True, Isaiah chapter 12 is a Psalm!

A Psalm of Praise!

Only 6 verses in length, yet a work of Art!

Beautiful, symmetrical (concentric), inspired and inerrant!

It begins a singular pronoun in the masculine gender.

It ends with a singular noun, in the feminine gender!

In the middle are plenty of plurals!

It has no superscript or subscript, yet its context is critically important.

“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. 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. 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 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. 5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.” Isaiah 12

That’s it, “in toto!” (A Latin phrase meaning “completely, totally.”)

The central Thrust of the chapter is “salvation!” 

As in verse two’s great Proclamation: “God is my Salvation!”

Or verse three’s “drawing waters out of the wells of salvation!” 

This whole Section looks forward (“in that day” of verses one and four) to the Coming of Jesus, not as much His First Coming, as clearly as His Second Return!

When God comes to earth to live among His people (particularly Israel here) … as is depicted in verses five and six: “Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

The Psalm, considered as a Whole, is a fitting “cap” ( or even “crown”) to the previous chapter, Isaiah 11. Which is, so far, the Prophet’s fullest description of the Millennial Rule of Christ!

In fact, Israel here is not merely “saved” (a poor way of expressing such a miracle) … but is then “witnessing” to the Nations around her the Glories of her great God and King! Read verse four again: “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.” 

By then Israel (during the Millennium) also will have learned the lesson God (and Isaiah) tried to teach King Ahaz of Judah way back in chapter 7. “I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength ….” Isaiah 12:2, but just in part. But now let me show you what Isaiah to Ahaz: “If ye will not believe (trust), surely ye shall not be established (strengthened).” 

Wow!

I plan tomorrow, the Lord willing, to write one more lesson from Isaiah 12. Just noting some of the details not mentioned today. This Chapter/Poem could nearly be labeled: “The Manifold Results of Salvation!”  

— Dr. Mike Bagwell