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Isaiah 12 · a question people ask

"though you were angry with me" (12:1). Why was the LORD angry, and why did his anger turn away?

In the text

The chapters before give reasons: "because they have rejected the law of the LORD of Armies, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel" (5:24), and "Therefore the LORD’s anger burns against his people" (5:25). Again, "for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly" (9:17). The song says only that the anger has turned: "your anger has turned away and you comfort me" (12:1) (tap anger). It gives no reason. Chapter 10 had said the indignation would "be accomplished" (10:25). Later the book comes back to comfort: "Comfort, comfort my people" (40:1), with what is to be called out to Jerusalem, "that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned" (40:2) (tap comfort). That is chapter 40's word, and these notes don't carry it back into 12:1 as its reason.

The verses

“Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust, because they have rejected the law of the LORD of Armies, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore the LORD’s anger burns against his people, and he has stretched out his hand against them and has struck them. The mountains tremble, and their dead bodies are as refuse in the middle of the streets. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is still stretched out.”
Isaiah 5:24-25 · World English Bible
“Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.”
Isaiah 9:17 · World English Bible
“For yet a very little while, and the indignation against you will be accomplished, and my anger will be directed to his destruction.””
Isaiah 10:25 · World English Bible
“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.”
Isaiah 12:1 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 12

Isaiah 12: The wells of salvation

Five times a refrain said, "his anger is not turned away" (9:17). The song of chapter 12 answers in the same Hebrew words, "your anger has turned away and you comfort me" (12:1), and at its heart it sings the words Israel sang after the sea: "my strength and song; and he has become my salvation" (12:2).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions