Study Desk

For the sake of My name I will delay My wrath; for the sake of My praise I will restrain it, so that you will not be cut off.

For My own sake, My very own sake, I will act; for how can I let Myself be defamed? I will not yield My glory to another.

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who directs you in the way you should go.

They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.

"There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked."

And now says the LORD, who formed me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him-for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and my God is my strength-

He says, "It is not enough for you to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth."

This is what the LORD says: "In the time of favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land, to apportion its desolate inheritances,

They will not hunger or thirst, nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them. For He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.

Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break into joyful song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

For your ruined and desolate places and your ravaged land will now indeed be too small for your people, and those who devoured you will be far away.

Yet the children of your bereavement will say in your hearing, 'This place is too small for us; make room for us to live here.'

Then you will say in your heart, 'Who has begotten these for me? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. So who has reared them? Look, I was left all alone, so where did they come from?'"

This is what the LORD says: "Where is your mother's certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.

Why was no one there when I arrived? Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea; I turn the rivers into a desert; the fish rot for lack of water and they die of thirst.

For the LORD will comfort Zion and look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and melodious song.

Pay attention to Me, My people, and listen to Me, My nation; for a law will go out from Me, and My justice will become a light to the nations; I will bring it about quickly.

My righteousness draws near, My salvation is on the way, and My arms will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look for Me and wait in hope for My arm.

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth below; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its people will die like gnats. But My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never fail.