XII. (1) In THAT DAY THOU SHALT SAY... — The prophet becomes the psalmist of that new Exodus, and the hymn that follows is based upon the type of that in Exodus 15, though with less of local and historical colouring. He has been taught that confession must be blended with thanksgiving — that those o... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, GOD IS MY SALVATION... — The words admit of the rendering, _Behold the God of my salvation._ In either construction “salvation” is taken, as in the New Testament (John 4:22; 1 Peter 1:9), as meaning more than mere deliverance from danger, and including the highest spiritual blessings. THE L... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE WITH JOY SHALL YE DRAW WATER... — Literally, _And with joy._ The words may be either part of the hymn, or addressed to those who are to join in it. The latter seems most in harmony with the context. In the later ritual of the Feast of Tabernacles, the priests went in solemn procession to t... [ Continue Reading ]
DECLARE HIS DOINGS AMONG THE PEOPLE. — Literally, _among the peoples._ The prophet quotes from the hymn which had been sung when the Ark was placed in Zion (1 Chronicles 16:8), and in part from Psalms 105:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE HATH DONE EXCELLENT THINGS. — Here, again, the Hebrew indicates an echo from Exodus 15:1 : “He hath triumphed gloriously.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU INHABITANT OF ZION. — The Hebrew is feminine. The inhabitant is the _daughter_ of Zion, the restored Church, that has Zion for her dwelling-place. GREAT IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL... — The hymn ends with the Divine Name which is characteristic of Isaiah. The presence of the Holy One was to be a... [ Continue Reading ]