The story of the people of God is marked by periods of rebellion against God, then exile from God, and then return to God.

In chapters 9 and 10 of Isaiah, God is angry with His people. This anger has come in four waves, with each wave ending with the refrain, "For all this His anger is not turned away."

But in Isaiah 12, the prophet gives the people of God hope for a coming day when God will once again reconcile his people to himself.

Isaiah 12 is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving in three stanzas with the beautiful refrain:

"Though you were angry with me, your anger is turned away, and you comforted me."