“LISTEN TO me in silence, you islands and coastlands, and let the nations gain their strength; let them come near, then let them speak; let us come together for judgment [and decide the issue between us concerning the enemy from the east].” (1)

How beautiful is the beginning of Isaiah 40?! Watch and wait… in silence; God is not afraid of the strength of a nation… even an approaching, powerful nation. Turns out He already knew about them:

(2) “Who has stirred up and put into action one from the east [the king of Persia, Cyrus the Great] whom He calls in righteousness to His service and whom the victory meets at every step? The Lord turns nations over to him and subdues kings. He makes them like dust with his sword. Like wind-driven chaff with his bow.” (3) “He (Cyrus) pursues them and passes along safely, By a way his feet had not traveled before. (4) Who has performed and done this, Calling forth [and guiding the destinies of] the generations [of the nations] from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord—the first, and with the last [existing before history began, the ever-present, unchanging God]—I am He.’ ””

But because we do not know God, we do not trust Him, and we begin banging out our own gods (the things we put our trust in that make us feel like we are in control): (5) “The islands and coastlands have seen and they fear; The ends of the earth tremble; They have drawn near and have come. (6) They each help his neighbor And say to his brother [as he fashions his idols], “Be of good courage!” (7) So the craftsman encourages the goldsmith, And he who smooths metal with the smith’s hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, Saying of the soldering (welding), “That is good”; And he fastens the idol with nails, So that it will not totter nor be moved.”

And we encourage each other in taking control and preparation… all except Israel, the children of the Promise: it is the children of the promise who are counted as [Abraham’s true] descendants.-Romans 9:8

(8) “But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The offspring of Abraham My friend, (9) You whom I [the Lord] have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not rejected you [even though you are exiled]. (10) Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’ 

And we don’t fear because, we are upheld by the Righteous Right Hand of our Living God.  – And we all know who is seated at God’s Righteous Right Hand. Our Beautiful Savior, Jesus! But he, being full of the Holy Spirit and led by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory [the great splendor and majesty] of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Look! I see the heavens opened up [in welcome] and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Acts 7:55-56

(11) Indeed, all those who are angry with you will be put to shame and humiliated; Those who strive against you will be as nothing and will perish. (12) You shall search for those who quarrel with you, but will not find them; They who war against you will be as nothing, as nothing at all. (13) For I the Lord your God keep hold of your right hand; [I am the Lord], Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’”

In my mind I had always pictured Jesus holding my left hand with His right – but it says here that He holds my right hand with His Right Hand – which means He is literally walking with me – inside – The Holy Spirit!

So beautiful.

*This is the first half of Isaiah 41 amplified version.