Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, January 22

Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, January 22

Sermon text: Isaiah 41:21 – 42:17

Songs of worship include: Immortal Invisible God Only Wise, Great Are You Lord

In Isaiah 41 God calls all of humanity into his heavenly courtroom to consider the evidence and make a decision concerning who is the true God, who we will trust and who we will worship.  For Isaiah, sovereign foreknowledge and control over human events is an essential mark of deity.  Idols are nothing, and choosing to worship and serve anyone or anything other than the God of Isaiah is an idolatrous, delusional and dangerous choice. 

In Isaiah 42, the atmosphere makes an abrupt change as God graciously offers an alternative to the false idols of the world.  Isaiah 42 is the first of four Servant Songs presented by Isaiah.  He is God’s Servant, chosen by God and he is God’s delight.  He brings God’s justice to the nations, not by means of a sword, but through the gentle touch and work of grace. 

Sing to the LORD a new song, 

his praise from the end of the earth…….

Let them give glory to the LORD, 

and declare his praise in the coastlands. (Is 42:10a & 12)

Isaiah calls the whole world to join in worshipping God for his gift of salvation through Christ.  The greatest work of grace is when unbelief and idolatry are replaced with praise and worship to the Lord.  The nations from far and wide are invited to 

“Sing to the Lord a new song, 

his praise from the end of the earth.” (Is 42:10)

This is why we have public instead of private worship services.  Westwood provides the place, but God extends the invitation to everyone to come together to worship Him, hear from Him through His word, and sing His praises. 

Like a zealous warrior is determined to win the battle, God is determined to turn us from our idols and put a new song in our hearts.

The LORD goes out like a mighty man, l

ike a man of war He stirs up his zeal;

He cries out, He shouts aloud, 

He shows himself mighty against his foes. (Is. 42:13)

As you prepare for worship read this week’s passage.  Note what God says in Isaiah 42:16:

And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know,

in paths that they have not known I will guide them.

I will turn the darkness before them into light, 

the rough places into level ground.

These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.

God is willing to fight for our salvation.  And he is also willing to lead us, guide us, and illuminate our dark hearts to turn us from our idols to see the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). 

We will gather this Sunday to worship the God who spoke this world into existence through the power of His word.  But that is not his greatest miracle.  “The greatest miracle in the universe is when God transforms a compulsive idolater into a glad worshipper of himself alone.  That’s a miracle we urgently need – to love the Giver more than his gifts, to see in God our only ultimate delight and every other joy he gives as just one more reason to glorify and enjoy him.” (Isaiah, God Saves Sinners, R. Ortland, p 276)

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we worship and “sing to the Lord a new song”.  One of those songs will declare say “Great Are You Lord”:

You give life, You are love, 

You bring light to the darkness;

You give hope; You restore every heart that is broken,

And great Are You Lord!

It's Your breath in our lungs; 

So we pour out our praise, 

We pour out our praise;

It's Your breath in our lungs, 

So we pour out our praise to You only.

And all the earth will shout Your praise, 

our hearts will cry these bones will sing, 

Great are You Lord!