Isaiah 12:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.

NIV: In that day you will say: 'Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.

NASB: And on that day you will say, 'Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted.'

CSB: and on that day you will say, "Give thanks to the Lord; proclaim his name! Make his works known among the peoples. Declare that his name is exalted.

NLT: In that wonderful day you will sing: 'Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done. Let them know how mighty he is!

KJV: And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

NKJV: 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.

Isaiah has written what might be called a personal response to the Lord from God's people (Isaiah 12:1–2). On the day when their king, the Messiah, establishes His rule over the entire earth, they will joyfully declare thanks to Him. They will also enjoy His gracious salvation (Isaiah 12:3). Now he emphasizes that they will also turn and declare His praise before the world. They will call everyone to join them. The Lord's people won't keep their worship a secret; they will want the world to join in and praise God's name.

Who better than the people of Israel to tell of God's mighty works at this moment in history? They will proclaim His greatness and power for thousands of years. As well as His grace to them, through the Messiah, even with their unfaithfulness to Him. Who will not listen to their story and join in the praise of 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).