READ: Is. 12:1-6: 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. …
In chapter 11, the restoration of Israel is prophesied. The Lord will gather a remnant from all the lands to which they have been driven by Him. This deliverance is likened to the Exodus from Egypt (11:16). It also refers to the ultimate deliverance, when Christ leads the Church to the new Jerusalem.
Then in chapter 12, a song of thanksgiving from the redeemed follows. Just as Israel sang after God’s mighty deliverance from Egypt, the future redeemed will also do so. Isaiah is given the words to put in their mouths. With one voice (Rom. 15:6), they will sing that it is God Himself who brings a turnaround in the fate of His people. He shows mercy to His people again.
This can only be based on the coming sacrifice of Christ. Rom. 3:25 says about Christ: “whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.”
Therefore, Judah exclaims: “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” They no longer need to fear and can move forward with confidence. For their strength and song is the Lord. The message is also prophetic: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (v.3).
The Lord Jesus quotes these words when He calls out to the people in Jerusalem: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” With this quote, Jesus pointed to the Spirit that He would send (John 7:37-38).
Water is a symbol of blessing and life, especially in eastern lands (compare Is. 41:7-8). We also read about it in Revelation 7:17 at the final redemption: “For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
How is our joy in the Lord?
Singing: Ps. 36:2