WEBVTT - Isaiah 26

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<v Speaker 1>Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your

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<v Speaker 1>walk with Christ, please visit us at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com. You're listening

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<v Speaker 1>to the Chapter a Day Audio Bible. I'm John Stonge

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<v Speaker 1>and today we're in Isaiah chapter 26 and we'll be

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<v Speaker 1>reading from the New Living Translation. In that day, everyone

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<v Speaker 1>in the land of Judah will sing this song, Our

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<v Speaker 1>city is strong. We are surrounded by the walls of

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<v Speaker 1>God's salvation. Open the gates to all who are righteous.

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<v Speaker 1>Allow the faithful to enter. You will keep in perfect

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<v Speaker 1>peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are

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<v Speaker 1>fixed on you. Trust in the Lord always, for the

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<v Speaker 1>Lord God is the eternal rock. He humbles the proud

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<v Speaker 1>and brings down the arrogant city. He brings it down

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<v Speaker 1>to the dust. The poor and oppressed trample it underfoot,

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<v Speaker 1>and the needy walk all over it. But for those

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<v Speaker 1>who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough.

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<v Speaker 1>You are a God who does what is right, and

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<v Speaker 1>you smooth out the path ahead of them. Lord, we

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<v Speaker 1>show our trust in you by obeying your laws. Our

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<v Speaker 1>heart's desire is to glorify your name. In the night

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<v Speaker 1>I search for you. In the morning I earnestly seek you,

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<v Speaker 1>for only when you come to judge the earth will

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<v Speaker 1>people learn what is right. Your kindness to the wicked

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<v Speaker 1>does not make them do good. Although others do right,

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<v Speaker 1>the wicked keep doing wrong and take no notice of

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<v Speaker 1>the Lord's majesty. O Lord, they pay no attention to

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<v Speaker 1>your upraised fist. Show them your eagerness to defend your people.

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<v Speaker 1>Then they will be ashamed. Let your fire consume your enemies. Lord,

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<v Speaker 1>you will grant us peace. All we have accomplished is

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<v Speaker 1>really from you. O Lord our God, others have ruled us,

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<v Speaker 1>but you alone are the one we worship. Those we

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<v Speaker 1>served before are dead and gone. Their departed spirits will

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<v Speaker 1>never return. You attacked them and destroyed them, and they

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<v Speaker 1>are long forgotten. O Lord, You have made our nation great. Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>you have made us great. You have extended our borders

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<v Speaker 1>and we give you the glory. Lord, in distress we

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<v Speaker 1>searched for you. We prayed beneath the burden of your discipline.

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<v Speaker 1>Just as a pregnant woman writhes and cries out in

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<v Speaker 1>pain as she gives birth, so were we in your presence, Lord.

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<v Speaker 1>We too writhe in agony, but nothing comes of our sufferings.

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<v Speaker 1>We have not given salvation to the earth nor brought

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<v Speaker 1>life into the world. But those who die in the

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<v Speaker 1>Lord will live. Their bodies will rise again. Those who

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<v Speaker 1>sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy.

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<v Speaker 1>For your life-giving light will fall like dew on your

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<v Speaker 1>people in the place of the dead. Go home, my people,

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<v Speaker 1>and lock your doors. Hide yourselves for a little while

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<v Speaker 1>until the Lord's anger has passed. Look. The Lord is

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<v Speaker 1>coming from heaven to punish the people of the earth

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<v Speaker 1>for their sins. The earth will no longer hide those

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<v Speaker 1>who have been killed. They will be brought out for

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<v Speaker 1>all to see. Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for

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<v Speaker 1>your word and we thank you for the privilege of

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<v Speaker 1>being able to read a portion of scripture like this

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<v Speaker 1>and rejoice in the truth that you express to us

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<v Speaker 1>in it. Lord, you tell us that if we love you,

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<v Speaker 1>if we trust you, that we will ultimately obey you.

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<v Speaker 1>You remind us, Lord, that ultimately everything that we have

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<v Speaker 1>that's good has come from you. And you tell us

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<v Speaker 1>that those who die in the Lord will live and

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<v Speaker 1>will experience resurrection. And we know, Lord, that that was

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<v Speaker 1>secured on our behalf through your son, Jesus Christ, who

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<v Speaker 1>rose from the grave, who defeated death, and who shares

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<v Speaker 1>that victory with all who trust in him. So we're grateful, Lord,

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<v Speaker 1>for these realities, and we're grateful for the encouraging words

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<v Speaker 1>that we find in this portion of Scripture that remind

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<v Speaker 1>us of all of these things and more. And we're grateful, Lord,

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<v Speaker 1>for your love that you show us in so many ways.

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<v Speaker 1>We love you, Lord, and we commit this day to

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<v Speaker 1>your care. We pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.