Bible Commentaries

Isaiah 12:1 And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

Ver. 1. And in that day,] sc., When there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse. {as Isaiah 11:1} Blessed be God for a Christ. [Psalms 96:1-13 Revelation 6:11]

Thou shalt say.] It is not a dumb kind of thank fulness that is required of the Lord’s redeemed, but such as from a heart full of spiritual joy breaketh forth into fit words, such as are here set down in this ditty or directory.

I will praise thee.] The whole life of a true Christian is a holy desire, saith an ancient. It is, or should be surely, continua laetitia, et laus Dei, a continual hallelujah. Deo gratias was ever in Augustine’s mouth. Laudetur Deus, laudetur Deus, in another’s - i.e., Praised be God, praised be God. The saints here "with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." [Romans 15:6] The saints and angels do so in heaven incessantly, [Revelation 4:10-11] hoc est iuge eorum negotiosum otium et otiosum negotium.

Thine anger is turned away.] My sins are forgiven me, and hence I am of so good cheer, though otherwise distressed. Feri, Domine, feri; a peccatis absolutus sum, said Luther; Strike while thou wilt, Lord, so long as my sins are pardoned. See Psalms 103:1-3.

And thou comfortedst me,] viz., With gospel comforts, which are strong and satisfying. I do "overabound exceedingly with joy in all our tribulation," saith Paul. [2 Corinthians 7:4]

Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God [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.

Ver. 2. Behold, God is my salvation.] Let such take notice of it as said when time was, there is no help for him in God; salvation itself cannot save him. "Behold," and "My": there is much matter in this adverb and that pronoun, saith an interpreter. ^(a) Behold, God is my Jesus; so Jerome readeth it. According to that of old Simeon "Mine eyes have seen thy salvation." And in this and the next verse salvation is thrice mentioned, so sweet it was to those that thus sang of it. {See Trapp on "1 Corinthians 1:8"}

I will trust, and not be afraid.] There is an elegance in the Hebrew that cannot be translated. This spiritual security floweth from faith; experience should both breed and feed it. See Psalms 46:3, 2 Corinthians 1:10.

For the Lord is my strength.] Salvation properly denoteth the privative part of man’s happiness, viz., freedom from evil; but it includeth also position in a good estate, and preservation therein while "we are kept by the power (or strength) of God through faith unto salvation." [1 Peter 1:5]

Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Ver. 3. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water.] Joy is the just man’s portion, and Christ is the never failing fountain whence by a lively faith he may infallibly fetch it. [John 4:10; John 4:14; John 7:37] Christ was much delighted with this metaphor; see John 1:16. Out of this fountain only may men quench their spiritual thirst after righteousness. Haec sola est aqua quae animas arentes, marentes et squalidas reficit, et recreat. ^(a) These wells of salvation are those "words of eternal life," [John 6:68] the rich and "precious promises," [2 Peter 1:4] "whereby we are made partakers of the divine nature," and of the Holy Spirit, which is frequently and fitly compared to water in regard of (1.) Ablution; [Ezekiel 36:25] (2.) of Fructification; [Job 8:11 Isaiah 35:6-7; Isaiah 44:3-4] and (3.) of Refrigeration. [Psalms 42:1 Romans 5:5] Some think the prophet here alludeth to those softly running waters of Shiloah, [Isaiah 8:6] or to the rock water that followed them in the wilderness, or to that famous fountain, [Numbers 21:16-18] whence they drew waters with so much mirth and melody.

Isaiah 12:4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

Ver. 4. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord,] viz., With us and for us. Every true Confitebor tibi hath its confitemini Domino annexed unto it. The saints are unsatiable in praising God for the great work of their redemption, and do therefore call in help, all that may be.

Call upon his name.] Which is a special way of praising him, while we make him the object of our prayers, professing our distance from him, our whole dependence upon him, &c. See 1 Chronicles 16:8, Psalms 105:1.

Declare his doings.] Sept., His glorious things; those many miracles of mercy wrought in our redemption, which is a work much more excellent than that of making all things at first of nothing, keeping heaven still upon its hinges, and upholding the whole universe without a foundation. Magna sunt opera Dei creatoris, recreatoris autem longe maxima, saith Gregory.

Make mention that his name is exalted.] Or, Celebrate his name, which is high, far above all praise.

Isaiah 12:5 Sing unto the LORD for he hath done excellent things: this [is] known in all the earth.

Ver. 5. Sing unto the Lord.] Or, Sing of the Lord. Sing a concise and short song, amputatis omnibus supervacaneis.

He hath done excellent things.] Heb., Excellence or majesty. All other spiritual blessings meet in our redemption by Christ, as the lines do in the centre, streams in the fountain.

This is known in all the earth.] Or, Let this be known; let all the world ring of it. As when the Argives were delivered by the Romans from the tyranny of the Macedonians and Spartans, the air was so dissipated with their acclamations and outcries, that the birds that flew over the place fell down amazed to the ground. ^(a)

Isaiah 12:6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great [is] the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Ver. 6. Cry out.] Heb., Hinni, neigh as horses do that are full fed, or fitted for fight. Iubila quantum potes, valide et totis viribus clama, claram et laectam vocem ede.

For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.] Or, For the Holy One of Israel, who is great, is in the midst of thee. How shouldst thou then do otherwise than well?