WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:06.800 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Dear 2 00:00:06.800 --> 00:00:11.000 beloved in Christ our token that the Lord's word is never broken. 3 00:00:13.200 --> 00:00:17.200 The prophets and apostles are to be kept together as is the case for 4 00:00:17.200 --> 00:00:19.500 their inspired inerrant writings. 5 00:00:21.200 --> 00:00:25.800 The prophets and apostles are to be kept together as the almighty does 6 00:00:25.800 --> 00:00:29.500 his double work of tearing down and destroying. 7 00:00:30.400 --> 00:00:36.100 While, yet nevertheless building up and making alive again. 8 00:00:38.800 --> 00:00:41.400 The prophets and apostles are to be kept together. 9 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:46.300 Clearly distinguished between but never separated. 10 00:00:48.300 --> 00:00:52.800 So it is with the one sacred text of the one prophet Isaiah. 11 00:00:54.900 --> 00:00:59.000 No chopping up no silly arguments of multiple authors editing 12 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:03.300 countless fragments and pasting them all together in novel ways that 13 00:01:03.300 --> 00:01:08.400 actually robbed the scroll of its Divine character and intent. 14 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:17.400 Isaiah 40 is deigned to be read and heard and inwardly digested in the 15 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:22.000 context of the chapters that go before and the chapters that follow. 16 00:01:23.400 --> 00:01:27.200 One breathed upon by the Holy Spirit prophet, 17 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:33.000 one sacred scroll one Eternal Word of God. 18 00:01:36.500 --> 00:01:41.500 But with the review of trumpeting of Noccalula in chapter 40 19 00:01:41.500 --> 00:01:47.000 the inspired prophets fingers play a different key as he moves from 20 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:47.700 his tune 21 00:01:47.700 --> 00:01:49.800 that sounds out justice and righteousness. 22 00:01:51.900 --> 00:01:56.900 Too an unexpected melody that sings of justice and redemption. 23 00:02:00.600 --> 00:02:04.800 Because there is no possibility of the Divine call for comfort, comfort 24 00:02:04.800 --> 00:02:07.400 without first to Divine call to repentance. 25 00:02:10.100 --> 00:02:14.200 There is no true life giving pardon without an already impending and 26 00:02:14.200 --> 00:02:16.300 very real death sentence. 27 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:24.000 Let the law lead says Moses and Isaiah and John the Baptist. 28 00:02:26.500 --> 00:02:30.000 We're shown that already in Isaiah chapter 6. 29 00:02:31.500 --> 00:02:34.600 We are shown that with the first words of holy absolution. 30 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:38.500 Upon this your confession. 31 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:46.000 So in chapter 40 Isaiah finding himself again before the Heavenly 32 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:46.100 Council. 33 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:52.300 Records the accomplished all that it announces Word that goes out to 34 00:02:52.300 --> 00:02:58.000 the broken hopeless sorrow filled hearts and minds of those who believe 35 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:02.800 that they have no more rights to continue to call themselves children 36 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:03.200 of God. 37 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:07.600 To believe that they are true citizens of Jerusalem. 38 00:03:10.100 --> 00:03:13.400 At the coming of my redeeming Word says God almighty. 39 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:17.700 Your time of mourning will surely end. 40 00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:20.800 Because my justice 41 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:23.100 serves my redemption. 42 00:03:25.300 --> 00:03:28.200 You are declared just by another's righteousness. 43 00:03:29.700 --> 00:03:31.100 By the perfect sacrifice 44 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:34.300 I will bring to pass. 45 00:03:38.500 --> 00:03:42.900 The prophet is witnessed the heavens thrice word of Holiness followed 46 00:03:42.900 --> 00:03:44.900 by Heavens double word of comfort. 47 00:03:46.900 --> 00:03:51.900 Both most clearly revealed as the Incarnate Word blocks out every dark 48 00:03:51.900 --> 00:03:52.700 misdeed. 49 00:03:53.900 --> 00:03:57.300 The sin of you and me and an entire rebel humanity. 50 00:03:59.100 --> 00:04:04.700 But each season of justice and righteousness and redemption in its own 51 00:04:04.700 --> 00:04:04.800 time. 52 00:04:07.100 --> 00:04:08.800 John and then Jesus. 53 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:12.800 Advent and then Christmas. 54 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:19.000 The killing of the law and then the sweet resurrection produced by the 55 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:19.399 Gospel. 56 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:27.100 A drowning followed by the springing up of a new nature that trust in 57 00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:31.400 the eternal Word of Christ trumpeted through the cleansed by the 58 00:04:31.400 --> 00:04:35.300 burning coal lips of heavens appointed herald. 59 00:04:37.400 --> 00:04:40.700 All to change what only God can create out of nothing. 60 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:43.100 Saving faith 61 00:04:44.700 --> 00:04:49.300 in what our old nature continues to believe is nonsense. Saving faith 62 00:04:49.300 --> 00:04:53.000 in the Lord's promise of a sacrificial substitute, 63 00:04:54.200 --> 00:04:56.900 given even for the likes of you. 64 00:05:00.200 --> 00:05:04.500 You see the proclamation of Isaiah 40 is not simply Isaiah own 65 00:05:04.500 --> 00:05:08.600 attempt to give some kind of encouragement to down in the dumps 66 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:09.400 exiles. 67 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:13.800 Isaiah 40 is not some positive thought for today. 68 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:21.100 Isaiah 40 is not some free inspirational pep talk with a cold nose and 69 00:05:21.100 --> 00:05:21.700 a wagging tail. 70 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:25.100 Isaiah 40 71 00:05:26.500 --> 00:05:31.300 is the undeserved yet sure and certain proclamation of Yahweh's heaven 72 00:05:31.300 --> 00:05:35.900 to the grass of a fallen humanity completely desiccated by the hot 73 00:05:35.900 --> 00:05:38.300 Sirocco wind of the almighty's 74 00:05:38.300 --> 00:05:39.000 holy law. 75 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:45.100 Because the grass and the flower of this dark and dying world 76 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:50.600 do not need a pat on the head or a nice divine pick me up. 77 00:05:52.900 --> 00:05:57.700 No, we are in need of a truthful diagnosis of our pitiful spiritual 78 00:05:57.700 --> 00:05:59.400 condition outside of Christ. 79 00:06:01.200 --> 00:06:05.300 With the true mirror of the almighty's law or excuse-making 80 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:09.700 our plea for another do-over is silenced. 81 00:06:11.700 --> 00:06:15.000 No one can stand no not even one. 82 00:06:17.100 --> 00:06:22.700 Not even Isaiah who in abject despair in chapter 6 cries out. Wow, is me 83 00:06:24.700 --> 00:06:26.200 I'm completely done in. 84 00:06:27.900 --> 00:06:29.100 I am as good as dead. 85 00:06:30.400 --> 00:06:34.200 As he prostrate himself before the Lord of the heavenly armies. 86 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:40.900 We are simply getting what we deserve confesses the thief on the 87 00:06:40.900 --> 00:06:41.000 cross. 88 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:49.200 God through his Word does both is alien work in his proper work. 89 00:06:50.400 --> 00:06:56.300 His word convicts in order that he might create saving faith. Saving 90 00:06:56.300 --> 00:06:56.600 faith 91 00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:59.600 that sees not only God's holy righteousness and justice. 92 00:07:01.700 --> 00:07:06.200 But God's merciful and gracious redemption for can do nothing but sin 93 00:07:06.200 --> 00:07:06.900 humanity. 94 00:07:09.100 --> 00:07:12.300 That too good to be true redemption 95 00:07:13.300 --> 00:07:17.200 that is most clearly revealed at a place called the skull. 96 00:07:20.300 --> 00:07:21.200 And he said, 97 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:26.100 Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom. 98 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:35.300 The Lord's justice and righteousness serves the Lord's saving mercy and 99 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:35.400 forgiveness. 100 00:07:37.400 --> 00:07:41.500 Lord's undeserved Grace unexpectedly appears and preaches faith and 101 00:07:41.500 --> 00:07:46.500 hope into terrified by the law hearts and minds and a strange new 102 00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:47.900 trust is born. 103 00:07:50.300 --> 00:07:52.600 This is the gracious work 104 00:07:53.700 --> 00:07:59.000 of the maker of heaven and Earth as the does what it declares word of 105 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:05.200 God comes to orphaned dead as a doornail children of Israel and 106 00:08:05.200 --> 00:08:07.500 preaches life and hope and comfort, 107 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:11.500 even when they find themselves in Exile. 108 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:19.200 Just as he did before terrified Shepherds on a darkened hill outside of 109 00:08:19.200 --> 00:08:19.700 Bethlehem. 110 00:08:21.400 --> 00:08:25.500 Just as he did before a grieving crowd on a darkened hill outside of 111 00:08:25.500 --> 00:08:25.800 Jerusalem. 112 00:08:28.100 --> 00:08:29.500 Just as he does today. 113 00:08:30.900 --> 00:08:34.900 For those wasting away because of the guilt of condemning thoughts 114 00:08:34.900 --> 00:08:35.900 words and deeds. 115 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:40.799 Be not afraid 116 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:43.700 for behold. 117 00:08:47.900 --> 00:08:50.800 The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of the Lord 118 00:08:50.800 --> 00:08:51.900 endures forever. 119 00:08:54.100 --> 00:08:58.700 That truth was graciously rediscovered by Luther and the reformers as 120 00:08:58.700 --> 00:09:03.300 the Augustinian monk was mercifully saved from foolishly believing 121 00:09:03.300 --> 00:09:05.800 that he could somehow whip himself in the shape. 122 00:09:08.400 --> 00:09:13.100 As the holy outside of oneself Gospel of Christ was received in the 123 00:09:13.100 --> 00:09:13.400 faith. 124 00:09:17.100 --> 00:09:19.800 Luther and Isaiah and each of us 125 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:27.600 cannot make deals or silly promises or claim some exemption from the accusing law. 126 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:33.400 We cannot simply ask the almighty Lord of the heavenly armies for a 127 00:09:33.400 --> 00:09:34.000 reset. 128 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:39.800 The damning effects of the holy Word of God as it comes in the law 129 00:09:39.800 --> 00:09:44.100 cannot be dismissed away when sinful people are brought before it. 130 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:49.700 While we are powerless to affect any redemption of our own, 131 00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:53.300 satisfaction still must be provided. 132 00:09:57.400 --> 00:10:02.900 Isaiah 6 and Isaiah 40 review the clearest of truths. Redemption 133 00:10:02.900 --> 00:10:03.500 therefore 134 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:06.500 begins and ends with the Lord. 135 00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:12.700 He is the one who sacrifices animals in order to close condemned Adam and 136 00:10:12.700 --> 00:10:12.800 Eve. 137 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:19.700 It is the Lord who seals a one-way oath with Abraham. 138 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:25.800 It is the Almighty the one who provides the substitute in the shrubbery. 139 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:31.500 The Lord saves is real by sprinkling them in the waters that save 140 00:10:32.900 --> 00:10:36.200 by miraculously providing wilderness wanderers 141 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:38.200 the food of angels. 142 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:45.400 Isaiah and Luther and you and I do not finally figure it out. 143 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:53.000 The bedrock of our redemption is not our aha moment, but the decision 144 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:57.500 of the eternal one who sits on the throne to make satisfaction at The 145 00:10:57.500 --> 00:10:59.000 crucible of Christ cross. 146 00:11:00.300 --> 00:11:03.000 As he touches our lips and minds and heart 147 00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:06.800 with the red-hot coal of his Word. 148 00:11:08.400 --> 00:11:09.800 That same Word. 149 00:11:10.900 --> 00:11:13.200 In with and under the water the font. 150 00:11:14.800 --> 00:11:16.000 In with and under 151 00:11:16.900 --> 00:11:19.900 the bread and wine of Christ altar. 152 00:11:23.800 --> 00:11:28.100 What did Isaiah contribute to the Lord's delivery of justice and 153 00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:29.500 righteousness and redemption? 154 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:36.000 Simply his sinful lips to be cleansed and repurposed for a too good to 155 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:36.900 be true message. 156 00:11:38.300 --> 00:11:43.000 Message the devil, the world and our sinful flesh will never understand 157 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:44.700 or put its trust in. 158 00:11:46.800 --> 00:11:49.300 verbum autem Domini manet in aeternum. 159 00:11:52.300 --> 00:11:54.200 That's the original ensign 160 00:11:55.400 --> 00:11:59.700 of the Lutheran reformation and the prophets and apostles and the 161 00:11:59.700 --> 00:12:01.900 continuing touchstone of our salvation. 162 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:09.200 DDMIAE the Word of the Lord stands forever. 163 00:12:11.400 --> 00:12:12.700 The entire scripture, 164 00:12:14.400 --> 00:12:19.200 the entire Corpus of the prophets and apostles the entire to natured 165 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:20.500 person of Christ Our Redeemer, 166 00:12:22.800 --> 00:12:23.500 forever. 167 00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:30.500 Isaiah 6 and Isaiah 40 are to be distinguished between but never 168 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:31.100 separated. 169 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:34.700 And so it is with the Law and Gospel 170 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:40.300 with Heaven's justice and righteousness and redemption 171 00:12:41.900 --> 00:12:45.900 has resurrected to new life lips continue to confess. 172 00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:49.200 And the word became flesh 173 00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:52.500 dwelt among us. 174 00:12:53.800 --> 00:12:58.300 And we have seen his glory glory as of the only Son from the Father 175 00:12:58.300 --> 00:13:00.000 full of grace and truth. 176 00:13:02.400 --> 00:13:04.100 For from his fullness 177 00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:07.000 we have all received grace upon grace. 178 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:11.200 For the law was given through Moses. 179 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:16.000 Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 180 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:24.800 The true redeeming Word of comfort proclaimed in this Advent season 181 00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:27.300 be to each of you. 182 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:31.000 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.