Verses 1-5
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After warnings about His judgment in the previous chapter, God gives Israel hope here, as He does to us. If we are thirsty and ask God for His help with faith and repentance from sin, He will give us the Holy Spirit like water on dry ground to revive us (John 7:37-38), and we will know that we belong to the Lord.
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This speaks of salvation. Having the Spirit is both a powerful refreshment and the mark that we belong to the Lord. Certainly pray to be more filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by it!
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Verses 6-8
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We can be witnesses, or give evidence, that the God of the Bible is the true God, in part, because He has given us prophetic Scriptures that show He knows and controls all things. Learn about the many fulfilled prophecies in the Bible and you will have evidence to show of God's power in the earth.
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Here is one example of a prophecy: The end of this chapter and the beginning of chapter 45 speak of the coming of Cyrus, the Persian king, to restore Israel to their homeland. This event happened, and the prophecy was written more than 200 years before Cyrus was alive, and he is pointed out by name!
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Verses 9-20
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People who worships idols or false gods are deceived. God shows that they worship wood, stone, and metal, not gods. As Paul says, “We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and there is no other God but one” (1 Corinthians 8:4).
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Verses 17-19. See with Psalm 115:4-8. The point is that false religion hardens people's hearts so that they cannot see they're following a lie; and people become like the things they worship and give their attention to.
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Be sure to always seek God in prayer for help in all things, and give Him your total devotion. If you start to neglect to pray, or begin to let other things have your highest affection, your heart will be hardened and you will stifle your own sense and understanding.
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And when dealing with people who believe false religions, remember that their hearts are hardened. If you will have much hope to reach them, you must be patient, and if you have opportunity, soften them over time by building relationship and helping them practically.
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Verses 21-23
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Remember the foolishness of following false gods, and remember how the true God has done something real. He alone has saved you and forgiven your sins! Rejoice in this salvation often! The earth itself will have joy and peace in the same salvation (Romans 8:19-22).
Verses 24-28
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The same God who has power to form us in the womb, and power to create the heavens and earth, shows us now that He proves the wisest of worldly men wrong with His Word. He sends prophets and messengers, as He sent Isaiah, to reveal the details of future events.
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In this case He revealed the name and actions of a king, Cyrus, who would release the Israelites back to Jerusalem to have it rebuilt.
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Remember that true prophecy is always detailed and cannot be mistaken or disputed. True prophecy “frustrates the signs of babblers”. People who are spreading misinformation will be obviously exposed when true prophecy is spoken and fulfilled.
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Do not think that prophecy can be vague, flowery, or cryptic. If you're going to speak or believe a prophecy, be sure that it's clear and detailed. If it's not, it's not prophecy.
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And when true prophets or messengers of God are speaking, He will "perform their counsel". The words of true prophets will always come to pass.
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True prophecies will often reveal specific names of people, places, and events/actions.
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