"Sing to Jehovah a New Song"

Now Jehovah turns his attention to his people, saying:  "I am Jehovah.  That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images.  The first things-here they have come, but new things I am telling out. Before they begin to spring up, I cause you people to hear them."  (Isaiah 42:8, 9)  The prophecy about "my servant" was uttered, not by one of the valueless gods, but by the only living and true God.  It was bound to come true, and it did.  Jehovah God is indeed the Author of new things, and he causes his people to know of them  before they occur.  How should we respond?

Isaiah writes:  "Sing to Jehovah a new song, his praise from the extremity of the earth, you men that are going down to the sea and to that which fills it, you islands and you inhabiting them.  Let the wilderness and its cities raise their voice, the settlements that Kedar inhabits.  Let the inhabitants of the crag cry out in joy. From the top of the mountains let people cry aloud.  Let them attribute to  Jehovah glory, and in the islands let them tell forth even his praise." -Isaiah 42:10-12.

The inhabitants of cities, of villages in the wilderness, of islands, even of "Kedar," or encampments in deserts-people everywhere-are urged to sing a song of praise to Jehovah.  How exciting it is that in our day millions have responded to this prophetic appeal!  They have embraced  the truth of God's Word  and have made  Jehovah their God.  Jehovah's people are singing this new song-attributing glory to Jehovah- in more than 230 lands.  How thrilling it is to sing in this  multicultural, multilingual,  and multiracial chorus!

Can opposers stand up against God and silence this song of praise?  Impossible!  "Like a mighty man Jehovah himself will go forth.  Like a warrior he will awaken zeal.  He will  shout , yes, he will let out a war cry; over his enemies he will show himself mightier."  (Isaiah 42:13)  What power can stand up against Jehovah?  Some 3,500 years  ago, the prophet Moses and the sons of Israel sang out:  "Jehovah is a manly person of war.  Jehovah is his name.  Pharaoh's chariots and his military force he has cast into the sea, and the choice of his warriors have been sunk in the Red Sea."  (Exodus 15:3, 4) Jehovah was victorious over the most powerful military force of that time.  No enemy of God's people can succeed when Jehovah goes forth as a mighty warrior.

Next time: "I Have Kept Quiet for a Long Time"

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001