Isaiah 12:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."

NIV: Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation."

NASB: Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.'

CSB: Indeed, God is my salvation; I will trust him and not be afraid, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation."

NLT: See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ”

Isaiah is delivering a promise to God's people. The day will come when the offspring of Jesse, Jesus the Son of God, will establish His kingdom on earth from His throne in Jerusalem (Isaiah 11:10). He tells them that on that day, they will thank the Lord for turning His anger from them . At this time the Lord will comfort them (Isaiah 12:1).

The prophet continues that God's people will in essence sing the words God has wanted to hear from them all along. They will sing that God is their salvation and their source of trust. They don't need to be afraid, the Lord is their source of stability, safety, and power.

These words have always been true for those who belong to God. However, Israelites have proven time and again that they did not believe them. They have looked for salvation and strength and song in other gods, even themselves. In fact, all people fall into that temptation at times.

Why, then, when the Lord returns, will those who belong to Him finally be able to mean the words of this verse? It is because they will recognize that the Lord's anger toward their sin has been satisfied. The suffering of the Messiah Himself, the one who will then sit on the throne as king fulfilled the price. This happened when Jesus died for the sins of humanity on the cross.

Isaiah later describes this act of sacrifice and substitution, which came in what was then Israel's future and is now our past:

"Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:4–6)

It's no wonder that Israel, and all in the world, who come to God through faith in Jesus will proclaim the words of Isaiah 12 to 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.

Isaiah 12 follows the description in Isaiah 11 of the glorious kingdom to be established in Israel's future. This is when a descendant of King David will take the throne over Israel and the world. In that day, they will praise the Messiah who is living in their midst. They will be grateful that He has turned away His anger and chosen to embrace them. This leads into a radical shift in tone, as Isaiah turns to prophecy against the Gentile nations who were oppressing Israel.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).