Study Desk

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."

Who was able to make all this happen? Who controlled the lives of everyone from the beginning? I, the Lord , am the one. I was here at the beginning, and I will be here when all things are finished.

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.'

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.

"Here is my servant, the one I support. He is the one I have chosen, and I am very pleased with him. I have filled him with my Spirit, and he will bring justice to the nations.

"I am Yahweh . That is my name. I will not give my glory to another. I will not let statues take the praise that should be mine.

In the past, I told you what would happen, and it happened! Now I am telling you something new, and I am telling you now, before it happens."

When you have troubles, I am with you. When you cross rivers, you will not be hurt. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not hurt you.

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.

You are precious to me, and I have given you a special place of honor. I love you. That's why I am willing to trade others, to give up whole nations, to save your life.

"So don't be afraid, because I am with you. I will gather your children and bring them to you. I will gather them from the east and from the west.

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 myself am the Lord , and there is no other Savior.

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 am the Lord your Holy One. I made Israel. I am your King."

because I am doing something new! Now you will grow like a new plant. Surely you know this is true. I will even make a road in the desert, and rivers will flow through that dry land.

"I, I am the one who wipes away all your sins. I do this to please myself. I will not remember your sins.

I am the Lord , and I made you. I am the one who created you. I have helped you since you were in your mother's womb. Jacob, my servant, don't be afraid. Jeshurun, I chose you.