Isaiah 12

Isaiah 12:1

He Who Gives, Has No Lack

Generosity is rewarded, but indifference is cursed (Proverbs 22:9; Proverbs 11:24-26). The presence of the poor in God’s people is a test for the rich. God wants His people to be a giving people, in imitation of Him (Deuteronomy 15:7-11). Whoever gives will not become poorer, but richer. God will not make him lack, but provide what is needed. That experience is already a great reward. Added to this is the fact that the poor person will pray for the giver and will also be willing to do for him what he can.

The contrast, introduced with the word “but”, is the indifferent rich person. “He who shuts his eyes”, or turns away his head, when he sees a poor person, is not open to the need of his neighbor. Every time he turn away his head, he will have “curses”. This man is characterized by it. That he “will have many curses” indicates that he is a seasoned egotist. He does not want to face distress because it costs money or means loss of property. In the end, he will be cursed by God.

Isaiah 12:2

Wicked People Rise, but They Also Perish

If wicked people can show themselves and behave wickedly, if they are given room and even come to power, no man is safe anymore (Proverbs 28:12). The righteous will hide from this evil. Other groups of people who can be targets of the wicked will also hide. Wicked people know no mercy. They are out to cause as much evil and as much harm as possible.

“But” their rule is limited; they do not rule forever. The time comes “when they perish”. When that happens, the “righteous” appear and “increase” (cf. Esther 8:17). There will be room for multiplication of those who give God what is due to Him. This will have its full fulfillment in the kingdom of peace. At the establishment of the kingdom of peace, the Lord Jesus will first cleanse the earth by judging the wicked. Then a righteous people can enter the kingdom of peace and be made numerous by God (Isaiah 26:2; Jeremiah 30:19).

Isaiah 12:4

Who Hardens His Neck Will Suddenly Be Broken

This verse is a warning against persisting in sin and ignoring “much reproof” to repent. The reproofs can be given by parents, for example, or by the government. God can also use a particular event for it, such as an accident. Through all these reproofs, He wants to appeal to the conscience. We clearly see here the patience of God. He does not judge all at once, but calls for repentance. Every reproof He sends is a call.

But he “who hardens [his] neck”, who time after time does not listen, and resists the reproofs, or concludes that all is not so bad, “will suddenly be broken beyond remedy”. The phrase “hardens [his] neck” brings to mind an ox that will not bend its neck under a yoke. Applied to a human being, it represents someone who, despite numerous attempts to get him to do so, refuses to do what is in his own best interest. Then a condition enters that no remedy is possible (cf. 2 Chronicles 36:16).

The verse also contains the serious message for the sinner that the time to repent is limited. “Behold, now is “the acceptable time”, behold, now is “the day of the salvation”“ (2 Corinthians 6:2). God’s patience is great, repentance is still possible now, but it will stop sometime and then it will be forever too late. There will be no second chance.

Isaiah 12:5

A Happy or a Sighing People

“When the righteous increase”, that is, when they take control of the administration of the country and rule it, “the people rejoice” at the beneficent government being exercised. Just laws are enacted and injustice is punished. The wicked are judged and can no longer exercise their pernicious influence. The government of Solomon was such a beneficent government that gave joy to the people (1 Kings 4:20).

The contrast, indicated by the word “but”, with a wicked ruler is great. Such a ruler rules like a tyrant. He oppresses and exploits the people, especially the God-fearing part of them. Wickedness is rewarded and promoted. Injustice prevails because God and His will are not taken into account. There is no joy among the people, but groaning because of the misery.

The happiness or unhappiness of the people depends on the ruler. So it is in a man’s life. If he lives in keeping with the will of God according to righteous principles, he lives a happy and thankful life. This is the privilege of the believer. If a man lives according to wicked principles, he is groaning under the enormous burden of his sins that weighs on him. He can be delivered from this by surrendering himself to the Lord Jesus.

Isaiah 12:6

Rejoicing the Father or Wasting Wealth

This verse is about Divine wisdom, but as an object of love. This is not primarily about guidance in life through wisdom, but rather the attitude of the heart toward wisdom. That attitude is one of love. When a father sees this in his son, he is glad. He sees that his teaching not only has an effect in the practice of his life, but his love goes out to it.

In the second line of verse follows the contrast, indicated by the word “but”. The contrast with the love of wisdom here is keeping company with harlots, and not, as we might expect, keeping company with fools. After all, the contrast is usually that between the wise and the fool. But here it is about love. Associating with harlots is experiencing a surrogate love, a false love. However, you gain nothing and lose everything; your entire wealth is wasted (cf. Luke 15:30).

One of the earliest lessons a child must learn is to keep far away from harlots. Today this is especially true of pornography. The warnings against it have been discussed at length in the first part of this book, Proverbs 1-9. Here we see that we must instill in our children a love of wisdom. That will keep them from keeping company with harlots and pornography because it could cause them to lose their wealth and even their life.