Isaiah 52
Encouragement to Jerusalem.In this section, God calls his people in Jerusalem to wake up and prepare for deliverance. He urges them to leave behind their sadness and slavery, and to get ready for joy and freedom. God promises that the time of captivity will end, and his people will be restored and made holy again. This message is a call to hope, reminding the people that God will act for them and that his name will be honored among the nations.v. 1: God tells Jerusalem to wake up and be strong. Awake, awake; put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city . The people should prepare for a new time of joy and holiness. The unclean and foreign oppressors will not enter Jerusalem anymore; the city will be pure and holy. v. 2: God encourages Jerusalem to shake off the dust and rise up. Shake yourself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose yourself from the bands of your neck, O captive daughter of Zion . The people should be ready to leave their captivity and enjoy freedom again. They are told to let go of their chains and begin a new life of hope and liberty in God. v. 3: God reminds his people that they sold themselves for nothing and will be redeemed without money. You have sold yourselves for nothing; and you shall be redeemed without money . Their suffering brought them no benefit, but God will rescue them by his own power and grace, not with a payment of silver or gold (Isaiah 45:13 a). v. 4: God recalls their past suffering in Egypt and under the Assyrians. My people went down at first into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause . God is reminding the people that he has delivered them from cruel masters before, and he can do it again. v. 5: God is concerned for his own honor. What have I here, says the Lord, that my people are taken away for nothing? They that rule over them make them to howl, and my name is blasphemed continually every day . The suffering of God’s people and the disrespect of his name by their enemies move God to act for their deliverance (Romans 2:23,24 b). v. 6: God promises that his people will know his name and power. Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that does speak: behold, it is I . When God saves them, his people will understand that he has kept his promises and is truly their God (Exodus 6:3 c). The Approach of the Messiah.This passage uses the return of the Jews from Babylon as a picture of an even greater rescue—salvation through the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The good news of deliverance is not just for the Jews, but for all people. The message of the gospel brings peace, hope, and the promise that God reigns. Those who bring this news are greatly valued, and everyone who hears it is called to rejoice and live in purity, trusting in God’s protection.v. 7: The prophet describes how wonderful it is when someone brings good news. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace; that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation; that says to Zion, Your God reigns! . The return from exile is like a messenger running with joyful news: God is in control, and he is bringing peace and salvation. The apostle Paul uses this verse to describe the preaching of the gospel (Romans 10:15 d), which is the best news of all. v. 8: The watchmen of Jerusalem rejoice together. Your watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion . Those who have been waiting and praying for God’s help will be filled with joy and unity when God restores his people. They will see God’s promises fulfilled with their own eyes (John 1:14 e). v. 9: Even the ruined parts of Jerusalem are called to celebrate. Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem . God’s salvation brings comfort and joy to everyone, even those who felt hopeless (Psalm 126:1,2 f). v. 10: The whole world will see God’s saving power. The Lord has made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God . God displays his power openly so that not just Israel, but all people, may witness and share in his salvation (Luke 3:6 g). v. 11: God’s people are told to leave Babylon and be pure. Depart, depart, go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord . As God delivers his people, they must leave behind the sins and uncleanness of Babylon. Those who serve God should be holy in their lives (Ezra 1:7, 8:24; Revelation 1:6 h). v. 12: God promises to protect his people as they leave captivity. You shall not go out with haste... for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rear guard . They do not need to rush in fear, because God himself will lead them and keep them safe, both ahead and behind (Exodus 14:19 i). The Humiliation of the Messiah.This passage shifts from the promise of Israel’s return from Babylon to the even greater salvation that would come through the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The prophet describes how the Messiah would suffer deeply, but also how he would be raised up and honored. These verses show both the pain and the victory of Christ, and how his work would change the lives of many people around the world.v. 13: God declares that the Messiah is his chosen servant. Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high . Jesus would act with great wisdom and understanding, and although he would suffer, God would raise him up to the highest honor (Isaiah 11:2; 1 Samuel 18:14 j). v. 14: The Messiah would face terrible suffering and humiliation. As many were astonished at you; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men . Jesus was treated with shocking cruelty, and people were amazed at how much he suffered. He was rejected and looked down on, even though he did nothing wrong (Psalm 22:6; Psalm 71:7 k). v. 15: Yet, through his suffering, the Messiah would bring salvation to many nations. So shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider (Isaiah 52:15 l). His sacrifice would cleanse people everywhere, not just the Jews, and even kings would be amazed and silent before him. His message would go to people who had never heard it before, and they would finally understand God’s plan (Zechariah 13:1; Romans 15:21 m).
Copyright information for
MHM