Isaiah 12

“Then you will say on that day, ‘I will give thanks to You, Lord; for although 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 God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.’  Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation.  And on that day you will say, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted.’”  Isaiah 12:1-4 (NASB)

The sight of the mighty Warrior (in Isaiah 11 and 12) is awesome.  The effect of God’s judgment cuts Judah down to a stump.  There are times when the Church has almost been extinguished.  There may have been times when you felt you were personally on the verge of extinction!  But the roots remain, and from them, fresh signs of life grow once more.  Those who know the salvation of which Isaiah speaks know how thankful we should be and how full of joy it makes us, so much so that we burst out in song!

Today’s chapter is actually two songs, back-to-back.  After so many allusions to the coming Messiah, Jesus, the prophet bursts out into song.  The lesson here is that, although God has been offended with his people, He was also satisfied that the chastisement He inflicted on them was sufficient.  We should be encouraged that, although we may feel the rebuke of the Lord, it will be for only a season, and we will be comforted by Him as soon as He has disciplined us.  Now, that’s something to sing about!!  You see, salvation is what we are most in need of, and typically, we only compartmentalize “salvation” as the eternal alternative to “damnation.”  We often forget our day-to-day need for deliverance, not just for the afterlife, but to get through this life.

Throughout his prophetic book, Isaiah makes use of a widely used Biblical symbol: water.  (41:17-18; 55:1; 55:10)

“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3 (ESV)

Possibly the most well-known use of this imagery is found in the words of Jesus Himself to the Samaritan woman at the well.  In fact, the whole account is Jesus’ most in-depth address to the divided kingdom era (of which Isaiah was addressing with his prophecy) and His willingness to forgive Israel’s spiritual adultery.

“Jesus said, ‘Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again.  But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again – ever!  In fact, the water I give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life.’” John 4:13-14 (HCSB)

What the Samaritan woman needed most of all was the water of salvation to relieve the spiritual thirst in her soul.  This has always been what we sinners need in every age.  This was the content of Isaiah’s songs of trust and joyful thanksgiving.