Isaiah 12 begins with the phrase, “And in that day…” To learn what “that day” is let’s read Isaiah 10:3, “And what will ye do in the day of visitation…” This “day of visitation” is referring to the Lord coming again in His wrath to punish those evil doers who have assaulted and stood against His people. In that day, the words of the Lord shall be heard among the nations: “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, INASMUCH AS YE DID IT NOT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YE DID IT NOT TO ME. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:41-46).

“That day” is the day of the Lord’s return at the end of the Tribulation Period. It will usher in the Lord’s millennial reign upon the earth. In that day, “The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.” (Isaiah 10:21-22)

We then read in Isaiah 11:1, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” In that day, CHRIST SHALL COME! This is not in reference to Christ coming as a babe in a manger, but to His coming to judge. It is said of Him that “the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him.” (Verse 2). “With righteousness shall he judge…he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” (Verse 4).

This is the day that Isaiah is speaking of in Isaiah 12. “That day” speaks of Israel’s future song of praise for its salvation. It is a thanksgiving hymn of the restored and converted Jews. The chapter can be divided like this:

Verse 1 – When Israel will sing.

Verses 2-3 – What Israel will sing.

Verses 4-5 – To whom Israel will sing.

Verse 6 – The Holy One in the midst.

This chapter can also be read in view of the great and wonderful deliverance which God has performed for us through the sacrifice of his Son. Through faith in Christ, we have a song to sing. It is a song of deliverance. It is a song unto our redeemer, with Himself in our very midst. The Apostle Paul calls us to give worship and praise to our savior in Romans 6:17, “But GOD BE THANKED, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”

I trust that you have been delivered from the penalty of your sins. If not, I encourage you to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31). Then you will be able to sing along with the psalmist in Psalms 18:2, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” (304.5)