Isaiah 12 · a question people ask
"In that day you will say" (12:1). Which day is that?
The song names no year and no king. It follows the chapters where in that day has just been said several times. In chapter 10, "It will come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and those who have escaped from the house of Jacob will no more again lean on him who struck them, but shall lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth" (10:20). In chapter 11, "It will happen in that day that the nations will seek the root of Jesse" (11:10), and "It will happen in that day that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people" (11:11). The song's "In that day" (12:1, 12:4) comes straight after these verses, and it gives the words that will be said then. The chapter on Isaiah 11 looks at the root of Jesse. These notes don't set a time the verses don't give.
The verses
“It will come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and those who have escaped from the house of Jacob will no more again lean on him who struck them, but shall lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.”
“It will happen in that day that the nations will seek the root of Jesse, who stands as a banner of the peoples; and his resting place will be glorious. It will happen in that day that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.”
“In that day you will say, “I will give thanks to you, the LORD; for though you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you comfort me.”
“In that day you will say, “Give thanks to the LORD! Call on his name! Declare his doings among the peoples! Proclaim that his name is exalted!”