Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Pre-exilic Prophets 3 (5)
Pray Psalm 147.1.
Praise the LORD!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.
Sing Psalm 147.1.
(St. Anne: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past)
Praise God, for it is good to sing loud praises to the LORD!
With joy our songs of praise we bring to God and to His Word.
Read Isaiah 52.1-12; meditate on verses 7-12.
Preparation
1. Why should God’s people sing and break forth in rejoicing?
2. How will the LORD accomplish His salvation?
Meditation
We are approaching the “high water mark” of the book of Isaiah. Facing years of captivity in Babylon, the people of Jerusalem and Judah are called to “wake up” to their sin (v. 1), and repent, and to “wake up” to the Good News that God is preparing for them “in that day” (v. 6).
What is the Good News? It is that “Your God reigns!” (v. 7) Not Nebuchadnezzar. Not even Cyrus. The LORD God reigns and this is Good News of peace, salvation, and abundant good things (v. 7). The Good News is not just that we’re going to heaven when we die. It is that God reigns, that His rule is coming on earth as it is in heaven, to bring righteousness, peace, and joy to the world (Is. 9.6, 7; Rom. 14.17, 18).
Watch for it (v. 8). Sing in glorious anticipation of it. Strain with the eye of the heart to see it, and encourage one another by the promises of the LORD (v. 9). Bask in the comfort such a glorious prospect affords, and wait with eager anticipation and prayer to see the LORD bare His Arm and bring His salvation to the ends of the earth (v. 10). This word is as truly spoken to believers today as to the people of Isaiah’s time.But remember: Leave your wickedness and all uncleanness behind in Babylon, in the realm of darkness (v. 11). Repent of all your sin; be cleansed throughout your soul; go out from the darkness into the light, and know as you do that the LORD leads your way and guards you from behind (vv. 11, 12). The Good News toward which you are moving includes a call to touch not the unclean thing, that you might be holy, as your Redeemer is holy.
The Arm of the LORD, the manifestation of His power to save, is no other than our Lord Jesus Christ. He is God’s strength for salvation to all who will believe.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
George and Ralph, our ever-adorable grandsons, both like to flex their muscles and show us how strong they are. It is very impressive; and we are always duly amazed.
The always majestic, ever strong and powerful God of all the earth and cosmos, did something quite similar:
“The LORD has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God” (Is. 52.10). And we are impressed with His tender loving care, and duly amazed.
“For the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard” (Is. 52.12).
“You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me;
it is high, I cannot attain it” (Ps. 139.5, 6).
His love and care are so extraordinary that it is hard for us to comprehend; we can hardly understand it. And yet, God has been caring for His own in this way from the beginning. And Jesus continues the tradition.
“And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them;
and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.
So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel.
Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other,
so that the one did not come near the other all that night” (Ex. 14.19, 20).
Protected in front and behind. Surrounded by His mercy and His holy arm.
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus Who was crucified.
He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead,
and indeed He is going before you into Galilee;
and there you will see Him.
Behold, I have told you” (Matt. 28.5-7).
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to Myself;
that where I AM, there you may be also.
And where I go you know and the way you know” (Jn. 14.1-4).
We are surrounded by His love, care, grace, forgiveness, and mercy.
His strong arm is powerful to save.
“…he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Ps. 32.10, 11).
God has bared His holy arm on our behalf.
Be overwhelmed! Be amazed! Be duly impressed! Be thankful.
Reflection
1. For what do you need the Arm of the LORD to strengthen you today?
2. How would you explain to a young Christian how to realize more of the Lord’s strength?
3. Whom will you encourage today to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might?
He exhorts believers to thanksgiving, but chiefly confirms them in the hope and confidence of this salvation; as if the actual enjoyment of it already called them to thank God for it. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Isaiah 52.9
Pray Psalm 147.2, 3, 19, 20.
Thank God that His everlasting arms are strong underneath you (Deut. 33.27). Call on Him to strengthen you for this day of working out your salvation in fear and trembling.
Sing Psalm 147.2, 3, 19, 20).
(St. Anne: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past)
The LORD builds up His Church and He His people gathers in.
The broken hearts He tenderly repairs and heals their sin.
His Word He to His Church bestows—His promises and Law.
No other nation God thus knows: Praise Him with songs of awe!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
