You may not have thought of the blessings that are yours as you were drawn to the Lord Jesus Christ, but the blessings are so numerous it’s like drawing from an unending well.
Isaiah 12:3 (ESV) — 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
The word well as seen in the verse above is often translated “fountain” which is quite fitting when you think of drawing from the well of salvation, especially in the words from Zechariah.
Zechariah 13:1 (ESV) — 1 “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.
Let’s go back and see the context of Isaiah 12. It’s quite a short chapter and there is much from which to glean an accounting of blessing in the wells of salvation.
Isaiah 12:1–6 (ESV) — 1 You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. 2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. 5 “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. 6 Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
Notice first in verse 1 that expression of gratitude is connected to God’s anger in that Isaiah writes about giving thanks for God was angry. but His anger was turned away. We have to be reminded of how God in His holiness cannot tolerate sin.
Psalm 7:11 (ESV) — 11 God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.
As you consider the work of the Lord Jesus Christ in bringing salvation, it is said that He is our propitiation, which in simplest explanation means He has satisfied God’s righteous indignation towards us by taking our sin upon Himself. Therefore Isaiah writes of God’s anger in the past therefore we, as the psalmist have reason to give thanks and bless the Lord.
1 John 4:10 (ESV) — 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Psalm 103:8–10 (ESV) — 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
Isaiah continues in verse 1 with the words, and verse two describing God as turning His anger from us and comforting as He shows us wherein, we have salvation, in God Himself. This we see as the One who was called Immanuel or “God with us” became sin for us.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) — 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
From the expression in verse 2 of God becoming our salvation the find the joy of verse 3 in drawing from the wells of salvation. Of course the Lord Jesus Christ is the great well that is so great it’s described in the plural as “wells.” Consider the words of the Lord Jesus Christ:
John 7:38–39 (ESV) — 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
What can you say in response to the drawing from the wells of salvation?
Isaiah 12:4–6 (ESV) — 4 And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. 5 “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. 6 Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
Give thanks, make known His deeds, exalt His name, sing praises, and shout for joy! Now that’s a response! Too many times we are ho – hum regarding the greatness of the salvation of God and we tend to overlook the magnificent work that God has done on our behalf that He might turn His righteous anger from us and turn and comfort us in allowing us to see the great work of salvation that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross.
This is a great way to begin a new year to step out in joy, gratitude and praise as you consider what great things God has done for you in the Lord Jesus Christ.
It’s like the words Jesus spoke to the man that He healed from being filled with many evil spirits, who then wanted to travel with Jesus:
Luke 8:39 (ESV) — 39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
That’s a person who had drawn from the well. May God grant us grace be that enthusiastic.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
Check out Bob’s podcast called, The PowerBreak Podcast, wherever you download podcasts or from his website: www.bobbrubaker.com.