Sing to the Lord
Isaiah 12:5-6 - “Mechanical worship is easy, but worthless.” - Charles H. Spurgeon
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“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 12:5-6 NIV
Today’s devotional deals with something that (at least to me) seems to be sadly lacking in many modern Christian churches — praising and worshipping the Lord enthusiastically through song.
Some of you may not agree. You might say “We sing hymns every Sunday!”, to which I’d reply “Yes, but are you just singing those hymns mechanically, without much feeling?” Others might say “C’mon, we have the loudest praise band in the state at our church!”, and I’d ask “Sure, but are you just listening to the music or are you belting out the songs as if you really want to show the Lord that you love Him?”
These verses from Isaiah are part of a very short chapter that focuses on songs of praise. In the context of the previous chapter (11) there is a very good reason for the people of Israel to enthusiastically praise God — that chapter foretells the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, “The branch from Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1):
“Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.”, Isaiah 11:5 NIV
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.”, Isaiah 11:6 NIV
“In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.”, Isaiah 11:10 NIV
“He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.”, Isaiah 11:12 NIV
For the people of Isaiah’s time (approximately 740 - 686 BC) , hearing this great prophecy was news worthy of celebration. This was the time during which the Israelites were exiled in Assyria, a dark time of enslavement in a strange land.
As Chapter 12 begins, Isaiah calls for the people to “Sing to the Lord”, to worship and to praise Him. They may still be in exile, but there is a bright future for the Israelites and the prophet wants them to express their joy and gratitude for their impending return to their homeland. Like today, music and singing were a part of worship and celebrations for the Israelites , and Isaiah is stirring them to join together in worship.
The next phrase — “for he has done glorious things” — is a reminder of the acts of God in the past in delivering and saving His people. It’s also a call for faith; God has delivered His people in the past, and He will do so again. It points to deliverance from oppression as well as the future hope of salvation through the Messiah. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the most glorious acts of God to come.
The prophet wants this message to go out to everyone — “let this be known to all the world”. Proclaiming God’s works isn’t limited just to the Israelites, it is intended for everyone on Earth. This foreshadows the Great Commission in the New Testament (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV), where Jesus commands us to make disciples of all nations.
The message is repeated one more time: “Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion”! It’s more than just “shout” — the ancient Hebrew word used here is צָהַל (ṣāhal), which is defined as “be cheerful, bellow, cry aloud, rejoice”. Oddly enough, that word is also used to describe the neighing of a horse, although I’m not sure that would be appropriate in church!
The second verse wraps up with a reminder that “great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” That title — the Holy One of Israel — is a name for God that Isaiah uses throughout his prophecies. It emphasizes God’s uniqueness and separateness from all creation, His covenant relationship with Israel, and His role as Redeemer and Protector of that nation. From the New Testament perspective, the title points to the coming of Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.
I’ll end this devotional by circling back to my original question — when you are engaged in worship and praise in church, do you “shout aloud and sing for joy”? In the words of Charles Spurgeon:
We ought not to worship God in a half-hearted sort of way; as if it were now our duty to bless God, but we felt it to be a weary business, and we would get it through as quickly as we could, and have done with it; and the sooner the better. No, no; ‘All that is within me, bless his holy name.’ Come, my heart, wake up, and summon all the powers which wait upon thee! Mechanical worship is easy, but worthless. Come rouse yourself, my brother! Rouse thyself, O my own soul!
Amen!
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear God, I come to You with a heart filled with gratitude and praise You for the glorious things You have done. I recognize all Your mighty works in my life and in the world around me. Help me to share Your goodness with others, and let my voice shout aloud and sing for joy. May I always reflect Your light and love to those around me, proclaiming Your greatness among the nations. AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
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