A Song To The Holy One (12:1-6)
Neal Pollard
Chapter twelve serves as a coda to the first section of Isaiah, and it literally is a song. It looks ahead to the future, as Isaiah twice says, “You will say in that day” (1,4). The content of the short song is a beautiful anthem of thanksgiving, trust, and righteous resolve.
It is a psalm or hymn, poetry, in the midst of prophecy. Gary Smith suggests, “Exodus 15 and Psalm 118 appear to have had an impact on Isaiah 12” (NAC, ). The former is the song of Moses after crossing the Red Sea. The latter is an oft-quoted psalm, filled with the refrain, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting” (it is even quoted by New Testament writers and applied to Christ; vs. 22 in Mt. 21:42; Ac. 4:11; Eph. 2:20; 1 Pt. 2:7).
When is “that day”? Spence-Jones says, “In the day of deliverance and restoration” (218). James Smith believes it refers to the Messianic Age (55). I am inclined to take the latter view, though it might have a more limited fulfillment before Christ appears. So many of the elements in these six verses apply well to the day of the promised Savior. There is the repeated appeal to salvation (2,3). There is the call to share it to “the peoples” in “all the earth” (4,5). It was a day when God’s anger was turned away in favor of extended comfort (1). It was a day of joy and shouting (6).
This is a song we can and should sing today. On this side of the cross, when the Christ has come, all that was anticipated has been delivered. We are certainly living in the age of “that day,” if indeed Isaiah is anticipating the Christian Age. We are blessed recipients of a message “made known” (4-5) beyond the borders of Canaan! What has been told to us, we likewise should feel compelled to share with those who need to know!
The Preacher Pollard Blog 