It’s the PRAISING LIFE THAT HONOURS ME.
AS SOON AS you set your foot on the Way,
I’ll show you My salvation.” Psalm 50:23. MSG
I liked the little phrase, ‘It’s the Praising Life that Honours Me’, from the Message Bible.
23 those who SACRIFICE thank-offerings honour me,
and PREPARE THE WAY so that I may show them my salvation’. NIV
The older NIV translates it that ‘WE prepare the way’ so that God can help us in our time of need. It’s Old Testament so it’s called Sacrifice, but sometimes God still looks for our sacrifice today to see our sincerity of heart. We may have to bless and thank Him to prepare the way for His salvation in our situations.
Isaiah 12, only six verses (unusual in Isaiah) speaks of Praise and Thanksgiving;
It repeats the phrase ‘In that day’ twice, so when is it? I believe it’s happening in our day.
12 He will raise a banner for the nations (gentiles)
and gather the exiles of Israel;
he will assemble the scattered people of Judah
from the four quarters of the earth (today, now). Isaiah 11
12 In that day you will say:
‘I will praise you, Lord.
Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
and YOU HAVE COMFORTED ME.
2 Surely God is my salvation;
I WILL TRUST AND NOT BE AFRAID.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is MY STRENGTH AND MY SONG;
HE HAS BECOME MY SALVATION’.
God is not angry with His own children, He longs to show mercy/salvation to us His people. So Isaiah says God has become his Strength and his Song, he’s rejoicing again in God. He also refuses to be afraid, he’s going to trust in God. I’ve heard before and again recently that there are 365 references in the Bible, ‘Not to fear’, one for each day of the year. God knew that there would be temptation for us to be afraid, but Isaiah says he won’t give in to fear, ‘I will trust and not be afraid’.
Another good scripture in Isaiah, which God spoke to my heart when I was much younger is Isaiah 41:10;
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
It’s good to have these words in our hearts, to encourage and strengthen us when we’re facing trials.
3 WITH JOY you will draw water
from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12
The prophet speaks of the Joy that we’ll have when we draw water/God answers us. Jesus used this type of analogy when He spoke with the Samaritan woman at the Well of Sycar in John 4 and a whole town came to believe He was the Messiah.
4 In that day you will say:
Give thanks to the Lord, proclaim his name;
Have you tried Thanks-offerings and Praise to the Lord, they may ‘Prepare the Way’ for God’s salvation for you?
God bless and keep you today.