Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops. Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in the islands. The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.
Isaiah 42:10
After a somewhat dreary winter, it is wonderful to see, hear, feel, taste, and smell the colors, sounds, textures and flavors of spring. No matter what else is happening around us, springtime brings a sense of newness, vitality and hope. This transition from winter to spring should remind us that no season lasts forever.
Isaiah 42:10 presents a world engaged in praising God. Isaiah describes a season where the sea is applauding, and the islands join in. Even the desert and the camps rejoice, calling the Kedar nomads to follow suit. The villagers in Sela round up a choir to perform from the mountain tops and the glory of God echoes from coast to coast. This is pure unrestrained joy and it electrifies the air as the promise of spring tends to do.
If the people who lived before the birth of Jesus Christ, and who still longed for his coming, could be so exuberant in their praise of God, how much more should we rejoice in a Messiah who is now present with us, in every season of our lives? He is not only our LORD, but a God who was, who is and is to come, and deserving of our springtime praise. As the Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.”
If you find yourself stuck in the doldrums of the winter season, I pray that God will clear all the debris that lies in your path and plant a seed of joy, hope and praise in your heart this spring. Whatever, the situation, you will get through it because as Isaiah says: “The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.” So let us follow nature’s cue and lift up a shout of praise. Our God is worthy! Amen.