bible_study/Bible/Isaiah/Isa 44.md

## No God besides Yahweh 

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"But now hear, O Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have chosen: 

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Thus says Yahweh who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you, 'Do not fear, O Jacob My servant, And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen. 

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For I will pour out water on the thirsty _ground_ And streams on the dry land; I will pour out My Spirit on your seed And My blessing on your offspring; 

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And they will spring up among the grass Like poplars by streams of water.' 

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This one will say, 'I am Yahweh's'; And this one will call on the name of Jacob; And this one will write _on_ his hand, 'Belonging to Yahweh,' And will name Israel's name with honor. 

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"Thus says Yahweh, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, Yahweh of hosts: 'I am the first, and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. 

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Who is like Me? Let him call out and declare it; And let him tell it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient people. And let them declare to them the things that are to come And the events that are going to take place. 

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Do not be in dread and do not be afraid; Have I not long since caused _it_ to be heard to you and declared _it_? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any _other_ Rock? I know of none.'" 

## The Futility of Idolatry 

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Those who form a graven image are all of them futile, and their desirable things are of no profit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame. 

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Who has formed a god or cast a graven image to no profit? 

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Behold, all his companions will be put to shame. The craftsmen themselves are mere men. Let them all assemble themselves, let them stand up, let them be in dread, let them together be put to shame. 

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The man crafts iron into a cutting tool and does his work over the coals, forming it with hammers and working it with his powerful arm. He also gets hungry and has no power; he drinks no water and becomes weary. 

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_Another_ crafts wood, he extends a measuring line; he outlines it with a stylus. He makes it with planes and outlines it with a compass and makes it like the form of a man, like the glory of man, so that it may sit in a house. 

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In order to cut cedars for himself, he takes a cypress or an oak and raises _it_ for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow. 

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Then it becomes _something_ for a man to burn, so he takes one of them and warms himself; he also kindles a fire to bake bread. He also works _to produce_ a god and worships it; he makes it a graven image and falls down before it. 

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Half of it he burns in the fire; over _this_ half he eats meat as he roasts a roast and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, "Aha! I am warm; I have seen the fire." 

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But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god." 

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They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they will have no insight. 

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No one causes _this_ to return to his heart, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat _it_. Then I make the rest of it into an abomination; I fall down before a block of wood!" 

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He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver his soul, and he cannot say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?" 

## Yahweh Forgives and Redeems 

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"Remember these things, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me. 

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I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a cloud. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." 

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Shout for joy, O heavens, for Yahweh has done _it_! Make a loud shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into a shout of joy, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it; For Yahweh has redeemed Jacob And in Israel He shows forth His beautiful glory. 

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Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, "I, Yahweh, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone, 

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Causing the omens of boasters to be annulled, And making fools out of diviners, Causing wise men to turn back, And making foolishness out of their knowledge, 

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Confirming the word of His servant-- And the counsel of His messengers He will complete-- _And being_ the One who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited!' And of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built.' And I will raise up her waste places _again_. 

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_It is I_ who says to the depth of the sea, 'Be dried up!' And I will make your rivers dry. 

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_It is I_ who says of Cyrus, '_He is_ My shepherd! And all My good pleasure he will complete.' And saying of Jerusalem, 'She will be built,' And of the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'"