Study Desk

People of Jacob, this is true. Israel, you should believe it. So why do you say, "The Lord cannot see the way I live; he will not find me and punish me"?

I will do this so that people will see it and know who did it. They will notice what happened. Then they will understand that the Lord 's hand made it happen, that the Holy One of Israel created it all."

What signs did you give in the past to prove that you really are gods? Do something! Do anything, good or bad, so that we can see that you are alive. Then we might fear and respect you.

You will make the blind able to see. You will free those who are held as captives. You will lead those who live in darkness out of their prison.

"Deaf people, listen to me! Blind people, look and see!

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."

Some people make idols, but they are worthless. They love their statues, which are useless. Those who serve as witnesses for these statues cannot even see. They don't know enough to be ashamed.

He burns half of the wood in the fire. He uses the fire to cook his meat, and he eats the meat until he is full. He burns the wood to keep himself warm. He says, "Good! Now I am warm, and I can see by the light of the fire."

People like that don't know what they are doing! They don't understand. It is as if they have mud in their eyes so they cannot see. Their minds cannot understand.

You are the God people cannot see. You are the God who saves Israel.

Men will see your naked body and use you for sex. I will make you pay for the bad things you did, and I will not let anyone help you.

"You heard what I said would happen. And you can see it has all been done. Shouldn't you tell this to others? Now I will tell you about new things, secrets you have not known before.

The Lord , the Holy Protector of Israel, speaks to his servant. People hate that servant. Nations despise him. He is now a slave to rulers. The Lord says to him, "Kings will see you and stand to honor you. Great leaders will bow down to you." This will happen for the Lord . The Holy One of Israel is the one who chose you, and he can be trusted.

This is what the Lord God says: "Look, I will wave my hand to the nations. I will raise my flag for everyone to see. Then they will bring your children to you. They will carry your children on their shoulders, and they will hold them in their arms.

How wonderful it is to see someone coming over the hills to tell good news. How wonderful to hear him announce, "There is peace! We have been saved!" and to hear him say to Zion, "Your God is the king!"

The city guards are shouting. They are all rejoicing together. They can all see the Lord returning to Zion.

But it is also true that many nations will be amazed at him. Kings will look at him and be unable to speak. They will see what they had never been told. They will understand what they had never heard."

He was always close to the Lord. He grew up like a young plant, like a root growing in dry ground. There was nothing special or impressive about the way he looked, nothing we could see that would cause us to like him.

But the Lord was pleased with this humble servant who suffered such pain. Even after giving himself as an offering for sin, he will see his descendants and enjoy a long life. He will succeed in doing what the Lord wanted.

After his suffering he will see the light, and he will be satisfied with what he experienced. The Lord says, "My servant, who always does what is right, will make his people right with me; he will take away their sins.