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Isaiah 55:12
Verse
Context
Invitation to the Needy
11so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it. 12You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will spring up; they will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”
Sermons
Carter Conlon
Charles Leiter
A.W. Tozer
C.H. SpurgeonSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
The mountains and the hills - These are highly poetical images to express a happy state attended with joy and exultation. Ipsi laetitia voces ad sidera jactant Intonsi montes: ipsae jam carmina rupes, Ipsa sonant arbusta. Virg. Ecl. 5:61. "The mountain tops unshorn, the rocks rejoice; The lowly shrubs partake of human voice." Dryden.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
The true point of comparison, however, is the energy with which the word is realized. Assuredly and irresistibly will the word of redemption be fulfilled. "For ye will go out with joy, and be led forth in peace: the mountains and the hills will break out before you into shouting, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn will cypresses shoot up, and instead of the fleabane will myrtles shoot up: and it will be to Jehovah for a name, for an everlasting memorial that will not be swept away." "With joy," i.e., without the hurry of fear (Isa 52:12); "in peace," i.e., without having to fight their way through or flee. The idea of the sufferer falls back in הוּבל behind that of a festal procession (Psa 45:15-16). In applying the term kaph (hand) to the trees, the prophet had in his mind their kippōth, or branches. The psalmist in Psa 98:8 transfers the figure created by our prophet to the waves of the streams. Na‛ătsūts (from nâ‛ats, to sting) is probably no particular kind of thorn, such, for example, as the fuller's thistle, but, as in Isa 7:19, briers and thorns generally. On sirpad, see Ges. Thes.; we have followed the rendering, κόυζα, of the lxx. That this transformation of the vegetation of the desert is not to be taken literally, any more than in Isa 41:17-20, is evident from the shouting of the mountains, and the clapping of hands on the part of the trees. On the other hand, however, the prophet says something more than that Israel will return home with such feelings of joy as will cause everything to appear transformed. Such promises as those which we find here and in Isa 41:19 and Isa 35:1-2, and such exhortations as those which we find in Isa 44:23; Isa 49:13, and Isa 52:9, arise from the consciousness, which was common to both prophets and apostles, that the whole creation will one day share in the liberty and glory of the children of God (Rom 8:21). This thought is dressed up sometimes in one for, and sometimes in another. The psalmists after the captivity borrowed the colours in which they painted it from our prophet (see at Psa 96:1-13 and Psa 98:1-9). והיה is construed as a neuter (cf., בּראתיו, Isa 45:8), referring to this festal transformation of the outer world on the festive return of the redeemed. אות is treated in the attributive clause as a masculine, as if it came from אוּת, to make an incision, to crimp, as we have already indicated; but the Arabic âyat, shows that it comes from אוה, to point out, and is contracted from ăwăyat, and therefore was originally a feminine.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
go out--from the various countries in which ye (the Jews) are scattered, to your own land (Eze 11:17). led--by Messiah, your "Leader" (Isa 55:4; Isa 52:12; Mic 2:12-13). mountains . . . trees, &c.--images justly used to express the seeming sympathy of nature with the joy of God's people. For, when sin is removed, the natural world shall be delivered from "vanity," and be renewed, so as to be in unison with the regenerated moral world (Isa 44:23; Psa 98:8; Rom 8:19-22).
John Gill Bible Commentary
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace,.... Though these words may literally respect the Jews' return from captivity to their own land, attended with joy and peace; as the preceding verse may respect the word of promise concerning it; as it is interpreted by the Targum, "for with joy shall ye go out from among the people, and with peace shall ye be brought to your own land;'' yet they may be spiritually applied to the conversion of men, in consequence of the word being made effectual, of which the deliverance from the Babylonish thraldom was a type; when men "go out" of a state of bondage to sin, Satan, and the law; out of a state of darkness and ignorance; out of the pit of nature's misery and distress; out of themselves and their own righteousness; out of their own sinful ways, and from among the men of the world: and though here is a divine power exerted in all this, yet they go out freely, being led by the Spirit of God; who takes them by the hand as it were, and leads them in ways before unknown to them; he leads them to Christ, his person, fulness, blood, and righteousness; to the house of God, and to the ordinances of it; and from one degree of grace to another, till he brings them to glory: all which is attended with "joy and peace" to themselves; finding themselves released from bondage, in a state of light and comfort, out of the horrible pit, and on a rock; brought to Christ, and clothed with his righteousness; to the angels in heaven, who rejoice over every sinner that repenteth; to the ministers of the Gospel, who are the instruments of their conversion; and to all the saints into whose fellowship they are brought; which joy is further illustrated by the following strong figures: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing; or the people that dwell upon them: and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands; or clap with their branches; as the Targum, the tops of them, being moved with gentle breezes of wind, bow themselves, and the branches intertwining and clasping each other like hands and arms. Kimchi observes, that "mountains and hills" may signify the kings of the nations; and "the trees of the field" the people rejoicing at the deliverance of the Jews, as they pass along: it may be as well applied to the ministers of the word, and common believers rejoicing at the conversion of sinners, in whom as wonderful a change is wrought, as in the following cases. Vitringa interprets this of the apostles and ministers of the word going forth into the Gentile world, attended with joy in themselves, and among the converts there.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
55:12-13 The prophet encourages his people to forget the past, to leave Babylon, and to accept the perspective of the coming age. 55:12 Joy is found in being redeemed from bondage. • Godly people experience an inner peace not known to the wicked (48:22). • mountains and hills . . . trees of the field: Creation participates in the freedom of the children of God (44:23; 49:11, 13; see Rom 8:19-23).
Isaiah 55:12
Invitation to the Needy
11so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it. 12You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will spring up; they will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(Blood Covenant) 4 - the War Against the Covenant
By Milton Green6.3K1:07:20Blood CovenantISA 55:12In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of focusing on the inner man's spirit rather than the physical body. He encourages listeners to question old traditions and teachings that may conflict with the revelation they receive from the Word of God. The preacher urges the audience to listen to all the tapes in the series in numerical order to fully understand the teaching. He also reminds them of the consequences of not showing up for spiritual warfare and highlights the need to pay attention to the warnings given by the Holy Spirit.
Lead Me in the Way Everlasting
By Carter Conlon2.3K1:00:30The Way EverlastingPSA 51:10PSA 126:6ISA 55:6ISA 55:9ISA 55:12LUK 14:26In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power and effectiveness of God's word in our lives. He encourages listeners to cry out to God and acknowledge that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. The preacher explains that when we allow God's word to enter our hearts, it brings about transformation and produces fruit in our lives. He also highlights the importance of letting go of our own thoughts and desires in order to embrace the treasure of God's kingdom. The sermon concludes with a prayer for God's strength and an invitation to follow His everlasting way.
Being Led
By Charles Leiter61141:30PSA 23:2PSA 32:8ISA 53:6ISA 55:12JER 31:9ROM 8:14
This sermon focuses on the theme of being led, drawing from the example of Jesus allowing Himself to be led by the Spirit, by the devil in temptation, and by wicked men. It emphasizes the importance of consciously asking and depending on God to lead us, being willing to follow His leading, and reflecting on how God has led us in the past. The sermon also highlights the contrast between believers who are led by God and unbelievers who resist being led, choosing to go their own way.
Christ's World of Nature
By A.W. Tozer0Harmony with NatureChrist's CreationJOB 12:7PSA 104:24ISA 55:12MAT 2:1MAT 6:26MRK 1:13LUK 2:8JHN 1:10ROM 1:20COL 1:16A.W. Tozer emphasizes that Jesus Christ entered our world at the perfect time, and while His own people rejected Him, nature welcomed Him. He illustrates how the star guided the wise men and how the animals in Bethlehem were unbothered by His presence, suggesting that all of creation recognized its Creator. Tozer references Dr. G. Campbell Morgan's belief that Jesus was safe among the wild beasts during His temptation, highlighting that Jesus was in complete harmony with nature. The sermon concludes with the idea that a deeper commitment to Christ leads to a greater connection with the natural world.
Full of Song
By C.H. Spurgeon0Joy in SalvationCreation's PraisePSA 96:11PSA 100:1PSA 148:1ISA 55:12LUK 19:40ROM 8:19EPH 5:19COL 3:16JAS 5:13REV 5:13C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the profound joy that comes from the forgiveness of sin, which transforms sorrow into delight and fills creation with music. He illustrates how a renewed heart can awaken the latent melodies of nature, turning mountains, hills, and trees into instruments of praise. The harmony of creation reflects the joy of salvation, as the testimonies of believers resonate with the beauty of God's grace. Spurgeon invites us to experience the world as a grand orchestra, celebrating the joy of reconciliation with God. On this joyful occasion, he encourages us to embrace the tuneful world around us, rich in praise.
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
The mountains and the hills - These are highly poetical images to express a happy state attended with joy and exultation. Ipsi laetitia voces ad sidera jactant Intonsi montes: ipsae jam carmina rupes, Ipsa sonant arbusta. Virg. Ecl. 5:61. "The mountain tops unshorn, the rocks rejoice; The lowly shrubs partake of human voice." Dryden.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
The true point of comparison, however, is the energy with which the word is realized. Assuredly and irresistibly will the word of redemption be fulfilled. "For ye will go out with joy, and be led forth in peace: the mountains and the hills will break out before you into shouting, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn will cypresses shoot up, and instead of the fleabane will myrtles shoot up: and it will be to Jehovah for a name, for an everlasting memorial that will not be swept away." "With joy," i.e., without the hurry of fear (Isa 52:12); "in peace," i.e., without having to fight their way through or flee. The idea of the sufferer falls back in הוּבל behind that of a festal procession (Psa 45:15-16). In applying the term kaph (hand) to the trees, the prophet had in his mind their kippōth, or branches. The psalmist in Psa 98:8 transfers the figure created by our prophet to the waves of the streams. Na‛ătsūts (from nâ‛ats, to sting) is probably no particular kind of thorn, such, for example, as the fuller's thistle, but, as in Isa 7:19, briers and thorns generally. On sirpad, see Ges. Thes.; we have followed the rendering, κόυζα, of the lxx. That this transformation of the vegetation of the desert is not to be taken literally, any more than in Isa 41:17-20, is evident from the shouting of the mountains, and the clapping of hands on the part of the trees. On the other hand, however, the prophet says something more than that Israel will return home with such feelings of joy as will cause everything to appear transformed. Such promises as those which we find here and in Isa 41:19 and Isa 35:1-2, and such exhortations as those which we find in Isa 44:23; Isa 49:13, and Isa 52:9, arise from the consciousness, which was common to both prophets and apostles, that the whole creation will one day share in the liberty and glory of the children of God (Rom 8:21). This thought is dressed up sometimes in one for, and sometimes in another. The psalmists after the captivity borrowed the colours in which they painted it from our prophet (see at Psa 96:1-13 and Psa 98:1-9). והיה is construed as a neuter (cf., בּראתיו, Isa 45:8), referring to this festal transformation of the outer world on the festive return of the redeemed. אות is treated in the attributive clause as a masculine, as if it came from אוּת, to make an incision, to crimp, as we have already indicated; but the Arabic âyat, shows that it comes from אוה, to point out, and is contracted from ăwăyat, and therefore was originally a feminine.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
go out--from the various countries in which ye (the Jews) are scattered, to your own land (Eze 11:17). led--by Messiah, your "Leader" (Isa 55:4; Isa 52:12; Mic 2:12-13). mountains . . . trees, &c.--images justly used to express the seeming sympathy of nature with the joy of God's people. For, when sin is removed, the natural world shall be delivered from "vanity," and be renewed, so as to be in unison with the regenerated moral world (Isa 44:23; Psa 98:8; Rom 8:19-22).
John Gill Bible Commentary
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace,.... Though these words may literally respect the Jews' return from captivity to their own land, attended with joy and peace; as the preceding verse may respect the word of promise concerning it; as it is interpreted by the Targum, "for with joy shall ye go out from among the people, and with peace shall ye be brought to your own land;'' yet they may be spiritually applied to the conversion of men, in consequence of the word being made effectual, of which the deliverance from the Babylonish thraldom was a type; when men "go out" of a state of bondage to sin, Satan, and the law; out of a state of darkness and ignorance; out of the pit of nature's misery and distress; out of themselves and their own righteousness; out of their own sinful ways, and from among the men of the world: and though here is a divine power exerted in all this, yet they go out freely, being led by the Spirit of God; who takes them by the hand as it were, and leads them in ways before unknown to them; he leads them to Christ, his person, fulness, blood, and righteousness; to the house of God, and to the ordinances of it; and from one degree of grace to another, till he brings them to glory: all which is attended with "joy and peace" to themselves; finding themselves released from bondage, in a state of light and comfort, out of the horrible pit, and on a rock; brought to Christ, and clothed with his righteousness; to the angels in heaven, who rejoice over every sinner that repenteth; to the ministers of the Gospel, who are the instruments of their conversion; and to all the saints into whose fellowship they are brought; which joy is further illustrated by the following strong figures: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing; or the people that dwell upon them: and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands; or clap with their branches; as the Targum, the tops of them, being moved with gentle breezes of wind, bow themselves, and the branches intertwining and clasping each other like hands and arms. Kimchi observes, that "mountains and hills" may signify the kings of the nations; and "the trees of the field" the people rejoicing at the deliverance of the Jews, as they pass along: it may be as well applied to the ministers of the word, and common believers rejoicing at the conversion of sinners, in whom as wonderful a change is wrought, as in the following cases. Vitringa interprets this of the apostles and ministers of the word going forth into the Gentile world, attended with joy in themselves, and among the converts there.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
55:12-13 The prophet encourages his people to forget the past, to leave Babylon, and to accept the perspective of the coming age. 55:12 Joy is found in being redeemed from bondage. • Godly people experience an inner peace not known to the wicked (48:22). • mountains and hills . . . trees of the field: Creation participates in the freedom of the children of God (44:23; 49:11, 13; see Rom 8:19-23).