March 30, 2025
Pastor John Hering
Isaiah 12:1–6
Isaiah 12:1–6
In that day you will say: I will give thanks to you, Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger has turned away, and you comfort me. 2Surely God is my salvation. I will trust him and will not be afraid, because Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 In that day you will say: Give thanks to the Lord! Proclaim his name. Declare among the peoples what he has done. Proclaim that his name is exalted! 5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done amazing things! Let this be known in all the earth! 6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, daughter of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!
There are four seconds left in the basketball game and you really want to win! You are losing by one point and have the ball out of bounds. Who do you want to have the basketball? Probably the best shot on the team. The ref gives the ball to the player out of bounds. After teammates shuffle and set picks your best player gets the inbound pass. He has speed, skill and a great shot. You expect him to make the last shot and the crowd is going wild. He shoots and…. misses. Disappointment floods the stadium. Your victory has bounced away. The team is deflated. The fans groan. You lost.
We live in a world that wants to win. We want victory, joy, peace and happiness. This has driven many people to try their hardest in many ways. After our country is attacked by an enemy, American young men & women are inspired to fight and even give up their lives for their country. In the radical world of terrorists we hear of eternal promises given to soldiers in order to inspire them to fight to the death. You also have enjoyment from the benefits of past victories. We want better and profitable business, happy families and time to enjoy the abundant life. But, you know there’s something much better. You know that true joy is not found in the temporary pleasures of this world. We pity those who follow the selfish joys and the sinful pleasures of this world that will soon fade away leaving behind a trail of headaches and heartaches that end in destruction. You are the people who know where lasting joy exists. You are God’s sons and daughters that know the words of Isaiah 12. Therefore may the Holy Spirit continue to lead you to
Rejoice in the Joy of Salvation
The Joy We Receive
For me to tell you to rejoice in the joy of salvation you may wonder if I was living under a rock this past week. Did you see what has happened? Evil people are vandalizing Tesla Vehicles! Government officials taking bribes! Wildfires in Texas and the Carolina’s! You know why this is: SIN. Isaiah knew that this world was infected with sin. Yet, he appeals to his readers to give thanks to the Lord! Listen:
“In that day you will say: I will give thanks to you, Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger has turned away, and you comfort me.”
How is that possible in a sin-infected world? Israel didn’t deserve it. They had fallen into idol worship and deserved God’s wrath. Isaiah hears the call of God to repentance when he hears of the world’s troubles. But, he also hears the Lord’s call of comfort for God’s people. Isaiah prophesied about a glorious day when there would be comfort and joy for God’s people. They would be caused to repent and be turned back to the Lord. They would experience Isaiah’s words: “your anger has turned away, and you comfort me.”
We all have days when we are longing for peace and joy for our life! Imagine what it would be like to have a week without fears? Imagine having the assurance of salvation that Isaiah gave Israel even while they were still sinners? God gives us such peace in the Joy of our Salvation. He does this through Jesus who announces:
“Take heart, son, your sins are forgiven”
Matthew 9:2
What refreshing words for every poor sinner!
When sins are forgiven, then there is Joy in Salvation over which we can rejoice. You can spray Bactine on an ouie. You can put ice on a sore muscle. You can take medications to deaden your senses, but only the gospel of Jesus Christ freely given to us will ever satisfy the sin-sicked life. Human opinion can give you more doubts and fears, but never the assurance of salvation. Isaiah knew this assurance:
“2Surely God is my salvation. I will trust him and will not be afraid.”
The Lord who knows and sees our troubled souls has already provided a true and sure way to save us. God sent his Son as our Substitute to make atonement for our sins. Nothing remains to be done by us. It is all a gracious gift from the heavenly father. The Prodigal son learned this. Rejoice that you and I have been given the Joy of Salvation. Rest sure and rest secure. This is faith. “I will trust him and will not be afraid.” When you worry about when you’re going to die, when sin troubles you, when damnation is ready to swallow you up, then hear the word of the Lord through Isaiah:
“the Lord, is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation.”
The lost son understood Isaiah’s words when he was sitting with the pigs one day and at the table of the fatted calf the next.
Application: This is God’s gracious, free gift to you. Oh, I wish I could tell you this would be easy. Oh, it’s easy to rejoice in our Salvation with God’s people when the fish are biting, you are winning the game, when the devil, world and our own sinful flesh aren’t tempting us. But, can we do this during the difficult times in life? Yes, remember Isaiah telling us “the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” Then drown that Old sinful nature God strength and serve God with fruits of faith produced from the Joy of our Salvation.
Where shall we find such a source for joy? Isaiah doesn’t keep this a secret either:
“3 Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
You can imagine going through the dusty desert and coming across a well. After a refreshing drink isn’t there always an, “Aaaaahhhhh!” Our education, earthly blessings or status will not allow us to “Aaaaahhhhh” like the Holy Spirit through the means of grace. Do you remember what Jesus told the woman at the well?
“but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4:14
Whenever you are in trouble, sorrow or fear, drink of this living water of Word, Wafer and Wine. These are God’s ways to strengthen our faith, and give us joy and peace. But, let it not stop here. Let us enjoy the privilege of sharing this water of salvation with others.
The Joy We Get To Give
If you were walking in the desert with a canteen of water, wouldn’t you receive much joy by sharing it with someone? We have been given a generous gift and now we get to thank the Lord for it with praise and prayer.
“For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks”
Matthew 12:34
Did you notice that the Lord did not make prayer one of the 10 Commandments? However, when St. Paul was converted what do we find him doing? Praying – not because he was commanded to pray, but because he had the privilege to pray. You too, have been given a “faith-powered Life.” Isaiah said,
“4 In that day you will say: Give thanks to the Lord! Proclaim his name.”
We know how God’s Word is known. It is proclaimed and heard. Jesus tells us,
“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Luke 11:28
Let us joyfully hear the Word at church, read it at home and let our voices sing the songs and pray the prayers to his glory! Let us cheerfully support the mission work of the gospel. Let us cheerfully support our Christian training of our children at home, and if you’d like some more tools to help you—we have Kingdom Kids, Bible Classes, and Christian Schools. Let us find joy in our church membership by participating in its work.
What is the major work of the church? Isaiah tells us:
“Declare among the peoples what he has done. Proclaim that his name is exalted! 5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done amazing things! Let this be known in all the earth!”
There are many things that make us happy at church. We enjoy witnessing confirmands promising their faithfulness to the Lord. We enjoy watching Kingdom Kids teachers training our little children the basic truths of the Bible. But, I believe we would almost all agree of the greatest joys of church work is watching the gospel work on a new heart of a guest we brought to church. Then this new heart invites their friends, who invites their friends….. What joy!
“6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, daughter of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!”
The game has 4 seconds left. The shot is taken and missed. But, did they lose? Really? No, the shooter was fouled on the shot. He goes to the free throw line and makes both baskets! You win!!!!! Likewise the feeling when we see a Christian die. Is all lost? No! The foul was put on Jesus who won for us all! What Joy in our Salvation! Salvation that is freely given to every believer who dies in Christ. Salvation that has been freely given to you. Salvation that we can freely give to others. What joy there will be when we have faithfully used our time, talents and treasures to serve the Lord and his kingdom. What a thrill to anticipate the day when we stand before heaven’s gates and hear the Lord’s words of grace instead of condemnation for Jesus’ sake! God grant you and me a heart that will continue to rejoice in the joy of our Salvation to graciously receive and give to many more people for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
