Author Archives: admin

Proud to Be Called Israel 1-5 “But for now, dear servant Jacob, listen— yes, you, Israel, my personal choice. Godwho made you has something to say to you; the God who formed you in the womb wants to help you. Don’t be afraid, dear servant Jacob, Jeshurun, the one I chose. For I will pour […]

The God Who Forms Light and Darkness 1-7 God’s Message to his anointed, to Cyrus, whom he took by the hand To give the task of taming the nations, of terrifying their kings— He gave him free rein, no restrictions: “I’ll go ahead of you, clearing and paving the road. I’ll break down bronze city […]

This Is Serious Business, Rebels 1-2 The god Bel falls down, god Nebo slumps. The no-god hunks of wood are loaded on mules And have to be hauled off, wearing out the poor mules— Dead weight, burdens who can’t bear burdens, hauled off to captivity. 3-4 “Listen to me, family of Jacob, everyone that’s left […]

The Party’s Over 1-3 “Get off your high horse and sit in the dirt, virgin daughter of Babylon. No more throne for you—sit on the ground, daughter of the Chaldeans. Nobody will be calling you ‘charming’ and ‘alluring’ anymore. Get used to it. Get a job, any old job: Clean gutters, scrub toilets. Hock your […]

Tested in the Furnace of Affliction 1-11 “And now listen to this, family of Jacob, you who are called by the name Israel: Who got you started in the loins of Judah, you who useGod’s name to back up your promises and pray to the God of Israel? But do you mean it? Do you […]

A Light for the Nations 1-3 Listen, far-flung islands, pay attention, faraway people: Godput me to work from the day I was born. The moment I entered the world he named me. He gave me speech that would cut and penetrate. He kept his hand on me to protect me. He made me his straight […]

Who Out There Fears God? 1-3 Godsays: “Can you produce your mother’s divorce papers proving I got rid of her? Can you produce a receipt proving I sold you? Of course you can’t. It’s your sins that put you here, your wrongs that got you shipped out. So why didn’t anyone come when I knocked? […]

Committed to Seeking God 1-3 “Listen to me, all you who are serious about right living and committed to seekingGod. Ponder the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were dug. Yes, ponder Abraham, your father, and Sarah, who bore you. Think of it! One solitary man when I called him, […]

God Is Leading You Out of Here 1-2 Wake up, wake up! Pull on your boots, Zion! Dress up in your Sunday best, Jerusalem, holy city! Those who want no part of God have been culled out. They won’t be coming along. Brush off the dust and get to your feet, captive Jerusalem! Throw off […]

1 Who believes what we’ve heard and seen? Who would have thoughtGod’s saving power would look like this? 2-6 The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and […]