Today is the 23rd day of September. Welcome to the daily audio Bible. I'm Brian. It is wonderful to be here with you today, as we reach the conclusion of another one of our weeks together and continue our journey forward together.

Our journey has been leading us through the Book of Isaiah, and at this point we're kind of about three-quarters of the way through the Book of Isaiah, and so that's where our next step will be coming from today.

Isaiah, chapter 41, verse 17, through 43, verse 13.

The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none. Their tongues are parched with thirst. I will answer them. I am the Lord, the God of Israel. I will not abandon them. I will open rivers on the barren heights and springs in the middle of the plains.

I will turn the desert into a pool and dry land into springs. I will plant cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees in the wilderness. I will put juniper, elm, and cypress trees together in the desert so that all may see and know.

Consider and understand that the hand of the Lord has done this. The holy one of Israel has created it.

Submit your case, says the Lord. Present your arguments, says Jacob's king. Let them calm and tell us what will happen.

Tell us the past events so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or tell us the future. Tell us the coming events. Then we will know that you are gods.

Indeed do something. Good or bad. Then we will be in awe when we see it.

Look, you are nothing and your work is worthless. Anyone who chooses you is detestable.

I have stirred up one from the north and he has come. One from the east who invokes my name. He will march over rulers as if they were mud, like a potter who treads the clay.

Who told about this from the beginning so that we might know and from times past so that we might say, he is right? No one announced it.

No one told it. No one heard your words. I was the first to say to Isaiah and look, here they are.

And I gave Jerusalem a herald with good news. When I look, there is no one. There is no counselor among them.

When I ask them, they have nothing to say. Look, all of them are a delusion. Their works are nonexistent. Their images are wind and emptiness.

This is my servant. I strengthen him. This is my chosen one. I delight in him. I have put my spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations.

He will not cry out or shout or make his voice heard in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed and he will not put out a smoldering wick.

He will faithfully bring justice. He will not grow weak or be discouraged until he has established justice on earth.

A coasts and islands will wait for his instruction.

This is what God, the Lord, says, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it.

I am the Lord. I have called you for a righteous purpose and I will hold you by your hand.

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