What does Isaiah 12:3 mean?
The promised descendant of King David, the Messiah, will establish a new kingdom on the earth. And in those days Israel will proclaim gratitude to the Lord (Isaiah 12:1). They will declare that God is their salvation, their strength, and their song (Isaiah 12:2). Next, Isaiah says, poetically, that they will "joyfully draw water from the wells of salvation." Throughout the Bible, water is used as a metaphor for salvation. God took care of His desert people time and again by providing water when it was needed most. Even in their times of sinfulness (e.g., Numbers 20:9–11).Water is foundational to life. It must be gathered and consumed every day, sometimes at great trouble and expense. It is necessary to survival. Jesus, though, used the metaphor of water to describe eternal salvation. To the woman at the well he described it as "living water." He claimed that "everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I [Jesus] will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13–14).
The Lord Jesus, who has died for the sins of Jews and Gentiles alike and has been raised from the dead (Romans 10:9), will sit on the throne of His earthly kingdom. His people will joyfully draw from that living water of eternal salvation in full view of the world. And they will call everyone to join them in praising the Lord.
Isaiah 12:1–6 describes the future, when a reassembled Israel praises God for comforting them and mercifully diverting His anger. They will see that He alone is their salvation, song and strength. Together, they will praise the Lord and proclaim His glory to the peoples and nations of the world. With singing and shouting, the people of Zion, Israel, will declare the greatness of the Holy One of Israel in their midst.
Isaiah follows his description of the future earthly kingdom of the Messiah on earth with a promise: that God's people will praise Him when that day comes. They will see that His anger has turned away and He is comforting them. They will understand that God alone is their salvation, strength, and song. They will encourage each other to spread the news to the world. They will tell stories of what He has done and to invite everyone to join them in exalting His name. The celebration will include loud shouting and joyful singing because the Holy One of Israel is with them.
