Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
For thus saith the Lord God, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.
Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.
Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Thy 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.
Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord hath 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.
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.
For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.
Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
So shall he sprinkle many nations; the 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 is a powerful chapter filled with hope, redemption, and a call to God's people to awaken to their destiny. It speaks of both an immediate deliverance from Babylonian exile and a far greater, ultimate redemption through the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. This chapter, rich in prophetic imagery, calls us to recognize God's power, holiness, and unwavering commitment to His people.
Wake Up, O Zion! (Isaiah 52:1-4)
The opening verses are a stirring summons: "Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, Zion! Put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city" (Isaiah 52:1). This is not merely a call to physical freedom, but a spiritual awakening. It's a call to Zion, to God's people, to shake off the dust of captivity and embrace their identity as the Holy City. The promise that "the uncircumcised and defiled will no longer enter you" (Isaiah 52:1) points to a future reality, perhaps most fully realized in the millennial kingdom when Christ reigns, and holiness permeates Jerusalem.
The mention of past oppressions, like those from Egypt and Assyria (Isaiah 52:4), serves to highlight the magnitude of the redemption being offered. God is not just delivering them from one oppressor; He is breaking the chains of all oppression, paving the way for a new era of freedom and holiness.
God's Name Will Be Known (Isaiah 52:5-6)
These verses address the consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness. Their actions had caused God's name to be blasphemed among the nations (Isaiah 52:5). Instead of being a light, they had become a stumbling block. However, God's redemptive plan includes vindicating His name. Through their deliverance, the Lord would display His glorious power and holiness. The phrase "My people will know My name" (Isaiah 52:6) signifies a deeper understanding of God's righteous character and a restored relationship with Him. It’s not just knowing the name “Yahweh,” but experiencing the fullness of what that name represents.
Good News and the Return to Zion (Isaiah 52:7-12)
The prophet proclaims, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" (Isaiah 52:7). This passage speaks of the messengers of hope, announcing the Lord's return to Zion and the salvation of God being revealed to all the ends of the earth (Isaiah 52:10). This joyful announcement finds its ultimate fulfillment in the return of Christ to reign.
The call to "Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the articles of the LORD" (Isaiah 52:11) is a practical instruction and a spiritual principle. It could have been a word to the captives in Babylon, urging them to separate themselves from the idolatry and uncleanness of their surroundings. It also serves as a timeless reminder to believers to separate themselves from ungodliness and maintain purity in their lives, a warning that may also apply to the faithful in Israel during the kingdom age. This separation is not just physical, but also a separation of the heart and mind.
The Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:13-15)
This section marks the beginning of one of the most profound prophecies about the Messiah. It is a transition into Isaiah 53, and we are now on holy ground. These verses foreshadow the coming suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While His exaltation and universal recognition as Lord are still future, in God's eternal plan, they are as good as accomplished. "See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted" (Isaiah 52:13).
The shock and awe of the Gentile nations upon witnessing Christ's glory are emphasized: "Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand" (Isaiah 52:14-15). The Servant's suffering will be so profound that it will initially cause shock, but ultimately, it will lead to understanding and awe as the nations grasp the depth of God's love and the power of His salvation.
Isaiah 52 offers a comprehensive vision of redemption, encompassing both immediate deliverance and ultimate salvation through the Messiah. It calls us to awaken to God's presence, embrace His holiness, and proclaim the good news of His reign to the world. It is a chapter that resonates with hope, reminding us that God's promises are sure and His love endures forever.
Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
For thus saith the Lord God, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.
Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.
Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Thy 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.
Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord hath 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.
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.
For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.
Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
So shall he sprinkle many nations; the 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 is a powerful chapter filled with hope, redemption, and a call to God's people to awaken to their destiny. It speaks of both an immediate deliverance from Babylonian exile and a far greater, ultimate redemption through the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. This chapter, rich in prophetic imagery, calls us to recognize God's power, holiness, and unwavering commitment to His people.
Wake Up, O Zion! (Isaiah 52:1-4)
The opening verses are a stirring summons: "Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, Zion! Put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city" (Isaiah 52:1). This is not merely a call to physical freedom, but a spiritual awakening. It's a call to Zion, to God's people, to shake off the dust of captivity and embrace their identity as the Holy City. The promise that "the uncircumcised and defiled will no longer enter you" (Isaiah 52:1) points to a future reality, perhaps most fully realized in the millennial kingdom when Christ reigns, and holiness permeates Jerusalem.
The mention of past oppressions, like those from Egypt and Assyria (Isaiah 52:4), serves to highlight the magnitude of the redemption being offered. God is not just delivering them from one oppressor; He is breaking the chains of all oppression, paving the way for a new era of freedom and holiness.
God's Name Will Be Known (Isaiah 52:5-6)
These verses address the consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness. Their actions had caused God's name to be blasphemed among the nations (Isaiah 52:5). Instead of being a light, they had become a stumbling block. However, God's redemptive plan includes vindicating His name. Through their deliverance, the Lord would display His glorious power and holiness. The phrase "My people will know My name" (Isaiah 52:6) signifies a deeper understanding of God's righteous character and a restored relationship with Him. It’s not just knowing the name “Yahweh,” but experiencing the fullness of what that name represents.
Good News and the Return to Zion (Isaiah 52:7-12)
The prophet proclaims, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" (Isaiah 52:7). This passage speaks of the messengers of hope, announcing the Lord's return to Zion and the salvation of God being revealed to all the ends of the earth (Isaiah 52:10). This joyful announcement finds its ultimate fulfillment in the return of Christ to reign.
The call to "Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the articles of the LORD" (Isaiah 52:11) is a practical instruction and a spiritual principle. It could have been a word to the captives in Babylon, urging them to separate themselves from the idolatry and uncleanness of their surroundings. It also serves as a timeless reminder to believers to separate themselves from ungodliness and maintain purity in their lives, a warning that may also apply to the faithful in Israel during the kingdom age. This separation is not just physical, but also a separation of the heart and mind.
The Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:13-15)
This section marks the beginning of one of the most profound prophecies about the Messiah. It is a transition into Isaiah 53, and we are now on holy ground. These verses foreshadow the coming suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While His exaltation and universal recognition as Lord are still future, in God's eternal plan, they are as good as accomplished. "See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted" (Isaiah 52:13).
The shock and awe of the Gentile nations upon witnessing Christ's glory are emphasized: "Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand" (Isaiah 52:14-15). The Servant's suffering will be so profound that it will initially cause shock, but ultimately, it will lead to understanding and awe as the nations grasp the depth of God's love and the power of His salvation.
Isaiah 52 offers a comprehensive vision of redemption, encompassing both immediate deliverance and ultimate salvation through the Messiah. It calls us to awaken to God's presence, embrace His holiness, and proclaim the good news of His reign to the world. It is a chapter that resonates with hope, reminding us that God's promises are sure and His love endures forever.