Sing And Shout

                     
                                                              Sunday School Lesson                                           

Lesson: Isaiah 12:1-6                                                                                                 
Golden Text:   “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” (Isaiah 12:4).

 INTRODUCTION.  It goes without saying that believers are expected to praise God.  Many times the Bible calls on the followers of Jesus to sing and shout praises to Him.  But why?  Our lesson this week, tells us why believers should praise God.Of course the short answer is simple.We are to praise God because of the salvation He has provided.Isaiah lays it our very clearly.Individual believers, all people of God, and all the earth should be in continual praise to Him.In the history of Israel, though warned repeatedly by their prophets they forsook true worship and served other gods.Only after they had passed through the disciplines of defeat and dispersion did Isaiah portray them as singing and shouting for joy because the Lord had redeemed and transformed them.This is the scene we will view this week.  

II. PRAISE FOR GOD’S SALVATION (Isaiah 12:1-3)

A. The people’s thanksgiving (Isaiah 12:1-2).  Isaiah chapter 11 presents a prophetic picture of the glory of God’s future kingdom which will be set up when Christ returns in His glory.  His reign will bring perfect justice with blessings on the worthy and retribution on the wicked (see Isaiah 11:1-5).  It will be a time of peace and harmony for all of God’s creation (see Isaiah 11:6-9) and a cleansed remnant of Israel will be freed from all former oppressors and re-gathered to their homeland from the ends of the earth (see Isaiah 11:10-16).
1. (vs. 1).  Chapter 12 opens with Isaiah saying “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.”  The phrase “And in that day” refers back to chapter 11 and to the reign of Christ that will last a thousand years on earth and continue into eternity. In that day or period of time, Israel will lift their voices to thank the Lord in praise.  In that day they will say “O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.”  The pronoun “I” indicates that all Israel will praise God as one person.  Israel’s history is full of God’s gracious blessings to them while they were habitually disobedient and didn’t heed the many prophetic warnings.  Israel continued down this path until God’s patience wore out.  His judgment fell on both the Northern and Southern kingdoms of Israel.  They were exiled from their homeland, and even though a remnant eventually returned, they would never again control their own destiny.  As a result, in the future reign of Christ, in their praise all Israel will say “though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away and thou comfortedst me.”  Again this refers to the time of the reign of Christ when God’s anger will have been turned aside and He will provide comfort to Israel. 
2. (vs. 2).  Israel will continue to praise God saying “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.”  God alone is Israel’s “salvation” or deliverance.The “salvation” that Israel will thank and praise God for certainly includes spiritual deliverance (see Jeremiah 31:31-34) that comes with the forgiveness of sins and being reconciled with God.However, God’s salvation for Israel also includes deliverance from all their enemies and the peaceful resettlement in their own land (see Isaiah 52:7-10).  Since God is Israel’s salvation, they can confidently say as if they were one person “I will trust, and not be afraid.” God’s people will continue to say “for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.”  Notice that the name for God is repeated here.  The term “Lord Jehovah” is the English version of the Hebrew Yah Yahweh.  This is God’s covenant name and is repeated twice “Lord Lord” to place special emphasis on God’s name.  This last phrase “for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation” was part of the song that Moses and the Israelites sang after God destroyed the Egyptians in the Red Sea (see Exodus 15:2).  It was Israel’s first song of praise for deliverance.Isn’t it fitting that it will also be part of Israel’s final song of praise?

B. The prophet’s observance (Isaiah 12:3).  Here Isaiah said “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”  The prophet likened the continued blessings that salvation would bring to water being drawn from a well.  God’s people will be able to draw continuously from their salvation in Christ and the wells will never run dry.  Therefore they can always draw on God’s blessing with joy.  Note: Isaiah often spoke of being spiritual refreshment as water (see Isaiah 41:18: 44:3-4; 55:1).  Jesus did the same as He promised that He would provide an abundant supply of living water to those who believed in Him (see John 4:14; 7:37-38).  Also in Revelation, water symbolizes blessings of the redeemed in the New Jerusalem (see Revelation 7:16-17; 21:6; 22:17).     

III. PRAISE FOR GOD’S MIGHTY DEEDS BEFORE ALL NATIONS (Isaiah 12:4-6)
A.  The people’s declaration (Isaiah 12:4-5).
1. (vs. 4).  Isaiah went on to say “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.”  In this verse the phrase “And in that day” again refers to the “day” Israel will be delivered by Christ, and the nation will fulfill its God appointed destiny.  However, whereas in the first section of our text the people were praising God for their deliverance, in this section the Jews are broadcasting God’s mighty deeds to all the peoples of the earth.  The phrase “Praise the Lord” can also be translated “give thanks to the Lord.”  The phrase “call upon his name” means to proclaim God’s name.  However, this means more than just broadcasting God’s name, because the Hebrews used the term “name” to identify a person’s essential characteristics.  It actually refers to one’s reputation.  Note: Names often identified the characteristics associated with either the circumstances of a person’s birth or what the person would eventually become (see Genesis 3:20; 5:29; I Samuel 25:25; Matthew 1:21).  People also had their names changed when they experienced a change in the direction of their lives (see Genesis 17:5, 15; 32:28; John 1:42).  In the same sense, the “name” of the Lord refers to all that He is.  His name includes all of His attributes.  Yahweh or Jehovah, comes from the Hebrew word for “I am” and is almost always translated “Lord” in our English Bible.  This is God’s personal name that sets Him apart from all false gods (see Exodus 3:13-15).  Yahweh, or Jehovah, signifies God’s eternal, changeless, existence, and His faithfulness to all His covenant promises.  Isaiah goes on to prophesy that during the millennium the redeemed of Israel will encourage each other to “declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.”  The word “people” here should probably be “peoples” to refer not only to the Jews but to all nations of the earth.  The words “make mention” means “to cause one to remember.”  In other words, the redeemed of Israel are called upon to spread the news of the Lord’s mighty acts to the ends of the earth, reminding mankind how glorious God’s reputation or name is.
2. (vs. 5).  The redeemed Jews will also encourage people to “Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.”  In the millennial reign of Christ the Jewish remnant cleansed by Jesus’ blood will call on the whole earth to “Sing unto the Lord.”  Note: In ancient Israel, music played an important part in worship and celebration.  Singing was an expression of love and thanks and it was a creative way to pass down oral traditions.  Even today, psalms and hymns can be ways to express relief, praise, and thanks when you have been through trouble.  The song that will be sang will proclaim that the Lord “hath done excellent things.”  Christians today have also been called to proclaim the excellent works of the Lord to all the earth (see Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).  The salvation that we enjoy is God’s message of grace to the whole world (see Matthew 5:14-16; I Peter 2:9-12).  Therefore, our conduct must be consistent with our verbal witness so that God may be glorified in all the earth.
B. The prophet’s encouragement (Isaiah 12:6).  In our final verse, Isaiah adds his own exhortation.  He says “Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”  The prophet calls upon his fellow redeemed Hebrews to give a loud shout for joy because “great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”  When Christ returns He will rule all nations and Jerusalem will be His dwelling place.  Even though He is holy, He will live among the people He has graciously redeemed (see Jeremiah 3:17; Zechariah 2:10).  Christ will personally live on earth and rule the earth He has cleansed.  The redeemed of all ages will assist Him in ruling for a thousand years (see Daniel 7:22; Matthew 19:28; Revelation 20:4-6).  However, we must remember that even now Christ is ruling spiritually in the lives of believers.  So, we like Israel’s future remnant, should praise Him and proclaim His name to the ends of the earth. 
                  
IV. Conclusion.  Do you respond to the Lord with joy, in song, praise, and trust?  If not, you should!  However, remember that your response should not only be based on what God did for you, but also on who He is.  He is a covenant-keeping God.  He is the Lord, the One who keeps “mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (see Exodus 34:7).  And it was this God, the only God, who died for you!