The Wells of Salvation

Read Isaiah 12:2–6

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid” (v. 2a). Isaiah puts these words in the mouths of the people of Judah at a time of national crisis and great fear. Never a major power in the Ancient Near East, Judah had come under increasing pressure as the great empires of Assyria and then Babylon took notice of its strategic position on the land bridge between Asia and Africa and began to covet it for themselves. The nation was beset by invaders from without and doubts and controversies from within; it was there­fore into a mood of pessimism and even defeatism that Isaiah spoke this word of hope, trust and fearlessness.

Sometimes one seems naïve or like some sort of Pollyanna to speak a word of hope in times of trial. Sometimes it can be a form of escapism—a determination to avoid the hard realities of life in the world in favor of a more pleasant fantasy. Sometimes, though, the word of hope is the courageous word of a true prophet. It is the word of one who sees God at work even in the midst of calamity, and who calls one’s people to a response of faith and trust.

Isaiah’s word in this passage is an example of this courageous type of hopeful proclamation. It is a word not only for the people of Judah 2,700 years ago, but for the people of God in every age. It is a word for us today, as terrorism and bigotry raise their ugly heads. “Surely God is our salvation; we will trust, and will not be afraid.”

What is the result of this hope and trust? Joy. The prophet promises the people, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” For us Christians, this brings to mind the waters of baptism. Martin Luther used to counsel Christians going through difficult times to remind themselves, “I am baptized.” He said that the God who made promises to us in baptism can be trusted to keep those promises, to hold on to us at all times and to bring us home. When we are tempted by pessimism and hopelessness, when we experience an oppressive sense of the absence of God, we need only recall our baptism—our trip to the wells of salvation—to have our hope and joy renewed.

The Lord is in our midst. We are baptized. God invites us to draw water with joy from the wells of salvation. All this leads us, even as we live through times of doubt, uncertainty, fear, and grief, to shout aloud and sing for joy. Cry out and shout!

Grace and peace,
bob