Learn Isaiah's Salvation Song. Isaiah 12

Cantate, The Fifth Sunday of Easter                                     18-May-2025
Sermon Text: Isaiah 12:1-6
Sermon Theme: “Learn Isaiah’s Salvation Song!” I. Sing Together Salvation Has Come For You! (Vs.1-3) II. Sing In The World To Save Fellow Sinners! (Vs.4-6) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. Alleluia! The Lord is Risen! Psa 98:1-2 “Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. (2) The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.” Singing Sunday is here - Cantate - Latin for “Oh, sing”. During the first six 24 days of the existence of all things, the angels sang together as God spoke our creation into existence. (Job 38:7) They shouted for joy at their Creator’s wonderful works. The Holy angels sang for joy when eternally only begotten Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary, “Luk 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" When Jesus handed Himself over to be crucified as the one sacrifice for all mankind’s sin, they fell silent for three days.
    On Easter morning the song of triumphed echoed throughout heaven. Forty days after Easter the God/Man Jesus ascended into heaven to fill all things with His gracious rule. Enthroned to rule heaven sings salvation’s song. St. John witnesses,, Rev 5:11-12 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, (12) saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" Again, Rev 7:10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" The Holy angels and all the company of heaven unite their voices with Christ’s Church on earth in worship singing, Rev 7:12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
    The Lutheran Church is the “singing church.” Where the Gospel is purely preached and the sacraments are administered according to Christ’s command - we cannot but sing to the Lord a new song! True Christ centered cross focused doctrine brings true praise as the congregation sings hymns in harmony. False man centered feelings focused spiritualities sings songs praising self for their decisions, feelings, and thoughts. False doctrine robs the congregation of its hymns and song - through its praise bands. No longer does the congregation sing together in harmony - only sitting passively in the audience to be entertained by the latest fad in so-called “Christian music.” Wrongly thinking that the Holy Spirit is a feeling in their bellies, rather than the One who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.
      Repent from worldly worship and song. Pray, Psa 51:15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.“Learn Isaiah’s Salvation Song!” I. Sing Together Salvation Has Come For You! (Vs.1-3) II. Sing In The World To Save Fellow Sinners! (Vs.4-6)
I.   The prophet Isaiah is often called the fifth evangelist. God the Holy Spirit opened his eyes to behold the wondrous mystery of Christ Jesus the Suffering Servant. Preaching seven centuries before Jesus’ crucifixion - he clearly saw that salvation for sinners would be accomplished as the Lord God laid on Jesus “the iniquity of us all”(Is.53) Healing for us poor miserable sinners comes only through Jesus’ wounds and stripes.
      In Isaiah 7:14 the prophet preaches, Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Our Creator God comes to be with us - to save us from all our sin, from death, and from the power of the devil. His Kingdom is everlasting! Isaiah preaches Jesus, Isa 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
    Isaiah by the Holy Spirit foresees Jesus’ ministry, Isa 11:1-2 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. (2) The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
He preaches that Jesus will reclaim and restore creation - ‘the wolf shall also dwell with the lamb.” Death is doomed, “they shall neither hurt or destroy in My holy mountain.”
    Isaiah foresees the Holy Christian and apostolic Church, Isa 11:10 "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious." Jesus sends forth the Holy Spirit to gather the elect from every nation into His Church.
    Jesus’ salvation restores harmony between Jews and Gentiles. What sin destroyed turning us inward, the Holy Spirit restores through the cross and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. (Vs. 1) That day - the day of grace is now! We live in the true thousand year reign of God’s grace in Jesus!
    Sing forth! You didn’t find Jesus. You didn’t make things right with God by your sacrifices, sufferings, decisions, or doings. He did it all. He was justly angry with you for your sins. Now His anger is turned away - it has expended itself upon Jesus nailed to the altar of the tree. Now God the Holy Spirit draws near to comfort sinners by grace through faith in Jesus. Unbelief is the sin the world is convicted of, because it refuses to believe in the only saving Name of Jesus.
    Sing in harmony that salvation has come FOR YOU! (Vs.2) The Triune God doesn’t show you DIY (do it yourself) salvation - of the law - or your own self chosen works. He is “my salvation”. He is “my Lord, Who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom “ The Holy Spirit comforts you in Jesus - in Him salvation is finished - done - us sinners are reconciled to our God and Father through Jesus’ cross. Righteousness isn’t something earned - the Holy Spirit gifts it to us by grace through faith for Jesus has ascended to the Father as our Brother!
      Fear be gone! God is MY Salvation! By the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work in me through the Gospel - “I will trust and not be afraid!” Baptized into Jesus’ death and resurrection - what can man do to me? If I lose everything, but still cling to Jesus by the Spirit’s work through the Gospel - I have all!  
    Sing joyfully even in tears for salvation continues to come FOR YOU! The Lord - The Lord is your strength! His grace is sufficient! He is your song uniting you with His Church on earth and in heaven! The Triune God alone is your salvation! He has implanted His Word into your hearts through baptismal grace (vs. 3) Joyfully return to the House of the Lord every Sunday after Sunday. No longer wander in the dry thirsty land of the world and its false songs of praise - return to the Rock of Ages - His cleft side pours forth forgiving water filling you with the Holy Spirit. Within this Christian Church King Jesus still stands inviting thirsty sinners, Joh 7:37-39 .... saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. (38) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (39) But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.  
    Joyfully come to the wells of salvation that has come for you. The Holy Spirit pours His comfort forgiving you daily and richly in Christ’s Church - in baptism, absolution, Gospel preaching, the Sacrament of the Altar!
II.   How can we keep this great news of deliverance to ourselves? 2Ki 7:9 Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household." Ben-hadad the Syrian besieged the city of Samaria. The starving people resorted to cannibalism. Israel’s king wanted to kill the prophet Elisha. The Lord promised that tomorrow food would flow freely - it seemed impossible. Four leprous men outside the city gate went to hand themselves over to the Syrian army, they were dying of starvation - when they came they found the army had fled and left all their tents and provisions behind, according to God’s Word. They couldn’t keep that good news to themselves.
    Have you kept the song of salvation to yourself? The world sings forth its perversion and sin! Dear Christian open your lips to sing forth salvation to your fellow sinners who are outside of the Church! (Vs.4) True praise music calls on the Lord’s Name. It is centered on His mighty deeds of salvation, not our feelings or reactions to them. Study and sing solid Lutheran hymnody. Salvation unto us has come by God’s free grace and favor! Let it train your tongue to declare that God the Father is our loving Creator, God the Son is our triumphant Redeemer, that God the Holy Spirit sanctifies us in faith towards God and fervent love towards our neighbor. Proclaim the only saving name - Jesus to our dying world!
    Never stop singing salvation’s song to fellow sinners! (Vs. 5) Speak His Word and trust the Holy Spirit to do His work of conversion and regeneration. You don’t need a degree in evangelism to tell a crushed sinner that Jesus died for you! Jesus is risen for you! Hear him! (Vs.6) Cry out! You are not wandering this world alone! The Triune God draws near to dwell with you! Hear Jesus’ promise to you! Joh 14:23 ...., "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” Hear the Spirit of Truth testify to you! 1Co 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (20) For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
      Cry out! Shout! For you are a citizen of Zion - the Holy Christian Church - the Jerusalem from above. The Holy One of Israel - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is great! He rejoices to dwell in your midst - you are reconciled to Him, forgiven, all in Jesus by the Holy Spirit!
      The Helper the Holy Spirit has come! Jesus crucified has risen from the dead! He rules world history that the Gospel’s salvation song may go forth! Sing to the Lord the ever new and renewing song of the Gospel! Psa 98:4 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Alleluia! Christ is risen! Amen.