Isaiah 25:2-6 is the text
for The First Song of Isaiah by Jack Noble White. The first time I heard it was
some twenty years ago at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Irving, TX when I
presided over a funeral for one of their members. The funeral was for a woman
who had courageously battled cancer for more years than her original prognosis
predicted possible and while we felt a deep sadness at the loss of one so faithful
and beautiful and loved we also felt that peace and joy that would be out of
place if not for the truth of this scripture set to song. “Surely it is God who
saves me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. For the Lord is my stronghold
and my sure defense and He will be my Savior.” In this scripture set to song
the physical and spiritual weakness of human flesh, the fear, the doubt, the
overwhelming sorrow is lifted with the melody as our singing is joined and
supported and sustained by an invisible cloud of witnesses for whom the song is
more true than we can presently imagine. Surely it is God who saves me… It is a
song of defiant faith against all that would wither the soul with doubt and
fear. Surely it is God who saves me… It is a song of courage for times of trial
and comfort for times of sorrow. Surely it is God who saves me… a song for all
our days until at last we reach the endless tomorrow. Surely it is God who
saves me.
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