Isaiah 12

The structure of this psalm is very regular, consisting of two parts, in each of which the prophet first tells the people what they will say, or have a right to say, when the foregoing promises are verified, and then addresses them again in his own person and in the usual language of prediction. In the first stanza they are made to acknowledge the Divine compassion and to express their confidence in God as the source of all their strength, and therefore the rightful object of their praise (verses 1-3). In the second stanza they exhort one another to make known what God has done for them, not only at home, but among all nations, and are exhorted by the prophet to rejoice in the manifested presence of Jehovah (verses 4-6). A.

1. The Christian’s heart will not complain that God was angry, since conscious sin gives so just cause for it. We could not love and honor God if He had not been offended with our former sins. But it is special cause for praise when after repentance God forgives, and turning His anger away, gives His loving and comforting smile instead. The “turning away” of His anger suggests that oft-repeated declaration (chaps. 9 : 12, 17, 21 and 10 : 4)—“For all this, His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.” “The former things have passed away.”

2. Behold, God is my salvation. He shows this now most abundantly, and my soul shall believe it henceforth and forever. Now, therefore, I will trust, and will fear no more. So many promises have been fulfilled, I never can doubt His love and faithfulness again. For the Lord Jehovah is my strength, achieving all these great things for me. Truly, therefore, He shall be my song, the theme of my praise evermore! H. C.

He reigns, O believer, for thee. The stability of His throne is thy safety. The administration of His government is for thy good; and the precious pledge is, that He “will perfect that which concerneth thee.” In all thy troubles, and in all thy joy, commit thy way unto Him. He will guard the sacred deposit. Fear not that thou shalt lack any good thing. Fear not that thou shalt be forsaken. Fear not that thou shalt fall beneath the arm of the oppressor. “He went through the fires of the pit to save thee; and He will stake all the glories of His crown to keep thee.” Sing, then, thou beloved, “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.” J. M. Mason.

Trust Him implicitly, submit to Him cheerfully, and you will find that all shall be well; that more grace will be given you; that the heavier the trial the larger will be the blessed measure of the strength. The Shepherd is leading you in the right way to His own blessed fold. Leave it all to Him. Alexander McKenzie.—The child cannot better secure any precious thing it has than by putting it into the father’s hands to keep. Our mercies are always safest and surest when they are out of our hands and in the hands of God. We trust as we love, and we trust where we love; where we love much we trust much; much trust speaks out much love; if we love Christ much, surely we shall trust Him much. T. Brooks.

3. The everlasting love of the Father, the rich grace of the Son, and the exuberant joy of the Holy Ghost compose these wells of salvation. Yet it is but one fountain of grace flowing from the unity of the Divine essence, and is communicated to us out of the fulness of the man Jesus. Hence we are invited by Him, “O friends, O beloved, drink! yea, drink abundantly.” W. Mason.

The connection of these words with the story in the Exodus was recognized by the Jews at a very early period, as is plain from their use in the remarkable ritual of the Feast of Tabernacles. That festival was originally appointed to preserve the remembrance of Israel’s nomad life in the wilderness. In the later days of the nation a number of symbolical observances were added to those of the original institution. Daily, amid-loud jubilations, the priests wound in long procession down the slope from the Temple to the fountain of Siloam in the valley beneath, and there drew water in golden urns. They bore it back, the crowd surging around them, and then amid the blast of trumpets and a tumult of rejoicing, they poured it on the altar, while thousands of voices chanted