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 --> 00:00:13,490 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com. You're listening 3 00:00:13,530 --> 00:00:17,310 Speaker 1: to the Chapter a Day Audio Bible. I'm John Stonge, 4 00:00:17,910 --> 00:00:21,980 Speaker 1: and today we're in Isaiah chapter 42, and we'll be 5 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: reading from the contemporary English version. Here is my servant. 6 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:32,590 Speaker 1: I have made him strong. He is my chosen one. 7 00:00:33,470 --> 00:00:37,449 Speaker 1: I am pleased with him. I have given him my spirit, 8 00:00:37,990 --> 00:00:40,990 Speaker 1: and he will bring justice to the nations. He won't 9 00:00:41,110 --> 00:00:44,660 Speaker 1: shout or yell or call out in the streets. He 10 00:00:44,700 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: won't break off a bent reed or put out a 11 00:00:47,340 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: dying flame. But he will make sure that justice is done. 12 00:00:52,020 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: He won't quit or give up until he brings justice 13 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,830 Speaker 1: everywhere on earth, and people in foreign nations long for 14 00:00:59,870 --> 00:01:05,009 Speaker 1: his teachings. I am the Lord God. I created the 15 00:01:05,050 --> 00:01:08,580 Speaker 1: heavens like an open tent above. I made the earth 16 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:11,699 Speaker 1: and everything that grows on it. I am the source 17 00:01:11,740 --> 00:01:15,179 Speaker 1: of life for all who live on this earth. So 18 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:19,279 Speaker 1: listen to what I say. I chose you to bring justice, 19 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:23,330 Speaker 1: and I am here at your side. I selected and 20 00:01:23,450 --> 00:01:26,610 Speaker 1: sent you to bring light and my promise of hope 21 00:01:26,670 --> 00:01:30,030 Speaker 1: to the nations. You will give sight to the blind, 22 00:01:30,650 --> 00:01:35,479 Speaker 1: You will set prisoners free from dark dungeons. My name 23 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: is the Lord. I won't let idols or humans share 24 00:01:39,980 --> 00:01:44,340 Speaker 1: my glory and praise. Everything has happened just as I 25 00:01:44,459 --> 00:01:48,370 Speaker 1: said it would. Now I will announce what will happen next. 26 00:01:50,170 --> 00:01:52,750 Speaker 1: Tell the whole world to sing a new song to 27 00:01:52,790 --> 00:01:56,590 Speaker 1: the Lord. Tell those who sail the ocean and those 28 00:01:56,640 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: who live far away to join in the praise. Tell 29 00:02:00,580 --> 00:02:03,220 Speaker 1: the tribes of the desert and everyone in the mountains 30 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: to celebrate and sing. Let them announce His praises everywhere. 31 00:02:08,650 --> 00:02:12,070 Speaker 1: The Lord is marching out like an angry soldier, shouting 32 00:02:12,130 --> 00:02:16,290 Speaker 1: with all His might while attacking His enemies. For a 33 00:02:16,330 --> 00:02:20,530 Speaker 1: long time I, the Lord, have held my temper. Now 34 00:02:20,790 --> 00:02:23,860 Speaker 1: I will scream and groan like a woman giving birth. 35 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,340 Speaker 1: I will destroy the mountains and what grows on them. 36 00:02:27,860 --> 00:02:31,300 Speaker 1: I will dry up rivers and ponds. I will lead 37 00:02:31,340 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 1: the blind on roads they have never known. I will 38 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:38,260 Speaker 1: guide them on paths they have never traveled. Their road 39 00:02:38,340 --> 00:02:40,820 Speaker 1: is dark and rough, but I will give light to 40 00:02:40,940 --> 00:02:47,100 Speaker 1: keep them from stumbling. This is my solemn promise. Everyone 41 00:02:47,180 --> 00:02:50,820 Speaker 1: who worships idols as though they were gods will be 42 00:02:50,940 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: terribly ashamed. You people are deaf and blind, but the 43 00:02:56,520 --> 00:03:00,859 Speaker 1: Lord commands you to listen and to see. No one 44 00:03:00,980 --> 00:03:05,060 Speaker 1: is as blind or deaf as his messenger, his chosen servant, 45 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,790 Speaker 1: who sees and hears so much but pays no attention. 46 00:03:10,070 --> 00:03:13,750 Speaker 1: The Lord always does right, and so he wanted his 47 00:03:13,830 --> 00:03:17,910 Speaker 1: law to be greatly praised. But his people were trapped 48 00:03:18,050 --> 00:03:21,290 Speaker 1: and imprisoned in holes, with no one to rescue them. 49 00:03:22,350 --> 00:03:25,350 Speaker 1: All they owned had been taken, and no one was 50 00:03:25,430 --> 00:03:29,710 Speaker 1: willing to give it back. Why won't His people ever 51 00:03:29,889 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: learn to listen? Israel sinned and refused to obey the 52 00:03:34,980 --> 00:03:38,820 Speaker 1: Lord or follow His instructions. So the Lord let them 53 00:03:38,900 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: be robbed of everything they owned. He was furious with 54 00:03:42,780 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: them and punished their nation with the fires of war. Still, 55 00:03:47,460 --> 00:03:51,010 Speaker 1: they paid no attention. They didn't even care when they 56 00:03:51,050 --> 00:03:59,750 Speaker 1: were surrounded and scorched by flames. Let's pray. Lord, we 57 00:03:59,790 --> 00:04:01,610 Speaker 1: thank you for your word, and we thank you for 58 00:04:01,650 --> 00:04:03,910 Speaker 1: the privilege to be able to look at this portion 59 00:04:04,030 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: of Scripture today that reveals so many things about things 60 00:04:07,970 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: that have already happened and the ways that your people 61 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: have rejected you, but also tells us about this servant 62 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 1: that you would be sending to this world. And Lord, 63 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,419 Speaker 1: we recognize that these are prophetic references to your Son, 64 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:25,299 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, your chosen one who brings justice to the nations. 65 00:04:25,900 --> 00:04:30,710 Speaker 1: And people throughout the world crave the teaching of Jesus Christ. Lord, 66 00:04:30,750 --> 00:04:33,270 Speaker 1: we're grateful to be recipients of the good news of 67 00:04:33,310 --> 00:04:36,250 Speaker 1: your gospel. And we're grateful to be men and women 68 00:04:36,270 --> 00:04:39,290 Speaker 1: who have the privilege to trust in your son, Jesus Christ, 69 00:04:39,650 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 1: and receive the gift of your salvation. So Lord, we're 70 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,860 Speaker 1: grateful for these privileges. We're grateful for this portion of scripture. 71 00:04:47,260 --> 00:04:49,820 Speaker 1: And we're grateful, Lord, for your love. We pray, Lord, 72 00:04:49,860 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: that by your grace that we wouldn't reject you, that 73 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,620 Speaker 1: we wouldn't walk our own way, that we wouldn't adopt 74 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: the worship of idols, but that we would put you 75 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:01,250 Speaker 1: first in all areas of our lives. Thank you, Lord, 76 00:05:01,290 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: for being with us. Thank you for your presence in 77 00:05:03,610 --> 00:05:05,950 Speaker 1: our lives. And thank you, Lord, for the guidance and 78 00:05:05,990 --> 00:05:09,370 Speaker 1: the direction that you give us continually. We pray this 79 00:05:09,589 --> 00:05:12,409 Speaker 1: all in Jesus' name. Amen.