Pastor Tom Johnson, March 12, 2013
Concordia University Chicago Chapel
Concordia University Chicago Chapel
The Lord is our strength and our song.
In our text from Isaiah chapter twelve, Scripture gives us two songs to sing: The first song is about the believer’s assurance of grace—that salvation is secure in the Lord—that there is nothing to fear because the Lord God is our strength. The second song is about the believer’s response to grace—giving thanks to the Lord—not only to him in prayer and song but also shouting and proclaiming his saving Name to the whole world.
In our text from Isaiah chapter twelve, Scripture gives us two songs to sing: The first song is about the believer’s assurance of grace—that salvation is secure in the Lord—that there is nothing to fear because the Lord God is our strength. The second song is about the believer’s response to grace—giving thanks to the Lord—not only to him in prayer and song but also shouting and proclaiming his saving Name to the whole world.
He ties to the songs together with a beautiful
metaphor—“with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” In other
words, the water in our spiritual reservoir is a personal experience of reconciliation
with God. The water in our cistern is the assurance of our forgiveness and
eternal life. For us Christians, this water beneath the surface of these
earthen vessels is pink with the Blood of our Savior Jesus that he shed on the
Cross of Calvary. It is the water, the Word, and the Holy Spirit of Baptism
that has washed and filled us in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This watery reserve deep within our souls is what keeps our
faith from evaporating in the wilderness of this world. It is the drink that
strengthens us for our life’s journey and will well up to overflowing to
eternal life.
“With joy,” our Scripture says, “you will draw water from
the wells of salvation.” In other words, the water is not there to hoard but draw
from. We are not to roll large boulders over the opening of this well but reach
down deep and pull up to the surface of our daily living. We will draw water
from this well of salvation. And we will do so without fear. For it will never
run dry. Draw deep and heavy. Pour out your thanksgiving to the Lord
from this well. Heaven and earth cannot contain all the good things God has
done for us—for creating us and the universe—for his abiding presence day after
day—for delivering us from death, the devil, and the guilt of our sin through
his Son, Jesus Christ. Draw deep and heavy from this well of salvation and tell the
whole world. Placard the name of Jesus. Sing, shout, and let your life become a
spring and geyser of good news to all tribes, nations, languages, and peoples. Because he is our salvation and our proclamation. He has
reconciled us so that he can reconcile the world. He is the Lord our strength
and the Lord our song.
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