Sing a New Song
One Year Bible (Sep. 23)
Isaiah 41:17-43:13
Sing A New Song
“Sing a new song to the LORD! Sing his praises from the ends of the earth!...Let the whole world glorify the LORD; let it sing his praise” (42:10,12)
This passage reads like a new song! It is filled with words that jump off the page like a lofty chorus or a building bridge. Who is the song about?
Listen to what the LORD says through Isaiah, “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.”
I love how God is giving his people a vision of “A New Song” even before the angels sing it!
Isaiah 42:1-4 is referenced again in Matthew 12. Let’s look at Isaiah 42:1 first, “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is MY CHOSEN ONE, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations.”
It is interesting that the word, “servant” in Isaiah can also be read as “son”. Jesus fits ALL descriptions…Servant, Chosen, Pleases God, Filled with HIS Spirit, Proclaims justice, Came for ALL nations. The people expected a “king” to save them, but instead, they got “The Servant King”.
Let’s now look at Matthew 12:18, “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.”
Matthew is referring to Jesus and applying it to JESUS. He makes the connection for us. Jesus is the fulfillment of all of Israel’s hopes, dreams, and longings.
Does this passage remind you of any other important events in the New Testament?
The words and phrases sound much like the voice that spoke from Heaven when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
Then, there was also the transfiguration recorded in Matthew 17:5, “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased. Listen to him'.”
How amazing that 700 years before these words were written of Jesus they were proclaimed by God through Isaiah! Remember, what He said, “I will tell you the future before it happens!”
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you, I will gather you and your children from east and west,. I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth’.”
Not only will God restore Israel and bring Israel out of physical captivity, but He will also bring “His Children” out of spiritual captivity through HIS suffering servant… HIS only begotten son in whom He is well pleased will be the instrument to bring PEACE to the NATIONS!
There is a song that I love from my children’s childhood. We used to take them to Joni & Friends Camp for Families with Disabilities. I have never heard worship since or before like I heard and witnessed during that week.
The camp was filled with people with all kinds of unimaginable disabilities: quadriplegics, paraplegics, people on breathing support, and children who didn’t have long at all to live… and they sang like that! They sang their hearts out like people that ached and longed for another land. As they sang they did the actions and the whole room reverberated with power. You could feel God’s smiles and tears flowing during worship. Here is one of the songs that they sang that I will never forget.
“Rise up church with broken wings. Fill this place with song again. Of our God who reigns on high. By His grace again we’ll fly….Shout to the North and the South. Sing to the East and the West Jesus is savior to all Lord of heaven and earthy.” (Shout to the North, Smith)
The words of Isaiah 700 years before “the servant son” would tell God’s people to…Sing A New Song!
