Heart of Worship: 30 Days to Deeper PraiseSample

Hi there, it’s Essential Worship and today we’re going to dive into Isaiah 12:4 (NIV):

“In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.””

Before we break down this Scripture, let’s talk about the historical context!

When Isaiah 12:4 was written, Judah was the southern kingdom of God’s people after Israel split in two. They were a small nation, wavering in faith, and often were tempted to trust other nations instead of God. Isaiah was a prophet who lived in the nation of Judah, encouraging them that God would come to their rescue and that they should put their hope in Him alone. Now, the most powerful nation during this time was the Assyrian Empire. Assyria was huge, authoritative, and often a cruel nation that conquered smaller nations around them. The people of Judah felt scared of Assyria and other nations - and were tempted to turn from God. In this time Isaiah came and gave this prophetic message of hope that one day, God’s people wouldn’t be afraid anymore but would sing with joy and tell the world about Him.

Sometimes when we look at our own surroundings, even 3000 years later, we can feel the same kind of terror and temptation that Judah felt. While we may not be tempted to worship other gods directly - we do cling to our success and idols of control, instead of the One True God. Yet, Isaiah's message rings even more true for us today with the work of the cross through Jesus Christ. We don't have to live in fear towards any enemy - but instead can walk in complete confidence that the Lord has us in the palm of His hand. And more than that - He's ALREADY WON!! Our only job is to trust in that and share the good news!

Just as Isaiah says, “make known among the nations what He has done” - Jesus asks the same of us through “The Great Commission”. We are called to go and make disciples of all nations. This means we should constantly be proclaiming, teaching, and baptizing in the Lord’s name boldly no matter the circumstances and no matter what surrounds us.

Isaiah 12:4 reminds us that God is worthy to be praised above everything else, and we shouldn’t keep that in! Instead, we should instead exalt Him. He is faithful and has fulfilled the promise to save His people. We encourage you to praise the Lord for all He has done in your life and to make Him known wherever you may go. No matter what giants you are facing, our Father is bigger and will get you through!

Challenge:

Take a moment to share your faith today. Whether it's sharing a Scripture to your Instagram story, telling your neighbors just how loved they are, or texting a family member that you're praying for them - it makes all the difference. Move in faith today! Amen.