Isaiah 12:1-6 - A Hymn of Praise - The Greatness of God
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Isaiah 12:1-6 A Hymn of Praise: The Greatness of God
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.
2 Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation.’ ”
3 Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation.
4 And in that day you will say:
“Praise the Lord, call upon His name;
Declare His deeds among the peoples,
Make mention that His name is exalted.
5 Sing to the Lord,
For He has done excellent things;
This is known in all the earth.
6 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion,
For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”
Isaiah 12:1-3 "God Is My Salvation": A Hymn of Trust and Comfort of God's Salvation
This hymn of praise for God's salvation by the restored remnant after the second Exodus (11:12-16) resembles Moses and Miriam's hymn of praise after the first exodus from Egypt (Exodus 15)
12:2 - God is my salvation: This psalm of redemption is based on the first psalm of redemption in Exodus (Exodus 15:2; Psalm 118:14).
YAH, the Lord — Israel's Covenant-Keeping God Brings Salvation (Isaiah 12:2)
YAH, the Lord: by it's repetition, emphasizes that Israel's covenant-keeping God - and not the nations - brings salvation (26:4).
My strength and song may be rephrased as "my strong song" or "my song of strength" (Exodus 15:2)
Drawing Water From the Wells of Salvation With Joy (Isaiah 12:3)
This verse is a profound invitation to actively, daily receive God’s grace, strength, and comfort. The "wells" represent an inexhaustible, endless source of divine salvation, while "drawing water" symbolizes trusting in God's peace rather than living in fear.
- Trust and Do Not Fear: Actively choose to rely on God's strength.
- Praise and Proclaim: Confess God's goodness, sing to the Lord, and share His works with others.
- Cultivate Joy: Instead of seeking happiness from external circumstances, draw on the spiritual strength and deep joy provided by salvation. "The JOY of the Lord is my strength" (Nehemiah 8:10)
How Big is God Worship Song
How big is God? Isaiah 12 answers that question with a hymn of praise that has echoed across centuries. When the restored remnant of Israel is brought home in the second Exodus, their first response is not a political declaration or a military celebration — it is a song. A song of trust, comfort, and proclamation. "Great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!" (Isaiah 12:6). The classic hymn How Big Is God captures this same awe — the God who parts seas, turns away wrath, and becomes our salvation is the God who dwells among His people. As you read through Isaiah 12:1-6, let this song set the tone for our worship.
Isaiah 12:4 – A Poem for International Evangelism
Praise, Call, Declare, Make Mention: Four Verbs of Public Worship
12:4 As in this Psalms, this hymn uses several terms for the praise of God. Praise means "to give public acknowledgement" or "to declare aloud in public".
Call upon His name may be rephrased as "proclaim in His name".
Declare means " to make known".
Make mention means "to cause to remember".
Each of these verbs designates public, vocal acknowledgement of the wonders and works of God.
"Among the Peoples" – Isaiah 12 and the Mission to the Nations (Psalm 117)
among the peoples: Like Psalm 117, this is a poem for international evangelism.
Isaiah 12:5 - Singing to the Lord: The Principal Audience of Sacred Songs
What Are the Excellent Things He Has Done - Known In All the Earth?
12:5 Sing to the Lord: The principle audience of sacred songs is God Himself. Psalm 33:1 "Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful".
"God has done excellent things" known in all the earth. These excellent things are glorious, wonderful, majestic, great things!
The Excellent Things Are:
God's Redemption & Salvation - The primary "excellent thing" is God saving his people, promising to be their strength and song (Isa 12:2).
God's Mighty Deeds - Throughout history, God has displayed his power on behalf of His people, overcoming insurmountable obstacles.
God’s Presence - The chapter ends with in verse 6, "great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst," noting that his presence among them is the ultimate blessing.
Cry Out and Shout: The Holy One of Israel in Your Midst (Isaiah 12:6)
This verse is a prophetic call to explosive, joyful worship and praise, in shouting and singing for the mercy shown to them.
The immanence of God is with His people, dwelling "In Your Midst" serving as their strength and salvation.
The Holy One of Israel emphasizes both God's holiness and His special covenant relationship with His people.
A Prayer of Praise and Proclamation
Dear Lord, like the remnant of Israel, we lift our voices in praise.
You have turned away Your anger and comforted us. You are our strength, our song, and our salvation. We will not be afraid.
With joy we draw from the wells of Your grace, and with boldness we declare Your deeds among the peoples.
May Your name be exalted in every nation, in every tongue, and in every generation.
Teach us to praise You publicly, to call upon Your name openly, and to make known Your excellent works to all the earth.
Great are You, Holy One of Israel — and You dwell in our midst.
To You alone be all glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Jesus is our resurrected Savior with healing in His wings!
Daily Confession
Thank you God for the JOY of Jesus down in my heart!