Reading for June 16th

Read Isaiah 41.1-10. In 41.1-29: I am your God. In verses 1-5: The speech of the Assyrian Rabshakeh in 36.20 had asked in complacent irony: "Who among all the gods of the countries have saved their countries out of my hand, that the Lord should save Jerusalem out of my hand?" The prophecies of ch. 41 provide maginficent rejoinder to this question, showing how and why the God of Jerusalem is different. The Holy One of Israel is creator and director of human history. Proof of this is first seen in the victories that Cyrus, king of Medes and Persians, has already won (vv. 2-5, 25). This ruler is mentioned by name more fully in 44.28; 45.1-4, 13. The coastlands (vv. 1,5) are most distant parts of the earth, so that all nations may recognize that a divine plan is at work. In verses 6-10: Again, the prophet redicules the foolish work of the idol maker (see also 23-24, 29). God had already called Israel to the the servant-people who would fulfill God's speacil purpose on earth (compare 49.6). Comments or Questions..