Read Isaiah 12
Songs of Praise
12 In that day you will say:
“I will praise you, Lord.
Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
and you have comforted me.
2 Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.”
3 With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.
4 In that day you will say:
“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done,
and proclaim that his name is exalted.
5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
let this be known to all the world.
6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
Go Deeper
Towards the end of this section of Isaiah highlighting Israel’s choice between trusting in God or trusting in Assyria, we’re met with two short songs of praise. This brief chapter reads like something we could expect to find in the book of Psalms, not in the midst of one of the major prophets. But there’s a reason this quick psalm is placed here! Isaiah is trying to make a point: These are songs of gratitude to be sung by the faithful remnant on “that day”–a reference to when all is right and Israel’s relationship with God is restored and the Messiah is reigning.
Reading through these songs, there are reminders that we can meditate on and apply to our own lives as follow Jesus even though we’re reading this passage through a different lens than Isaiah’s original audience. First, we need to daily remind ourselves that God is our salvation (v. 2). Our salvation doesn’t come from our good works, our reputations, or the money in our bank accounts. It’s a free gift that we received because God loved us enough to send Jesus. While we may be tempted to go searching for satisfaction or comfort or safety elsewhere, it’s truly only going to come from God and God alone.
The second reminder for us today comes in verses 4-5:
“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done,
and proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
let this be known to all the world.”
In the same way that the remnant of Israel were instructed to “proclaim his name” and “make known among the nations what he has done”, we have the exact same call on our lives. We are to carry the Good News of Jesus with us as we go about our daily lives (Matthew 28:19-20) as Christ’s ambassadors here on earth (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are called to carry the Gospel forward with hearts of gratitude for what He has done for us (and for the world). Let’s be people that do exactly that today.
Questions
- Which verse in this chapter stuck out to you the most? Why?
- Do you remind yourself often that salvation comes from God alone? Where do you find yourself seeking safety or security?
- Who do you need to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to? Who is in your sphere of influence that needs to hear the message of the Gospel?
By the Way
The beginning of this chapter (v. 1-2) echoes the song Moses and the Israelites sang after God delivered them from the hands of the Egyptians. To read that story, click here!
Leave a Comment Below
Join the Team
Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email hello@biblereadingplan.org.
4 thoughts on “Isaiah 12”
Just in my small corner of the world, I am aware of deep suffering of death, diagnosis, & despair in the lives around me. Christ is clearly the only anchor for our souls who remains the constant, solid rock of hope we can firmly stand on. He doesn’t shift, hide or shy away from the hurting, he moves toward them. For the believer, he becomes our daily comfort, strength and salvation. V6 declares “For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you.” There’s something poignant about praising our Savior through the storms of life, knowing that one day he will wipe away every tear and their will be no more death, disease or suffering. What a day that will be!
https://youtu.be/0YUGwUgBvTU
I read a commentary by Warren Wiersbe and he said about this chapter “The Lord will never forsake His people. No matter how difficult the days may be or how long the nights, for the people of God, the best is yet to come.” With all the negatives of this world there are positives. Sometimes you have to dig to find them but try. Write down first thing in the morning all the good, wonderful positives then when the world comes crashing in you can remind yourself BUT GOD. Psalm 34 1-4 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!
Shane and Shane does this well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOzf0VrDNGU I listen to this almost daily.
Thank You God for being able to magnify Your name when all around is storming. Thank You for You for how You listen and let me lean in and love on me. God Bless Your Holy Name, I sing glory with the angels above daily!! I truly believe my WOOHOOS make You blessed and happy due to You knowing my heart!! Thank You for giving me breath to sing Your praises and speak Your name!!! In Jesus name Amen
WOOHOO!!!!
Before I even opened up the BRP I was doing just this very thing to God. You see, it’s been an eventful week, and I’m just in awe sitting here counting the dots of how Jesus works to get the gospel shared.
It started with my niece who shared Monday what their ladies study was about and how they picked a widow in their church to pray and send care packages to at the end of their study (as the “act” bc it was on Acts). Then Tuesday, was it not Isaiah who warned the widows, and then I found out my study’s session was over caring for the widows. So yesterday, I mentioned to our ladies to be gathering names for us to create care packages for widows in our church. That morning though on my hike, I found an old lab lost. So last night, I sent out a FB post and the owner was found…A widow. My neighbor through 5 miles of thick forest. Just relocated to the area to build the home that her and her late husband had planned to build together. Lost story short, if I didn’t have that convo with my niece, God would have not prepared me for caring for widows this week. If I didn’t listen to my spirit to make the left turn on the trail, I would have never found that dog, which led me to find the sweet widow, which opened the door for me to invite her to church and have coffee with her next week.
I told my niece last night to tell her ladies how their study impacted lives in another town. And then I read the scripture today….” Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
let this be known to all the world.“
I just had to share…Isaiah’s reading played a part. Thank you, HC for this outreach.
I grew up singing this chapter as the hymn, “First Song of Isaiah.” As I reread the passage through DRP and recall these powerful words, my mind automatically “sings” them.
I found this version online, and as I replay the beautiful strains, I’m continually reminded how God reaches the mind AND moves the heart through song.
Will I join him in the singing?
What will be my hymn today?
Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/olzvJVl-nZk