Worship with Thanksgiving

June 9, 2013 Background Scripture: Isaiah 12 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 12 There is nothing that so adequately describes our emotional experiences like the words of a song. Whether it is a song of deep sorrow or one of extreme joy, we find relief and release of emotional energy through the verses of that song. A song can be like a medicine when we are hurting emotionally. And then again, a song can seem like an added reward or bonus in the midst of our rejoicing. Emotionally, we need songs to express our deepest emotional experiences. Isaiah Chapter 12 is a song of praise for deliverance. Some view the verses from the standpoint of them containing two psalms. Still others see all the verses as two parts of a single psalm. Whether the six verses of Chapter 12 are viewed as one psalm or two psalms, it is clear that these verses are intended for one purpose. That purpose is to praise God for deliverance. The first three verses describe God’s mercy and His grace. Isaiah alludes to God’s mercy when he speaks of God’s anger towards His people yet He spared them. God certainly had every reason to be upset with Israel because He had warned them so many times of impending doom as a result of their wayward living. God’s warnings seldom altered or slowed Israel’s actions. They continued to live contrary to the will of their covenant God. This was not a case of sinning out of ignorance but willful disobedience in the face of constant warnings by the prophets of God. God spared the children of Israel in spite of their sins. When Isaiah alluded to God’s grace, he declared that in spite of God’s anger towards His people, He still comforted them. Not only did Israel not receive the punishment she deserved, but God continued to bless her in spite of her actions against Him. These two actions of God on Israel’s behalf was enough to elicit trust that allowed the people of God to relinquish all fear and rely totally on the Lord for salvation. The salvation of the Lord is compared to the refreshing waters drawn from wells that bring forth joy. These verses are an expression of praise because of the goodness of God. The people had benefited from God’s goodness in spite of their unworthiness and therefore they celebrated their God in song. In the second half of this chapter, the people’s praise for God becomes their testimony to the nations around them. Isaiah calls for the goodness of God to be openly declared among those who are not a part of the covenant. The nation of Israel had no visible God yet the evidence of His presence in their midst was overwhelming enough to the people to brag about it to them who were outside of the covenant. Israel was called to celebrate the invisible God who is all wise and all powerful. Israel’s God is not another god in the midst of the many. He is the only true and living God. Often when praises come forth as a result of God’s goodness, it will lead into true worship from the hearts of God’s people. Worship is not a celebration of what God has done but a celebration of who God is. Sincere thanksgiving can easily become a prelude to true worship. In these six verses of song, Israel is called upon to offer thanksgiving and to worship their God. Robert C. Hudson May 29, 2013