He Is My Song (from 31 Days of Encouragement – Laura)

THEN YOU WILL SAY ON THAT DAY, “I WILL GIVE THANKS TO THEE, O LORD; FOR ALTHOUGH THOU WAST ANGRY WITH ME, THINE ANGER IS TURNED AWAY, AND THOU DOST COMFORT ME. BEHOLD, GOD IS MY SALVATION, I WILL TRUST AND NOT BE AFRAID; FOR THE LORD GOD IS MY STRENGTH AND SONG, AND HE HAS BECOME MY SALVATION.” Isaiah 12:1-2

Here, Isaiah pens a song of celebration from a grateful heart to God for deliverance from captivity. The Israelites had seen the miraculous hand of God numerous times and expressed their praise to the LORD through songs. The Psalmist writes, “When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion…our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:1-2). The Old Testament resounds with the songs of Moses, Miriam, David, Solomon and others. Songs were an important part of the Jewish culture just as they are in ours. They create an outlet for expressing our deepest thoughts, emotions and beliefs. Are there specific lyrics that enable your heart to communicate with your Heavenly Father? Tune your heart to the lyrics Isaiah writes and allow the Spirit of God to sing to you through His Word.

We hear in the first verse an astounding truth that brings a song to any heart. “For although Thou wast angry with me, Thine anger is turned away and Thou dost comfort me.” Paul tells us in Romans 5:8-11 that while we were still sinners, enemies of God, Christ died for us. God was angry with us because of our sin but Christ chose to die for us on the cross, turning God’s anger away, offering forgiveness and extending comfort to us as His children. In II Corinthians chapter 1, we read that God is “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles.” We were enemies with God but now receive comfort from Him. “Amazing love how can it be?” Can you hear the beautiful melody of grace? It is His plan of salvation!

“Behold, God is my salvation.” Salvation belongs to God. Max Lucado writes, “God has not only read your story, He wrote it.” He is the author, the composer of your salvation. Delight in the fact that God is your salvation. It’s all about Him. This brings great joy, peace and a spirit of contentment to my heart as I choose to rest in the power of God to save. “I will trust and not be afraid.” The choice to trust and not be afraid is the only choice for me as a dependent child. Fear casts me into a place of dark “what ifs” where there is no song. Hope escapes my heart and there is no joy. In this place of doubt, I am reminded that as one who has received comfort and reconciliation, I cannot stay there. How absurd to doubt God’s ability to be the Blessed Controller of all things that concern my loved ones and me. God is my strength when I am weak, and He is my salvation for I cannot save myself. When I choose to trust and not be afraid, He becomes my song. I can then relax and surrender to the music of His Sovereignty, enjoying Him and His voice as I listen to His lyrics of love and comfort.

Have you been delivered from sin’s captivity and received comfort from the Father of mercies? Are you enjoying Him as you choose to trust and not be afraid or is fear deafening your ears to the powerful life-changing songs the Lord wants you to hear? Open your heart to the Composer of your life, your strength and salvation and let Him be your song.