Study Desk

God says, "I left you for a short time, but with great kindness I will bring you back again.

I became very angry and hid from you for a time, but I will show you mercy with kindness forever," says the Lord who saves you.

I will use rubies to build your walls and shining jewels for the gates and precious jewels for all your outer walls.

Why spend your money on something that is not real food? Why work for something that doesn't really satisfy you? Listen closely to me, and you will eat what is good; your soul will enjoy the rich food that satisfies.

I made David a witness of my power for all nations, a ruler and commander of many nations.

You will call for nations that you don't yet know. And these nations that do not know you will run to you because of the Lord your God, because of the Holy One of Israel who honors you."

So you should look for the Lord before it is too late; you should call to him while he is near.

Rain and snow fall from the sky and don't return without watering the ground. They cause the plants to sprout and grow, making seeds for the farmer and bread for the people.

If they do, I will make their names remembered within my Temple and its walls. It will be better for them than children. I will give them a name that will last forever, that will never be forgotten.

I will bring these people to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. The offerings and sacrifices they place on my altar will please me, because my Temple will be called a house for prayer for people from all nations."

You use your oils and perfumes to look nice for Molech. You have sent your messengers to faraway lands; you even tried to send them to the place of the dead.

"Whom were you so afraid of that you lied to me? You have not remembered me or even thought about me. I have been quiet for a long time. Is that why you are not afraid of me?

When you cry out for help, let the gods you have gathered help you. The wind will blow them all away; just a puff of wind will take them away. But the person who depends on me will receive the land and own my holy mountain."

Someone will say, "Build a road! Build a road! Prepare the way! Make the way clear for my people."

I have seen what they have done, but I will heal them. I will guide them and comfort them and those who felt sad for them. They will all praise me.

"There is no peace for evil people," says my God.

They still come every day looking for me and want to learn my ways. They act just like a nation that does what is right, that obeys the commands of its God. They ask me to judge them fairly. They want God to be near them.

This kind of special day is not what I want. This is not the way I want people to be sorry for what they have done. I don't want people just to bow their heads like a plant and wear rough cloth and lie in ashes to show their sadness. This is what you do on your special days when you fast, but do you think this is what the Lord wants?

Then you will call out, and the Lord will answer. You will cry out, and he will say, ‘Here I am.' "If you stop making trouble for others, if you stop using cruel words and pointing your finger at others,

Your people will rebuild the old cities that are now in ruins; you will rebuild their foundations. You will be known for repairing the broken places and for rebuilding the roads and houses.