Lift Up Your Voice

In today’s reading from the book of Isaiah, there is a passage describing a future judgement of the earth. Right in the middle, there is an explosion of praise:

They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing;
For the majesty of the Lord
They shall cry aloud from the sea.
Therefore glorify the Lord in the dawning light,
The name of the Lord God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea.
From the ends of the earth we have heard songs:
“Glory to the righteous!” (Isaiah 24:14–16)

I thought that this sudden swelling of praise right in the middle of chaos was timely to write about. The multiple worship events happening across the nation are worth celebrating. It is frustrating to run into government officials who seem to be embarrassed that a group of Christians doing nothing but praising the Lord and praying for the sake of their city. They have no qualms about allowing chaos and fire to hurt their city — that’s deeply wrong.

But the Church is singing anyway. It doesn’t matter what these officials do or say. They don’t need expensive equipment (as useful and wonderful as it is), just their voices and their faith, to shame evil and bring repentance and healing.

No matter what or where, it is right to lift up your voice in awe of the majesty and glory of the Lord. From coast to coast and from every end of the earth, even in the midst of judgement and chaos and fear, the prophet sees and hears a massive bomb of praise. Songs that celebrate God’s power and promises and the salvation He gave to us willingly are being sung with joy across the nation.

No matter where you are, add your voice to theirs. It doesn’t matter when or where or even if you think you can carry a tune.

Circumstances are no match for praise.