Isaiah is a book that has given us many prophecies concerning Christ, the Church, and the Gentiles that would join with the Jews in worship of the one true God. In chapter 12, we find a few simple stanza’s that form a song for the future, comparable to the songs of Moses, Deborah, and the Psalms of David. It speaks about a future time, in the Restoration of the peace between God and Humanity, in which we recognize God as the sole source of salvation and the sole receptacle of our praise.
Isaiah 12:1-6 in the New Kings James Version:
And in that day you will say:
“O LORD, I will praise You;
Though You were angry with me,
Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
From Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 3, Chapter 10
This, therefore, was the knowledge of salvation; but [it did not consist in] another God, nor another Father, nor Bythus, nor the Pleroma of thirty Æons, nor the Mother of the (lower) Ogdoad: but the knowledge of salvation was the knowledge of the Son of God, who is both called and actually is, salvation, and Saviour, and salutary. Salvation, indeed, as follows:
I have waited for Your salvation, O Lord.And then again, Saviour:Behold my God, my Saviour, I will put my trust in Him.But as bringing salvation, thus:God has made known His salvation (salutare) in the sight of the heathen.For He is indeed Saviour, as being the Son and Word of God; but salutary, since [He is] Spirit; for he says:The Spirit of our countenance, Christ the Lord.But salvation, as being flesh: forthe Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.This knowledge of salvation, therefore, John did impart to those repenting, and believing in the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
It is interesting to note that ’salvation’ is the Hebrew word ישׁוּעה (yeshû‛âh), which is etymologically kin to the Aramaic/Hebrew name of Jesus.
“For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation.”‘ Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation.
And in that day you will say:
“Praise the LORD, call upon His name;
Declare His deeds among the peoples,
Make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the LORD,
For He has done excellent things;
This is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion,
For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”
Albert Barnes, in his commentary,
It should be read in view of the great and glorious deliverance which God has performed for us in the redemption of his Son; and with feelings of lofty gratitude that he has brought us from worse than Egyptian bondage – the bondage of sin. The song is far better applied to the times of the Messiah, than it could be to anything which occurred under the Jewish dispensation. The Jews themselves appear to have applied it to his time. On the last day of the feast of tabernacles, they brought water in a golden pitcher from the fountain of Siloam, and poured it, mingled with wine, on the sacrifice that was on the altar, with great rejoicing (see the notes at John 7:14, notes at John 7:37). This custom was not required by Moses, and probably arose from the command in Isaiah 12:3 of this chapter. Our Saviour applied it to himself, to the benefits of his gospel, and to the influences of the Spirit John 7; and the ancient Jews so applied it also. ‘Why is it called the house of drawing? Because from thence they draw the Holy Spirit; as it is written, “and ye shall draw water with joy from the fountains of salvation.”’
