"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. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation'” (Isa. 12:1-2, NKJV).

 
Isaiah personifies the nation as singing with one voice as they express praise to God. Just as deliverance from Egypt produced a song of rejoicing, so the assurance of a highway for the redeemed and the people’s deliverance is followed by a song of rejoicing and thanksgiving. God is our source of salvation; His anger has been turned away. This is the blessing of the redeemed; sin has been forgiven; the light has appeared and now shines upon the people in darkness.
 
As Savior, He is now the object of their trust and resource of their courage.  He is the strength and song of the redeemed. What a mighty power to rely upon!
 
This spirit of joy and thanksgiving finds constant expression in praise and exultation. This spirit should reflect the disposition of everyone who is redeemed. Do we have to be told to praise God and exalt His name if we have been redeemed? Shouldn’t that be a natural response?
 
If we realize God’s anger is turned toward us and then to know His anger is turned away, is that not comforting? What is our response? We sing with joy. Having His salvation, we trust in Him and fear goes away. What a comfort just to know that God’s anger has turned away and His salvation is ours. We trust in Him. He is our strength. That salvation and strength can only be appreciated if we realize we are away from God. If we awake to His anger being turned toward us, we will shake with fear. But to have His anger turned away leaves us comforted and filed with joy that moves us to sing.
 
We sing because we have been redeemed. What other response could there be?
 
Rickie