On a recent broadcast of the “In Touch” TV program (www.intouch.org), I heard a song entitled “God Of The Ages”.   It is a beautiful, Scriptural song (it is based upon Colossians chapter 1) declaring our Lord as the God of the Ages.

As I listened to this song it brought to my mind the following verses from Isa 42:…

“Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee,…I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

Let’s take a few minutes to see what these verses of Scripture teach us about our wonderful Lord and Savior!

THE SCRIPTURES:

Isa 42:5-12 (KJV)

5) Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
6) I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
7) To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
8) I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
9) Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
10) Sing unto the LORD a new song, [and] his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
11) Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up [their voice], the villages [that] Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
12) Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.

THE STUDY:

Isaiah’s Description of the Lord…

Isa 42:5-12 (KJV)

Before Isaiah delivers God’s message to the people of Judah, he emphasizes the greatness of the author of this message….

5) Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

Isaiah emphasizes three workings of this great God…

1)   He is Creator of All  - he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it
2)   He gives us Physical Life – he that giveth breath unto the people upon it
3)   He gives us Spiritual Life. – and spirit to them that walk therein:

What This Lord Has Done For Us (By Sending Christ on Our Behalf)…

Isaiah now delivers God’s message to the people.  The message beings with a reminder of all the Lord has done for us when He sent His Son to save us…

6) I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
7) To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

The Workings of the Father IN the Son…

1)   The sinlessness of His Son – I the LORD have called thee in righteousness,
2)   The Father’s accompanying of His Son – and will hold thine hand,
3)   The Father’s protection of His Son – and will keep thee,

The Workings of the Father THROUGH the Son…

1)   The Father’s eternal plan of salvation based upon the work of the Son – and give thee for a covenant of the people,
2)   The Father’s giving of Truth through the Son – for a light of the Gentiles;To open the blind eyes,
3)   The Father’s liberation from sin’s bondage through the Son – to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

How Can We Show Him Our Appreciation?….

Based on who He is and what He has done for us in sending Christ on our behalf;  how do we show Him our appreciation?

1)    By putting Him first in our lives… I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

1. “Lord” – Master, Ruler, Authority Holder

2)    By recognizing His greatness -Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare:
3)    By recognizing what He does for us - Before they spring forth I tell you of them.
4)    By verbally declaring His greatness and workings to all mankind, everywhere -Sing unto the LORD a new song, [and] his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up [their voice], the villages [that] Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
5)    Making Him shine in the eyes of others through our actions -Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.

1. Glory – to give great importance to
2. Praise – to make shine in the eyes of others

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

For those who have received the Lord’s gracious offer of salvation, let us serve Him with our whole heart realizing what a great God we serve.

Now that we have seen how our Gracious, Loving Heavenly Father has sent His Son to the earth for the sake of His people…. Our need is to accept this message by faith and turn to the Lord to receive forgiveness and spiritual life.

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