and on that day you will say: "Give praise to the LORD; proclaim His name! Make His works known among the peoples; declare that His name is exalted. Sermons
I. THAT THE CHURCH OF CHRIST MAY WELL SPEAK IN THE ACCENTS OF EXULTATION. The terms of the prophecy do not seem to be satisfied with anything less than Messianic blessings; they fit perfectly the estate to which Christ has called us; they belong to that "kingdom of heaven" of which the Son of man had so much to say (see Matthew 13.). The Church may exult in that: 1. God has done such great things for her, in (1) the large and long preparation, through many ages, for her redemption; (2) the supreme act of Divine revelation in the person of his Son; (3) the wonderful sacrifice of himself he made on its behalf (2 Corinthians 8:9); (4) the lofty privileges to which he has summoned it - holy service, affectionate sonship, eager-hearted heirship. 2. God himself, the mighty and victorious One, is dwelling in the midst of it. "Great is the Holy One." If the family is proud of its honored father, the army of its invincible captain, the nation of its illustrious sovereign, how much more shall the Church exult in its almighty and victorious Lord! He is great in all the elements of greatness - in external majesty, in intrinsic excellency, in overcoming energy, in transcendent beauty, in the everlasting character of his kingdom. II. THAT EXULTATION DOES WELL TO PASS SOON INTO HOLY AND BENEFICENT ACTIVITY. Blending with these accents of triumph, and harmonizing with them, is the voice of exhortation,' the summons to useful activity "Praise the Lord;" "Call upon his Name;" "Declare his doings;" "Be this known [let this be known] in all the earth." Jehovah's greatness could only be known among the nations by the united and continuous testimony of the people of God. The glories of his grace, as they shine in the face of Jesus Christ, are to be beheld by all peoples; but they must be reflected from the lives and published by the lips of his faithful servants. It is the privilege and the duty of the Church to carry the knowledge of his Name and truth to the utmost ends of the earth. It is well to rejoice, "to sing for joy," to indulge in pious exultation; it is better to act in such a way that neighboring nations (cities, districts, streets, homes) shall draw from the wells of this great salvation the waters of eternal life; better, both because (1) we communicate blessing thereby, and because (2) we gain increase of spiritual worth by so doing. - C.
And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord. I. WHO ARE HERE CALLED UPON TO PRAISE GOD. The inhabitants of Zion and Jerusalem, whom God had in a peculiar manner protected from Sennacherib's violence (ver. 6). Those that have received distinguishing favours from God ought to be most forward and zealous in praising Him. The Gospel Church is Zion; Christ is Zion's King; those that have a place and name in that should lay out themselves to diffuse the knowledge of Christ, and to bring many to Him.II. HOW THEY MUST PRAISE THE LORD. 1. By prayer. "Call upon His name." As giving thanks for former mercy is a decent way of begging further mercy, so begging further mercy is graciously accepted as a thankful acknowledgment of the mercies we have received. 2. By preaching and writing we must speak to others concerning Him — not only "call upon His name," but (as the margin reads it) "proclaim His name"; let others know something more from us than they did before concerning God, and those things whereby He has made Himself known. "Declare His doings" — His "counsels," so some read it. The work of redemption is according to the counsel of His will. and in that and other wonderful works that He hath done, we must take notice of His "thoughts which are to usward." Declare these "among the people" — among the heathen, that they may be brought into communion with Israel, and the God of Israel. When the apostles preached the Gospel to "all nations, beginning at Jerusalem," then this Scripture was fulfilled, that His doings should be declared among the people, and that what He hath done should be known in all the earth. 3. By a holy exultation and transport of joy. "Cry out and shout." III. FOR WHAT THEY MUST PRAISE THE LORD. 1. Because He hath glorified Himself. "His name is exalted," is become more illustrious and conspicuous, and every good man rejoiceth in that. 2. Because He hath magnified His people. He "hath done excellent things" for them, which makes them look great and considerable. 3. Because He is, and will be, great among them. ( M. Henry.) People IsaiahPlaces Assyria, ZionTopics Acts, Declare, Deeds, Doings, Exalted, Honoured, Lifted, Mention, Nations, Peoples, Praise, Proclaim, Remember, ThanksOutline 1. A joyful thanksgiving of the faithful for the mercies of GodDictionary of Bible Themes Isaiah 12:1-6Library The Well-Spring of Salvation'Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. ISAIAH xii. 3. There are two events separated from each other by more than fifteen hundred years which have a bearing upon this prophecy: the one supplied the occasion for its utterance, the other claimed to be its interpretation and its fulfilment. The first of these is that scene familiar to us all, where the Israelites in the wilderness murmured for want of water, and the law-giver, being at his wits' end what to do with his … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture 'My Strength and Song' How Shall the Soul Make Use of Christ, as the Life, which is under the Prevailing Power of Unbelief and Infidelity. With Him, all Things Life in India. His Holy Covenant Appendix xiv. The Law in Messianic Times. Opposition to Messiah in Vain The Gospel Message, Good Tidings Messiah's Entrance into Jerusalem Isaiah Links Isaiah 12:4 NIVIsaiah 12:4 NLT Isaiah 12:4 ESV Isaiah 12:4 NASB Isaiah 12:4 KJV Isaiah 12:4 Bible Apps Isaiah 12:4 Parallel Isaiah 12:4 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 12:4 Chinese Bible Isaiah 12:4 French Bible Isaiah 12:4 German Bible Isaiah 12:4 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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