What day that will be: We’ve a story to tell to the nations

The Verse of the Day for July 5, 2015 comes from Isaiah 12:4 (NLT)::

In that wonderful day you will sing: “Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done. Let them know how mighty he is!

In reflecting upon this verse, a couple of songs came to mind, as I looked at the first part of the verse and the last section of scripture.

The reference to “that wonderful day” brought to mind this familiar gospel song:

What a Day That Will Be

There is coming a day, when no heartaches shall come
No more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye
All is peace forever more, on that happy golden shore
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Chorus:
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon his face,
The One who saved me by his grace;
When he takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
There’ll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no more pain, no more parting over there,
But forever I will be with the one who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Chorus:
What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see
When I look upon his face, The One who saved me by his grace,
But when He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Oh I’ve got a longing, I’m homesick to go
To a land without heartache
No more sorrow or woe
There’s nothing that can hold me, in this world below
I’m homesick for Heaven, I’ve got a longing to go

Chorus:
What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see
When I look upon his face The One who saved me by his grace
But when he takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Bill and Gloria Gaither and friends offer this moving rendition of “What a Day That Will be,” featuring Jim Hill, who wrote the music and lyrics.

Jeremy Camp offers a contemporary song expressing the same message: “There Will Come a Day.”

As I thought about the second part of Isaiah 12: 4, with its reference to “the nations,” this hymn came to mind:

We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations

We’ve a story to tell to the nations
That shall turn their hearts to the right,
A story of truth and mercy,
A story of peace and light,
A story of peace and light.

Refrain

For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
and the dawning to noonday bright;
And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth,
the kingdom of love and light.

We’ve a song to be sung to the nations,
That shall lift their hearts to the Lord,
A song that shall conquer evil
And shatter the spear and sword,
And shatter the spear and sword.

Refrain

We’ve a message to give to the nations,
That the Lord who reigns up above
Has sent us His Son to save us,
And show us that God is love,
And show us that God is love.

Refrain

We’ve a Savior to show to the nations,
Who the path of sorrow has trod,
That all of the world’s great peoplesW
Might come to the truth of God,
Might come to the truth of God.

Refrain

Debbie Forrest provides another contemporary version of this classic hymn:

Tags: Isaiah 12:4, There will come a day, We've a story to tell to the nations, What a day that will be