Isaiah 12

This psalm of the Church of united Jews and Gentiles is a counterpart to Miriam’s song in Exod. xv. Only one passage, however, is borrowed from it: comp. ver. 2 and Exod. xv. 2.

3 the wells of salvation. There may be an allusion here to the miraculous supply of water to the Israelites in the wilderness; which was afterwards celebrated with great pomp on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles: see note on Lev. xxiii. 34; John vii. 37. The blessings of salvation are often compared to water: see lv. 1; John iv. 10; Rev. xxii. 1, 17; Joel iii. 18, “A fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord.” As Israel was miraculously supplied with water in the desert, so will God open manifold sources of salvation, from which ye may draw to your hearts’ delight.

4 the people. That is, the peoples. God redeems His people with a view to the salvation of mankind.

1 burden. Or, “oracle.” This word is most commonly applied to threatenings; but not always: see Zech. ix. 1; xii. 1. It is the word