Isaiah 12
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou was angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comforted me. (5162 “comforted” [nacham] means console, have compassion, help, or express sympathy.)
DEVOTION: There times in all of our lives when we are out of fellowship with the LORD. It is during this time that we feel that the LORD is angry with us. Sometimes we are even angry with ourselves for our failures to combat sin. When we are in such a state we find that there is a need for confession of sin and an expression of grief for not having a close relationship with the LORD. The LORD wants HIS children to have a close relationship with HIM. HE wants us to communicate with HIM through conversation or prayer.
We find this first established in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. There was a time each day when the LORD came and walked with them in the Garden. HE gave them instructions. HE addressed any problem. It was a time of what we call fellowship.
Today we have the Word of God. Even in the days of Isaiah they had part of the Word of God to follow. They knew when they were out of fellowship with the LORD. They understood that HE is angry at sin. There were many examples throughout the history of Israel where God showed HIS anger to the people to get their attention.
HE doesn’t want us to practice sin in our life. HE is holy and needs to correct the problem before it gets worse. Then HE can reestablish a good relationship with us.
In these verses we see a change from anger to a time of compassion. We understand as Isaiah did that when there is such a time our relationship with God causes us to sing.
The children of Israel sang praises to the LORD when they were going to the Temple and when they were leaving the Temple. This should be a practice by us today. It shouldn’t be only in church that we sing. Singing should be part of our life twenty-four hours a day. We can even sing in the night when we realize the presence of the LORD is near.
All should practice singing not only in the shower but while you are walking from one location to another. Even those who are only making a joyful noise unto the LORD should do it as often as possible. People will wonder what is making you so happy and then you can tell them about what the LORD is doing in your life.
CHALLENGE: When was the last time someone asked you why you are singing? Try to make it happen this week.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 2 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. (982 “trust” [batach] means confidence, secure, hope, to have a strong confidence or reliance upon someone or something, or lead to believe.)
DEVOTION: Here is one man giving his testimony in his confidence in the LORD at all times. He was one who gave witness to the children of Israel. He challenged them to put their confidence in the LORD instead of other things or people.
We need to do the same today. Too often we are thinking that the only one we can rely on is ourselves and that is wrong thinking. We need to continually challenge ourselves to trust in the LORD instead of ourselves or others.
Others will let us down at times but the LORD is one who can be depended on a moment by moment basis if we allow ourselves to put our confidence in HIM alone.
Too often we turn to the LORD as a last resort instead of a first resort. This causes us to have fears the LORD doesn’t want us to have.
CHALLENGE: We sing the song “Trust and Obey” and then look for other ways to find a solution instead of fully putting or confidence in the LORD.
: 4 And in that day shall you say, Praise the LORD, call upon HIS name, declare HIS doings among the people, make mention that HIS name is exalted. (7121 “call” [qara’] means to utter in a loud voice, cry out, to proclaim, or announce.)
DEVOTION: During this time period which is a time period when the LORD is reigning after the Tribulation there is a need to praise with the LORD. It is not a time when it should be forced but something that the people genuinely want to do. It is a time period when everything is good in the eyes of those who are genuine servants of the LORD.
There will be children born to those who enter the millennial reign of Christ. These individuals have to make a choice regarding their relationship to the LORD. We know that presently we are tempted by the world, the flesh and the devil. This will not be true during HIS reign.
The devil will be bound for the thousand years and then released at the end of this time period to see who will follow. During this time also the LORD will be reigning over the whole earth and so the temptation by society will not be as great as now. The third area of temptation will still be in existence as every human being is born with a sin nature and so within every person there will need to make a decision when they reach the age of accountability.
Those who make a decision to follow will enter into eternity with HIM. Those who reject HIM will have to follow the devil and his angels into the lake of fire for eternity. There are no other choices available then and now.
Are you proclaiming the name of the LORD today? Do people around us know that we are genuine followers of the LORD? Isaiah wants us to be individuals who let everyone around us that we love the LORD.
CHALLENGE: We need to be obedient to the LORD each day and proclaim all HE is doing for us even today.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all earth (1348 “excellent things” [ge’uwth] means majesty, majestically, glory, splendor, or having high status or rank.)
DEVOTION: One of the concerns of every believer is what the LORD is doing in his life. There are times when we wonder what is happening because things don’t seem to be going our way. We would like things to be better. Sometimes it is a problem of finances. Sometimes is a family problem. Too often it can even be a problem at church.
The biggest problem that we can have is our personal relationship with the LORD. We realize that we sin each day. Even after we become a Christian we struggle with old habits. We try to fight them off in our mind but they seem to keep coming back.
When we don’t keep short accounts with God sin can have partial control over our life. When this happens our relationship with the LORD can be called “being out of fellowship.” It doesn’t mean that we have lost our salvation but our closeness to the LORD is not there.
When this happens and we realize it we should want to re-establish that close relationship. We are to practice the presence of the LORD in our life on a daily basis. This comes through our quiet time with HIM while we read the Bible and pray and wait on the LORD for instructions.
When this happens we start realizing all the benefits the LORD has given us throughout the week and our life. Our attitude changes to one of thankfulness. We can remember all the glorious things that have happened to us since we became a follower of HIM.
This psalm explains with praise for what the LORD has done in the past for HIS people. HE has turned away HIS anger from Judah. HE has comforted HIS people. HE has given strength. HE has provided salvation.
It brings joy and song and praise to those who are true worshipers of Jehovah.
Because of all that the LORD has done, HIS people will call upon HIM for blessings. HIS people will declare all HIS works to others. They will sing, so the whole world knows what a great God is in Israel.
When the LORD does HIS work, the entire world knows that HE is a great GOD.
HIS work is described as splendor. When we look at the Falls of Niagara we see HIS work. Not the works of evolution. When we look into a sunset, we see HIS work. When we see a baby born, we see HIS work. These works of splendor didn’t just happen over millions of years.
They happened by the WORD of the LORD at CREATION. Israel had seen great miracles in the past. They were going to see great works in the Last Days.
This should give them and us a reason to sing. Are we singing with our whole heart when we worship the LORD? Do we really appreciate all HE has done for us? Do we really appreciate HIS great creation?
In a local library in Sheboygan there were many magazines. One of them was titled “Mother Earth.” Do we believe in “Mother Earth”? NO. God is the CREATOR and we worship HIM and HIM ALONE. HIS work is majestic!!!
CHALLENGE: Remember to praise the Creator of our Universe for all HIS works in our life and world.)
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