Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from the book of
Isaiah, chapters 44 and 45. Chapter 44 Yet hear
now, O Jacob, my servant, and Israel, whom I
have chosen. Thus says the Lord, who made you,
and formed you from the womb, who will help you.
Fear not, O Jacob, my servant, and you, Jeshurun,
whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on
him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground.
I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and
my blessing on your offspring. They will spring
up among the grass, like willows by the water
courses. One will say, I am the Lord's. Another
will call himself by the name of Jacob. Another
will write with his hand, the Lord's, and name
himself by the name of Israel. Thus says the
Lord, the King of Israel. and his redeemer the
lord of hosts i am the first and i am the last
besides me there is no god and who can proclaim
as i do then let him declare it and set it in
order for me since i appointed the ancient people
and the things that are coming and shall come
let them show these to them do not fear do not
be afraid have i not told you from that time
and declared it you are my witnesses Is there
a god besides me? Indeed, there is no other rock.
I know not one. Those who make an image, all
of them are useless, and their precious things
shall not profit. They are their own witnesses.
They neither see nor know that they may be ashamed.
Who would form a god or mold an image that profits
him nothing? Surely all his companions would
be ashamed, and the workmen, they are mere men.
let them all be gathered together let them stand
up yet they shall fear they shall be ashamed
together the blacksmith with the tongs works
one in the coals fashions it with hammers and
works it with the strength of his arms even so
he is hungry and his strength fails he drinks
no water and is faint the craftsman stretches
out his rule he marks one out with chalk he fashions
it with a plane He marks it out with the compass,
and makes it like the figure of a man, according
to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in
the house. He cuts down cedars for himself, and
takes the cypress and the oak. He secures it
for himself among the trees of the forest. He
plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it. Then
it shall be for a man to burn, for he will take
some of it and warm himself. Yes, he kindles
it and bakes bread. Indeed, he makes a god and
worships it. He makes it a carved image and falls
down to it. He burns half of it in the fire.
With this half, he eats meat. He roasts a roast
and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says,
Ah, I am warm. I have seen the fire. And the
rest of it, he makes into a god, his carved image.
He falls down before it and worships it, prays
to it and says, Deliver me, for you are my God.
They do not know nor understand, for he has shut
their eyes so that they cannot see, and their
hearts so that they cannot understand. And no
one considers in his heart, nor is there knowledge
nor understanding to say, I have burned half
of it in the fire. Yes, I have also baked bread
on its coals. I have roasted meat and eaten it.
And shall I make the rest of it an abomination?
Shall I fall down before a block of wood? He
feeds on ashes, a deceived heart has turned him
aside, and he cannot deliver his soul, nor say,
Is there not a lie in my right hand? Remember
these, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant.
I have formed you, you are my servant. O Israel,
you will not be forgotten by me. I have blotted
out like a thick cloud your transgressions, and
like a cloud your sins. Return to me, for I have
redeemed you. Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has
done it. Shout, you lower parts of the earth.
Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest
and every tree in it. For the Lord has redeemed
Jacob and glorified himself in Israel. Thus says
the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you
from the womb. I am the Lord who makes all things,
who stretches out the heavens all alone. Who
spreads abroad the earth by myself. Who frustrates
the signs of the babblers and drives diviners
mad. Who turns wise men backward and makes their
knowledge foolishness. Who confirms the word
of his servant and performs the counsel of his
messengers. Who says to Jerusalem, you shall
be inhabited. To the cities of Judah, you shall
be built. And I will raise up her waste places.
Who says to the deep, be dry. and I will dry
up your rivers. Who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd,
and he shall perform all my pleasure. Saying
to Jerusalem, You shall be built, and to the
temple your foundation shall be laid. Chapter
45 Thus says the Lord to his anointed, To Cyrus,
whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations
before him and loose the armor of kings, to open
before him the double doors, so that the gates
will not be shut, I will go before you and make
the crooked places straight. I will break in
pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of
iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness
and hidden riches of secret places, that you
may know that I, the Lord, who call you by your
name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob, my servant's
sake, and Israel, my elect, I have even called
you by your name. I have named you, though you
have not known me. I am the Lord, and there is
no other. There is no God besides me. I will
gird you, though you have not known me, that
they may know from the rising of the sun to its
setting that there is none besides me. I am the
Lord, and there is no other. I form the light
and create darkness. I make peace and create
calamity. I, the Lord, do all these things. Rain
down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies
pour down righteousness. Let the earth open,
let them bring forth salvation, and let the righteousness
spring up together. I the Lord have created it.
Woe to him who strives with his maker. Let the
potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth.
Shall the clay say to him who forms it, What
are you making? Or shall your handiwork say,
He has no hands? Woe to him who says to his father,
What are you begetting? Or to the woman, What
have you brought forth? Thus says the Lord, the
Holy One of Israel and His Maker, Ask me of things
to come concerning my sons, and concerning the
work of my hands you command me. I have made
the earth and created man on it. I, my hands,
stretched out the heavens, and all their hosts
I have commanded. I have raised him up in righteousness,
and I will direct all his ways. He shall build
my city and let my exiles go free, not for price
nor reward. says the Lord of hosts. Thus says
the Lord, the labor of Egypt, and merchandise
of Cush, and of the Sabians, men of stature,
shall come over to you, and they shall be yours.
They shall walk behind you, they shall come over
in chains, and they shall bow down to you. They
will make supplication to you, saying, Surely
God is in you, and there is no other, there is
no other God. Truly you are God, O hide yourself,
O God of Israel the Savior. They shall be ashamed
and also disgraced all of them. They shall go
in confusion together who are makers of idols.
But Israel shall be saved by the Lord with an
everlasting salvation. You shall not be ashamed
or disgraced forever and ever. For thus says
the Lord who created the heavens, who is God,
who formed the earth and made it, who has established
it, who did not create it in vain, who formed
it to be inhabited. I am the Lord, and there
is no other. I have not spoken in secret, in
a dark place of the earth. I did not say to the
seed of Jacob, Seek me in vain. I, the Lord,
speak righteousness. I declare things that are
right. Assemble yourselves and come. Draw near
together, you who have escaped from the nations.
They have no knowledge, who carry the wood of
their carved image, and pray to a God that cannot
save. Tell and bring forth your case. Yes, let
them take counsel together. Who has declared
this from ancient time? Who has told it from
that time? Have not I the Lord? And there is
no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior.
There is none besides me. Look to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth. For I am God and there
is no other. I have sworn by myself. The word
has gone out of my mouth in righteousness and
shall not return. that to me every knee shall
bow, every tongue shall take an oath, he shall
say, Surely in the Lord I have righteousness
and strength. To him men shall come, and all
shall be ashamed who are incensed against him.
In the Lord all the descendants of Israel shall
be justified and shall glory. I hope you enjoyed
today's reading as much as I did. and I look
forward to seeing you again tomorrow to continue
on our journey. God bless you and have a great
day.