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Abide in Love ~ Abound in Thanksgiving ~ Work in Joy...
Live Fully ~ Suffer Rightly ~ Trust Deeply ~ Bless Truly!

LISTEN & LEARN:

"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths,
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."
~ Psalms 25:4,5

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LESSONS FOR A LEARNER

Sunday, October 27, 2024

ISAIAH 2 - SUMMARY & IMPACT

 ISAIAH CHAPTER TWO

SUMMARY & IMPACT

To LISTEN to post, CLICK HERE (13:15)

To PRINT Isaiah 2 IMPACT Study Guide, CLICK HERE

To PRINT Isaiah 3:1-9 - Observations, Investigations Study Guide, CLICK HERE

Isaiah 2:1-22 Text:

1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. 

5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD. 6 For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of things from the east and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners. 7 Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. 8 Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made. 9 So man is humbled, and each one is brought low— do not forgive them! 

10 Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the LORD,

and from the splendor of his majesty. 11 The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, 

and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. 12 For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low; 13 against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan; 14 against all the lofty mountains, and against all the uplifted hills; 15 against every high tower, and against every fortified wall; 16 against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft. 17 And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. 18 And the idols shall utterly pass away. 19 And people shall enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. 20 In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats, 21 to enter the caverns of the rocks

and the clefts of the cliffs, from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. 

22 Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?


SUMMARY

Take time to record your personal summary:



The LORD’s consuming fire is coming (Ch. 1), but there is a way of escape.  The nations are invited to come to the mountain, the dwelling place of the LORD, see Him exalted, and learn His ways.  God’s people are called to come and repent of their prideful idolatry (money, power, self-made comforts) and humbly enter the rock of protection as the LORD of hosts takes vengeance against all the falsely lofty things and brings down the prideful.  Three times the call comes to enter the rock (who we later find out is Christ!) to be delivered from the terror of the LORD and experience the splendor of His majesty!  What a powerful reminder of one of the themes of Scripture – God is both a terror to the rebellious and majestic for the righteous…and we find our righteousness in trusting in the obedience of Christ.  

 

ISAIAH CHAPTER TWO

IMPACT

 (Inform, Transform, Proclaim)

  • How does this IMPACT you by INFORMING your understanding of and trust in God’s character? 

Take a moment to ponder for yourself & record your thoughts:


2:1 -4 

In this passage, God, His dwelling place, and His teaching are exalted.  The nations flow to Him, invite others to Him, and desire to learn and walk in His teachings.  He is characterized as a judge who settles disputes and nations end up being at peace.  There are good results from His judging between nations.   The tone of this passage is pleasant, like a fruitful garden in peace-time, not war-time.  This passage not only indicates an exalted God, but a personal God who wants people to be with Him (His people as well as the nations highlighted here!), walk in His ways, and interact with in peaceful ways.  What a refreshing passage after reading at the end of Chapter one of the consuming fire to come to those rebels who are not walking in the LORD’s ways.  

   

2:5-9

V.5 - There is light in the LORD

V. 6 - God rejects because of idolatry

V. 9 - God humbles man, brings each one low, He can forgive…or not. 


2:10-21

These realities remind me/us that there is a battle of light vs. darkness.  The light of the LORD is where we want to walk for a relationship of peace and forgiveness with God.  Trusting in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as the source of light is also our source of truth, forgiveness, righteousness, and the salvation of union with God in this life and the life to come.  (John 1: 1-18)


  • The LORD of hosts has a day that He will come with His army of angels to bring justice against the proud. (v. 12, 13-16)

  • He alone will be rightfully exalted. (v. 11)

  • He can and will terrify in His righteous wrath. (v. 10, 17, 19, 21)

  • And one can find refuge in the splendor of His majesty. (v. 10, 17, 19, 21) 

 

- A right understanding of God - He is both/and - both: strong, powerful, holy, just, to be rightly feared and a protective refuge in splendor and majesty to be rightly trusted.


  • LORD, grant us hearts to respectfully fear you and trust you in awe.  You are worthy of our awe, trust, worship, and reverent respect.  Like a loving father (1:2) whose authority is rightly respected and revered.


  • How does this IMPACT you by TRANSFORMING the way you think, speak, or act? 

Take a moment to ponder for yourself & record your thoughts:


2:1-4

A few things stood out to me in this passage:

  • If the nations are inviting to come, how much more shall I?

  • The invitation is “to go up to the mountain of the LORD.”  That is not an easy trek.  It involves work to go up a mountain.  Our journey with the LORD is not necessarily an easy walk down the street.  It takes intention and preparation.

  • “That he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.”(v. 3b).  It really strikes me that the purpose of them going up to the mountain of the LORD is not specifically for His blessing or to ask Him for rescue or something.  It is direct and involves a response: teach us Your ways…that we may walk in Your paths!  This has been God’s call from the beginning – listen to my commands and obey them, then you will receive blessing.  (And v.4 describes one blessing: peace, instead of war!)

    • What a mantra: “LORD, teach me your ways that I may walk in your paths.”  What a prayer.  What a Biblical, God-honoring request.  God doesn’t want our vain offerings (1:11-15), He wants us to learn from Him and live in His good design!

       

2:5-9

  • I want to walk in the light of the LORD.

  • I want to be aware of where there may be temptations toward darkness in my life and cling to the light of the LORD.  (Ephesians 5:6-21)

  • I want to be sensitive to whether my heart is being pulled toward the idols of trusting in the power of wealth, government or other institutions/ temporary strengths, or manmade comforts.

  • I want to seek to be humble, so that I am not humbled and brought low (much harder that way:)).  

  • I want to recognize my need for forgiveness and seek it from Jesus, so that I can be right before God.    


2:10-21

In this passage, we are called to enter into the rock, to hide in the dust, in the hole in the ground.  We are called to His protection from His own terror about His rebellious people.  This transforms my thoughts by reminding me of my humble place before a holy God.  I am called more to take refuge in Him than to work for Him.  Obedience may look like trusting and resting in Him.  As one who is driven to “do,” this passage is a transforming reminder to me that He is the One who protects us against the consequences of our own sin by trusting and hiding in “the rock,” who is Christ.  May I seek to be faithfully obedient from a place of humble refuge in Christ.



  • How does this IMPACT those around you by the truths you can PROCLAIM to them? 

Take a moment to ponder for yourself & record your thoughts:


2:1-4

This passage is mainly an invitation of the nations impacting those around them by saying, “Come up to the exalted place and learn from the exalted Lord…and there will be peace.”  That is quite the impact.  May I invite those around me to taste and see that the Lord is good.  


2:5-9

I think we can proclaim to others what we are seeking personal transformation with:

  • Invite them to come to the LORD

  • Encourage them to seek to be humble and ask for forgiveness (for the first time, or in continual repentance)

  • Remind them to resist idols of darkness and seek to walk in the light of the LORD


  • Verse 6d can be a specific verse also to warn them against “clasping hands with foreigners”...not getting in business or romantic relationships with non-believers because those relationships have intimate/financial ties that can be easy to get drawn into and intertwined in ways not “in the light of the LORD,” (2:5), not on His paths” (2:3).

2:10-21

  • As the audience is called to “Enter the rock,” we can invite others to enter into the refuge of Christ.

  • I know someone personally who is really good at explaining to people that our sins are earning us the wrath of God and He will judge them.  She has this way of doing it in a loving way that is quite admirable.  This passage reminds me of the reality that the terror of the LORD is coming “in that day.”  It is loving to proclaim this truth to those around us, that they too may hide from His terror and be delivered into the splendor of His majesty, when He alone will be rightly exalted!

  • As naturally prideful people, we can model humility and encourage others toward humility as well.

  • As naturally idolatrous people, we can admit to others when we are tempted to put trust in “lofty” things (nature, military strength, money/careers, things our hands have made) and exhort others to repent and cast their idols away as well.     




PERSONAL TAKE - AWAY

Record your personal take-away:



My personal take-away is two-fold:

  1. Make sure I am seeking humility, repentance, and resting in Christ and the splendor of His majesty, instead of trying to do things on my own. (Whether that be attempting to subtly earn God’s favor or just trying to achieve my daily agenda via my own thoughts, strength, or initiative.  I want to be humbly seeking the Holy Spirit and His ways, not walking out on my own).

and

  1. Seek to be inviting “the nations” (non-believers) to come and learn of the splendid ways of the LORD.  That He can meet their every need and is coming to make all things right.



PRAYER

Write a responsive prayer or just pray this one from your heart:

 


O LORD of hosts, we can recognize how you rejected your consistently rebellious people and are against all things pretending to be lofty and we can blame you for being angry and harsh.  Or we can see how you are exalted above all things and good and peaceful things come from you and you are inviting us to come and learn and walk in your pleasant ways and to enter into your protection.  Thank you for your gracious kindness.  Thank you for revealing idols in our lives, so that we can more fully and purely worship you as the Lord and God who is worthy and who we have the honor of exalting in the splendor of your majesty.  Continue to teach us humility and teach us to come and enter into the Rock of Christ, for our protection and Your exaltation.  Amen.  


NEXT

Sunday, October 13, 2024

Isaiah 2:10-21 - Observations, Investigations, etc.

 ISAIAH CHAPTER TWO, cont’d

OBSERVATIONS: & INVESTIGATIONS:


To Listen to Post, CLICK HERE (15:31)

To PRINT Study Guide 2:10-21 Observations, CLICK HERE

To PRINT Study Guide Isaiah 2:1-21 SUMMARY & IMPACT, CLICK HERE


(I'm trying to keep the recordings to about 10 minutes...oops, this one is a little longer, but there were some great cross references and structure to point out!)


ISAIAH 2:10-21 -- 10 Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the LORD,

and from the splendor of his majesty. 11 The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and

the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. 12 For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low; 13 against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan; 14 against all the lofty mountains, and against all the uplifted hills; 15 against every high tower, and against every fortified wall; 16 against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft. 17 And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. 18 And the idols shall utterly pass away. 19 And people shall enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. 20 In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats, 21 to enter the caverns of the rockand the clefts of the cliffs, from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his

majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. 


22 Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?


ISAIAH 2:10-21 - House of Jacob invited to enter into the rock for protection in the day when God comes to terrify the earth

This section has a very interesting structure.  I will try and detail it here:

As noted above each section in this chapter starts with an imperative/command verb, followed by a “for,” explaining why they are being commanded to do such and such.


Verses 5 - 9 was a call for the house of Jacob to come to the light of the LORD for He has rejected His people because of their rebellious idolatry with no end.  The proud idolators are warned that each one will be brought low.  


Then, here in verse 10, God’s people are commanded to “Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the LORD….”  Why?  “For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud…”  


So here’s the structure I see:

V. 10 - Enter into the rockfrom before the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of his majesty.

V. 11 - …haughty looks of man… brought low…lofty pride of men humbled…the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

V. 12 - 16 - For the LORD of hosts has a day…against (a list of 10 “lofty” 

things)

V. 17 - haughtiness of men…humbled…lofty pride of men brought low…the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. (Repeated almost word for word from v. 11)

V. 18-And the idols shall utterly pass away.

V. 19 - And people shall enter the caves of rocks and the holes of the ground/dustfrom before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. (Repeated from verse 10)

V. 20 - In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold…to the moles and to the bats

V. 21 - to enter the caverns of the rocksfrom before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.  (Bookended with verse 10 at the beginning of the passage and repeated in verse 19).  


Condensed:

-Enter rock, from terror of LORD (v. 10)

- lofty pride brought low (v. 11)

- LORD has day against all “lofty” things (v. 12-16)

- lofty pride brought low (v. 17)

- idols shall utterly pass away (v. 18)

-Enter rock, from terror of LORD, when he rises to terrify earth (v. 19)

- idols cast away (v. 20)

- Enter rock, from terror of LORD, when he rises to terrify earth (v. 21)


The repetition here is certainly making a point.  Let’s see what we can unpack…


The reader has been set up thus far to see that the rebellious people of God have earned judgment and destruction for their idolatry with no end.


Here in verse 11 the theme of “the day of the LORD” is introduced.  This phrase is familiar throughout the Biblical timeline and although the phrase is not specifically used in these verse, it is alluded to:

Verse 11 - “in that day”

Verse 12 - “the LORD of hosts has a day”

Verse 17 - “in that day”

Verse  20 - “In that day” 


We are also given a glimpse of the significance of “that day”

Verse 19 - “when he rises to terrify the earth.”

Verse 21 - “when he rises to terrify the earth.”


V. 10 - The house of Jacob (still the audience from verse 5) is being called to “Enter into the rock and hide in the dust.”  In that day, as the LORD rises to terrify and bring destruction against the “lofty” things of the earth, this call to “enter the rock” is a call to hide from the destruction…that you may be saved.  Don’t be proud and lofty, but humble yourself to enter the rock and hide in the dust that you may be the repentant, protected remnant and avoid the terror and destruction of the LORD coming in that day.  


“Enter into the rock” may also remind the original reader of another rock in their spiritual heritage from Exodus 17:6 - “Behold, I [YHWH] will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And this verse may remind the readers on this side of the cross of 1 Corinthians 10:4, referring to Ex. 17:6 - “ and all drank the same spiritual drink.  For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.”  THE ROCK WAS CHRIST!  These three verses in early in Isaiah (2:10, 19, 21), point us to THE ROCK!  They invite us to enter into THE ROCK.  They invite us to be hidden in THE ROCK.  They invite us to be protected by THE ROCK.  They foreshadow the salvation we will have because of being hidden in THE ROCK as the terror of the LORD terrifies the earth, in that day.   


As I went about my day yesterday, after meditating on this, I reminded myself to allow myself to enter into THE ROCK, to allow myself to be hidden in Christ.  That He can protect me from the overwhelm.  From the anxiety that threatens my peace.  From the discouragement that threatens my joy.  This is a place of humility, admitting I cannot do life on my own.  This is a place of trust, believing Christ will meet all my needs according to His riches (Phil. 4:19).  


This idea of hiding to be protected by the LORD also reminds me of Rahab hiding the spies in Joshua 2 and David hiding in a cave from Saul.  Our God is a God of protection.


 “Terror of the LORD” - this phrase specifically is found only in this chapter, but “terror” and “Lord” in the same passage occurs 21 times, mostly in the prophets warning of the coming terror that the Lord will bring as a sign of judgment.  They are also found together in Exodus and twice in Deuteronomy referring to the deeds of terror, signs, and wonders the LORD did as warning and judgment on the Egyptians and deliverance for His people.  His people are well aquainted with those deeds of terror in their history and thus this warning of the terror of the LORD coming “in that day” is intended to enter into the rock and hide in the dust for protection and deliverance, like the days in Egypt.

 

“Splendor of his majesty” - a word search of “splendor” and “majesty” brings forth the idea of the beauty, awe, royal power, magnificent grandeur that you might expect.  Thus, I think it is intentional that the author couples “terror of the LORD” (warning of destruction) with “splendor of his majesty” (beautiful, magnificent grandeur).  For the humble, you will experience the splendor of his majesty.  But for the haughty, you will experience His terror.  The LORD will be both simultaneously.  You are invited to come and hide so that you can experience the splendor of his majesty and you don’t have to experience His terror, you only have to witness it from the protection of the rock and not experience the LORD’s terror bring you low.


V. 11 - This verse is pretty straight forward.  Calling out the haughty and the proud.  The LORD will put them in the proper place and He alone will be exalted in that day. This is about the LORD being worshipped in His proper place of exaltation.  Then the next five verse expand on that reality.


V. 12-16 - Right after verse 11 ends with “in that day,” it is clarified that “the LORD of hosts has a day.”  Specifically, the “LORD of hosts” - imaging his angel army ready for attack.  He has a day…against


“against” is repeated 10 times (a number of totality) in these five verses, presented in five pairs, two of each type of “lofty.”  Each of them articulates something that seems “lofty,” but that the LORD is against and will bring low.  


  1. Against all that is proud and lofty

  2. Against all that is lifted up

  3. Against all the cedars of Lebanon 

(known to be the tallest trees)

  1. Against all the oaks of Bashan

(symbolic of tall and strong trees…

God can even bring down the strongest tall trees) 

  1. Against all the lofty mountains

  2. Against all the uplifted hills

  3. Against every high tower

  4. Against every fortified wall

  5. Against all the ships of Tarshish

(large merchant ships)

  1. Against all the beautiful craft  

(possibly meaning: valuable sloop/warship?)


Not just proud men, but all lofty things.  “All” and “every” used in each of the ten named, to indicate the totality of God’s wrath on “lofty” things, highlighting His rightful exaltation.  Trees, mountains, hills, towers, walls, the “highest” of the trades (ships of Tarshish and beautiful craft)...all things that either He created (trees, mountains, hills) or He enabled to be created (towers, walls, ships).  Whether natural (trees, mountains, hills) or created (towers, walls, ships), if you put your trust in their height or strength, it is idolatrous and vain.


V. 17 - Repeated from v. 11 - the haughty shall be humbled and the lofty pride of men brought low and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.  (Because He has brought low all the lofty - trees, mountains, hills, towers, fortified walls, ships, and beautiful craft.)  One interesting difference is that in verse 11 the haughty looks of man will be brought low and the pride of men will be humbled and here the haughtiness of men will be humbled and the pride of men will be brought low.  Possibly another literary way to indicate the totality of the humbling and being brought low.  Verses 11 and 17 bookend the five verse list of the 10 types of things the LORD will bring low from their lofty places…that He alone will be exalted in that day.


Then in…


V. 18 - “And the idols shall utterly pass away.”  This one line stands out.  And is followed by a repetition of verse 10.  It seems to be highlighting that all those “lofty” things are idols.  And the word “utterly” again points to totality.  And then the following verse (after the one repeated from verse 10), is verse 20 that notes idols being cast away again.  The repeated themes, emphasize main points of the author.  And in a rather lengthy, repeated, detailed account of “that day,” a short sentence set apart is like a staccato to get our attention - “And the idols shall utterly pass away.”  Idols…utterly…pass away.   Vain trusts…totally…gone. The LORD alone will be exalted in that day.    


V. 19 - Repeated from v. 10 - with a few differences:

“Enter into the rock”(v. 10) → “And the people shall enter the caves of the rocks” (v. 19)

“And hide in the dust” (v. 10) → “and the holes of the ground” (v. 19) - holes of ground like dust, both places low and places of humility.

“From before the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of his majesty” (same in both v. 10 & v. 19)

V. 19 - adds “when he rises to terrify the earth.”


It’s like verse 10 was the call to “enter” and now the destruction is unfolding.  Verse 12 tells us he “has a day.” Verse 17 tells us that the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. And here verse 19 tells us “...when he rises to terrify the earth.”  We are being warned of what is coming…and those who take a place of humility (caves of rocks, holes of ground)...will be saved.  


V. 20 - “In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship to the moles and to the bats, (v. 21) to enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs…”


In v. 18, the idols just utterly passed away.  Here mankind is casting them away.  “Idols of silver and gold” point pack to verse 7, the idol of treasure their land was filled with. “Made for themselves” echoes verse 8, “they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made.”  And there seems to be an irony that they cast away their idols…to the moles and to the bats – creatures that lives in the holes of the ground and the caves of rocks that the people have entered (v. 19).  They cast them to the moles and to the bats, “to enter the caverns…” as if they are payment to the creatures to enter.  They are desperate enough to enter that they are paying with their silver and gold idols…to creatures…of which silver and gold idols are worthless to as well!  

There is also this idea that they are “casting them away” like a burden.   What was once of value to them (silver and gold idols) is now a worthless burden to cast away!  Picture of repentance.  Casting away your burden, turning toward and entering that which will save you…turning away from the terror of the LORD, turning toward the splendor of his majesty!  


V. 21 - This passage ends as it began…entering the rocks…from before the terror of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth (repeated from verse. 19).  This is where the salvation for the few survivors (the remnant) will come from, when the LORD comes to bring ruin to His rebels in that day.


“Day of the Lord” - 24 times; 3 in Isaiah.  Phrase not used in chapter two, but idea referred to twice.  


SUMMARY 

(2:10-21)

The LORD of hosts is against falsely lofty things and has a day that He will bring them low in order that He alone will be exalted, so cast away idols and the “lofty” things you are haughtily trusting in and enter the rock (of Christ:)) and humbly hide from the terror of the LORD on the day He terrifies the earth, that you may be delivered before the splendor of His majesty!



PRAYER

O LORD of hosts, we know that You go before us and You fight for us.  And we also know that it didn’t

always used to be this way.  We have acted as your enemies in rebellion.  We have been prideful and

idolatrous, trusting in

things that seemed lofty like reputation and money and power and apparent protection.  And yet, You are

above

them all.  Thank you for sending Jesus as the solid rock to perfectly obey Your will and offer refuge and

salvation

in Himself.  May Your Holy Spirit convict us when we are tempted by these other idols.  May we be

humble and

repentant and rest in the splendor of Your majesty, worshiping You alone as the exalted One. 

Through the powerful and merciful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.



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Chapter 2:1-21 IMPACT - to Print Study Guide, Click HERE



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