Sermon for Trinity 19, October 3, 2021
Isaiah 44:21-23
21Remember these things, O Jacob, because you are my servant,
Israel. I am forming you to be my
servant. You, Israel, you will never be
forgotten by me. 22I am
blowing away your rebellious deeds like a cloud, and your sins like a
mist. Return to me, because I am
redeeming you. 23Shout for
joy, you heavens, because of what the Lord is doing. Make a joyful shout, you depths of the
earth. Burst forth with shouts of joy,
you mountains, you forest and every tree in it, because the Lord has redeemed
Jacob, and in Israel he will display his beauty. (EHV)
Return
to the Lord for He has redeemed you.
Dear redeemed children of the living God,
We’ve all
seen it; a powerful storm moves gradually across the sky causing darkness to
draw across the land almost as if it is night.
The streetlights come on in the middle of the day. Everything feels eerie and dangerous. At another time, dense fog rolls in so thick
it isn’t safe to drive, because you can’t see more than a few feet in front of
you. In both cases, we are blinded by
what separates us from the light. That
is also how the Lord describes idolatry in our text. Putting one’s trust in anything but the one
true God who created us separates us from His marvelous, life-giving light.
Immediately before this section of Isaiah’s
prophecy, the Lord described the foolishness of putting trust in man-made
idols. Those idols of human imagination,
whether made out of wood, metal, stone, or even a human being, do nothing for anyone. In fact, because they are man-made, they
simply reflect some inward human desire or wish. Consequently, they have no power to give any
kind of help, much less to save. At the
same time, the Lord God of heaven and earth issues a gracious reminder of His
love and mercy while inviting His chosen people to Return
to the Lord for He has redeemed you.
As we consider the words of this text, it is
important to remember that though God was speaking to the exiles of Israel, He
is speaking just as much to you and me, the spiritual descendants of Abraham,
who have been granted the same faith and mercy that Israel was blessed to
receive.
The Lord said, “Remember these
things, O Jacob, because you are my servant, Israel. I am forming you to be
my servant. You, Israel, you will
never be forgotten by me.” Now, in
our times, most of our friends and neighbors shrink in horror at the idea of
being a servant. Servanthood implies losing
one’s freedom and control to someone more powerful.
Consider though, if you should be picked to
serve in the cabinet of the President of the United States. Even though you would be a public servant,
holding those positions is a great honor, and people fight tooth and nail to
gain such an advantage. That changes the
picture, doesn’t it? Should we not
consider it a privilege and an honor to have God, who created the world and
everything in it, say “I am forming you to be my servant.”? Indeed, St. Paul wrote, “You did not
receive a spirit of slavery so that you are afraid again, but you received the
Spirit of adoption by whom we call out, “Abba, Father!” (Romans 8:15)
Christian servants are formed to stand at God’s
side in important service few others can ever experience. Yes, God expects us to be faithful to
Him. Yes, He expects us to do His
will. At the same time, we are
privileged to walk with Jesus who gave His life for the salvation of all who
will believe. We are privileged to have
God’s ear. He encourages us to bring our
prayers and concerns to Him continually.
Jesus told His disciples, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Whatever you ask
the Father in my name, he will give you.” (John 16:23) Further on, He said, “In that day you will
ask in my name, and I am not telling you that I will make requests of the
Father on your behalf. For the Father
himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from
God.” (John 16:26-27) Because our Master is none other than the one
true God who loves unconditionally, we can be confident that whatever is needed
for our everlasting good will be carried out. (Romans 8:28)
Dear friends, we also have God’s promise that
He will never forget us or abandon us in our need. When Israel questioned God’s sincerity and
faithfulness, the Lord reiterated His loving concern for us as He declared, “Can
a woman forget her nursing child and not show mercy to the son from her
womb? Even if these women could forget,
I will never forget you. Look, I have
inscribed you on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:15-16) That inscription is doubled as we look to
Calvary where Jesus allowed His hands to be nailed to the cross for our
sins. Jesus did not forget His love for
us. He gave His life in our place so
that we might be His forever.
Through Isaiah, we are told of that sacrifice
that would give us everlasting life: “You, Israel, you will never be
forgotten by me. I am blowing away your
rebellious deeds like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to me, because I am redeeming you.” The deep darkness of sin and guilt, the
rebellious thoughts, words, and deeds that shaded our eyes from God’s love has
been driven away by the light of the Son.
What separated us from seeing God has been wiped away forever as Jesus
paid the full penalty for the world, so He says, Return
to the Lord for He has redeemed you.
Let that thought sink in: the Lord Jesus has
redeemed you. Satan thought he had
pulled off the perfect kidnapping when he led Adam and Eve into sinful
rebellion. He had them and all their
descendants firmly in his ugly grasp.
All the devil had to do for the win was to keep God’s precious people in
rebellion. Aah, but the devil never
counted on God leading the rescue, personally.
As long as man tries to find his own salvation
and his own peace with God, or even the world, the devil wins. Those idols of human imagination that Satan
entices people to trust are powerless to set us free from sin and death, but our
God is a jealous God. He was never
willing to allow the devil to have the victory.
Therefore, God sent His own dear Son to live in human flesh for all the men,
women, and children who ever were held in Satan’s chains. God says, “I am redeeming you.” He speaks outside of time, because whatever
God determines to do is as good as done.
He will not be defeated!
The victory cry of our Creator is heard in
Isaiah’s words: “Shout for joy, you heavens, because of what the Lord is
doing. Make a joyful shout, you depths
of the earth. Burst forth with shouts of
joy, you mountains, you forest and every tree in it, because the Lord has
redeemed Jacob, and in Israel he will display his beauty.” Heaven and earth rejoice for what the Lord
has done to defeat the devil’s wicked rebellion. God promised this victory from the day Satan
had his way with Adam. It was never in
doubt. Though all mankind has wondered,
wandered, and doubted God’s plan, no part of it was ever in danger for the Lord
controls all things to make it happen.
No matter what evil tries to do to thwart God’s love, God is
meticulously moving all things forward so that those He calls by the Gospel
will repent and believe. And what do we
hear in response? Jesus said, “I tell
you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who
repents.” (Luke 15:10)
In this world, the absolute majesty and glory
of God is seen most clearly at the cross.
There, God’s perfect love is put on display as the thick cloud of sin, wickedness, and rebellion that kept us separated
from our loving God was wiped away by Jesus’ sacrifice. Just as the sun burns away fog to let its
light shine through, so God’s Son wiped away the sin that kept God hidden from
us. In the Good News of Jesus’ selfless
sacrifice for sinners like you and me, we see God. His Light is shining in the Word made flesh—in
His life, death, and resurrection from the grave. Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, complete, restores
to us the fellowship of love and grace with our Creator God.
The light of the world that drives away the
clouds of darkness shone brightly upon the world from the moment Jesus rose
from the tomb alive on Easter morning.
The devil’s schemes were defeated.
Forever after, we as God’s servants have the privilege of telling the
world that Jesus has won the victory that allows our return to the promised
land of heaven.
Back seven hundred years before Jesus took on
human flesh, Isaiah had the grim task of calling a people who had lost there
way back to repentance. Success and the
temptations of their neighbors had led the Israelites to abandon the God of
their fathers for the idols of their neighbors.
The sin that infects our nature leads people to desire control in their
lives. Initially, it can be striving for
reward through obedience. However, that
often leads to trying to control events outside of human control. Lack of knowledge of the almighty God does
the same. Thus, while seeking to control,
or guide, the future for selfish benefit, many turn to idolatry. Perhaps it is following the lead of idol
worshippers around us. Perhaps it is
trusting in superstitions. It can even
be relying on the promises of seemingly powerful politicians. There are numerous ways idolatry creeps into
the human heart.
Therefore, to every lost soul, and especially
to every believer, the call goes out from our God, Return to the Lord for He
has redeemed you. Jesus gave His
life for all people. All sins have been
paid for. The devil has received his due
punishment for the treasonous rebellion he led and still seeks to drive. Thus, daily, weekly, minute by minute, God is
urging all people to come to Him for the only relationship that saves. There is no person God doesn’t want to
believe in His Son for life and salvation.
The Savior who lived and died for all people
calls out through the believers He sends, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) When the troubles of this world get you down;
when temptation comes knocking at your door; when even a smidgen of guilt makes
you wonder about your status before God, remember God’s gracious invitation to
all His people, “You, Israel, you will never be forgotten by me. I am blowing away your rebellious deeds like
a cloud, and your sins like a mist.
Return to me, because I am redeeming you.” Return to the Lord for He has redeemed
you. Amen.
Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who
alone does marvelous deeds. Blessed be
his glorious name forever. May the whole
earth be filled with his glory. Amen.
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