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1. To Proclaim Him
Lutherans like to refer to the Lutheran church as the Singing Church. Martin Luther saw the value of music as a way to elevate the emotions of the person at worship. Music is a gift from God, and the Lutheran church has a great musical heritage. Luther himself penned as many as 38 hymns and Johann Sebastian Bach was a Lutheran church organist, who was prolific in composing countless classical chorales. However, the Lutheran church doesn’t have a corner on the singing and music market. God’s people of all ages have lifted their voices in joyful praise to the Lord. When a Christian rejoices and is glad, singing comes naturally – even if it is only a happy hum.
When the people of Israel, during their flight to freedom in their exodus from Egypt, passed through the Red Sea on dry land and then witnessed the mighty Egyptian army annihilated in that same sea, the feeling of deliverance was so great that Moses and all the people of Israel seemingly spontaneously burst forth in what is known as the Song of Moses: “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: ‘I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise Him.” And it goes on for 13 more verses!
When the Virgin Mary fully realized the ramifications of Gabriel’s announcement that she was going to be the mother of the Messiah, she couldn’t restrain herself and broke forth with the words of the beautiful Magnificat, Mary’s Song, which begins this way: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” From Moses to Mary and in all the centuries in between, God’s children have Shouted to the Lord in Praise!
It’s interesting to note that as Isaiah’s song of thanksgiving and praise begins, it is with a confession of sins: “I will praise you, O Lord. Although You were angry with me.” His words imply that he is well aware that he was soiled and stained by his sins. We, too, realize that we have no “right” to approach God – even to praise Him – but that it is a privilege of faith.
While we approach God humbly, we can still approach Him confidently. Almost in the same breath that Isaiah expressed God’s just anger with him, he loudly and proudly proclaimed the glorious Gospel: “Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away. 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.”
The Greeks had their Thermopylae. The English had their Waterloo. We Americans have our Gettysburg. The Hebrews had their Red Sea. When the Hebrew mind heard the word “salvation,” it immediately pictured that outstanding act of national liberation when they were delivered safely out of Egypt, and Pharaoh’s army was buried at sea. In that moment, God showed them in a forceful, unmistakable way that they were His people and He was their God. They were ready to tell the world about it in song. They were ready to Shout it Out!
What about us, Saints? Do we blame our stoicism regarding our salvation on the fact that maybe we never had a “Red Sea Experience?” I’m here to tell you we absolutely have had a “Red Sea Experience.” Through faith, we have been privileged to stand at the foot of Calvary’s cross and witness not just another convulsion in nature – when darkness blotted out the noonday sun – but we witnessed with our eyes of faith God’s sacrifice of Himself to save the whole human race. Through the Word, the Holy Spirit tells us that on the day Christ shouted out in triumph, “It is finished,” our day of salvation arrived. God dug down deep into the depths of sin and evil and pulled us out. With gentle love, He breathed into us the breath of a new life in Christ. With loving hands, He cleansed us of our filth and fixed our brokenness. We, the victims of sin and death, were brought back from the dead to live our days in God’s eternal heaven. I’d say that is a pretty phenomenal, life-changing Red Sea Experience, wouldn’t you?
Today, God’s love compels us to Shout it Out to Proclaim Him: “Surely God is my salvation.” If we don’t, who will? We have had our Red Sea experience. We have tasted His grace. We have been touched by His forgiveness. In our heart is a comfort and joy to which nothing can compare. Our hearts are filled to overflowing. Our cups are running over. We have no choice. We need to rejoice. We need to sing. We must Proclaim Him. We must Shout it Out from the rooftops.
There may be days when we don’t feel very saved. Even on those days, and perhaps especially on those days, we can turn to the Lord and find comfort. God’s love doesn’t ever change or waver or grow cold: “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers, every good and perfect gift is from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” God is constant. We are not. How thankful we can be that we don’t have to depend on our feelings for our salvation. Our salvation is an accomplished fact…whether we feel it or not. God is our salvation! Yes, we Shout to the Lord to Proclaim Him, but we can also Shout to the Lord just…
2. To Praise Him
Isaiah and his people seemed unable to restrain themselves in their songs of praise. Their song moves from: “Give thanks to the Lord” to “Sing to the Lord” to “Shout aloud and sing for joy.” Their song to the Lord was one of fervent, zealous praise.
What about us? How much fervor and zeal is there in our praise of our Savior? How often do we find a song in our hearts that just has to get out? How often do we find ourselves singing or humming or saying, “Praise the Lord?” How often do we let out all the stops and belt out a hymn of praise like we really mean it? Saints, we have reason to praise our Lord like we never have before.
We certainly have a lot to shout about and praise God for, don’t we? There are far too many glorious things that our Lord has done for us to enumerate each one here. But with broad strokes, we can paint a picture of His divine providence in our lives:
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He has provided for us: our bodies, our breath, our health, our wealth, our food, our families, our friends. God has provided for us far above and beyond our basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter. He has poured out on us many bonuses and blessings. While He does not always give us what we want, He always gives us what we need, what is best for us.
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He has preserved us in the good times and in the bad times, in perilous times and in prosperous times, in times of zealousness and in times of rebelliousness. He is at our side without fail. He walks with us every step of the way.
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He has protected us along the way. He has sent his angels to guard and guide us. He has promised that nothing will happen in our lives without His permission or His commission. And when trouble does come our way, He promises that whatever it is, it will work out for our spiritual good.
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And finally, He has pardoned us. Full and free forgiveness! Salvation from the slavery of sin and death! Eternal life in heaven at His side!
These are all given to us as gracious gifts from our loving God. Saints, without a doubt, we have plenty to Shout about. Let us sing a new song to the Lord. Let us Shout it Out. Let us Proclaim Him. Let us Praise Him! Amen.
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