A Song of Thanksgiving

Transcription

1 Special Session A Song of Thanksgiving THEOLOGICAL THEME: Gratitude to the Lord for salvation leads to public proclamation of His glory. Thankfulness can be an easy thing to express but much more difficult to embody. We say, Thank you, to someone who has just done something for us, but do we mean it, or is it simply a polite courtesy hiding rather ungrateful thoughts? In what circumstances have you struggled to be grateful for the words or actions of another? Why might we have a difficult time being thankful toward other people? Voices from Church History I m so glad I learned to trust Him, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that He is with me, Will be with me to the end. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I ve proved Him o er and o er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more! 1 Louisa M. R. Stead (circa ) The prophet Isaiah recorded a song of thanksgiving inspired by God that the people of God would one day sing to His honor and glory. On account of His mercy and salvation promised and eventually delivered in His Son, Jesus Christ, we thank God, enjoy His gifts, and proclaim His greatness to every person and in every place. Gratitude to the Lord for salvation leads to public proclamation of His glory. Date of My Bible Study: 2017 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser. 119

2 1. Thank the Lord for His mercy and comfort (Isa. 12:1-2). 1 On that day you will say: I will give thanks to you, Lord, although you were angry with me. Your anger has turned away, and you have comforted me. 2 Indeed, God is my salvation; I will trust him and not be afraid, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation. Isaiah s song refers to a day that for him was yet to come, but it was not a reference without context. In the first 11 chapters of Isaiah, day is used multiple times with positive and negative connotations, depending on where you stand on that day. Imagine as a child, your dad is coming home from work. Depending upon your behavior toward your mom respectful obedience or disrespectful rebellion you know whether your dad s arrival is something to be anticipated or dreaded. In a similar way, for the proud enemies of God, the day is a day of judgment and humiliation (2:5-17). Simultaneously, for the Lord s remnant of His people, it is a day of preservation and salvation, even a full restoration from exile (11:10-16). The Old Testament prophets often called this the Day of the Lord. There have been many Days of the Lord in Scripture, but there is also one Day of the Lord to end all Days of the Lord. The apostle Peter described this ultimate day in 2 Peter 3:10-13, which is about the second coming of Christ. Christians long for that day, and this song of thanksgiving in Isaiah 12 will be sung fittingly by the redeemed of God on that day. But we can rightly sing it now too, as we will see. What are some reasons people may not look forward eagerly to the Day of the Lord? 120 Personal Study Guide

3 In light of the potentially destructive nature of this day, it makes sense that Isaiah s future-oriented song begins with a note of thanksgiving to the Lord. After all, apart from the grace of God, we are all on the judgment side of His day. According to Isaiah 1, Judah was on trial before God for being a sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, brood of evildoers, depraved children, who had abandoned and turned their backs on the Lord (1:4). And in Israel, everyone was a godless evildoer (9:17). The Lord had been patient, slow to anger, faithful in His discipline, and gracious in His prophetic warnings, but soon He would be true to His word to exile His sinful people from their land. So of course, God was angry! His people defied, rebelled against, patronized, and despised Him. But this wasn t just a general populace thing, it was a specific, personal thing. The Lord was angry with individual sinners. Isaiah s song says, you were angry with me. And lest we think we get a pass, the New Testament makes it clear that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). We have all personally been under the wrath of God for our sin (Eph. 2:3). Voices from the Church The redeemed have nothing else to sing about and yet everything to sing about when their song is of him, for every worthy theme is gathered up in him who is supremely worthy. 2 Geoffrey W. Grogan Therefore, we are faced with this question: How can God be just in His anger against sin and sinner and then turn His anger away? And not only that, how can God go the next step and graciously comfort the sinner (12:1)? The answer, as we see in Isaiah 6, is atonement provided by God. Hence, the reason for giving thanks to the Lord. Those who want to stand on their own before the Lord, believing they are entitled and owed by their Creator, stand condemned in their sin. The Lord promises to humble the proud and to bring low the lofty (2:11,17). But those who humble themselves and confess their sin before the holy God will find they can sing, God is my salvation (12:2). Special Session 121

4 The God who pays on our behalf what we rightfully owe is One worthy of our full trust. We never need be afraid of Him because He Himself takes care of our punishment; all that is left is loving, purposeful comfort and discipline to shape us into His image. Nor should we be afraid in our circumstances of life because our salvation is found in the God who created and governs all things. Furthermore, He infuses us with His strength and power to do what is right, and He works in our hearts to become the delight of our hearts, that His praise would forever be the song we sing. Truly the Lord is worthy of our thanks and our trust. What is the relationship between trust in the Lord and fear? What is your favorite song of praise and thanksgiving to the God of your salvation? Why? 2. Take joy together in the Lord s promise of salvation (Isa. 12:3). 3 You will joyfully draw water from the springs of salvation, Whereas the previous verses of Isaiah 12 were an individual s proclamation of praise and thanks for God s salvation, the you in this verse is plural. So verse 3 broadens the view of people praising as it addresses the community of individuals who will receive God s mercy and comfort in spite of their sins. And the message is that you are not alone. An agrarian society settled in a relatively dry and arid land such as ancient Israel would have been keenly aware of the necessity and potential scarcity of water. Rainwater in particular fueled their yearly provision and national economy. If it rained as it should, crops would grow and supply the people s needs; if there were a drought, crops would die, animals would die, and people would die because water is a life-sustaining requirement. 122 Personal Study Guide

5 God, in His justice and loving discipline, had promised to remove all of His people s sources of water on account of their rebellion and sin (Isa. 3:1). The purpose of this was to drive the people to repentance and to find their joy in God alone rather than in the idols they had created. Returning to the Lord, not just with sacrifices but with a whole heart set upon obedience to Him, would be followed by a return of the rain. No wonder water was an apt metaphor for salvation from the Lord. What are some metaphors from our culture that we could use to describe salvation from the Lord? In Isaiah 12:3, the prophet uses the image of abundant water to depict the overflowing nature of God s salvation, not just for the individual but for the entire community of the redeemed. There will be more than enough salvation to go around because it will be like water continually springing up from the ground in multiple places, like wells that never will run dry. Partaking of the Lord s salvation won t be like the daily depressing chore of seeking and drawing out the necessity of life from the depths of the earth. Instead, it will be a pleasure and a joy to draw living water from the untold depths of the Lord Voices from Church History It was not death s decay that flowed from his wounds, as is the case with all other men, but it was the fountain of eternal life, as Scripture teaches us: And water will spring up with delight from the fountains of salvation. His wounds gushed forth, therefore, that we might drink of salvation. 3 Ambrose ( ) Himself. There will be no reason for competition, no reason for fear that the water will run out. In this new community centered on the Lord, everyone together will enjoy the blessing of God s salvation forever. Special Session 123

6 How can we make the community of faith a priority in our lives and in the church? 3. Proclaim the glory and greatness of God all over the earth (Isa. 12:4-6). 4 and on that day you will say: Give thanks to the Lord; proclaim his name! Make his works known among the peoples. Declare that his name is exalted. 5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things. Let this be known throughout the earth. 6 Cry out and sing, citizen of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is among you in his greatness. Verse 4 continues by addressing the community of God as a whole. On the Day of the Lord, God s people will be speaking to one another, and their message will be full of mutual instruction honor the Lord and do so everywhere so everyone can hear it and honor Him too. In verse 1, the individual gives thanks to God for His salvation, but here the saved individuals gathering together are encouraging one another to give thanks to God and publicly honor His name. The picture of praise in this chapter flows like this: I thank the Lord that He has saved me! Hey, you are here with me, so you have been saved too. Thank the Lord that He saved you! But the praise of God can t stop there. This salvation from God is so great, gracious, and kind that everyone needs to hear about it, so let s go tell more people, even those who haven t heard about our God and His salvation! 124 Personal Study Guide

7 God s salvation and all the countless works of God are the glorious things He had done for His people throughout the Old Testament (Isa. 12:4-5). These things the people were to tell about to the other peoples of the earth because praise for the one true God by nature radiates out to the ends of the earth, since He made the earth and everything in it. What works of God in your life can you make known among the peoples of the earth? As glorious as all of God s works in the Old Testament are, according to His own Word, they pale in comparison to the glory of the Son of God coming into the earth in order to die for the sins of the world and give salvation as a gift to those who believe in Him (Heb. 1:1-3). If we are saved in Christ, it is because others who experienced His salvation decided to go and make known His glorious works. And if we are to worship Jesus rightly, then we must go into all the world and make known His glorious works in our own lives (Matt. 28:18-20). According to the pattern of thanksgiving and praise for salvation in Isaiah 12, worship must lead to evangelism. Isaiah 12 looks forward to a day when God has set all things right. With the first coming of Christ, the Lord has begun this process. Along with the whole community of the redeemed, we should sing the praises of the Lord and proclaim His greatness and salvation to the nations so they too may share in His salvation and in His praise. 99 Essential Christian Doctrines 79. Body of Christ The New Testament describes the church as the body of Christ. The church lives and operates as Christ s representative here on earth, with Christ as its head (Col. 1:18). This means that the church is an extension of Christ s ministry, carrying out His work by fulfilling the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). In addition, the picture of the church as the body of Christ shows us the interconnectedness of individual Christians, with each member dependent upon one another for growth and sanctification (1 Cor. 12). Special Session 125

8 How would you explain the connection between worship and evangelism in your own words? How can we encourage one another in our worship outside the church for the sake of sharing the gospel with the nations? Conclusion Thanksgiving to the Lord should be offered moment by moment, day by day, year after year because God is my salvation (Isa. 12:2). Though He hates our sin, He has shown mercy and comfort to sinners who find their refuge in Him. If you are one of the redeemed in Christ, then thank the Lord, sing His praises, and proclaim His greatness in all the earth. If you are numbered among the enemies of God, know that God will have His final Day of punishment for sin. This will be a day of dread for sinners, but the Lord has also established a Day in which salvation can be found in Christ, and that is today (2 Cor. 6:2). Today! Turn from your sin; turn to Christ; then you too can give thanks to Him and sing, God is my salvation! Voices from the Church In this picture, worship and evangelism are connected at the hip, inextricably joined as two sides of the same coin. Evangelism is joyfully shouting about the exalted glory of God and retelling his wonderful deeds. Worship is joyfully shouting about the exalted glory of God and retelling his wonderful deeds. For worship to become evangelism it has to be done outside of the four walls of a church, where non-believers can hear God s praise. 4 Gary V. Smith CHRIST CONNECTION: Isaiah looked forward to a day when the blessing of God would be experienced afresh by His people and God s glory would be proclaimed in all the earth. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we thank the Lord for His mercy, enjoy His gift of salvation, and commit to spreading the songs of His praise throughout the earth. 126 Personal Study Guide

9 HIS MISSION, YOUR MISSION MISSIONAL APPLICATION: God calls us to proclaim the glorious mercy of our great God among all nations. 1. How can your own experience of God s salvation fuel your desire to share the gospel with those experiencing the trials and struggles of life without Jesus? 2. What steps should we take when we find that our joy in salvation is waning? 3. Make a list of the glorious things the Lord has done for you that you can then praise Him and make them known throughout the earth for His glory. Special Session 127

10 About the Writers The Gospel Project Adult Personal Study Guide CSB Volume 6, Number 1 Fall 2017 Eric Geiger Vice President, LifeWay Resources Ed Stetzer and Trevin Wax General Editors Brian Dembowczyk Managing Editor Daniel Davis Content Editor Josh Hayes Content and Production Editor Ken Braddy Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies Michael Kelley Director, Groups Ministry Send questions/comments to: Content Editor by to daniel.davis@lifeway.com or mail to Content Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Personal Study Guide, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN ; or make comments on the Web at lifeway.com. Printed in the United States of America The Gospel Project : Adult Personal Study Guide CSB (ISSN pending; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay Christian Resources. For ordering or inquiries, visit lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway.com, fax , or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay s doctrinal guideline, please visit lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Unit 1: Matt Chandler is the Lead Pastor of Teaching at The Village Church in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, and the president of the Acts 29 church-planting network. He has authored several books, including Mingling of Souls, Recovering Redemption, Creature of the Word, and The Explicit Gospel. Matt is married to Lauren, and they have three children, Audrey, Reid, and Norah. Geoff Ashley serves as pastor at The Parkway Church in McKinney, Texas, after having served for ten years of ministry at The Village Church. He received a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary and is married to Kaci. Together they have a beautiful daughter named Larken. Unit 2: Steven Mathewson (sessions 7-10) serves as senior pastor of CrossLife Evangelical Free Church in Libertyville, Illinois. He received a DMin (preaching) from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is the author of five books, including Risen: Fifty Reasons Why the Resurrection Changed Everything. He and his wife, Priscilla, have four children and seven grandchildren. Trillia Newbell (sessions 11-12) is the author of Enjoy, Fear and Faith, United, and God s Very Good Idea (forthcoming, Sept. 2017). She is the Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Trillia is married to Thern, and they reside with their two children near Nashville, Tennessee. You can find her at trillianewbell.com. Daniel Davis (special session) is the content editor for The Gospel Project for Adults and a part-time student pastor at Edgefield Baptist Church in East Nashville, Tennessee. He received an MDiv from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Christy, have three children and also provide care for foster children. WRITERS

11 Notes SESSION 1 1. Herbert W. Bateman IV, A Call to Authentic Worship, in Authentic Worship: Hearing Scripture s Voice, Applying Its Truths, ed. Herbert W. Bateman IV (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2002), Sean Douglas O Donnell, Matthew: All Authority in Heaven and on Earth, in Preaching the Word (Wheaton: Crossway, 2014), 3. Jim Elliot, quoted in Through Gates of Splendor, by Elisabeth Elliot (Wheaton: Tyndale, 1986), Don Richardson, Peace Child (Ventura, CA: Regal, 2005), C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, in The Weight of Glory: And Other Addresses (New York: HarperCollins, 2001), 26. SESSION 2 1. Andrew Peterson, Hosanna! The Rabbit Room, March 24, 2013, 2. Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry s Commentary on the Whole Bible SESSION 3 1. Chrysostom, The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 82.1, quoted in Matthew 14 28, ed. Manlio Simonetti, vol. Ib in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 2001) 2. Theodore of Mopsuestia, Commentary on John, , quoted in John 11 21, ed. Joel C. Elowsky, vol. IVb in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 2007), Jonathan T. Pennington, The Lord s Last Supper in the Fourfold Witness of the Gospels, in The Lord s Supper: Remembering and Proclaiming Christ Until He Comes, eds. Thomas R. Schreiner and Matthew R. Crawford (Nashville: B&H, 2010), 56. SESSION 4 1. A. B. Bruce, The Synoptic Gospels, in The Expositor s Greek Testament, vol. 1, ed. W. Robertson Nicoll (New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1902), John Wesley, On Divine Providence, in The Essential Works of John Wesley, ed. Alice Russie (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour, 2011), John Huss, quoted in The Renaissance and Reformation in Northern Europe, ed. Kenneth R. Bartlett and Margaret McGlynn (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2014), 13. SESSION 5 1. Maximus of Turin, Sermons, 57.1, quoted in Matthew 14 28, ed. Manlio Simonetti, vol. Ib in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament 2. Thomas Aquinas, quoted in St. Thomas Aquinas: Universal Doctor of the Church, c (Charlotte, NC: TAN Books, 1995), endnote Craig S. Keener, Matthew, in The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (1997) SESSION 6 1. Nik Ripken with Gregg Lewis, The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected (Nashville: B&H, 2013), Cyril of Alexandria, Fragment 317, quoted in Matthew 14 28, ed. Manlio Simonetti, vol. Ib in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament 3. Charles Wesley, Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, in Baptist Hymnal (Nashville: LifeWay Worship, 2008), 270. SESSION 7 1. J. R. R. Tolkien, The Two Towers (New York: Ballantine Books, 1982), Herschel H. Hobbs, The Baptist Faith and Message (Nashville: Convention Press, 1971), Martin Luther, Sermon on Easter Monday (1521), quoted in Luke, ed. Beth Kreitzer, vol. III in Reformation Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove: IVP, 2015), Adrian Rogers, in Adrianisms: The Wit and Wisdom of Adrian Rogers, vol. 2 (Memphis: Love Worth Finding, 2007), Zach Myers, Taylor University remembers case of mistaken identity 10 years later, IndyStar, April 26, 2016, com/story/news/2016/04/25/tayloruniversity-remembers-case-mistakenidentity-10-years-later/ /index.html. 6. Trevin Wax, Gospel-Centered Teaching (Nashville: B&H, 2013), Steven D. Mathewson, Risen: 50 Reasons Why the Resurrection Changed Everything (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2013), 48. SESSION 8 1. Francis Dubose, The Pilgrimage of New Life, in The Mission of God Study Bible, eds. Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation (Nashville: B&H, 2012), Matthew Henry, Concise Bible Commentary (Georgetown, TX: WORDsearch, 2011) 3. D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, in The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008) 4. Gary M. Burge, John, in The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012) 5. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of John, 12.1, quoted in John 11 21, ed. Joel C. Elowsky, vol. IVb in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament 6. D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, in The Pillar New Testament Commentary SESSION 9 1. Oswald Chambers, in The Quotable Oswald Chambers, comp. and ed. David McCasland (Grand Rapids: Oswald Chambers Publications Associations, 2008), Gary R. Habermas, The Thomas Factor (Nashville: B&H, 1999), Gregory the Great, Forty Gospel Homilies, 26, quoted in John 11 21, ed. Joel C. Elowsky, vol. IVb in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament, Mark Buchanan, The Benefit of the Doubt, Christianity Today, April 3, 2000, ct/2000/april3/3.62.html. 5. D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, in The Pillar New Testament Commentary 6. Athanasius, Letter 59.10, To Epictetus, quoted in John 11 21, ed. Joel C. Elowsky, vol. IVb in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament, 372. SESSION John Wesley, John XXI, in Wesley s Notes on the Bible, Christian Classics Ethereal Library, notes.i.v.xxii.html. 2. Saint John Chrysostom, Homily LXXXVIII, The Homilies of S. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on the Gospel of St. John, Part II, in A Library of Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church, ed. J. H. Parker (London: Oxford, 1852), 792. SESSION C. H. Spurgeon, A Sermon and a Reminiscence, in Sword and the Trowel (March 1873), The Spurgeon Archive, Jerome, Commentary on Matthew, , quoted in Matthew 14 28, ed. Manlio Simonetti, vol. Ib in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament 3. John Owen, The Golden Book of John Owen, ed. James Moffatt (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1904), Robby Gallaty, Rediscovering Discipleship (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015) [ebook]. 5. David Platt, Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Matthew (Nashville: B&H, 2014) SESSION Henry Martyn, quoted in The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament, vol. 1, by Warren W. Wiersbe (Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2001), Corrie ten Boom with Jamie Buckingham, Tramp for the Lord: The Story That Begins Where the Hiding Place Ends (Fort Washington, PA: CLC Publications, 1974), D. L. Moody, Secret Power (Gainesville, FL: Bridge-Logos, 2006), 75. SPECIAL SESSION 1. Louisa M. R. Stead, Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, in Baptist Hymnal (Nashville: LifeWay Worship, 2008), Geoffrey W. Grogan, Isaiah, in Proverbs Isaiah, vol. 6 in The Expositor s Bible Commentary, rev. ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008), Ambrose, Explanation of the Twelve Psalms, , quoted in Isaiah 1 39, ed. Steven A. McKinion, vol. X in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Old Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 2001) 4. Gary V. Smith, Isaiah 1 39, vol. 15a in The New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2007), Personal Study Guide

12 THE GOSPEL PROJECT CHRONOLOGICAL A Journey Through the Storyline of Scripture Fall 2015 The Story Begins God the Creator (Genesis 1 11) God the Covenant-Maker (Genesis 12 50) Winter God Delivers God the Redeemer (Exodus) God the Lawgiver (Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy) Spring 2016 The Promised Land God the Savior (Numbers, Joshua) God the Judge (Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel) Summer 2016 A Kingdom Established God the King (1 2 Samuel) God All Wise (1 Kings, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) Fall 2016 Prophets and Kings God the Revealer (1 2 Kings, Isaiah) God the Pursuer (Prophets, 2 Chronicles) 6

13 Winter Exile and Return God the Sustainer (Daniel, Ezra) God the Provider (Esther, Nehemiah, Malachi) Spring 2017 The Rescue Begins God the Son (Gospels) God Among Us (Gospels) Summer 2017 Stories and Signs Jesus the Storyteller (Synoptic Gospels) Jesus the Miracle-Worker (Gospels) Fall 2017 Jesus Saves Jesus the Savior (Gospels) Jesus the Risen King (Gospels, Acts) Winter The Church on Mission The Spirit Who Empowers (Acts) The God Who Sends (Acts) Spring 2018 Letters to God s People The God Who Directs His People (Epistles) The God Who Changes Us (Epistles) Summer 2018 Come, Lord Jesus God s Prisoner (Acts, Epistles) The God Who Makes All Things New (Epistles, Revelation) 7