And Stefan, before we get started, would you be willing to give us a quick 60-second overview of these chapters in Isaiah that we're going to be studying today?

These verses from 40 to 49 in Isaiah, they mark an important shift in the narrative.

Previously, as I'm sure you've studied, the narrative was, if you like, under the shadow of the Assyrian threat culminating in the siege of Jerusalem in 701 BC and the miraculous deliverance.

These new chapters now, from chapter 40 onwards, they focus on the Babylonian exile.

In 587 BC, the Babylonian army destroyed Jerusalem, including the temple.

They destroyed the temple, and they deported the people of Judah, or at least a significant portion of the people, to Babylon.

You will notice at this point that these events take place over a hundred years after the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrians.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.