Jesus' New World Order - Part 3

1 In that day you will sing:
“I will praise you, O Lord!
You were angry with me, but not any more.
Now you comfort me.
2 See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.”

3 With joy you will drink deeply
from the fountain of salvation!
4 In that wonderful day you will sing:
“Thank the Lord! Praise his name!
Tell the nations what he has done.
Let them know how mighty he is!
5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things.
Make known his praise around the world.
6 Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy!
For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you.”

Isaiah 12 begins by assuring us that God’s anger is not against us but against our sin. As soon as sin is dealt with, God’s anger turns away and is replaced with comfort. What a powerful transformation! Forgiveness of sin is God’s most precious gift, and Immanuel came to accomplish that. As a result of his coming, “water from the wells of salvation” flows throughout the world.

Our verses today contain a powerful song: “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”

This is another assertion from Isaiah’s Old Testament gospel of what God’s grace in Christ does. “I will trust and not be afraid.” Why? Because “the LORD, the LORD .?.?. has become my salvation.” This is the foundation for the end of hostilities among peoples and nations.

The impact of Immanuel’s reconciliation is both vertical (with God) and horizontal (with people). Immanuel ends our enmity with God and brings people to unity with one another in a wonderful way that transcends all national, ethnic, and language barriers.

The result is a chorus of gladness: “In that day you will say: ‘Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done … Sing to the LORD … let this be known to all the world.’”

Father, the accomplishments of your Son, Immanuel, are more than amazing. We want the whole world to join us in singing about them! Praise be to you! In his name, Amen.