Isaiah 42:11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar does inhabit… I. WHAT KIND OF A SONG IT IS WHICH THE SAINTS ARE CALLED TO SING. It is a song on redeeming love. 1. A new song. It proceeds from a new heart, which is animated with new mercies. 2. A spiritual song. It is unmingled with carnal joy, or that of the hypocrite, which is short and unfruitful of solid comfort. It is from above, and animates all the powers of the soul. It will never become obsolete, but afford endless pleasure to the redeemed. 3. A song of distinction. Every heart is not formed for such exalted praise. The feeble powers of nature, unassisted by Divine grace, cannot learn this new song. 4. A song of victory. The saints of God are clothed in white, an authentic emblem of their faith and victory. 5. A song upon a sacrifice. 6. An everlasting song. Not the joy of the hypocrite, soon kindled, and soon extinguished; the powers of the soul are enlarged, and rendered fit for those endless raptures of joy and praise. II. THE SUBJECT-MATTER OF THIS SONG. 1. Jesus Christ our Lord manifested in human nature. 2. The manifestation of Divine judgments. When the Judge of all the earth came down, and delivered His ancient Israel from Egyptian bondage, He routed Pharaoh and His hosts, by such signal judgments as spread His fame far and wide: "His name was great, and His praise glorious through the whole earth." Moses and Israel sang, "The Lord hath triumphed gloriously, the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea." When Rome, as ancient Babylon, fell to rise no more, the heavenly Church is brought in as a chorus, to praise God for His righteous judgments and faithfulness. This excellent hymn of praise, sung by the united voices of saints and angels, strongly represents to all Christians, and every Church on earth, what grateful sense they ought to have of the Divine faithfulness in their protection, and of His righteous judgments in punishing the persecutors of truth and religion. 3. The infinite worthiness of Christ the Lamb of God. 4. The believer's union to the Divine Redeemer. 5. Communion with all the persons of Deity. That sincere believers in Christ enjoy such a communion, is most obvious from the sacred Scriptures. (J. Johnston.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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