Ten years ago today, on September 11^th or what those who are more numerically minded would call 9/11, television screens from one side of this country to the other showed us vividly the results of terrorism in our country. We saw the shockingly unbelievable crashes of commercial jets into some of the largest buildings in the United States, the twin towers of the World Trade Center; as well as into what was believed to be one the strongest and best-defended buildings in our country, the Pentagon building in Washington D.C.

We also realized with great sadness that many lives had been lost at the hands of terrorists. We saw in the faces and heard in the voices of the victims’ friends and families the sadness, the helplessness, and the hopelessness of not knowing whether or not your loved one was alive or realizing that they were in fact dead. And we also saw and heard the joy and excitement of finding and rescuing survivors from the rubble that was once a 110-story building. All of these were pictures that will undoubtedly stay with us for a long time.

But the one picture that really stood out for me and still stands out today, is President Bush’s visit to New York where, through a bullhorn, he shouted words of thanks and words of encouragement to workers who were struggling against hope to find survivors in the wreckage. When Mr. Bush spoke to the crowds and they shouted back that they couldn’t hear him, he shouted even louder through the bullhorn: “I can hear you. The whole world can hear you. And soon the people who brought down these buildings will hear all of us.” And then the crowds started shouting in unison: “USA, USA!”

Without a doubt the events of 9/11/2001 have provided many people with many reasons to shout. Some were and still are shouting to express their shock and their horror over what happened. Others were and still are shouting in anger. Some were and still are shouting with a vengeful spirit, “Get the bad guys, Mr. President!”

We also have reason to shout. The LORD, through the prophet Isaiah, encourages us to shout--to lift up our voices with strength and not be afraid. While others are shouting in anger and with a spirit of retaliation, the LORD would have us: SHOUT TO THE WORLD: “BEHOLD YOUR GOD!”

The word of God before us today is a song of joy—a message of joy and comfort for God’s Old Testament people who felt themselves locked out of any access to God’s mercy and grace. They were being held captive in Babylon. And while God’s people likely shouted in fear, in frustration, in anger and hopelessness over their situation, God comes to them with the comforting message: “Don’t be afraid. Here is your God. Everything will be all right now.”

And to us comes that same message of comfort--that message of joy and of hope. “Don’t be afraid. Here is your God.” Our God, through Jesus Christ, has come to save this world held captive to sin and death. That message is for us. And friends, that message is for all. All people need to see the cross of Christ and be comforted with that message. God wants us to shout to the world: “Behold your God.”

The God--our God--who would not have it that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, wants everyone to hear the message: “Behold your God! Everything is all right now.” But who’s going to tell them? Who’s going to do the shouting? Isaiah tells us: O Zion…O Jerusalem…lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

Zion--that hill in Jerusalem where Solomon built his temple--and Jerusalem itself were considered to be God’s dwelling place--the place where God lived among His people. Those names--Zion and Jerusalem--gradually came to refer to God’s people themselves. And in New Testament times, those same names are used in reference to God’s church.

And so, the ones who are to bring good tidings to God’s church are the ones who are to do the shouting!--pastors, teachers, and missionaries. But are they the only ones God tells to shout this message of joy and comfort? Aren’t Jesus words for every single one of us here, when he says: “Go and make disciples of all nations…go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”?

We are all Jesus’ disciples. And that responsibility--that great task of making disciples--belongs to each one of us. The Apostle Peter tells us: “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” God wants us, you and me, to proclaim His praises--to shout to the world, “Behold your God!”

And so, it is to all of us that God says in our text: “Get up into the high mountain” and don’t be afraid to shout. Don’t let fears caused by sin, guilt or lack of self-confidence keep you from shouting. Be confident in God who has overcome all of our fears for us! And be confident in the wonderful message you have to shout: “Behold your God!”

Like a cheerleader at a football game encouraging the fans to yell a little louder, God comes to us in these words of Isaiah and encourages us to shout to all the world: “Behold your God!” Shout it loudly. Shout it boldly. Shout it joyfully. There’s a reason for joy and confidence when we shout--and that reason is found in what we shout about. We have a message worth telling--a message worth shouting. Our message is Christ. Here is our God--our Savior-God. The Savior promised long ago to all the world, has come for all the world. God sent His Son to open the gates of heaven for all who were locked out--separated from God by sin. God made Jesus “Who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

What we are to shout about is Christ. And what we are to say about Him when we shout is told us in our text. Isaiah says: “Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.” Christ is pictured as a mighty and victorious conqueror, returning from battle displaying the reward of His victory. Christ has fought a fierce battle--He fought it for us and He won. The battle was the battle He fought on Calvary’s cross--the battle over sin, death and hell--the battle He won when He rose victorious from the grave on Easter morning.

And Isaiah tells us: “His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.” We are His reward--the reason He fought that battle. He fought and won the battle over sin, death and hell so that we might be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness. That is a message that fills us with Joy. And God wants the whole world to share in the joy of Christ’s victory. God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, and He wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. God wants us to shout to the world about Christ, the mighty conqueror over sin.

And shout about Christ, the gentle, loving shepherd of His flock. Listen again to what Isaiah says in our text: “He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.” Like a loving shepherd Jesus leads, comforts, carries, feeds, and protects His sheep. We are His sheep--weak, doubtful, and fearful. We need encouragement, care, and nurture. And our Good Shepherd provides it all for us in His Word. He carries us in His bosom--close to His heart. And to us He says: “I have other sheep which are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them in also.” And so, to us He gives the responsibility to shout for all the world to hear: “Behold your God!” Here is your God! Don’t be afraid! Everything is all right!” Here is the God of love who came with a mission. He came to save us on the cross. Mission accomplished! And now He gives us the mission: “Shout to the world: Behold your God!”

The events of 9/11/2001 certainly give many people reason to shout. Many are shouting in grief over the loss of human lives. What really needs to be shouted about is the loss of human souls--precious blood-bought souls lost to Satan--lost because we have so often failed to shout about the only thing that truly matters in this world. “Here is your God--your Savior! Don’t be afraid! Everything is all right now!” Now let’s get out there and shout! Amen.