Isaiah Praise Him Isaiah 12:1-6 A t the start of each new year, making New Year s resolutions remains a popular and enduring custom. These are generally focused on negatives we intend to change over the coming year. How you may feel about setting resolutions probably depends on how successful you ve been in keeping them in the past. But the focus of resolutions seems to be more about self-improvement than God s work of sanctification. This may explain why generally we fail to keep them. Consequently, they have come to be more a source of jokes rather than a source for hope. So, this morning I am going to suggest not a resolution, but a change in focus for the coming year. While it is appropriate to go to God with needs, to offer intercessory prayer for the needs of others, I would suggest this year we emphasize a commitment to praise more than a focus on petition. The benefits, as we will see this morning, are numerous. And, for your consideration, at the end of the session I would like us to take some time to share praises to the Lord, acknowledging His working in our lives. Counting Our Mercies. Counting up our mercies and our every-day reasons for gratitude, looking at the hundred little things and large things, gentle words, loving smiles, flowers-sent to cheer us, children to greet us, old friends to advise and middle-aged friends to uphold us, good books to read, dear songs to sing, meetings in gladness, even parting in hope for the better life, we do not know where to end the list. The only thing to do is to live always in an atmosphere sweet and vital with thanksgiving. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow! ~ MARGARET E. SANGSTER 1 I Introduction II I Will Praise You Verses 1-3 III Give Thanks to the Lord Verses 4-6 IV Conclusion Introduction: God has warned Judah and Israel of the coming judgment. But in the midst of judgment is a message of hope of the Messiah and His kingdom. The natural response to this message is one of praising God. And so this morning, in the context of Isaiah s song of praise, I want to talk about praising God and the different ways in which we can praise Him. First, let s start with a definition. 1 McClure, editor, J. B., Pearls from Many Seas, The Master Christian Library, AGES Software, Albany, OR, Version 8.0 2000
PRAISE A general term for words or deeds that exalt or honor men (Prov 27:21), women (31:30), heathen gods (Judg 16:24), or God, especially in song (Exod 15:11 KJV, NASB, NEB; glorious deeds RSV; glory NIV). Some of the Hebrew and Greek words mean thanksgiving, blessing, or glory, and are often so translated (2 Chron 7:3, 6; Luke 1:64; John 9:24). Arete ( virtue ) is translated praises, or excellencies, in 1 Peter 2:9. We are to be the praise of God s glory (Eph 1:6, 12, 14). Praise fills the Book of Psalms, increasing in intensity toward the end (Pss 145-150). Psalms 113-118 are called the Hallel, the praises. Praise for redemption dominates the NT (Luke 2:13-14; Rev 19:5-7). The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised (Proverbs 27:21, 31:30). When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands, the one who laid waste our land and multiplied our slain. (Judges 16:24) Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11). When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, He is good; his love endures forever. The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the LORD s musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, His love endures forever. Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing (2 Chronicles 7:3, 6). Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God (Luke 1:64) A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. Give glory to God, they said. We know this man is a sinner. (John 9:24) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God s possession to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. (Luke 2:13-14). Then a voice came from the throne, saying: Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great! Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: Hallelujah! For our Lord God Al- ) 142 (
mighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready (Revelation 19:5-7) Verses 1-3: Praise should be the natural response to God s greatness. The praise here is eschatological in nature, in that day. This will be the response of the Hebrew people to the coming of the Messiah and the Millennial kingdom. Grogan states: In chapter 1, the expression in that day introduces two verses (vv.10-11) that focus on the Messiah and the remnant and thus on the great final purposes of God for his people. This psalm of praise (v.1) anticipates the feelings of his people when that great day comes. The eschatological nature of this expression (see note at 2:11), as well as the relationship of chapter 12 to the verses that precede it, further affirm our position that its application cannot be restricted to the return from Babylon but must embrace the final acts in the drama of God s dealings with his people. 2 What are the specific praises? First, God s judgment has turned from Israel. He is now merciful and comforting. This flows from God s mercy and the nation s turning to the Messiah. And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son (Zechariah 12:10). Second, God has become salvation to the nation. While salvation can refer to both physical and spiritual, here it is probably referring to His providing rescue from her enemies. In Isaiah s time this would have been Babylon and Assyria. Going into the Millennium, we are not sure who these will be, though certainly one will be Babylon in some form or another. Notice what has changed. Where once both Israel and Judah were trusting their own wisdom and the allies they developed, in this future day their trust will be directed where it always has belonged, with the Lord. Our security is also in the Lord. Our salvation comes from Him and is sustained by Him. Our security is not in the stability of our circumstances. It is when, like Israel, we realize that we can be content and at peace in all things. And the result of this will be praise for God. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7 NASB). Verses 4-6: Once again Isaiah presents a future praise. But this is a second kind of praise. The first was praise directed at blessing God for His mercy to Israel. This second is praising God before others as a way to witness for Him and teach others about Him. This praise for future salvation is tied to past salvation. Where God provided water for Israel in the wilderness coming out of Egypt, He will provide spiritual water in the future. 2 Grogan, Geoffrey W., The Expositor s Bible Commentary, Isaiah, Zondervan Interactive Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1990 ) 143 (
the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified (John 7:37-39). As we praise God before others, telling of what He is doing in our lives and has done in the lives of others, we are teaching them about God. In so doing, we are presenting the Holy Spirit with opportunities to speak to their hearts, convicting them of their need for God. Conclusion: Praise should be a natural response to the working of God in our lives. But, I suspect one of the reasons this isn t always the case is because we, as fallen human beings, have a tendency to be more focused on the inadequacies of our circumstances rather than the blessings God has and is providing. So, if we are to be typified as a praising people, then we must be God-focused people. It is as we focus on Him and who He is that we are moved to praise. Consider the words of Michael Angelo The True Inspiration. Do Thou, then, breathe those thoughts into my mind By which such virtue may in me be bred That in Thy holy footsteps I may tread; The fetters of my tongue do Thou unbind, That I may have the power to sing of Thee, And sound Thy praises everlastingly. 3 We need to ask the Holy Spirit to pull our thoughts out of the mundane into the heavenly, to help us to focus on God rather than man and his circumstances. While this should be natural, instead it is an act of discipline. But as we focus on the Lord and His gifts, what once was discipline becomes a joy and a natural part of our life. It is the presence of the Lord in the midst that here and now satisfies the desires of His people, produces their worship, provides the power of their testimony. His realized presence is the gladsome dominating factor in their assembling. Where this is lost sight of all is mere routine, though there may be enthusiasm fro a cause, and resounding jubilation. 4 In the last analysis, it may be that the quality of praise is a product of the depth of our faith. For if we live in the truth that God loves us, that He is in control, and that He doesn t make mistakes, then we can and will praise Him regardless of our circumstances. It is very well for you to go into your house where your children are all strong, healthy and boisterous, full of life and vigor all the day long, and for you to praise God. But here is a man whose income is small; whose children are puny, weak, hardly ever have a day s health. For that man to look upon his lot and say: It seems to be very hard: all these things are apparently against me, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. That is faith! ~ Joseph Parker 5 3 Hanford, editor, Thomas W. 2010 Popular Quotation, The Master Christian Library, AGES Software, Albany, OR, Version 8.0 2000 4 Vine, W. E., Isaiah, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1971, p. 51. 5 Hanford ) 144 (
Finally, it shouldn t matter whether we are talking about praising as individuals or as a body. Our lives are to be reflected by praise. Maybe if we develop the habit of being a praising body, this will help us in our efforts to be praising individuals. Paul notes how we are to behave both corporately and individually: Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:19-20). Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD (Psalm 149:1-5; 150:1-6). For those of you who are reading these lessons, this one is a bit shorter. The reason is that I would like you to do what we did in class: take the time to consider your own life and praise the Lord for all His blessings. ) 145 (
Isaiah Praise Him Isaiah 12:1-6 I Introduction II I Will Praise You Verses 1-3 III Give Thanks to the Lord Verses 4-6 IV Conclusion I Introduction: (Proverbs 27:21, 31:30; Judges 16:24; Exodus 15:11; 2 Chronicles 7:3, 6; Luke 1:64; John 9:24; 1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14; Luke 2:13-14; Revelation 19:5-7) PRAISE A general term for words or deeds that exalt or honor II I Will Praise You: (Zechariah 12:10; Philippians 4:6-7 NASB)
III Give Thanks to the Lord: (John 7:37-39) IV Conclusion: (Ephesians 5:19-20; Psalm 149:1-5; 150:1-6) Personal Application: Each day this week, work on a list recording different things in your life deserving of praise for God. Add to the list daily. Each day praise God for what you have added to the list. Share your praises with others. Prayer for the Week: Lord, we praise You for the blessings You have brought to our lives. Amen.