Isaiah 12:1-6 – Celebrating God’s goodness

Quite clearly Isaiah 12 marks the end of the first portion of the book. The prophet showed us from chapters 1-11 how gracious God truly was with His people. All throughout the first eleven chapters, we see the grace of God on display. Grace for the people of Judah, for Isaiah, for Israel, and certainly for all of us as individuals. God’s people had obviously not trusted Him despite His frequent assurances. That did not deter God, who continued to consistently show His generous grace. In spite of His people’s stubborn resistance, His magnanimity did not cease. He promised a glorious future. A remnant shall be preserved. So chapter 12 talked about the glorious day where the remnant and all the people He had gathered for Himself would enjoy Him in the Kingdom, and joyfully celebrate and praise Him.    

God’s magnanimity would eventually be realized, appreciated, and lauded by the people individually, personally, and voluntarily. What became clear was how much God has loved His people. The purpose of His anger was only to redirect them back to Himself. When God was through with His harsh dealings with them, those who remained would experience His comfort.

Notice the two phrases “on that day” and “in that day”. In verse 1, on that day, Isaiah said, there will be an individual and personal call to give thanks and praise to God. Then in verse 4, Isiah said, in that day there would be a corporate call to thanksgiving and praise. Verses 1-3 tell us that on that day each one would personally give thanks and laud God for what He had done for them individually. Then in verses 4-6 tell us that on that day they all would call out to one another to give thanks and honor Him. Whether individually or corporately, the reason would be for the salvation that they had all experienced personally and as a family.   

In these six verses we see why praise and thanks to God for His generosity should be spontaneous. Though angry with our sin, God had personally undertaken to become our salvation. We all deserve His wrath. Yet in His wrath, He would graciously seek to comfort us. Therefore, we would be downright ungrateful if we do not turn to thank and praise Him for all His magnanimity. And having experienced His goodness personally, it behooves us, therefore, to call on others, so that together we can proclaim the greatness of the One who alone deserves our total allegiance. Individually and personally, we must be grateful, but we must also encourage corporate gratitude and praise, all to the glory of our Matchless and Magnificent God!