Tuesday, January 30, 2024

The Book Of Isaiah. Day 51, Songs Of Praise

Chapter 12 is so short that we can study it in its entirety today. It talks about the songs of praise that will be sung when the Messiah reigns.

It begins by saying, "In that day," which refers to the events of the preceding chapter in which Isaiah foretold the coming King. "In that day you will say: 'I will praise You, Lord. Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away and You have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation.' With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." (Isaiah 12:1-3)

In Isaiah's day the Lord was angry with the northern kingdom of Israel for their idolatry and waywardness. He was angry with the southern kingdom of Judah as well, for the same reasons, although they would experience a revival for a time after a godly king came to the throne. But He chastened both nations in His anger by allowing them to be conquered by their enemies. 

He kept His promise that a return to the land would be allowed. In ancient times many returned and rebuilt. He kept His promise that Israel would someday be a sovereign nation in the world again, which it is today. And He also promised that a day was coming in which the descendants of Jacob would return to the land in numbers never before seen. The fulfillment of that promise is still in the future; it will come true when the Messiah rules over the earth from David's throne. Never again will the Lord be angry with the people. Never again will they be attacked by an enemy. Never again will they be unfaithful to Him.

"In that day you will say: 'Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.'" (Isaiah 12:4-6) They will proclaim to the entire world ("the nations", meaning the Gentiles) that the Lord has kept all His promises. They will acknowledge that it was in righteousness that He chastised them but that He has made a way for them to be forgiven for their sins. 

The Lord always intended to extend the offer of salvation to both Jews and Gentiles. All the way back in the book of Genesis, when He promised a son to Abraham, He vowed that someday all nations of the world would be blessed through Abraham's offspring, meaning Christ. (Genesis 22:18, Galatians 3:16) When the Jewish people proclaim the great works of the Lord to the whole world during the eternal reign of the Messiah, the Gentiles who have placed their trust in Him and are a part of this kingdom will rejoice with them, for He has done great things for them also.



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