This small chapter opens with a wonderful gospel theme for a day of praise. \u2018Though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.\u2019 The \u2018day\u2019 Isaiah is consistently speaking of is the day of grace and salvation by Christ. The church in past ages looked wholly and solely to the day of Christ\u2019s victory for deliverance and comfort.<\/p>\n
A song to sing<\/strong><\/p>\n Isaiah speaks of our song and singing. Our song is the praise of our heart for God\u2019s mercy and pardon by the death of Christ. This is our comfort. True comfort is that spiritual comfort that refreshes and sustains the soul of a sinner because of the blood of Jesus Christ. A man or a woman can bear a lot of hardship when they know they have peace with God and are comforted in Christ.<\/p>\n The people of Zion<\/strong><\/p>\n We may consider the church collectively to be in view in this chapter but also the church comprised of its individual members. The title, \u2018thou inhabitant of Zion\u2019 distinguishes the Lord\u2019s people from those who live outside the \u2018holy city\u2019. These redeemed saints have a personal and distinctive confession and testify, \u2018God is my salvation, my strength and my song\u2019.<\/p>\n Faith drives away fear<\/strong><\/p>\n These are the Lord\u2019s covenant people and they are identified by faith. They say, \u2018I will trust, and not be afraid\u2019. God\u2019s gift of faith enables, informs and protects His people by revealing Christ to them as their only Saviour. He assures them of the efficacy of Christ\u2019s blood to cleanse their sin. In trusting Jesus Christ believers deploy faith to drive away fear.<\/p>\n Our Well of Salvation<\/strong><\/p>\n It is helpful to see Jesus Christ as the well of salvation from which the water of divine grace is drawn. The Lord told the Samaritan woman, \u2018the water that I shall give \u2026 shall be \u2026 a well of water springing up into everlasting life\u2019. As we trust the Lord to help us day by day so faith draws grace from Christ.<\/p>\n Sometimes we speak of preaching and worship and the ordinances of baptism and the Lord\u2019s supper as \u2018means of grace\u2019, yet these activities in themselves are nothing without the Lord. There is dead ceremony and there is spiritual life. Christ is both the fountainhead and the water, the well of salvation and the water of life to our soul.<\/p>\n \u2018Declare his doings\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Isaiah calls the Lord\u2019s elect to joyfully praise the perfections of Christ and to engage others to do the same. We long to see others saved. The Lord\u2019s people personally thank the Lord for His great salvation and are eager to tell others about what the Lord has done for them. \u2018Declare his doings among the people\u2019 says the prophet, which we are happy to do. True worship is praising the Lord for His perfections while commending the great work of salvation to others.<\/p>\n Our excellent Saviour<\/strong><\/p>\n The song of the Lord\u2019s people is the excellence of Christ. Isaiah tells us the Lord Jehovah has done excellent things. Hebrews tells us Christ has an \u2018excellent name\u2019 and an \u2018excellent ministry\u2019. His excellent name is the divine glory of His person. His excellent ministry is all His wonderful works. When the Pharisees criticised the Lord\u2019s disciples for worshipping Him the Saviour replied, \u2018I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out\u2019. No one can silence Christ\u2019s praise.<\/p>\n This is known<\/strong><\/p>\n In the previous chapter Isaiah said, \u2018the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea\u2019. Here he tells us the excellence of Christ is known in all the earth. This worldwide testimony brings Isaiah\u2019s ancient prophecy right up to date for us now. There has never been a time when the excellencies of Christ and the knowledge of the gospel were more widespread and widely known as they are today.<\/p>\n Through the technology available to us in the providence and wisdom of God, our own little Sunday service can be heard by anyone, anywhere. We are involved in the confirmation of the prophet\u2019s words! Whether it is speaking to our neighbours or broadcasting to the world let our mission be to honour Christ by exalting His excellent name and His excellent ministry.<\/p>\n Amen<\/p>\n