Rejoice With All Creation Isaiah 40:25-31
Series: Easter Season - Old Testament Sermons
May 12, 2025
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Jubilate, The Fifth Sunday of Easter 11-May-2025 Sermon Text: Isaiah 40:25-31 Sermon Theme: “Rejoice With All Creation!” I. Look Up To Behold The Father’s Loving Care! (vs.25-26) II. Look Out To Rejoice In The Son’s Restoration of Creation! (vs.27-29) III. Look Ahead As The Comforter Sustains You Through The Storms! (vs.30-31) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Episode Notes
Jubilate, The Fifth Sunday of Easter 11-May-2025
Sermon Text: Isaiah 40:25-31
Sermon Theme: “Rejoice With All Creation!” I. Look Up To Behold The Father’s Loving Care! (vs.25-26) II. Look Out To Rejoice In The Son’s Restoration of Creation! (vs.27-29) III. Look Ahead As The Comforter Sustains You Through The Storms! (vs.30-31) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. Alleluia! Christ Is Risen! Psa 66:1-2 Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! (2) Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious” Jubilate! Make a joyful shout to God! “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understand in beyond measure!”(Ps.147:1)! On that first Easter morn all creation rejoice to see its crucified Savior rise triumphantly from the dead! The long winter of sin and death was ending, new life was springing forth! Creation is now labors in the little while until our Crucified, Risen, Ascended Creator returns to deliver it from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God! With creation we are in labor, for a little while. We may suffer unjustly at the hands of civil authorities for speaking the truth of reality. We rejoice to do good and suffer for it – trials are a gracious thing in the sight of God.
God the Holy Spirit teaches us through the pen of St. Paul, “Rom 8:18-23 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (19) For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; (21) because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (23) Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. Creation shouts in joyful anticipation of King Jesus’ final triumphant return in glory on the Last Day!
Dear Christian, Make a joyful shout to God! Even as you suffer for a little while! Learn from the ancient prophet to : “Rejoice With All Creation!” I. Look Up To Behold The Father’s Loving Care! (vs.25-26) II. Look Out To Rejoice In The Son’s Restoration of Creation! (vs.27-29) III. Look Ahead As The Comforter Sustains You Through The Storms! (vs.30-31)
I. The children of Israel forgot their Creator! Forty days after the Lord God had come down to them in a dark cloud on Mount Sinai – they forgot. They heard His voice speaking His Ten Words, which we call the Ten Commandments, and they quaked. They promised that they would only follow and worship the Lord God. They begged Moses to speak to God for them and speak God’s Word to them, lest they die. Moses ascends into the fiery cloud to be their mediator, but they grow tired of waiting. A little while of 40 days seems intolerable. They want a god they can see. A god who will lead them where they want to go, back into comfortable slavery in Egypt.
Where are the gods you craft for yourself leading you? Idolatry would plague the children of Israel from its very beginning to its very end. Now the children of Judah would be led into captivity in Babylon for seven decades. Idolatry destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel in 722B.C. as the Assyrians wipe them out. Idolatry led to Jerusalem’s decimation n 586B.C. and the Temple’s destruction by the Babylonians. Idolatry of the Temple buildings led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the leveling of its Temple in 70A.D. by the Roman Empire. Where are the idols you make leading you? In the 115th Psalm we read, Psa 115:2-8 Why should the Gentiles say, "So where is their God?" (3) But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. (4) Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands. (5) They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; (6) They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; (7) They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. (8) Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.”
All outside of Christianity worship idols. They become like their idol. Even foolish atheists who deny God’s existence become like their idol. Worshiping themselves they soon become fools wallowing in self-destructive behaviors. Study Romans 1:18-31. A nation that has sanctioned the slaughter of nearly 70 million unborn babies in the name of women’s rights. A nation that pretends a man can be turned into a woman. A nation that penalizes lifelong marriage between a woman and a man. Such a nation may feign honoring motherhood on this day, but it is a lie. It’s actions speak louder than its empty words. Repent!
Turn away from all your idolatry! Look up to behold your Father’s loving care! Listen! (vs25-26) Babylon was ripe with idolatry. They worshiped Bel-Marduk as their chief deity. They would pummel the captives of Judah with the lie that their false god was greater than the God of Israel. Even a thousand miles away from Jerusalem all the faithful had to do was to look up – their God wasn’t a star, or a planet. Their God was the Father Creator and Upholder of the universe.
As our telescopes improve and we see further and further into our universe, we are amazed by its vast beauty. There is even a company who will sell you a star they’ll name after you. Fools – our Father knows the names of all the stars and nebulae He spoke into existence through His Word. When the little while of suffering and trials floods your life – turn off all screens – go outside at night – look up and behold the stars known by God the Father. He calls them by name! He sustains them by His great might and power! Jesus invites you to pray, “Our Father, Who art in heaven!” In Jesus the God of the Universe is your true loving caring Father! He has called you by name in baptism. He knows you intimately. Even the hairs of your head are numbered by Him! If not even a sparrow falls apart from His good and gracious will. How can He forget you?
II. We fear being forgotten. An elderly mother sitting alone in a nursing home remembers her children, even though they forget her. Judah feared being forgotten in Babylon. Isaiah calls them to sing their fears away! Isa 49:13-15 Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted. (14) But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me." (15) "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.”
Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she not have compassion on the new life conceive by our heavenly Father’s blessing and not have compassion on the fetus growing in her? Sadly in our self- idolatrous society the answer is yes. Children are slaughtered, abused, and chemically castrated at the altar of self-centered love. Mothers and fathers – all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Sinners there is One who will never forget you! Isa 49:16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me. While you were yet a sinner – He wrote your name on the palm of His hand with the nails that pierced His innocent flesh for you on Calvary! When you fear being forgotten look out! Rejoice in the Son’s restoration of creation FOR YOU! (vs.27-29). Satanic inspired idols promise power and secret knowledge. The devil and pride wanted to throw God off His throne. False man made worship seek to follow the prince of darkness.
Behold the mercy of our Creator! The eternally only begotten Son of God humbles Himself to know you! He becomes our Brother in the womb of the Virgin mother Mary for you! His sinless conception by the power of the Holy Spirit through the promise preached covers your sinful conception. He lives a sinless life as a fully human being FOR YOU! How can your way be hidden from your Lord? He walks beside you for He is Emmanuel – God with us! He is Jesus – Savior of sinners – our Brother sympathizing with all our weaknesses.
He never faints nor grows weary, but becoming our Brother He is a man of sorrow knowing all our grief, pain, loneliness as He shoulders them all to us to Calvary. Even as He suffers – He remembers His mother Mary. He entrusts her care to His apostle John. Mary did not want us to pray to her, but only to listen to her Son and her Savior Jesus – to do whatever Jesus alone tells you to do! For His understanding is unsearchable.
Look out at creation! Creation is upheld by His power! He poured out His blood on this earth reclaiming it as His own from the thief, liar, and murderer – the devil – a fallen created angel.
Jesus, your Good Shepherd, knows you! Hi grace is sufficient. It makes the weak strong. Declares the sinner – forgiven – a saint washed in His blood! He calls us to walk in His love caring for the weak, the forgotten, those who have no might. Rejoice! In Jesus’ stripes you are healed! Strengthened to follow Him!
III. We grow weary. The little whiles of suffering, sorrow, separation, and death seem an eternity. We cannot understand what Jesus is talking about as our faith is refined in the furnace of affliction. Easter evening, as the church gathers – a small band of 10 men – Jesus comes to them in His risen flesh. “Peace!” He brings them. He calls them to bring us peace through the forgiveness of our sins. He breathes upon them the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, our Helper! Shout for joy He has claimed your body as His very temple! (vs.30-31)
Eagles were found with frozen feet. An unusually warm February and March in 1998 had settled on the Midwest. As we drove up to be installed at our new call in Truman, Minnesota, severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings came across the radio. We checked the map to make sure our town and church would still be standing when we arrived. That evening tornadoes ripped through Comfrey to St. Peter, MN. After those severe line of storms – eagles were found with frozen feet. Why? Eagles will fly towards a storm, not away from it. Their Creator implanted His saving wisdom into their brains. As an eagle spreads out its wings, the updrafts before the storm lift them up and over the severe storm as they glide towards peace on the other side.
God the Holy Spirit fixes our eyes on our true Home – the Life of the World to come! Youths faint. Our own reason and strength will never see us through the storms of life in a fallen world. We learn to wait! Wait on God the Holy Spirit as He renews our strength in Jesus. He lifts us up daily and richly applying the healing medicine of forgiveness in Jesus’ Church. He feeds us Jesus’ body and blood in His Church – the medicine of immortality – as we run the race of faith – even with a walker, or in a wheel chair. He keeps us in His Word and power in faith until we die.
Yes, you may have sorrow now, the Holy Spirit breathes Jesus’ Word into your ears.Joh 16:20-22 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. (21) A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. (22) Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
The Holy Spirit, Wisdom, teaches” Pro 6:20-22 My son, keep your father's command, And do not forsake the law of your mother. (21) Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. (22) When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you.” He who has not the Church as his mother, has not God as His Father”, wrote St. Augustine. Alleluia! Christ is risen! Amen.
Sermon Text: Isaiah 40:25-31
Sermon Theme: “Rejoice With All Creation!” I. Look Up To Behold The Father’s Loving Care! (vs.25-26) II. Look Out To Rejoice In The Son’s Restoration of Creation! (vs.27-29) III. Look Ahead As The Comforter Sustains You Through The Storms! (vs.30-31) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. Alleluia! Christ Is Risen! Psa 66:1-2 Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! (2) Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious” Jubilate! Make a joyful shout to God! “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understand in beyond measure!”(Ps.147:1)! On that first Easter morn all creation rejoice to see its crucified Savior rise triumphantly from the dead! The long winter of sin and death was ending, new life was springing forth! Creation is now labors in the little while until our Crucified, Risen, Ascended Creator returns to deliver it from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God! With creation we are in labor, for a little while. We may suffer unjustly at the hands of civil authorities for speaking the truth of reality. We rejoice to do good and suffer for it – trials are a gracious thing in the sight of God.
God the Holy Spirit teaches us through the pen of St. Paul, “Rom 8:18-23 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (19) For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; (21) because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (23) Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. Creation shouts in joyful anticipation of King Jesus’ final triumphant return in glory on the Last Day!
Dear Christian, Make a joyful shout to God! Even as you suffer for a little while! Learn from the ancient prophet to : “Rejoice With All Creation!” I. Look Up To Behold The Father’s Loving Care! (vs.25-26) II. Look Out To Rejoice In The Son’s Restoration of Creation! (vs.27-29) III. Look Ahead As The Comforter Sustains You Through The Storms! (vs.30-31)
I. The children of Israel forgot their Creator! Forty days after the Lord God had come down to them in a dark cloud on Mount Sinai – they forgot. They heard His voice speaking His Ten Words, which we call the Ten Commandments, and they quaked. They promised that they would only follow and worship the Lord God. They begged Moses to speak to God for them and speak God’s Word to them, lest they die. Moses ascends into the fiery cloud to be their mediator, but they grow tired of waiting. A little while of 40 days seems intolerable. They want a god they can see. A god who will lead them where they want to go, back into comfortable slavery in Egypt.
Where are the gods you craft for yourself leading you? Idolatry would plague the children of Israel from its very beginning to its very end. Now the children of Judah would be led into captivity in Babylon for seven decades. Idolatry destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel in 722B.C. as the Assyrians wipe them out. Idolatry led to Jerusalem’s decimation n 586B.C. and the Temple’s destruction by the Babylonians. Idolatry of the Temple buildings led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the leveling of its Temple in 70A.D. by the Roman Empire. Where are the idols you make leading you? In the 115th Psalm we read, Psa 115:2-8 Why should the Gentiles say, "So where is their God?" (3) But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. (4) Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands. (5) They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; (6) They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; (7) They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. (8) Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.”
All outside of Christianity worship idols. They become like their idol. Even foolish atheists who deny God’s existence become like their idol. Worshiping themselves they soon become fools wallowing in self-destructive behaviors. Study Romans 1:18-31. A nation that has sanctioned the slaughter of nearly 70 million unborn babies in the name of women’s rights. A nation that pretends a man can be turned into a woman. A nation that penalizes lifelong marriage between a woman and a man. Such a nation may feign honoring motherhood on this day, but it is a lie. It’s actions speak louder than its empty words. Repent!
Turn away from all your idolatry! Look up to behold your Father’s loving care! Listen! (vs25-26) Babylon was ripe with idolatry. They worshiped Bel-Marduk as their chief deity. They would pummel the captives of Judah with the lie that their false god was greater than the God of Israel. Even a thousand miles away from Jerusalem all the faithful had to do was to look up – their God wasn’t a star, or a planet. Their God was the Father Creator and Upholder of the universe.
As our telescopes improve and we see further and further into our universe, we are amazed by its vast beauty. There is even a company who will sell you a star they’ll name after you. Fools – our Father knows the names of all the stars and nebulae He spoke into existence through His Word. When the little while of suffering and trials floods your life – turn off all screens – go outside at night – look up and behold the stars known by God the Father. He calls them by name! He sustains them by His great might and power! Jesus invites you to pray, “Our Father, Who art in heaven!” In Jesus the God of the Universe is your true loving caring Father! He has called you by name in baptism. He knows you intimately. Even the hairs of your head are numbered by Him! If not even a sparrow falls apart from His good and gracious will. How can He forget you?
II. We fear being forgotten. An elderly mother sitting alone in a nursing home remembers her children, even though they forget her. Judah feared being forgotten in Babylon. Isaiah calls them to sing their fears away! Isa 49:13-15 Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted. (14) But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me." (15) "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.”
Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she not have compassion on the new life conceive by our heavenly Father’s blessing and not have compassion on the fetus growing in her? Sadly in our self- idolatrous society the answer is yes. Children are slaughtered, abused, and chemically castrated at the altar of self-centered love. Mothers and fathers – all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Sinners there is One who will never forget you! Isa 49:16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me. While you were yet a sinner – He wrote your name on the palm of His hand with the nails that pierced His innocent flesh for you on Calvary! When you fear being forgotten look out! Rejoice in the Son’s restoration of creation FOR YOU! (vs.27-29). Satanic inspired idols promise power and secret knowledge. The devil and pride wanted to throw God off His throne. False man made worship seek to follow the prince of darkness.
Behold the mercy of our Creator! The eternally only begotten Son of God humbles Himself to know you! He becomes our Brother in the womb of the Virgin mother Mary for you! His sinless conception by the power of the Holy Spirit through the promise preached covers your sinful conception. He lives a sinless life as a fully human being FOR YOU! How can your way be hidden from your Lord? He walks beside you for He is Emmanuel – God with us! He is Jesus – Savior of sinners – our Brother sympathizing with all our weaknesses.
He never faints nor grows weary, but becoming our Brother He is a man of sorrow knowing all our grief, pain, loneliness as He shoulders them all to us to Calvary. Even as He suffers – He remembers His mother Mary. He entrusts her care to His apostle John. Mary did not want us to pray to her, but only to listen to her Son and her Savior Jesus – to do whatever Jesus alone tells you to do! For His understanding is unsearchable.
Look out at creation! Creation is upheld by His power! He poured out His blood on this earth reclaiming it as His own from the thief, liar, and murderer – the devil – a fallen created angel.
Jesus, your Good Shepherd, knows you! Hi grace is sufficient. It makes the weak strong. Declares the sinner – forgiven – a saint washed in His blood! He calls us to walk in His love caring for the weak, the forgotten, those who have no might. Rejoice! In Jesus’ stripes you are healed! Strengthened to follow Him!
III. We grow weary. The little whiles of suffering, sorrow, separation, and death seem an eternity. We cannot understand what Jesus is talking about as our faith is refined in the furnace of affliction. Easter evening, as the church gathers – a small band of 10 men – Jesus comes to them in His risen flesh. “Peace!” He brings them. He calls them to bring us peace through the forgiveness of our sins. He breathes upon them the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, our Helper! Shout for joy He has claimed your body as His very temple! (vs.30-31)
Eagles were found with frozen feet. An unusually warm February and March in 1998 had settled on the Midwest. As we drove up to be installed at our new call in Truman, Minnesota, severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings came across the radio. We checked the map to make sure our town and church would still be standing when we arrived. That evening tornadoes ripped through Comfrey to St. Peter, MN. After those severe line of storms – eagles were found with frozen feet. Why? Eagles will fly towards a storm, not away from it. Their Creator implanted His saving wisdom into their brains. As an eagle spreads out its wings, the updrafts before the storm lift them up and over the severe storm as they glide towards peace on the other side.
God the Holy Spirit fixes our eyes on our true Home – the Life of the World to come! Youths faint. Our own reason and strength will never see us through the storms of life in a fallen world. We learn to wait! Wait on God the Holy Spirit as He renews our strength in Jesus. He lifts us up daily and richly applying the healing medicine of forgiveness in Jesus’ Church. He feeds us Jesus’ body and blood in His Church – the medicine of immortality – as we run the race of faith – even with a walker, or in a wheel chair. He keeps us in His Word and power in faith until we die.
Yes, you may have sorrow now, the Holy Spirit breathes Jesus’ Word into your ears.Joh 16:20-22 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. (21) A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. (22) Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
The Holy Spirit, Wisdom, teaches” Pro 6:20-22 My son, keep your father's command, And do not forsake the law of your mother. (21) Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. (22) When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you.” He who has not the Church as his mother, has not God as His Father”, wrote St. Augustine. Alleluia! Christ is risen! Amen.
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