1 00:00:02,730 --> 00:00:06,730 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,790 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com. You're listening 3 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:17,220 Speaker 1: to the Chapter a Day Audio Bible. I'm John Stonge 4 00:00:17,820 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: and today we're in Isaiah chapter 52 and we'll be 5 00:00:22,060 --> 00:00:28,770 Speaker 1: reading from the contemporary English version. Jerusalem, wake up, stand 6 00:00:28,890 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: up and be strong. Holy city of Zion, dress in 7 00:00:32,860 --> 00:00:37,260 Speaker 1: your best clothes. Those foreigners who ruined your sacred city 8 00:00:37,340 --> 00:00:42,370 Speaker 1: won't bother you again. Zion, rise from the dirt. Free 9 00:00:42,409 --> 00:00:46,489 Speaker 1: yourself from the rope around your neck. The Lord says, 10 00:00:47,150 --> 00:00:51,650 Speaker 1: My people, you were sold, but not for money. Now 11 00:00:51,790 --> 00:00:55,070 Speaker 1: you will be set free, but not for a payment. 12 00:00:55,950 --> 00:00:59,470 Speaker 1: Long ago you went to Egypt where you lived as foreigners. 13 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:03,650 Speaker 1: Then Assyria was cruel to you, and now another nation 14 00:01:03,700 --> 00:01:07,370 Speaker 1: has taken you prisoner for no reason at all. Your 15 00:01:07,450 --> 00:01:11,250 Speaker 1: leaders groan with pain, and day after day my own 16 00:01:11,350 --> 00:01:16,420 Speaker 1: name is cursed. My people, you will learn who I 17 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 1: am and who is speaking because I am here. What 18 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:25,780 Speaker 1: a beautiful sight! On the mountains, a messenger announces to Jerusalem, 19 00:01:26,300 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: Good news! You're saved! There will be peace. Your God 20 00:01:31,980 --> 00:01:37,860 Speaker 1: is now King. Everyone on guard duty, sing and celebrate. Look, 21 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:43,069 Speaker 1: you can see the Lord returning to Zion. Jerusalem, rise 22 00:01:43,150 --> 00:01:46,850 Speaker 1: from the ruins. Join in the singing. The Lord has 23 00:01:46,910 --> 00:01:50,510 Speaker 1: given comfort to His people. He comes to your rescue. 24 00:01:51,270 --> 00:01:55,010 Speaker 1: The Lord has shown all nations His mighty strength. Now 25 00:01:55,190 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: everyone will see the saving power of our God. Leave 26 00:02:00,380 --> 00:02:05,309 Speaker 1: the city of Babylon. Don't touch anything filthy. Wash yourselves. 27 00:02:05,750 --> 00:02:09,290 Speaker 1: Be ready to carry back everything sacred that belongs to 28 00:02:09,330 --> 00:02:12,530 Speaker 1: the Lord. You won't need to run. No one is 29 00:02:12,630 --> 00:02:16,270 Speaker 1: chasing you. The Lord God of Israel will lead and 30 00:02:16,370 --> 00:02:21,799 Speaker 1: protect you from enemy attacks. The Lord says, My servant 31 00:02:21,940 --> 00:02:25,859 Speaker 1: will succeed. He will be given great praise and the 32 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:30,220 Speaker 1: highest honors. Many were horrified at what happened to him, 33 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:34,740 Speaker 1: but everyone who saw him was even more horrified because 34 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: he suffered until he no longer looked human. My servant 35 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:43,220 Speaker 1: will make nations worthy to worship me. Kings will be 36 00:02:43,370 --> 00:02:47,510 Speaker 1: silent as they bow in wonder. They will see and 37 00:02:47,630 --> 00:02:51,690 Speaker 1: think about things they have never seen or thought about before. 38 00:02:53,730 --> 00:02:58,020 Speaker 1: Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for your word and 39 00:02:58,060 --> 00:03:00,970 Speaker 1: we thank you for these prophetic references to the ministry 40 00:03:00,990 --> 00:03:04,030 Speaker 1: of your son, Jesus Christ, who was willing to be 41 00:03:04,130 --> 00:03:08,389 Speaker 1: crucified for our benefit, who took our sin upon himself, 42 00:03:08,450 --> 00:03:12,169 Speaker 1: who was beaten and cruelly treated and nailed to a 43 00:03:12,250 --> 00:03:16,660 Speaker 1: cross all because of our sin. He died, but he 44 00:03:16,740 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: rose again and now lives forever and shares his victory 45 00:03:20,940 --> 00:03:24,049 Speaker 1: with all who trust in him. So Lord, we're grateful 46 00:03:24,110 --> 00:03:27,230 Speaker 1: for what you've accomplished on our behalf through your son, 47 00:03:27,310 --> 00:03:30,930 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. And we're thankful, Lord, for the references to 48 00:03:30,970 --> 00:03:33,430 Speaker 1: that that we see here in this passage from the 49 00:03:33,470 --> 00:03:36,430 Speaker 1: book of Isaiah. Lord, we're grateful for your presence with 50 00:03:36,510 --> 00:03:39,170 Speaker 1: us today. We're grateful for your love. And we're grateful 51 00:03:39,190 --> 00:03:41,830 Speaker 1: for the fact that you're willing to restore us even 52 00:03:41,890 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: though we've rebelled against you. Lord, help us to trust 53 00:03:45,010 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: in you. Help our rebellion to be in the past 54 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:50,940 Speaker 1: and help us to put you first in all areas 55 00:03:51,180 --> 00:03:53,710 Speaker 1: of our lives. We thank you for all these things 56 00:03:53,770 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: and we pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.