The Book of Isaiah

Hebrew Study

Explanation

The song begins where judgment ends: "O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me." Then rises the confident heart of it: "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." Notice that God is not merely the one who gives salvation; He Himself has "become my salvation." He is the strength that upholds and the song that overflows. Because He is all this, the singer can "trust, and not be afraid."

Gospel Focus

Notice the wonder in the words: God does not only give salvation, He "is become my salvation." Our salvation is not a thing apart from God; it is God Himself, given to us. This is the same song Moses sang at the Red Sea, almost word for word: "The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation" (Exodus 15:2). And it reaches its fullness in the gospel, for the very name of our Saviour declares it. The angel told Joseph, "thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21), and the name Jesus means "the LORD is salvation." When Isaiah sang "God is my salvation," he was singing toward the day when God would come as Jesus to be our salvation in person. Because God Himself is our salvation, we can "trust, and not be afraid." Our confidence rests not on our own strength but on the Lord who has become our salvation, our strength, and our song. Make Him your salvation and your song, and fear shall lose its grip.

Hebrew Study

Explanation

In a dry land, few things bring more joy than water drawn up cool and clean from a deep well. Isaiah takes that picture and applies it to salvation: "with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." Salvation is not a shallow puddle soon gone but deep wells that never run dry, from which the redeemed keep drawing, again and again, with joy. The word "wells" is plural and full: there is always more to draw, more comfort, more grace, more life. The proper response to so great a salvation is deep, refreshing joy.

Gospel Focus

The wells of salvation are not exhausted at conversion; they are a source we return to all our lives, drawing joy again and again. Jesus made this His own invitation. On the great day of the feast, "Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me... out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37-38). The wells Isaiah saw are found in Christ, and in Him they never run dry; indeed, they become rivers flowing out of us to others. There is joy to be drawn here for every thirst of the soul. Many believers live parched when deep wells of joy stand ready, because they forget to come and draw. Salvation is not only a past rescue but a present spring; come thirsty to Christ, draw from the wells of salvation, and let the joy of the Lord be your strength.

Hebrew Study

Explanation

Joy drawn from salvation cannot stay silent; it overflows in praise and witness. "Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted." The salvation of God is not to be kept private but proclaimed among the nations, His mighty deeds told everywhere. And the song ends with a shout: "Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." The greatest cause for joy is not merely what God has done, but that God Himself is present, great, and in the midst of His people.

Gospel Focus

Two things flow from a heart that has drawn joy from salvation. First, it praises and proclaims: "declare his doings among the people." Salvation makes witnesses of us, glad to tell what God has done and to make His name known. A silent, joyless faith has forgotten the wells. Second, and best of all, the song rejoices that "the Holy One of Israel" is "in the midst of thee." This is the crown of it all: God is not far off but present among His people, and in Christ that presence became closest of all, for He is Immanuel, God with us, and He promised, "lo, I am with you alway." The same Holy One who dwelt in the midst of Zion dwells now in the midst of His church and in the heart of every believer by His Spirit. So we join the shout: great is the Holy One in the midst of us. Draw joy from the wells of salvation, tell the nations His doings, and rejoice that the great and Holy One is with you.