1 “But now hear, O Jacob my servant,
Israel whom I have chosen!
2 Thus says the LORD who made you,
who formed you from the womb and will help you:
Fear not, O Jacob my servant,
Jeshurun whom I have chosen. – ‘Jeshurun‘ isn’t a person’s name! It is a loving title meaning something like ‘My Beloved’ or in Amharic a fikur sim ‘wud’, or in French to ‘ma petite Cherie’. Jacob’s descendants are precious to God, even though they – like all children – need disciplining!
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. – verse 3 is a couplet saying the same thing twice. Using a physical example as an introduction to a spiritual theme!
4 They shall spring up among the grass
like willows by flowing streams.
5 This one will say, ‘I am the LORD’S,’
another will call on the name of Jacob,
and another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’S,’
and name himself by the name of Israel.” – they all call out reverentially ‘Father (Daddy) God’
Besides Me There Is No God
6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
7 Who is like me? -You can think shallowly that this is a statement made from pride, but it is simply a True Truth, never to be forgotten! – Let him proclaim it. – Calling upon God in Truth is a fundamental requirement to true success!
Let him declare and set it before me,
since I appointed an ancient people.
Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
8 Fear not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.” – This is a challenge to think very hard, ‘Is this true?’, before we read what is coming tomorrow! Who dares think that they more than God?
Ezekiel 36: 26 – And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Prayer: Thank You for the newness of Life which You give as Jesus comes into our lives!