Isaiah 12:  With Joy

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For the Lord Jehovah is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ Isaiah 12:2



 

The LORD to Be Praised in That Day

And in that day you will say: “O Lord, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For the Lord Jehovah is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:1-3

12:1-6 This hymn of praise for God’s salvation by the restored remnant after the second Exodus resembles Moses and Miriam’s hymn of praise after the first Exodus from Egypt.

12:1 in that day:  For a similar idea, see 2:12.  The first you is singular, representing the remnant as an individual.  Angry:  The anger of God had caused the people to be dispersed among the people; His grace would lead to their regathering.

And in that day you will say: “O Lord, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.

12:2 God is my salvation:  This psalm of redemption is based on the first psalm of redemption in Exodus.  Yah, the Lord, by its repetition, emphasizes that Israel’s covenant-keeping God – and not the nations – brings salvation.  My strength and song may be rephrased as “my strong song” or “my song of strength.” (Ex. 15:2)

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ “

12:3 You in vv. 3-5 is plural.  The Hebrew poets often associate the concept of water with salvation (Ex. 17:1-7).  In an arid land, the provision of wells and springs was regarded as a divine gift.

Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.

12:4 As in the Psalms, this hymn uses several terms for the praise of God.  Praise means “to give public acknowledgement” or “to declare aloud in public.”  Call upon His name may be rephrased as “proclaim in His name.”  Declare means “to make known.”  Make mention means “to cause to remember.”  Each of these verbs designates public, vocal acknowledgement of the wonders and woks of God.  Among the peoples:  Like Ps. 117, this is a poem of international evangelism.

And in that day you will say: “Praise the Lord, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted.

12:5 The principal audience of sacred songs is God Himself.  Excellent things in Ex. 15:1, the root of this term is translated “triumphed gloriously.”  All the earth:  This emphasis fits the same line of thought found in Ps. 19:1.

Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth.

12:6 Cry out and shout may be rephrased as “shout aloud in great joy.”  Inhabitant of Zion refers to the people who returned from captivity in Babylon,

Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”

 


121 And in that day you will say: “O Lord, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ” 3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day you will say: “Praise the Lord, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted. 5 Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”