Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.
Isaiah 48:20 (NIV)
“Leave Babylon, flee from the Babylonians! Announce this with shouts of joy and proclaim it.
Send it out to the ends of the earth; say, “The Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob.”
Isaiah 48:20 (MSG)
“Get out of Babylon! Run from the Babylonians! Shout the news. Broadcast it. Let the world know, the whole world. Tell them, “God redeemed his dear servant Jacob!”
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“Get out of Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans [who reign there]! Declare with a voice of jubilation, proclaim this, send it out to the end of the earth; Say, “The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob.” -AMPLIFIED
“Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With a voice of singing: Despite Israel’s disobedience and unfulfilled potential, the LORD still loves them and will still free them from their captivity in Babylon. When they leave Babylon, they will go forth with a voice of singing.” ~David Guzik
In yesterday’s passage, we found God saying, “If only you had listened.” If only Israel had listened, instead of captivity, and judgement, they would have been experiencing blessing and peace.
“If only you had listened to my commands, then peace would have flowed like a river for you
and success would wash over you like waves of the sea. Your children would have multiplied
to become like the sand of the seashore and your descendants like grains of sand.
There would be no end of them, and I would not cut them off.” -Isaiah 48:18-19 (The Passion Translation)
In today’s text, we find that Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, reveals to Israel what He is about to do for them. He will deliver them from the hand of the Babylonians. He will set them free, and they will return to their homes singing the praises of the God.
“Leave Babylon; run swiftly from Chaldea! And let it be known with a joyous shout, to the ends of the earth, that the Eternal One has rescued Jacob, His servant!” -(VOICE)
God has warned Israel that Babylon is about to be destroyed. Now, He instructs them to leave Babylon, to be free from their captivity. The end of their captivity has finally arrived.
Whereas they had arrived in Babylon under God’s judgement, weeping and wailing; now they will leave with singing and shouting. They will declare to the world this Message:
“The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob.” -(AMP)
“Yahweh has reclaimed his servant Jacob.” -(NOG)
“The Eternal One has rescued Jacob, His servant!” ~(VOICE)
“Yahweh has rescued his servant Jacob!” -(TPT)
“The Lord has bought and set free His servant Jacob!” -(NLV)
No wonder the people would leave rejoicing. They would want everyone to know and understand what their God, Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, had done for them. He has redeemed them, rescued them, reclaimed them as His own, and set them free. Hallelujah! Utter it even to the end of the earth. (KJV)
God instructs Israel to sing His praises, for the whole world should know of the grace and mercy of the Lord. Let the whole world know!
“Yet even now, be free from your captivity! Leave Babylon, singing as you go; shout to the ends of the earth that the Lord has redeemed his servants, the Jews.” -(TLB)
“A testimony is something that serves as evidence.” ~Victoria Thomas Pollar
David instructs us to not only sing God’s praise, but to tell the world of all He has done.
“Praise Him who lives on Zion’s holy hill.
Tell the story of His great acts among the people!” -Psalm 9:11 (VOICE)
The sons of Korah instruct us to sing God’s praises, for He is King over all the Earth, God Most High, and all the World needs to know who He is.
“Go ahead and celebrate! Come on and clap your hands, everyone!
Shout to God with the raucous sounds of joy! The Lord God Most High is astonishing, awesome beyond words! He’s the formidable and powerful King over all the earth.
He’s the one who conquered the nations before us and placed them all under our feet.
He’s marked out our inheritance ahead of time, putting us in the front of the line, honoring Jacob, the one he loves. Pause in his presence
God arises with the earsplitting shout of his people! God goes up with a trumpet blast!
Sing and celebrate! Sing some more, celebrate some more! Sing your highest song of praise to our King!
For God is the triumphant King; all the powers of the earth are his. So sing your celebration songs of highest praise to the glorious Enlightened One!
Our God reigns over every nation. He reigns on his holy throne over all.
All the nobles and princes, the loving servants of the God of Abraham, they all gather to worship.
Every warrior’s shield is now lowered as surrendered trophies before this King.
He has taken his throne, high and lofty, exalted over all!” -Psalm 47 (The Passion Translation)
Jesus, before He was taken back to Heaven, gave these instructions to His disciples:
“And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race].” -Mark 16:15 (Amp, Classic)
Further along in the book of Isaiah we find him sharing this Message:
“What a beautiful sight to behold— the precious feet of the messenger coming over the mountains to announce good news! He comes to refresh us with wonderful news, announcing salvation to Zion and saying, “Your Mighty God reigns!” -Isaiah 52:7 (The Passion Translation)
The Apostle Paul drew from Isaiah’s passage in his letter to the Romans. There he was writing about the need for all Christians to share the Good News. Paul wrote:
“How can people invoke His name when they do not believe? How can they believe in Him when they have not heard? How can they hear if there is no one proclaiming Him? How can some give voice to the truth if they are not sent by God? As Isaiah said, “Ah, how beautiful the feet of those who declare the good news of victory, of peace and liberation.” But some will hear the good news and refuse to submit to the truth they hear. Isaiah the prophet also says, “Lord, who would ever believe it? Who would possibly accept what we’ve been told?” So faith proceeds from hearing, as we listen to the message about God’s Anointed.” -Romans 10:14-17 (VOICE)
“God desires for you to be involved in drawing people to His Word through a dedicated life to Him and an active witness for Him.” ~Paul Chappell
My friend, as followers of the Most High God, we have been called to testify of who He is and what He has done from our own personal experience. What has God done for you? Have you shared it with someone who needs to know? Take the time today to sing His praises to someone who needs to know of His great love for them.
“Withhold no part of the precious truth, but speak what you know and declare what you have seen. Do not allow the toil or darkness or possible unbelief of your friends to dissuade you. Let us rise and march to the place of duty, and there declare what great things God has shown to our soul.” ~Alistair Begg
My Prayer:
Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, give me boldness as I obediently share with others of what you have done for me personally and about who you are. Lord, you have blessed my life, protecting me, keeping me, and pouring out good things into my life. You intend for me to share of your goodness with others. Help me to not be timid in carrying out this directive, Lord. Help me to praise your generosity and righteousness to others. Every man, woman and child deserve to know that you love them, and desire to have a relationship with them. Help me to be a good witness for you, Lord. Thank you.
Growing with God 