Sing, barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,”
says the Lord. (Isaiah 54:1, NIV).
The first verse of Isaiah 54 is quite interesting in that it carries instructions for a song under circumstances that would not ordinarily inspire such. Notice that there is a comma after the first word ‘sing’. This is an invitation to pause and think.
From a glance, we know that this is not a song of mourning because immediately after the instruction to sing is another one to shout in joy. Nevertheless, it would not be normal for a childless woman to sing and shout in joy. The conclusion therefore, is that this verse calls for a song that is not just harmony and melody. It calls for a different song. This, then, begs the question; what kind of song is this?
Behind every song you hear is an inspiration. When we go to weddings, there are songs we sing fueled by the emotions we feel and the circumstances. The same is true for funerals. However, the song in Isaiah 54 is not a song that is fueled by circumstances, feelings or emotions. Rather, the song itself is the inspiration. It is the song that births the situation that causes you to sing. It is a song of faith.
This year, may the Lord put in you this song of faith so that you will sing regardless of what is happening around you.