What does the Bible say about the praise of the redeemed?
Apr 22nd, 2018 / Salt and Light
“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation. Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:2–3
The hymns found in the Bible are sublime. Isaiah 12 contains two short hymns of praise. The context makes it plain that the songs are going to be sung by the living believers who have survived the Great Tribulation and are entering into the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
In the book of Revelation we learn the hymns of the Church age saints who are preparing from heaven to come with Christ at the inauguration of His Kingdom. Revelation 19:6ff refers to that time as the marriage supper of the Lamb. “And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”
Just as there will be overjoyed anticipation in heaven of the glories of the King and His kingdom, so on earth the believing survivors of the dark days of evil in the Great Tribulation will rejoice in their even greater salvation! The tribulation saints will be on hand for the grand celebration and their testimony will be that God has rescued them. Not only have they been redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ, but they have been shielded by His almighty power. And so they stand ready to greet their arriving King.
We know chapter 12 prophesies concern the end of the Tribulation and the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom by the content of chapter 11. The first verse says, “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” Verse 12 says, “He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Jesus’ Kingdom will be worldwide, it will be headquartered in Jerusalem, and Israel will finally fulfill its prophesied role in the world.
Chapter 12’s theme is the nature of the King and His kingdom. Isaiah reveals the nature of the King in verse 1, the nature of His wisdom in verse 2, the nature of His rule in 3–5, the nature of His subjects in 6–9, the nature of His statesmanship in 10–11, the nature of His power in 12–13, the nature of His victory in 14, and finally, the nature of His work in verses 15–16. His kingship will be a transforming time for all who are alive on this earth. Living under such a righteous, pan-global, seamless rule will be glorious to all who love truth, righteousness, and especially love the Lord of all.
With the dawning of the Millennial Kingdom, victorious Tribulation era saints will explode with hymns of praise! Two hymns are included in chapter 12: verses 1–3 and 4–6. The first hymn is about experiencing God’s great gifts and the second hymn is about the saints’ expressive response to His gifts. Their words of praise are timeless!
The redeemed saint experiences release in verse 1: “O LORD, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.” God’s wrath against man is only satisfied by the sinless sacrifice of His Son in our behalf. The Tribulation saints will know this truth in living color.
The redeemed saint experiences rescue in verse 2a: “Behold, God is my salvation.” There is only one quarter from which salvation can come, God above. He will rescue them.
The redeemed saint experiences reliance in verse 2b: “I will trust and not be afraid; for YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.” To believe in Christ is always to the exclusion of all other competing hope and trust.
The redeemed saint experiences results in verse 3: “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” God Himself is the source of refreshment, life, and sustainment with the result that the saint joyfully returns to God for more of what he needs.
The second hymn gives expression to the saints’ joy. The redeemed saint depends in verse 4a, “And in that day you will say: ‘Praise the LORD, call upon His name.’” Like returning to the well for water, believers constantly return praise to the Lord and never cease to call upon Him.
The redeemed saint declares in verse 4b–5, “Declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for He has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth.” Can you imagine the communion among the saints as they prepare for the great day of the inauguration of the King of Kings?
The redeemed saint devotes himself in verse 6, “Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!” Can you picture the exuberance of the victorious tribulation saints? You, too, have been released and rescued so you, too, should declare and devote all to Him! Trust and obey.