The Third Sunday in Lent (OT)

Isaiah 12:1-6

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.”

This is the basis for the Old Testament Canticle in the Service of Prayer and preaching. This text helps show us how God has worked through the Old Testament to point us forward to our salvation. It wS the people of Israel who with shouts of joy sing of their salvation, which is found in Christ Jesus for his church today.

It is our duty to serve and obey The Lord. It is our duty to turn from our sinful life. God has revealed to us the struggles of his people through the years. God has called his people to a holy life. They recognize this goal is not easy. They see that this goal may even be out of our reach. This is out of reach for us. We must repent of our sins, turn from our ways.

Rather than looking at the face of an angry God, we look to a God who has provided a way of salvation. He has provided the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Christ our Lord has become the sacrifice for your sins. He has claimed you, and called you to serve The Lord God. Christ even sends his Holy Spirit to make you Holy, and help you lead a Godly life. This is why we sing now his praises!