1 00:00:10,650 --> 00:00:14,370 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, a Calming 2 00:00:14,430 --> 00:00:18,550 Speaker 1: Scripture Center devotional podcast designed to help you end each 3 00:00:18,610 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: day with God's Word in your mind and on your heart. 4 00:00:25,180 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: Right after this short word from our sponsors, we'll reflect 5 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:30,420 Speaker 1: on tonight's scripture, Isaiah. 6 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:44,580 Speaker 2: Tonight's scripture reflection is written by Britt Mooney and read 7 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 2: by Carrie Eichberger. 8 00:00:46,900 --> 00:00:56,380 Speaker 1: Isaiah chapter 52. Awake, awake, Zion. Clothe yourself with strength. 9 00:00:57,220 --> 00:01:01,100 Speaker 1: Put on your garments of splendor. Jerusalem, the holy city. 10 00:01:01,940 --> 00:01:05,990 Speaker 1: The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again. 11 00:01:06,850 --> 00:01:07,929 Speaker 2: Shake off your dust. 12 00:01:08,510 --> 00:01:13,170 Speaker 1: Rise up. Sit in throne, Jerusalem. Free yourself from the 13 00:01:13,250 --> 00:01:18,030 Speaker 1: chains of your neck, daughter Zion, now a captive. For 14 00:01:18,069 --> 00:01:21,589 Speaker 1: this is what the Lord says. You were sold for nothing, 15 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,420 Speaker 1: and without money you will be redeemed. For this is 16 00:01:25,500 --> 00:01:29,290 Speaker 1: what the Sovereign Lord says. At first, My people went 17 00:01:29,350 --> 00:01:33,490 Speaker 1: down to Egypt to live. Lately, Assyria has oppressed them. 18 00:01:34,130 --> 00:01:36,890 Speaker 1: And now, what do I have here, declares the Lord? 19 00:01:37,420 --> 00:01:40,140 Speaker 1: For my people have been taken away for nothing, and 20 00:01:40,180 --> 00:01:43,660 Speaker 1: those who rule them mock, declares the Lord. And all 21 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: day long my name is constantly blasphemed. Therefore my people 22 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,820 Speaker 1: will know my name. Therefore in that day they will 23 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it 24 00:01:54,220 --> 00:01:57,310 Speaker 1: is I. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet 25 00:01:57,350 --> 00:02:01,070 Speaker 1: of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who 26 00:02:01,130 --> 00:02:05,870 Speaker 1: bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 27 00:02:06,310 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: Your God reigns. Listen, your watchmen lift up their voices. 28 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: Together they shout for joy. When the Lord returns to Zion, 29 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into 30 00:02:18,940 --> 00:02:22,910 Speaker 1: songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the 31 00:02:22,990 --> 00:02:27,310 Speaker 1: Lord has comforted his people. He has redeemed Jerusalem. The 32 00:02:27,350 --> 00:02:30,210 Speaker 1: Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight 33 00:02:30,250 --> 00:02:32,900 Speaker 1: of all the nations, and all the ends of the 34 00:02:33,030 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: earth will see the salvation of our God. Depart, depart, 35 00:02:37,660 --> 00:02:41,899 Speaker 1: go out from there. Touch no unclean thing. Come out 36 00:02:41,980 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: from it and be pure. You who carry the articles 37 00:02:45,100 --> 00:02:48,020 Speaker 1: of the Lord's house. But you will not leave in 38 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:50,709 Speaker 1: haste or go out in flight, for the Lord will 39 00:02:50,730 --> 00:02:53,570 Speaker 1: go before you. The God of Israel will be your 40 00:02:53,610 --> 00:02:58,090 Speaker 1: rear guard. See, my servant will act wisely. He will 41 00:02:58,130 --> 00:03:01,810 Speaker 1: be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as 42 00:03:01,850 --> 00:03:04,930 Speaker 1: there were many who were appalled at him, his appearance 43 00:03:04,970 --> 00:03:08,110 Speaker 1: was so disfigured beyond that of any human being, and 44 00:03:08,150 --> 00:03:11,959 Speaker 1: his form marred beyond human likeness. So he will sprinkle 45 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,239 Speaker 1: many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. 46 00:03:15,980 --> 00:03:19,260 Speaker 1: For what they were not told, they will see, and 47 00:03:19,300 --> 00:03:27,540 Speaker 1: what they have not heard, they will understand. The Bible 48 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:31,490 Speaker 1: never promises us a life of ease and comfort. On 49 00:03:31,530 --> 00:03:38,130 Speaker 1: the contrary, Jesus promises us trouble in John 16.33. Thankfully, 50 00:03:38,750 --> 00:03:42,470 Speaker 1: He next tells us to reject fear because He has 51 00:03:42,590 --> 00:03:46,770 Speaker 1: overcome the world. This could be a summary of Isaiah 52 00:03:46,770 --> 00:03:51,430 Speaker 1: 52 above. Despite how the Bible continually tells us we'll 53 00:03:51,470 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 1: have battles and challenges, both in outright teachings and the 54 00:03:55,980 --> 00:03:58,900 Speaker 1: narrative of every God follower we read about in Scripture, 55 00:03:59,660 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: we still get surprised when hard times come our way. 56 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,870 Speaker 1: Many even question God's goodness when tragedy strikes. God doesn't 57 00:04:08,970 --> 00:04:14,890 Speaker 1: promise we'll avoid difficult situations, whether betrayal or accident or disease. 58 00:04:15,650 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 1: He does promise that He'll provide His peace and victory 59 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: in the midst of each circumstance, helping us to persevere 60 00:04:24,020 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: in faith and see Him fulfill His promises in our lives. 61 00:04:28,580 --> 00:04:32,669 Speaker 1: Just as Christ endured the cross with hope before Him, 62 00:04:33,380 --> 00:04:37,910 Speaker 1: so do we our own. Isaiah 52 describes how the 63 00:04:37,950 --> 00:04:40,850 Speaker 1: people of God have been placed under the yoke of 64 00:04:40,950 --> 00:04:46,850 Speaker 1: blasphemous and oppressive powers. Not fun. However, the good news 65 00:04:47,230 --> 00:04:51,590 Speaker 1: is also declared. God will be victorious over all things 66 00:04:52,089 --> 00:04:55,380 Speaker 1: and bring His people with Him into a good land. 67 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:00,110 Speaker 1: When we get overwhelmed, fixing our eyes on this sure 68 00:05:00,190 --> 00:05:05,510 Speaker 1: hope provides us His shalom, His complete peace that passes 69 00:05:05,610 --> 00:05:10,010 Speaker 1: understanding in the middle of our difficult journey. The peace 70 00:05:10,150 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: now is connected to our hope in Christ. Heavenly Father, 71 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: we praise You that Jesus has already overcome the world. 72 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: When trials, sickness, and sorrows come, help us reject fear 73 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:34,270 Speaker 1: and trust your promises. Fill us with your shalom that 74 00:05:34,330 --> 00:05:39,029 Speaker 1: passes understanding and secures our hearts in the storms of life. 75 00:05:39,890 --> 00:05:43,300 Speaker 1: Keep our eyes focused on the hope set before us, 76 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: just as Christ endured the cross for the joy ahead. 77 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:53,820 Speaker 1: Sustain us to persevere in faith when circumstances seem overwhelming, 78 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:58,380 Speaker 1: by resting in you as our peace. Remind us of 79 00:05:58,420 --> 00:06:02,180 Speaker 1: the goodness, faithfulness, and kindness of your character. 80 00:06:03,020 --> 00:06:03,660 Speaker 3: Help us to. 81 00:06:03,620 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: Choose to lay down in the green pastures of your peace, 82 00:06:08,180 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 1: knowing you will bring us safely into the fullness of 83 00:06:11,820 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: your kingdom and joy. In Jesus' name, amen. How did 84 00:06:17,820 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: tonight's scripture speak to you? Share your thoughts in the 85 00:06:21,630 --> 00:06:23,580 Speaker 1: Your Nightly Scripture Forum discussion. 86 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture 87 00:06:38,060 --> 00:06:42,340 Speaker 3: was read from the New International Version by Biblica All 88 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:49,089 Speaker 3: Rights Reserved. If tonight's episode blessed you, be sure to 89 00:06:49,190 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 3: follow the show online on Apple Podcasts, so your next 90 00:06:53,660 --> 00:06:59,140 Speaker 3: nightly scripture is ready when you are. Your nightly scripture 91 00:06:59,740 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 3: is a production of Life Audio and Salem Media. Thank you, 92 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:08,460 Speaker 3: and we'll see you tomorrow night. 93 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:22,300 Speaker 2: Thank you.