Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Isaiah · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
Ver. 1. ANd in that day] ſc. when there ſhall come forth a Rod out of the ſtem of Jeſſe, as chap. 11.1. Bleſſed be God for a Chriſt. See Pſalm 96.1. —13. Rev. 6.11.
Thou ſhalt ſay] It is not a dumb kind of thankfulneſs that is required of the Lords Redeemed, but ſuch as from an heart full of Spiritual Joy breaketh forth into fit words, ſuch as are here ſet down in this ditty, or Directory.
I will praiſe thee] The whole life of a true Chriſtian is an holy deſire, ſaith an Ancient: It is or ſhould be ſurely continua laetitia & laus Dei, a continual Hallelujah. Deo gratias was ever in Auſtins mouth. Laudetur Deus, laudetur Deus, in Anothers. i.e. Praiſed be God▪ praiſed be God. The Saints here with one mind and one mouth glorifie God, even the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 15.6. The Saints and Angels do ſo in Heaven unceſſantly, Rev. 4. hoc eſt juge eorum negotioſum otium & otioſum negotium.
Thine anger is turned away] My ſins are forgiven me: and hence I am of ſo good chear, though otherwiſe diſtreſſed. Feri Domine, feri: à peccatis abſolutus ſum, ſaid Luther Strike while thou wilt Lord, ſo long as my ſins are pardoned. See Pſal. 103.1, 2, 3.
And thou comfortedſt me] viz. with Goſpel-comforts, which are ſtrong and ſatisfying. I do over-abound exceedingly with joy in all our tribulation, ſaith Paul, 2 Cor. 7.4.
Ver. 2. Behold, God is my ſalvation] Let ſuch take notice of it as ſaid when time was, There is no help for him in God; Salvation it ſelf cannot ſave him. Behold, Oecolamp.and My: there is much matter in this Adverb, and that Pronoun, ſaith an Interpreter. Behold God is my Jeſus, ſo Hierom readeth it: according to that of old Simeon, Mine eyes have ſeen thy Salvation; And in this and the next Verſe Salvation is thrice mentioned, ſo ſweet it was to thoſe that thus ſang of it. See the Note on 1 Cor. 1.8.
I will truſt and not be afraid] There is an Elegancy in the Hebrew that cannot be Engliſhed. This Spiritual ſecurity floweth from Faith: Experience ſhould both breed and feed it. See Pſalm 46.3. 2 Cor. 1.10.
For the Lord is my ſtrength] Salvation properly denoteth the privative part of mans happineſs, viz. freedom from evil: but it includeth alſo poſition in a good eſtate, and preſervation therein, whilſt we are kept by the power (or ſtrength) of God through faith unto Salvation.
Ver. 3. Therefore with joy ſhall ye draw water] Joy is the juſt mans portion: and Chriſt is the never-failing fountain, whence by a lively faith he may infallibly fetch it, John 4.10, 14. & 7.37. Chriſt was much delighted with this Metaphor: ſee Joh. 1.16. Out of this Fountain only may men quench their Spiritual thirſt after Righteouſneſs. Haec ſola eſt aqua quae animas arentes, maerentes & ſqualidas reficit, & recreat. Theſe Wells of Salvation are thoſe Words of Eternal Life, John 6 68.Sanchez. the rich and precious promiſes, 2 Pet. 1.4. whereby we are made partakers of the Divine Nature, and of the Holy Spirit, which is frequently and fitly compared to water in regard of Firſt Ablution, Ezek. 36.25. Secondly, of Fructification, Job 8.11. Iſa. 35.6, 7. & 44.3, 4. And thirdly, of Refrigeration, Pſalm 42.1. Rom. 5.5. Some think the Prophet here alludeth to thoſe ſoftly-running Waters of Siloam, chap. 8. or to the Rock-water that followed them in the Wilderneſs, or to that famous Fountain, Numb. 21.16,—18. whence they drew waters with ſo much mirth and melody.
Ver. 4. And in that day ſhall ye ſay, Praiſe the Lord] Viz. with us, and for us. Every true Confiteb…r tibi, hath its Confitemini Domino annexed unto it. The Saints are unſatisfiable in praiſing God for the great work of their Redemption: and do therefore call in help, all that may be.
Call upon his Name] Which is a ſpecial way of praiſing Him, whileſt we make Him the ſole Object of our prayers: profeſſing our diſtance from him, our whole dependence upon him, &c. See 1 Chron. 16.8. and Pſalm 105.1.
Declare his doings] Sept. his glorious things; thoſe many Miracles of Mercy wrought in our Redemption, which is a work much more excellent then that of making all things at firſt of nothing, keeping Heaven ſtill upon its hinges, and upholding the whole Univerſe without a Foundation. Magna ſunt opera Dei Creatoris, Recreatoris autem longe maxima, ſaith Gregory.
Make mention that his Name is exalted] Or, celebrate his Name which is High, far above all praiſe.
Ver. 5. Sing unto the Lord] Or, ſing of the Lord. Sing a conciſe and ſhort Song, amputatis omnibus ſupervacantis.
He hath done excellent things] Heb. Excellency or Majeſty. All other Spiritual Bleſſings meet in our Redemption by Chriſt, as the lines do in the Center, ſtreams in the Fountain.
This is known in all the earth] Or, let this be known, let all the world ring of it. As when the Argives were delivered by the Romans from the Tyrannie of the Macedonians and Spartans, the ayr was ſo diſſipated with their acclamations and out-cries,Plutarch. that the Birds that flew over the place fell down amated to the ground.
Ver. 6. Cry out] Heb. hinni, neigh as Horſes do, that are full fed, or fitted for fight. Jubila quantum potes, valide & totis viribus clama, claram & laetam vocem ede.
For great is the Holy One of Iſrael in the midſt of thee] Or, for the Holy One of Iſrael who is great, is in the midſt of thee. How ſhouldeſt thou then do otherwiſe then well?