Isaiah 52
52:1 a This second call to wake up (see 51:17 b) was in preparation for a glorious future.• holy city: The new city would be holy because its citizens would be holy (see 4:3 c).
• enter your gates no longer: Things that are unclean will not be permitted to enter the holy city (see Rev 21:27 d).
52:3 e I sold you into exile ... Now I can redeem you: The Lord was fully in control when he gave his people into the hands of their enemies. Likewise, he remained fully in control and could redeem them if he chose to do so.
52:4 f in Egypt ... oppressed by Assyria: The exodus from exile would be like Israel’s past exodus from Egypt.
52:5 g The oppressors would shout in exultation because they believed they had conquered not only Israel but also its God.
• My name is blasphemed all day long: The condition of God’s people affects God’s reputation in the eyes of the watching world (see 37:6 h, 23 i; 48:11 j).
52:6 k Just as God did to Moses before the Exodus (Exod 3:15 l), he will reveal himself in the coming rescue from exile.
Summary for Isa 52:7-12: 52:7-12 m This is a poetic description of God’s promise to rescue his people from the alienation their sin created. The imagery is of a besieged city waiting for word that its hero has defeated the enemy armies. Paul applies these words to the proclamation of the Good News of the Lord Jesus (Rom 10:15 n). 52:7 o How beautiful on the mountains: See Nah 1:15 p; Rom 10:15 q.
• The good news goes beyond proclaiming an end to the Exile; it also points to the peace and salvation of the age to come (Isa 54:13-14 r; see 40:9-10 s; 41:27 t).
52:8 u The watchmen were those looking for the news of Zion’s redemption.
• the Lord returning to Jerusalem: The sin of the city’s inhabitants had driven God away.
52:10 v victory of our God: The rescue of God’s people from disgrace foreshadows an even greater victory when God will reign victoriously to the ends of the earth (note the many similarities with Ps 98:1-3 w).
Summary for Isa 52:11-12: 52:11-12 x This is an exhortation to leave the captivity of sin (see 48:20 y on leaving physical captivity in Babylon). See also 2 Cor 6:17 z; 2 Tim 2:19 aa. 52:11 ab Here the imagery of leaving the unclean enemy city encourages the people to purify themselves by turning away from all known sin. Those who carry home the sacred objects of the Lord need to be pure.
52:12 ac not leave in a hurry: At the time of the Exodus the people had to leave quickly (see Exod 12:11 ad, 31-36 ae). Isaiah drew this contrast to emphasize the newness of God’s plan.
• protect you from behind: See Exod 13:21 af; 14:19-20 ag.
Summary for Isa 52:13-53:12: 52:13–53:12 ah This is the fourth of four passages that speak about the promised servant (see study note on 42:1-4). The Hebrew poem is carefully constructed in five three-line stanzas. It begins with the servant’s exaltation (52:13 ai), proceeds to his humiliation (52:14–53:9 aj), and ends with his exaltation (53:10-12 ak). The faithful servant’s suffering would bring reconciliation between God and humans. The Lord Jesus perfectly fulfilled this prophecy (see ch 40 al; Matt 8:17 am; Acts 8:30-35 an; Rom 10:15-17 ao; 15:21 ap; 1 Pet 2:24-25 aq). 52:13 ar prosper ... be highly exalted: The servant would be wise and successful, set apart with the great and noble. Similar terms describe God in 6:1 as and 57:15 at.
Summary for Isa 52:14-15: 52:14-15 au Despite the servant’s greatness, the actual way he would appear on earth would shock people. 52:14 av were amazed: No one expected that the rescuer would suffer and die.
52:15 aw startle many nations: They would be amazed that a rescuer would appear so weak and helpless and would stand speechless.
• What they will see and what they will understand will be in complete contrast to anything they had previously imagined.
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