You may have noticed Wittenberg Door Campus Ministry’s fourfold emphasis - history, integrity, truth, Scripture. Sparking meaningful discussion of the Scripture, the Old and New Testament, is heart and center of what we do. If indeed the Bible is God’s Word and directs us to Jesus, God the Son, we need to take its message very seriously. Every Tuesday my intention is to post some notes drawn from a commentary on some part of the Old Testament. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah is often considered the prophet who points most directly to Jesus as the Messiah yet to come. Chapter 12 is particularly full of language which foreshadows the Messiah. Let’s look.
Luther, Martin, edited by Jaroslav Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald, translated by Herbert J.A. Bowman) Luther’s Works, Vol. 16, Lectures on Isaiah Chapters 1-39. St. Louis: Concordia, 1969. Logos Electronic Edition.
“Isaiah Chapter 12” pp. 128-131.
In the beginning of Isaiah chapter 12 Luther sees the prophet foreshadowing “the true and lawful worship and sacrifice of the New Testament” (LW 16, 128). This is found in the Eucharist, in which the Church confesses the true faith in God’s blessings. The confession of the Christian in communion is that all salvation is a gift of God, who has turned away his wrath (v. 2). The rejoicing is in the God who is our salvation, who has brought comfort (LW 16, 129). Quoting Exodus 15:2, Isaiah, like Moses before him, gives thanks to God for delivering His people from those who would oppose them. He is our strength and salvation. This is fulfilled completely in Christ (LW 16, 129). The water of salvation in verse 3 Luther relates to Jesus’ promise of living water in John 7:38. “The wells of salvation are the Gospel, sermons about Christ in various places, or even the preachers of the Gospel” (LW 16, 130). Again, the public proclamation of Christ, especially in the Lord’s Supper, is seen by Luther as a key fulfillment of this passage. Those who dwell in the presence of God, in Christ, are the people who can sing out to the Lord (LW 16, 131).
All the work of Wittenberg Door Campus Ministry, including this blog, is supported by the generosity of people like you. Please consider joining our team of prayer and financial supporters. Read more here!