Isaiah 41:6 Cross References

Isaiah 41:6

6: They encourage one another with the words, "Be strong!"

It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy.
He called the craftsmen together, along with others employed in related trades, and addressed them as follows: "Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business.
As you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren't gods at all. And this is happening not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province!
Of course, I'm not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I'm also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis--this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world--will be robbed of her prestige!"
At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

they panicked. "The gods have come into their camp!" they cried. "This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before!
Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness.
Fight as you never have before, Philistines! If you don't, we will become the Hebrews' slaves just as they have been ours!"

But when the citizens of Ashdod went to see it the next morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the LORD! So they set the idol up again.
But the next morning the same thing happened--the idol had fallen face down before the Ark of the LORD again. This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact.
That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon will step on its threshold.

The blacksmith stands at his forge to make a sharp tool, pounding and shaping it with all his might. His work makes him hungry and thirsty, weak and faint.

Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains?

Say to the nations far and wide: "Get ready for war! Call out your best warriors! Let all your fighting men advance for the attack!
Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Train even your weaklings to be warriors.
Come quickly, all you nations everywhere! Gather together in the valley." And now, O LORD, call out your warriors!

King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
Then he sent messages to the princes, prefects, governors, advisers, counselors, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up.
When all these officials had arrived and were standing before the image King Nebuchadnezzar had set up,
a herald shouted out, "People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king's command!
When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue.

Say to those who are afraid, "Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you."

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