For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Isaiah 12:1-6

1 In that day you will say:

‘I will praise you, Lord.
    Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
    and you have comforted me.
2 Surely God is my salvation;
    I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defence[a];
    he has become my salvation.’
3 With joy you will draw water
    from the wells of salvation.

4 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.
5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
    let this be known to all the world.
6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
    for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.’

A. Find Out:

1. On that day why will they praise the Lord? v.1
2. What will the Lord have become? v.2
3. How and what will they draw? v.3
4. What will their desire be? v.4
5. Why will they sing? v.5
6. What will they feel about the Lord? v.6

B. Think:

1. When will they sing?
2. Why will they sing?
3. How will their relationship with the Lord have changed?

C. Comment:

Twice in this brief chapter we find, “In that day” which refers back to that time described in the previous chapter when Jesus will rally his people to himself and peace will finally come to Israel. When blessing comes to our lives, a natural response often is to sing.

In that day, the Lord says, they will sing. It will start with straight forward praise (v.1) because of what God has done, turning His anger to blessing. He has turned their circumstances round and comforted them, become the reason they feel strong, become their salvation, and all of this makes them want to sing (v.2). This will be a time of joy (v.3).

On that day thanks will be on their lips (v.4) and that release will create in them a desire to tell everyone else what God has done (v.4). On that day they will not be able contain themselves they will sing about what He has done (v.5) letting the whole world know of it. They will sing and shout about God (v.6) because of the great things He has done.

These verses act like an anchor to tie down the promises of the previous chapter. It helps them see the reality of this coming time and helps them FEEL what it will be like. All this talk of praise, thanks, singing and shouting; this will remind them of the high points of their history and will bring hope for their future.

D. Application:

1. When God blesses us, it brings a release of joy.
2. Joy cannot be contained; it has to be released in some way.