The Book of the Prophet Isaiah

Isaiah 12

Chapter XII · Vol. III, p. 1162

A joyful thanksgiving of the faithful for the mercies of God.

Margin referencesNotes ↓

1 And in^a that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: ^bthough thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

a ch.11.1,10,11; 24.14-16; xxv. xxvi.; 27.2; xxxv. liv. Ps.xlvii. lxvi. lxvii. xcii. xcvi.-c.; 34.1, &c.; Re.iv. v.; 7.9-12; 14.1-4; 15.2-4; 19.1-7.

b Ps.30.5; 85.3. ch.54.7,8; 57.16-18; 51.3,13; 10.25; 40.1,2. Je.31.18-20. Ho.6.1; 11.8.

2 Behold, ^cGod is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

c Ps.27.1; 44.7. Pr.21.31. Jonah 2.9. Ex.15.2. Ps.118.14. Lu.1.47,69; 2.10,11.

3 Therefore^d with joy shall ye draw ^ewater¹ out of the wells of salvation.

d Ca.2.3.

e Jn.1.14,16; 4.10,14; 7.38. Re.22.17; 7.17. Ps.36.9; 46.4; 23.2. Je.2.13; 31.12. Ep.1.3,13. 1 Pe.1.4. 2 Co.13.14. Ac.13.26. ch.35.6; 41.18. Zec.14.8. Eze.47.1-11. Zec.13.1.

1 Water is the emblem of the Word of God, Jn.4.14. Is.55.1.—C.

4 And in that day shall ye say, ^gPraise the LORD, call upon his name,² declare his doings among the people, make mention that ^hhis name is exalted.

g 1 Ch.16.8-34. Ps.105.1-5; cxlv.-cl. ch.63.7.

2 Or, proclaim his name.

h Ps.110.1; 21.1-7. Phi.2.9-11. Ep.1.20-23. He.2.8,9. Ps.72.17. Mat.28.18.

5 Singⁱ unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: ^jthis is known in all the earth.

i Ex.15.1,21. Ps.98.1.

j Ps.98.2,3. Hab.2.14. ch.11.9.

6 Cry^k out and shout, thou inhabitant³ of Zion: for ^lgreat is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

k ch.54.1. Je.31.12. Ps.48.1-3. xcv.-c. cv.-cvii. cxvii. cxlv.-cl. Zep.3.14. Re.7.9-12; 14.1-4; 15.2-4; 19.1-7.

3 Heb. inhabitress.

l Ps.89.18.

Notes

Ver. 1. 'Taking occasion from the reference to Egypt and the exodus in the close of the preceding chapter, the prophet now puts into the mouth of Israel a song analogous to that of Moses, from which some of the expressions are directly borrowed. The structure of this psalm is very regular, consisting of two parts, in each of which the prophet first tells the people what they will say, or have a right to say, when the foregoing promises are verified, and then addresses them in his own person in the usual language of prediction' (Alexander). P.——That day. The day of the second recovery of Israel from bondage, ch. 11. 12—a day yet future, but not doubtful; for God is faithful who has promised.—Thine anger is turned away. This comfortable word indicates the termination of all the series of judgments described, ch. 5. 25; 9. 12, 17, 21; 10. 4. C.

Ver. 4. His name. Whatever name, at any time, God has given of himself. See Ex. 34. 5; Ps. 8. 1. C.

Ver. 6. Inhabitant. 'Thou woman inhabitant'—the emblem and title of the church, no longer a woman hid in the wilderness, but restored to her Lord's house in Zion. C.

Reflections.—How far the glories and comforts of the New Testament church exceed those of the Old! The great forgiveness, through Jesus' blood, inflames the heart, and tunes the lips to praise. Nor ought Jehovah's frowns to untune our soul. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. O the inexpressible pleasure of enjoying a reconciled God as our all and in all! If he be ours, we may safely trust him with all our happiness, all our work, all our care. If he be our strength, no foe can hurt us. If he be our salvation, eternity is too short to speak his praise. Great is the happiness, temporal, spiritual, and eternal, which we may by faith draw from his perfections, his Christ, his promises, and ordinances! And thrice happy is the church when her members know him and his mighty works, and with one mind, and one mouth, glorify him!