Isaiah 12 marks the conclusion of the first section of the prophet’s great book. After so many allusions to the coming of Christ in the first eleven chapters, it seems appropriate that he now bursts into songs of praise! While there may be a more immediate historical context that inspired these two short songs—perhaps the deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian threat in the days of Hezekiah—the scope of his prophecies have gone far beyond that. Isaiah has been speaking of a promised child, born of a virgin (7:14), whose names reflect His divine qualities (9:6). He will emerge like a shoot from the stump of Jesse (11:1) to save His people, both Jews and Gentiles (11:10-12). The prophet has seen a new world, where sin and its effects have been eradicated entirely (11:6-9). No wonder he is praising God! “In that day” our own experience will prompt us to give thanks with Isaiah and all of God’s people. Why? God’s righteous anger has been turned away from us. Those who violate God’s law can expect God’s wrath. Isaiah has been making this point perfectly clear. Because of their sin, the LORD’s unrelenting anger has been burning against His own people (5:25; 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4). But the promised Messiah from Jesse’s family tree will take upon Himself the punishment that sin deserves (53:4-6). By His sacrifice, the anger of the LORD will be appeased. As a result, we who trust in Him no longer fear God’s punishment, but rejoice forever in His gracious salvation (v 1-2). Salvation is our greatest need, and God has provided for it! To describe this magnificent blessing, Isaiah uses a common Biblical symbol: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” We have a spiritual thirst in our souls that can only be quenched by coming to Christ in humble faith. To know Him is to find “living water” for daily renewal. Heaven itself will not be stagnant but invigorating and refreshing, for Jesus himself will be our everlasting joy (v 3). This experience is both individual and communal. We see this in the repetition of the phrase “you will say,” which is singular in v 1, but plural in the Hebrew text of v 4. Personal worship is important, but nothing compares to joining voices in grateful adoration to God along with the larger church assembly. As God’s redeemed people, our joy will be forever outward-moving, shared with others who delight in the glorious works of the LORD. He is “the Holy One of Israel,” whom we once foolishly belittled, but is now “great” in our midst. What a marvel this is! God, the sinner’s greatest dread (6:3-5) has graciously intervened in our lives that He might become our highest joy (v 4-6). For further meditation: