob, you may be weak and worthless, but do not be afraid. I myself will help you." This is what the Lord himself says. "I am the Holy One of Israel, the one who saves 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.

I looked at those false gods. Not one of them said anything. They had no advice to offer. I asked them questions, but they didn't say a word.

"For a long time I have said nothing. I have controlled myself and kept quiet. But now I will cry out like a woman giving birth. My breathing is getting faster and louder.

But some of them have left me. They say to their gold statues, ‘You are my gods.' They trust their false gods, but they will be disappointed and shamed.

My people see what they should do, but they do not obey me. They can hear with their ears, but they refuse to listen to me."