This chapter contains a song of praise and thanksgiving for redemption and salvation in Christ Jesus. This is strictly "family fare" and cannot be appreciated, understood, nor sung by any but the redeemed of the Lord.
(Vs. 1) "And in that day." This is a phrase used repeatedly by Isaiah to indicate a particular time of DIVINE VISITATION. It may not be a twenty-four hour day, but rather a time when the Lord is pleased to reveal to His elect His grace and mercy in Christ.
1. It is a day of CONVICTION (Isa. 2:10-11) ; for judgment precedes justification, emptying precedes filling, repentance precedes comfort.
2. It is a day of REVELATION (Isa. 25:8-9) when, like Simeon of old, the believer cries, "I have seen thy salvation!"
3. It is a day of ASSURANCE (Isa. 26:1-4) when His rest, peace, and joy settle upon the heart and mind, and we are enabled to trust Him with complete confidence.
"I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me." The Lord's anger toward His elect is difficult to explain in the light of the fact that "He has loved us with an everlasting love;" and He declared, "Jacob have I loved" before Jacob was born. But the scripture says, "We were children of wrath, even as others" (Eph. 2:3-4), and "at that time, we Gentiles were without Christ and without God" (Eph. 2:11-13). Whatever it means, we know that in Christ Jesus His anger and wrath are turned away (Rom. 8:31-33, 38-39). "God was in Christ reconciling us to Himself" (II Cor. 5:19); and we are comforted by His promises, by His love shed abroad in our hearts, and by His indwelling Spirit (John 14:16-18; John 16:13-14).
(Vs. 2) "Behold God is my salvation." This may read, "God is My SAVIOUR." Christ, who is God, is my Saviour (John 1:1, 14). He is a just God and a Saviour (Isa. 45:21-22). He was appointed by the Father, provided in the covenant, promised in the word, sent in the fulness of time, and became the author of my salvation by His obedience, death, and exaltation (Acts 13:38-39; I Peter 3:18).
"I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song." I WILL TRUST HIM for all things needed and required—wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (I Cor. 1:30). "I WILL REST CONFIDENTLY IN HIM and believe that in Him I am secure from all wrath and condemnation (Rom. 8:1, 33-34). I WILL NOT BE AFRAID of sin, satan, death, hell, nor the wrath to come (Isa. 26:3-4).
"He also is become my salvation." In the light of our weakness, failure, and flesh, how can we have such confidence and assurance of our security and acceptance before God? Because HE IS OUR SALVATION! HE IS OUR STRENGTH! HE IS OUR SONG! God set Him forth to be a mercy-seat: God laid on Him our iniquities; God made us accepted in the Beloved. "How shall He NOT with Him freely give us all things" accomplished by our Redeemer-God? (Rom. 8:32). It would be nothing short of blasphemy to reckon that God would renege on His promises to Christ and His church (Isa. 46:9-11; Rom. 11:29).
(Vs. 3) "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water from THE WELLS OF SALVATION." The father is called "the fountain of living waters" (Jer. 2:13). The Lord Jesus is "the giver of living water" (John 4:10, 14). The Holy Spirit is the source of "rivers of living water" (John 7:38-39). These are the wells of salvation, and from them with joy we draw water (GRACE) for every need. Our needs go beyond a once-for-all justification and acceptance; our needs are DAILY needs. He taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," which is not only food for the body but comfort, faith, joy, peace, strength, and love. I must always remain at the fountain "drawing water" for my thirsty soul.
(Vs. 4) "And in that day shall ye say..." If there has indeed been for you a day of Divine visitation, of conviction, of revelation, of mercy, then shall you say—
1. "Praise the Lord," for mercy to this chief of sinners, for all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus ( Eph. 1:3-7).
2. "Call upon His name," which takes in THE WHOLE OF WORSHIP. To worship God is to call upon His name. Whether in FAITH for mercy, in PRAYER, in THANKSGIVING, in TRIAL, or in a DAILY WALK, we constantly "call upon His name."
3. "Declare His doings among the people," not only His works of creation, of providence, and miracles, but especially His doing and dying to redeem a people. "I have finished the work thou gavest me to do" (John 17:4). That work of redemption is the doings we especially declare.
4. "Make mention that His name is excellent" (Phil. 2:5-11).
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"There's none other name given among men, There's none can with Him compare; All others are marred, by sin they are scarred; He's fairer than all the fair." |
(Vs. 5) "Sing unto the Lord for He hath done excellent things." Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, vocally and together, as gospel churches, to the glory of God. Let Him be the subject of our songs, for He hath done great things for us and in us and will yet glorify the riches of His grace to us! He is worthy to be praised by all His creatures (Psalm 150).
(Vs. 6) "Cry out and shout all ye who are in Zion (His church) for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." Christ Jesus is the Holy One of Israel, the head of the church; and He has promised and grants His presence to His church; wherefore, He is worthy of our praise—for His greatness, for His mercy, for His grace.