Praise the Lord for Salvation

Background Scripture: Isaiah 11–12
Lesson Scripture: Isaiah 12:1–6; Psalm 100:1–5

Introduction

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power” (Rev. 4:11). Praise is the spontaneous, heartfelt response of the redeemed to their Savior. Our minds cannot comprehend the great love that heaven has bestowed on the human race. All good things come from God. The everyday, material blessings we so often take for granted are the least of his gifts. Of greater value than these is the gift of salvation. To have one’s sins forgiven and to have a lively hope of an eternal home in heaven is a treasure beyond comprehension. Added to this are the daily benefits experienced by the redeemed. Comfort in times of distress, the grace to forgive when wronged, and a light to brighten the path in the valley of the shadow of death are all part of God’s unspeakable gift (2 Cor. 9:15). Let us seek to understand more fully the wonderful plan of salvation and then give God the praise due Him.

Key Verse

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night (Ps. 92:1–2).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

The chapters preceding this lesson’s text provide an insight into the spiritual condition of God’s people. Spiritual fervor had waned, and this condition had borne evil fruit. With a divided heart, they had begun to worship other gods. Their outward show of worship to the true God had become only a hollow form. God’s judgment on sin followed their ungodly living, and his righteous anger at sin also was a call to hope and restoration. God is never vindictive or harsh beyond measure; rather, He longs to comfort and bless his children. Out of darkness there comes light, and tears of contrition and repentance are the water that causes seeds of joy to bloom.

The background scripture prophesies Jesus coming as our Redeemer. His nature and work are defined, deliverance is promised for his people in bondage, and the glorious work of salvation is foretold for all who will follow. The kingdom of peace is clearly explained. Former enemies would live together in harmony, and those with a childlike spirit would lead the way to Christ.

David, as the sweet psalmist of Israel, knew God in an intimate way. This came from daily connection and communion with Him. He experienced great victories but also grievous heartache, defeat, and personal failure, yet he was known as a man after God’s own heart. Perhaps his greatest virtue was the grace to acknowledge his sin and the need for a Savior. He knew that he could trust God implicitly. It is little wonder that he praised his dearest Friend in psalms.

Practical Truths for Today

This lesson should inspire hope, joy, and, ultimately, praise to God for salvation. Peace of mind is the result of turning from a life of selfish living to a life of unselfish devotion to God. The fruit of peace is joy and praise to God. What a wonderful experience for God’s children to find the well of salvation overflowing! By drawing daily from its water, we will find our hearts filled with praise.

What does praise look like in the everyday life of a Christian? Does it mean waking every morning with a song on our heart or hardly knowing what it means to carry a burden? Do we praise God because our trust in Him is never tested or because the temptations of Satan are weak and unable to sway us? No, there is a much more practical and real-to-life kind of praise that will ring true to our nearest friends and those we come in contact with.

Humility, trust, thankfulness, and joy are among the Christian virtues that, when added together, result in praise. We praise God by humbling ourselves before Him, acknowledging that without Him we can do nothing. Because we live in a sin-cursed world, there will be hardship and times when everything seems dark. This darkness takes on many forms and is uniquely personal to each of us. In these circumstances, we praise God by placing our trust in Him. “The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide, A shelter in the time of storm” 1 becomes a reality, and we can truly say, “Thank you for the valley I walked thru today; The darker the valley the more I learn to pray.” 2 As we trust the Lord, He receives our praise.

Jesus taught the woman of Samaria about the gift of living water. What a privilege to know that there is a spiritual well of water that will never run dry. No matter what life gives us or how parched we feel by the daily grind, this life-sustaining water endlessly flows. Drinking from the well of salvation produces healthy Christians. It opens our vision to the needs of the spiritually parched world around us. It waters the seed of conviction, creating a desire to serve as an ambassador for Christ. Our love to God overflows to our fellow man, and we are inspired to lay down our lives for our friends (John 15:13). It is by this inspiration that the needs of the mission fields are filled. The youth, thankful for the gift that they have received, consecrate their lives and are willing volunteer their time for the Lord. By drinking from this well, parents receive inspiration and courage to teach their children the ways of God. This water revives teachers as they prepare to stand before a classroom of impressionable yet sometimes challenging students. It gives patience and a special love to care for the elderly in their declining years. Perhaps most of all, it gives the courage to continue on when it seems like our efforts in serving the Lord bear so little fruit. Another drink from the well of salvation will sustain us in the dark times of life. When our best efforts have seemed to fail, we find renewal at this well.

Many times praise to the Lord is easy and spontaneous. In gratefulness, we thank God for health, when a soul finds the Lord, and for material blessings. As we enjoy the wonders of creation, the glory of the rising sun, or the smell of the earth refreshed after a summer rain, our hearts are turned to God, and we praise Him. However, our clearest view of God’s greatness can come through tear-washed eyes. Everyday life is filled with circumstances that cause us to cry out to God. Being falsely accused, being rejected by someone you love, or seeing a loved one turn from the Lord are very painful experiences. By reaching out to God, however, a miracle of forgiveness and acceptance can take place. Sickness and death leave their cruel mark, but in these darkest of times, the restoring waters from God’s well of salvation will be there for us. As we drink, the full power of heaven is granted to us. We find in a very personal way that “There is peace in the time of trouble, There is peace in the midst of the storm; There is peace tho the world be raging, In the shelter of His arms.” 3 This clear witness speaks of God, and those looking on also praise the Lord for his great salvation. This is only a foretaste—in heaven, our praise will be perfected. Let’s live so we can be part of that innumerable host praising God for eternity!

Questions

1. Each one of us has a personal way of praising God. Should we be conscious of how we praise Him?
2. How do those we associate with in daily living know if we love the Lord? What would they say? What evidences would they give as proof?
3. Thankfulness for salvation produces praise. Is thanksgiving gifted as a Christian grace, or is it cultivated to become a way of life?
4. 1 Vernon J. Charlesworth, “A Shelter in the Time of Storm,” Christian Hymnal
5. 2 Dottie Rambo, “Thank You for the Valley,” Cast Thy Bread Book 1
6. 3 Ike Davis, Ray E. Heady, “In the Shelter of His Arms,” Gospel Hymns for Worship

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).