A Great Joy (Isaiah 12:1-6, Luke 2:8-20)
Rev. William L. Barron, December 4, 2022Part of the Advent Series: Christ Coming To Build His Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Isaiah breaks forth with great joy after receiving a "moderate chastisement" (John Calvin). The people are addressed as one, being called to repent. Atonement kicks in, while the people are undeserving. Only Christ can undo iniquity. Isaiah looks back, looks at the present and looks at the future. Assyria had conquered the northern kingdom. God says to His people, "Trust me." Then, Isaiah looks ahead 150 years, to the destruction of the southern kingdom by Babylon. He takes joy, however, amidst the impending destruction. Isaiah brings the end of time into the foreground. He sees the restoration of both kingdoms in the form of a remnant, in Chapter 11, a "shoot from the stump of Jesse." In 12: 4, Isaiah uses a plural "you" who will "draw water from the wells of salvation." This applies to all of the remnant. Salvation is personal, but also collective, since the redeemed join the Church. Personal salvation leads us into a collective. Together (vs. 6) we shout for joy at what the Lord has done. The good news comes as we trust God in His character and that Christ has paid the punishment for all who trust in Him. This good news overcomes the bad news that sin brings forth death. We enter into communion with God, as we remember when we partake of the Lord's Supper. By grace He restored Judah, and He restores us in Christ. We are joyfully thankful for restoration in His presence instead of the eternal torment we deserve as sinners.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « I Bring You Good News | None | The Covenant Of Peace » |
Isaiah 12 (Listen)
12:1 You will say in that day:
“I will give thanks to you, O LORD,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
that you might comfort me.
2 “Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”
3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day:
“Give thanks to the LORD,
call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that his name is exalted.
5 “Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;
let this be made known in all the earth.
6 Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
(ESV)
Luke 2:8–20 (Listen)
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
(ESV)