Isaiah 12:1-6 | The Song of the Redeemed Remnant

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Isaiah 12 is the praise response to the salvation promised in Isaiah 11.
The chapter looks beyond Assyria's defeat to the day when the remnant rejoices in the LORD's comfort, salvation, and presence in Zion.
It closes the larger section of Isaiah 9:1-12:6, which began with judgment and darkness, then moved through the promised child, the remnant, the Branch, and the regathering of Israel.

In that day: anger turned to comfort (12:1)

Verse 1 begins "And in that day," tying the song directly to the preceding prophecy.
- The day in view is not merely the day Assyria is checked, but the day of the kingdom hope described in Isaiah 11.
- The remnant has been gathered, the old divisions have been healed, and the LORD is present in Zion.
The speaker says, "O LORD, I will praise thee."
- The language is personal, but the context is corporate. The redeemed remnant speaks as one people.
- This kind of singular voice for the nation is common in Scripture, where Israel can speak as a collective person.
The reason for praise is striking: "though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away."
- The song does not deny the reality of God's anger.
- Isaiah has repeatedly emphasized that the LORD's anger was not turned away because the people had not returned to Him (9:12, 17, 21; 10:4).
- Now the refrain is reversed. The anger that had remained stretched out in judgment is turned away in salvation.
The result is comfort: "and thou comfortedst me."
- This anticipates one of Isaiah's great later themes: "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people" (Isa. 40:1).
- Judgment is not the final word for Israel. The LORD's program moves toward restoration, comfort, and praise.

God Himself is salvation (12:2)

Verse 2 moves from thanksgiving to confession: "Behold, God is my salvation."
- The verse does not say merely that God gives salvation, though He does.
- It says God is my salvation, making the LORD Himself the substance and security of deliverance.
The response to salvation is trust rather than fear.
- "I will trust, and not be afraid" stands in contrast to the fear that dominated the Assyrian crisis.
- Judah had been told not to fear the Assyrian (10:24), and now the redeemed remnant gives the completed response: trust without fear.
The phrase "the LORD JEHOVAH" is a doubled divine-name expression.
- The Hebrew is Yah YHWH, an intensified confession of the covenant God of Israel.
- It emphasizes that Israel's strength does not come from Egypt, Assyria, alliances, or human wisdom, but from the LORD Himself.
- A textual note: The KJV only uses "Jehovah" (a transliteraiton of YHNWH) four times, Exodus 6:3, Psalm 83:18, Isaiah 12:2 and 26:4. Three other times it uses "Jehovah" in a compound form:
  - Jehovahjireh - Gen. 22:14
  - Jehovahnissi - Ex. 17:15
  - Jehovahshalom - Judg. 6:24
The wording "the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation" echoes the Song of Moses after the exodus (Exod. 15:2).
- Isaiah 11:15-16 had already used exodus imagery in the drying or dividing of waters and the highway for the remnant.
- Isaiah 12 now gives the song that follows the new deliverance, just as Exodus 15 followed deliverance through the sea.
- The point is that the coming redemption of Israel will be exodus-like, but greater in scope.

Water from the wells of salvation (12:3)

Verse 3 shifts from confession to joyful participation: "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."
- The pronoun changes from the singular "I" in verses 1-2 to the plural "ye" in verse 3.
- The personal confession becomes the shared joy of the redeemed people.
Water is a natural image of life, refreshment, and divine provision.
- In the wilderness, Israel needed water and the LORD provided it.
- In Isaiah, water imagery often points to the LORD's sustaining grace and future restoration (Isa. 35:6-7; 41:17-18; 44:3).
- Jesus speaks of "living water" in John 4:10-14 and of rivers of living water in John 7:37-39.
The "wells of salvation" display abundance.
- The future salvation is not pictured as a single emergency drink, but as deep wells from which the people continually draw.
- The joy is not merely relief from danger; it is the enjoyment of God's continuing provision.

Calling upon the LORD and making His deeds known (12:4)

Verse 4 begins again with "And in that day," marking a second movement in the song.
- Verses 1-3 emphasize what the redeemed remnant says to God and enjoys from God.
- Verses 4-6 emphasize proclamation: what the redeemed remnant says to one another about God.
The command is plural: "Praise the LORD, call upon his name."
- To call upon His name is to identify oneself openly with the LORD and depend upon Him.
- It is worship, confession, and public allegiance.
The redeemed are told to "declare his doings among the people."
- The word "people" can be understood broadly as peoples or nations.
- This fits Isaiah 11:10, where the root of Jesse stands as an ensign and the Gentiles seek Him.
The phrase "make mention that his name is exalted" places God's reputation at the center.
- The purpose of redemption is not merely Israel's relief, but the exaltation of the LORD's name.
- The nations are to know not simply that Israel has survived, but that Israel's God is high and glorious.

Singing because the LORD has done excellent things (12:5)

Verse 5 calls for song: "Sing unto the LORD."
- The movement from praise to trust to joy now becomes public song.
- This again matches the exodus pattern, where deliverance produces singing.
The reason is that "he hath done excellent things."
- The word points to majestic, exalted, or glorious deeds.
- In context, those deeds include judgment on the oppressor, preservation of the remnant, the reign of the Branch, and the regathering of Israel.
The command "this is known in all the earth" expands the horizon beyond Zion.
- The LORD's work with Israel is never merely local in its final purpose.
- Isaiah 11:9 said the earth would be full of the knowledge of the LORD; Isaiah 12:5 says that the LORD's excellent deeds are known in all the earth. The change of tense (future to present) is important.
This verse therefore joins Israel's kingdom hope to worldwide testimony.
- The remnant is not gathered so that the nations remain ignorant.
- The LORD's salvation of Israel becomes a public witness to His glory among all peoples.

Zion's cry of joy: the Holy One in the midst (12:6)

Verse 6 climaxes the song with a direct address to Zion: "Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion."
- The singular "inhabitant" again treats Zion collectively.
- The city and its people are summoned to loud, public joy.
The reason for joy is the greatness of the One present among them: "for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee."
- "The Holy One of Israel" is one of Isaiah's signature titles for the LORD.
- Earlier in Isaiah, the Holy One was rejected and provoked by Israel's sin (Isa. 1:4; 5:19, 24).
- Here the Holy One is not distant from Zion, but "in the midst" of her.
This brings the Immanuel theme to a fitting conclusion.
- Isaiah 7 introduced the sign of Immanuel, "God with us."
- Isaiah 9 announced the child whose name includes "The mighty God."
- Isaiah 11 revealed the Branch whose reign brings righteousness, peace, and regathering.
- Isaiah 12 ends with the Holy One of Israel great in the midst of Zion.
The chapter therefore closes the section with worship.
- The movement has been from fear to trust, from anger to comfort, from judgment to salvation, and from remnant survival to kingdom joy.
- The proper final response is not merely analysis of prophecy, but praise to the LORD who has become salvation.

Supplemental: how Isaiah 12 reverses the earlier condition

"O LORD, I will praise thee" (12:1) reverses Israel's earlier rebellion against the LORD.
- Isaiah 1:4 says they had forsaken the LORD and provoked "the Holy One of Israel" unto anger.
- Isaiah 5:24 says they had cast away the law of the LORD and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
- Isaiah 12 shows the redeemed remnant no longer despising Him, but praising Him.
"Though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away" (12:1) reverses the repeated judgment refrain.
- Isaiah 9:12, 17, 21 and 10:4 repeatedly say, "For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."
- In Isaiah 12, the anger that remained stretched out in judgment has finally been turned away in salvation.
"Thou comfortedst me" (12:1) reverses the wounded and chastened condition of Judah.
- Isaiah 1:5-6 pictured the nation as sick, faint, wounded, bruised, and full of putrefying sores.
- Isaiah 12:1 does not erase the reality of chastening, but shows its end: the LORD Himself comforts the restored remnant.
"I will trust, and not be afraid" (12:2) reverses the fear that marked the Ahaz crisis.
- Isaiah 7:2 says the heart of Ahaz and his people moved "as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind."
- Isaiah 8:12-13 told the faithful not to fear what the people feared, but to sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself.
- Isaiah 10:24 likewise told Zion not to fear the Assyrian.
- Isaiah 12 gives the final response: trust without fear.
"God is my salvation" (12:2) reverses Judah's temptation to seek salvation in political powers.
- Ahaz's crisis in Isaiah 7-8 exposed the danger of looking to Assyria rather than trusting the LORD.
- Isaiah 10:20 says the remnant will no longer stay upon him that smote them, but upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
- Isaiah 12:2 gives the confession that belongs to that corrected trust: God Himself is salvation.
"The LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song" (12:2) reverses human pride and self-strength.
- Isaiah 2:11-17 says the lofty looks of man will be humbled and the LORD alone exalted.
- Isaiah 10:13-15 exposes the Assyrian's boast in his own strength and wisdom.
- Isaiah 12 places strength and song back where they belong: in the LORD.
"With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation" (12:3) reverses the rejected waters of Shiloah.
- Isaiah 8:6 says the people refused "the waters of Shiloah that go softly" and rejoiced in Rezin and Remaliah's son.
- Because they refused the gentle waters, the LORD brought the overflowing river of Assyria (8:7-8).
- Isaiah 12:3 shows the restored people joyfully drawing from the LORD's own wells of salvation.
"Declare his doings among the people" (12:4) reverses Judah's earlier corruption by the peoples.
- Isaiah 2:6 says Judah was replenished from the east and pleased with the children of strangers.
- Instead of being shaped by the nations, the redeemed remnant now bears witness among the nations.
"Make mention that his name is exalted" (12:4) reverses the exaltation of man.
- Isaiah 2:11 and 2:17 say the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
- Isaiah 12 shows the worshiping remnant doing what that day requires: making His exalted name known.
"Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things" (12:5) reverses the bad fruit of the vineyard.
- Isaiah 5:2 says the LORD looked for grapes, but the vineyard brought forth wild grapes.
- Isaiah 12:5 celebrates the excellent things the LORD has done, despite Israel's earlier failure to produce what He sought.
"This is known in all the earth" (12:5) fulfills the widening vision already promised.
- Isaiah 2:2-4 anticipated nations flowing to Zion to learn the LORD's ways.
- Isaiah 11:9 said the earth would be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
- Isaiah 12:5 turns that expectation into praise and proclamation.
"Great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee" (12:6) reverses Israel's rejection of the Holy One.
- Isaiah 1:4 says Israel provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger.
- Isaiah 5:19, 24 shows the people mocking and despising the Holy One's counsel and word.
- Isaiah 12 ends with the Holy One not rejected, but great in the midst of Zion.

Supplemental: the flow of Isaiah 1-12

Isaiah 1-12 forms the opening movement of the book.
- It introduces Judah's sin, the LORD's indictment, the danger of trusting human powers, and the hope of a purified remnant under the promised king.
- The section moves from courtroom accusation to kingdom praise.
Isaiah 1 opens with the LORD's lawsuit against Judah.
- The nation is religious but rebellious.
- The LORD rejects empty worship because the people's hands are full of blood.
- Yet even here, judgment is not the only word: Zion will be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.
Isaiah 2:1-5 gives an early vision of Zion's future glory.
- The mountain of the LORD's house will be established.
- The nations will come to learn the LORD's ways.
- This vision of kingdom peace becomes one of the controlling hopes of the opening section.
Isaiah 2:6-4:1 returns to Judah's present corruption.
- The people are full of foreign influence, idols, pride, and misplaced confidence.
- The day of the LORD will bring down everything high and lifted up.
- The daughters of Zion, the leaders, and the proud society of Judah all come under indictment.
Isaiah 4:2-6 gives the first major relief after judgment.
- The Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious.
- The remnant will be holy.
- Zion will be cleansed and covered by the LORD's presence, recalling the cloud and fire of the exodus.
Isaiah 5 presents the vineyard song and a series of woes.
- Israel is the LORD's vineyard, but it has produced wild grapes.
- The sins named in the chapter include greed, drunkenness, moral confusion, pride, and rejection of the LORD's law.
- The chapter ends with the threat of a distant nation coming swiftly in judgment.
Isaiah 6 gives Isaiah's call in the year King Uzziah died.
- Isaiah sees the LORD high and lifted up.
- His own uncleanness is exposed and cleansed.
- He is sent to a people who will hear but not understand, until judgment leaves only a holy seed.
Isaiah 7-8 focuses on the crisis in Ahaz's day.
- Judah is threatened by Syria and Ephraim.
- Ahaz refuses to trust the LORD and instead leans toward Assyria.
- The sign of Immanuel is given, but the larger section shows both the near-term crisis and the deeper issue of whether Judah will fear men or sanctify the LORD.
Isaiah 9:1-7 turns from darkness to light.
- Galilee, once humbled, will see great light.
- A child is born and a son is given.
- His government, peace, Davidic throne, and righteous rule will have no end.
Isaiah 9:8-10:4 returns to the judgment cycle against Israel.
- Ephraim's pride refuses correction.
- The repeated refrain shows that the LORD's anger is not turned away because the people do not return to Him.
- The cycle culminates in woe upon unjust lawmakers and leaders who oppress the needy.
Isaiah 10:5-21 explains Assyria as the rod of God's anger.
- Assyria is an instrument in the LORD's hand, but Assyria does not think of itself that way.
- The Assyrian boasts in his own power and wisdom.
- The LORD will punish the Assyrian's pride, and a remnant will return to the mighty God.
Isaiah 10:22-11:16 moves from remnant judgment to Messianic kingdom hope.
- Only a remnant will return, but the remnant is real.
- The Assyrian threat comes near Zion, but the LORD cuts down the proud forest.
- From the felled scene comes the Branch from Jesse, whose Spirit-endowed rule brings righteousness, peace, Gentile hope, and Israel's regathering.
Isaiah 12 closes the whole opening movement with praise.
- The anger that had not been turned away is now turned away.
- The LORD Himself is salvation.
- The redeemed draw water with joy, proclaim His deeds among the peoples, and cry out because the Holy One of Israel is great in the midst of Zion.
The broad movement of chapters 1-12 is therefore:
- Judah is guilty.
- Human pride and false trust must be brought low.
- Judgment is certain, but not final.
- A remnant will be purified and restored.
- The promised Davidic king will reign in righteousness.
- Zion's final word is not shame or fear, but joyful praise in the presence of the Holy One of Israel.

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