Tuesday, September 24, 2013

There is no other

Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal. He also warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm; I see the fire." From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me; you are my god." They know nothing, they understand nothing, their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand. No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, "half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?" A deluded heart misleads. He cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?" Return to me, for I have redeemed you. 

I am the Lord, who has made all things, who foils the signs of false prophets, who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns if into nonsense. I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. 

I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart form me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. 

I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. "You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker." 

Isaiah 44 & 45, selected verses

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