We’re deep in a study of Isaiah on Wednesday nights, having completed a verse-by-verse examination of chapters 31-32 last night. We’re also deep in a year-long study of the hymns we sing. This year’s theme has been “Wonderful Words of Life,” and as we said at the beginning of the year, there are too many great songs and not enough sermons on the calendar to get to all of them.

Take, for example, the uplifting song “Shout to the Lord,” which lists numerous qualities possessed by the Almighty, qualities which the singer—desiring to praise Him—can’t help but enumerate. It reminds me of a beautiful little chapter of Isaiah…

And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. 

(Isaiah 12:1-6)

That’s it; that’s the whole chapter. With just six verses Isaiah pens a marvelous hymn of praise to the Holy One of Israel.

If you were to put a subtitle to this chapter, it would be “Victory in Jesus.” In the era of the Messiah, all sins will be forgiven of all people who are obedient to God: past, present, or future. The Jew in Isaiah’s day may read about the promises of the Savior and ask: “So how long until the promised Messiah finally arrives?” To which Isaiah, if he was permitted, might have replied: “About 700 years.” The Jew, knowing he would be dead long before then, might then wonder: “So what’s in it for me?”

The answer: salvation is universal (albeit conditional). If the Jew (living centuries earlier) is faithful and obedient to God, then the Messiah will take away his sins when He comes. Even though the Jew will be long dead before the Messiah comes, if he’s faithful then, God will save him later (when the Lord dies).

Notice that Isaiah writes of “ye” drawing water from wells of salvation. Who is Isaiah talking about? Anyone! In the era of the Messiah, salvation is not just for Jews, but Gentiles too. We, living 2000+ years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, are blessed with the same salvation as our faithful spiritual brethren in Isaiah’s day. If we are faithful now, God has saved us then (when the Lord died).

What the Lord offers is so good the people who partake are naturally going to want to tell everybody about it. To that end, Isaiah offers a handy checklist of things to say as you go out to tell people about Christ…and not just “tell” but “shout:”

Praise the Lord. Give Him credit for the salvation He offers. You didn’t save you; He did. Give Him the glory for your redemption and it will entice others to seek out redemption for themselves.

Call upon His name.  Tell the lost to turn to God, submitting to His authority to receive the salvation He offers. Anyone who refuses to obey God’s commands will do so because he fails to recognize the authority of Christ.

Declare His doings. Tell the seeking sinner that, after they’ve turned to Him and been saved by Him, they must likewise tell others about Him. The Gospel is not spread by a Divine message written in the sky. It is spread by saved people who take the Divine message (written in a Book) person-to-person.

Make mention that His name is exalted. Tell the world that He is High and Holy and must be obeyed. This is the message that those who are saved are to bring. Look at the cycle: You praised the Lord, you led someone to Him, and now they are praising the Lord and they are leading others to Him. It’s a cycle that should never end until the Lord comes back.

Sing unto the Lord. Give Him honor and thanks in worship for His salvation. Don’t just be happy that you’re saved; let your joy be expressed the way God wants it to be, which is in worship to Him. He is a Divine Being and His Character demands worship be given to Him. He made us for that purpose. Think about this: For a long time, sin kept us away from offering worship the way we should. Now that we are redeemed in God, we have the right to do what we were made for!

We are saved. We have been saved. If we remain faithful, we will be saved. What a blessing that is! It is cause for celebration, exaltation, and reverential adulation to be given to the Lord God almighty.

Shout to the Lord!

~Matthew