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1. To Proclaim Him
Lutherans like to refer to the Lutheran church as the Singing Church. Martin Luther saw the value of music as a way to elevate the emotions of the person at worship. Music is a gift of God, and the Lutheran church has a great musical heritage. However, it doesn’t have a corner on the singing market. God’s people of all ages have lifted their voices in praise to the Lord. When a Christian rejoices and is glad, singing comes naturally – even if it is only a happy hum.
When the people of Israel, during their flight to freedom in their Exodus from Egypt, passed through the Red Sea on dry land and then saw the mighty Egyptian army annihilated in that same sea, the feeling of deliverance was so great that Moses and all the people of Israel burst forth in what is known as the Song of Moses: “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: ‘I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise Him.” And it goes on for 13 more verses!
When the Virgin Mary fully realized the ramification of Gabriel’s announcement that she was going to be the mother of the Messiah, she couldn’t restrain herself and broke forth with the words of the beautiful Magnificat, which begins this way: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” From Moses to Mary and in all the centuries in between, God’s children have Sung to the Lord in Praise!
It’s interesting to note that as Isaiah’s song of thanksgiving and praise begins, it is with a confession of sins: “I will praise you, O Lord. Although You were angry with me.” His words implied that he was well aware that he was soiled and stained by his sins. We, too, realize that we have no “right” to approach God – even to praise Him – but that it is a privilege of faith.
We approach God humbly, yet we still approach Him confidently. Almost in the same breath that Isaiah expressed God’s just anger with him, he loudly and proudly proclaimed the glorious Gospel: “Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.”
The Greeks had their Thermopylae. The Russians had their defense of Moscow. The English had their Waterloo. We Americans have our Gettysburg. And the Hebrews had their Red Sea. When the Hebrew mind heard that word “salvation,” it immediately pictured their outstanding act of national deliverance when they were delivered safely out of Egypt, and Pharaoh’s army was buried at sea. In that moment, God showed them in a forceful, unmistakable way that they were His people and He was their God. They were ready to tell the world about it in song.
What about us? Do we blame our stoicism regarding our salvation on the fact that maybe we never had a “Red Sea Experience?” Well, I’m here to tell you that you have had a “Red Sea Experience.” Through faith, you have been privileged to stand at the foot of Calvary’s cross and witness not just another convulsion in nature – when darkness blotted out the noonday sun – but you witnessed with your eyes of faith God’s giving of Himself to save the whole human race. The Holy Spirit, through the Word, tells us that on the day when Christ shouted in triumph, “It is finished,” our day of salvation arrived. God dug down into the depths of sin and evil and pulled us out. With gentle love, He breathed into us the breath of a new life in Christ. With loving hands, He cleansed us of our filth. We, the victims of sin and death, were brought back from the dead to live our days in God’s eternal heaven. Such was our “Red Sea Experience” – at our coming to faith.
Today, God’s love compels us to Sing to the Lord to Proclaim Him: “Surely God is my salvation.” If we don’t, who will? We have had our Red Sea experience. We have tasted His grace. We have been touched by His forgiveness. In our heart is a comfort and joy to which nothing can compare. Our hearts are filled to overflowing. Our cups are running over. We have no choice. We need to rejoice. We need to sing. We must proclaim Him. We must shout it out from the rooftops.
There may be days when we don’t feel very saved. Even on those days, we can turn to the Lord and find comfort. God’s love doesn’t ever change or waver or grow cold: “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers, every good and perfect gift is from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” God is constant. We are not. How thankful we can be that we don’t have to depend on our feelings for our salvation. Our salvation is an accomplished fact. God is our salvation! Yes, we Sing to the Lord to Proclaim Him, but we can also Sing to the Lord just…
2. To Praise Him
Isaiah and his people seemed unable to restrain themselves in their songs of praise. Their song moves from: “Give thanks to the Lord” to “Sing to the Lord” to “Shout aloud and sing for joy.” Their song to the Lord was one of fervent, zealous praise.
What about us? How much fervor and zeal is there in our praise of our Savior? How often do we find a song in our hearts that just has to get out? How often do we find ourselves singing or humming or saying, “Praise the Lord?” How often do we really let out all the stops and belt out a song of praise like we really mean it? Don’t be afraid to clap your hands and sing out. Praise your Lord like you never have before.
We certainly have a lot to sing about and praise God for, don’t we? The glorious things that our Lord has done for us are too many to mention here. He has provided for us. Our breath. Our health. Our wealth. Our food. Our families. God has provided us way above and beyond our basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter. He has poured on us many bonuses and blessings. While He does not always give us what we want, He always gives us what we need, what is best for us.
He has preserved us. In the good times and in the bad times. In perilous times and in prosperous times. In times of zealousness and in times of rebelliousness. He is at our side without fail. He walks with us every step of the way.
He has protected us along the way. He has sent His angels to guard and keep us. He has promised that nothing will happen in our lives without His permission or at His commission. And when trouble happens, He promises that whatever it is, it will work out for our spiritual good.
And finally, He has pardoned us. Full and free forgiveness! Salvation from the slavery of sin and death! Eternal life in heaven at His side! These are all given to us as gracious gifts from a loving God.
Without a doubt, we have plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. We have plenty to sing about. Let us sing a new song to the Lord. Let us Proclaim Him. Let us Praise Him! Shout it out! Amen.
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