Songs for the Suffering Servant: Singing on Christmas Day!

 

We are encouraged to sing during the Christmas Season!
Consider what texts follow the three of the four Servant-Songs found in the Old Testament prophet Isaiah.  (Take note of the fact that these songs have an application beyond the nation of Israel to the Gentiles).

Isaiah 42:1-7 (The Lord's Servant and Spiritual Blindness)  

• This servant will be light and judgment to the Gentiles (vv. 1, 6)
• This servant was called by the creator of the heavens and earth (so God as creator matters) (v. 5)
• Note the Exhortation immediately following (Isa 42: 10-12):

"Sing unto the LORD a new song, And his praise from the end of the earth,

 Ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; The isles, and the inhabitants thereof.

  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.

  Let them give glory unto the LORD, And declare his praise in the islands."

Isaiah 49:1-12 (The Lord's Servant and Salvation)

• This servant was determined for this mission before birth (vv. 1, 5)
• Special Note: The servant was a person and precious before birth, not a thing.
• This servant again is a light and salvation to the Gentiles (v. 6)
• Note the Exhortation following (Isa 49:13):

"Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth;

  And break forth into singing, O mountains:

  For the LORD hath comforted his people, And will have mercy upon his afflicted."

Isaiah 52:13-52:12 (The Suffering Servant)

• This servant will bring peace and salvation to the Gentiles (vv. 9-10, 15)
• This servant will be a substitution for the sins of the people "for our transgressions" "for our iniquities" "the LORD hath laid on him" "he shall bear their iniquities" (vv. 4-6, 11-12)
• This servant will also be a high priest for sinners "made intercession" (v. 12)
• Note the exhortation within the section and immediately following (52:8-9, 54:1):

"Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; With the voice together shall they sing:

 For they shall see eye to eye, When the LORD shall bring again Zion.

 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem:

 For the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem."

"Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear;

 Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child:

 For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD."

Merry Christmas!  Don't forget to sing about God's Servant (Jesus) this Christmas season.  Do it at home and in church.  We enjoyed caroling for all our neighbors going house to house as a family.  Singing Christmas hymns and delivering gifts and lifting up the Savior in song.