Isaiah 12
Isaiah 12 is a prophetic hymn of praise, consisting of six verses in total. After the promises of restoration and deliverance found in the preceding chapters 1 through 11, it contains the joy and gratitude of the time when the fulfillment of that deliverance is brought about. It is also like a declaration that sings of God’s grace and salvation, escaping the prophecies of hardship and judgment.
1verseIn that day you will say, “I will give thanks to you, the LORD; for though you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you comfort me.
2verseBehold, God is my salvation. I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD, the LORD, is my strength and song; and he has become my salvation.”
3verseTherefore with joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation.
4verseIn that day you will say, “Give thanks to the LORD! Call on his name! Declare his doings among the peoples! Proclaim that his name is exalted!
5verseSing to the LORD, for he has done excellent things! Let this be known in all the earth!
6verseCry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!”
Structure and Flow
- Verses 1-2: Expressions of personal gratitude and trust appear in response to God’s anger turning away and being transformed into the grace of salvation.
- Verse 3: A promise appears that water will be drawn up with joy from the fountain of God’s salvation, and it sings that grace will not run dry.
- Verses 4-6: It expands from personal gratitude into communal praise. Along with the mission to make known to all the people of Israel and to all nations the greatness of God, it declares that the Holy One of Zion has done great things for them.
Overall Meaning
Isaiah 12 sings of the joy and hope of salvation that comes after judgment. It shows how God responds graciously within human desperation, and how God’s salvation transforms individuals as well as the community. Emphasizing the restoration of faith, it makes trust in and gratitude toward God the center of life instead of all human fear.
Meditation Points
- Pay attention to the natural response (gratitude and praise) seen in those who have experienced the grace of salvation.
- Consider the flow in which salvation expands from a personal deliverance into a communal mission (to make known, to reveal).
- Reflect on whether, in our lives, we are experiencing and sharing grace—‘as if drawing up water with joy.’
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Remember the grace of salvation you received from God, and add more gratitude and joy to your life right now.
- Look for specific ways to share the grace I have received with the community.
- Consider how you can make known God’s great works to others, and apply it to your life today.
