Theme: Returned
(A) In the Name of the Father…Amen.
(B) Psalm 126 serves as our sermon text for this evening.
(C) Grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God our heavenly Father through
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
(D) Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:
O my Lord God, you have returned your people to Zion, the city of peace.
The temple is restored, and your people are singing in joy.
O Lord Yahweh, my God and my King, you have done great things for us.
No longer are your people forced to live in Babylon, a land of slavery and
false gods.
We are home in Jerusalem. Home in the blessed city of David. Amen.
Introduction
(A) We have returned to the mercy seat of God.
(1) Our third psalm for Advent, Psalm 126, opens with these words:
Psalm 126:1 (NASB95)
When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion, We were like those who
dream.
(B) The nightmare of exile is over, and the sudden rush of joy is like a
barren desert turning into a flood.
(1) Imagine the flow of living-giving water or the flow of wine into the
cups of joy-filled guests at the best of banquet celebrations, bringing
happiness to the heart as people celebrate freedom.
(4) The nightmare of exile was over, for Judah had returned home.
(A) Captives who have been set free cannot do anything but rejoice and be
glad; every breath of free air is a celebration.
(1) The return from Babylon meant so much to Judah.
(2) The former captives are set free to build their own homes wherever they
wanted.
(3) They could work their own ground and farms and not be forced to hand
any of their crops over to their Babylonian taskmasters.
(4) They were set free to worship Yahweh their God and no longer forced to
bow down and honor the false gods Ishtar or Marduk or any other idol ever
again.
(5) They were free to worship the One who created them, redeemed them, and
called them by name.
(6) Isaiah 43:1 declares:
Isaiah 43:1 (NASB95)
But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you,
O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name;
you are Mine!
(7) Those who returned were like those who had just awakened from a
nightmare and jumped into a river of gladness.
(3) From what nightmare do you need to wake up?
(A) We all have them, you know.
(1) I know that everyone is supposed to be happy this time of year, but
maybe you aren’t.
(2) Maybe life during these joyful, festive days is too much.
(3) Exiled in the Babylon of your own sins and forced to bow down to some
rather worthless idols.
(4) Power, money, sex—name your poison—we’ve all been there.
(5) You know what it’s like to wake up in the morning with regret and
sorrow and shame, with hurt and hopelessness.
(B) Whatever it is, your own sins or the impact of someone else’s sin
against you, it has you shackled like a slave.
(1) It’s just as Jesus says in John 8:34:
John 8:34 (NASB95)
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin
is the slave of sin.
(C) Sin, Satan, and death have us lock, stock, and barrel.
(1) Chained up and ready to march us off into that eternal Babylon we call
hell.
(2) Can the voice like one calling in the wilderness be a wake-up call for
us?
(A) But just when you think all is lost, a voice is heard.
(1) A voice calls you out of death and the valley of the shadow.
(2) Calling to you like a voice in the wilderness, there come words of
promise and deliverance.
(3) Listen to what Jesus says in Luke 4:
Luke 4:18–19 (NASB95)
18 “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE
GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND
RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”
(4) This Scripture, Jesus says, has been fulfilled in your hearing.
(5) The Spirit was, is, and forever shall be upon the incarnate Son, who
was born for us to set us free from the nightmares that haunt our lives.
(B) But after dealing with so much sin and temptation and COVID-19 and all
the weakness of life, how can such promises possibly be true?
(1) Freedom, liberty, sight, good news for the poor, and the year of the
Lord’s favor for everyone.
(a) Seriously?
(b) Is it possible?
(c) There has to be a catch.
(d) How could it really be true?
(e) How could it be that the promises are for me?
(1) Yes, a new blood-bought, baptismal-covered reality is ours in Christ.
(A) Good news!
(1) This is for you indeed.
(2) The Word of God that called in Isaiah is now incarnate in Jesus Christ.
(3) The Word has been made flesh, and He has so much to say and give to you
and to me and to the world.
(4) Your idols have been broken.
(5) Your sins are forgiven.
(6) Your death has been undone, because the baby in the manger has grown
up, died, and risen again.
(7) No longer are you compelled to live in a prison of your own making.
(8) You are brought back home, by the grace of God given to you by faith in
Jesus Christ our Lord.
(B) Home. What a beautiful word!
(1) Back to the altar and the font of your Baptism.
(2) Brought back to the very Word of God made flesh.
(3) You are given new life—redeemed and renewed.
(4) Yes, you can start all over again.
(C) The nightmare is over.
(1) You are not dreaming!
(2) This is far better than any dream we could ever have.
(3) A new reality is yours in Christ our Lord.
(4) A blood-bought and baptismal-water-covered reality.
(5) You have been brought back to God, back to your Creator.
(6) Returned to the Father who loves you more than we could ever ask or
imagine.
(7) Exile broken.
(8) Death defeated.
(9) Freedom granted.
(10) The baby in the manger who grows to be the man on the cross—everything
is His gift.
(D) We Have Returned from a Nightmare to a New Reality in Christ.
Conclusion
(A) How do we declare our advent hope?
(1) The resounding words of Psalm 126 help us:
Psalm 126:1–6 (NASB95)
1 When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion, We were like those
who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful
shouting; Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things
for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us; We are glad.
4 Restore our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South.
5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.
6 He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed
come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
(2) In the name of the Father… Amen.
(B) Let us pray:
(C) The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts
and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
(D) In the Name of the Father…Amen.