The chapter break between 51:23 and 52:1 obscures the fact that most of chapter 52 (1-12) is a continuation and culmination of the Lord’s message to His people in chapter 51 (4-23). Having already called His downcast, defeated people to “Wake yourself, wake yourself” (51:17), the Lord rouses them once again: “Awake, awake” (52:1).
The wakeup call is given (both times) to “Jerusalem” (51:17) or “Zion” (52:1). The Lord addresses the capital city of Israel, the centre of its political and religious life, as a way to speaking to the people who inhabit its broken-down walls. Having been through the trauma and disgrace of “devastation and destruction” (51:19), the Lord comforts the city and its people with a message of restoration and redemption: “Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion, put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city” (1).
Having previewed this this theme of comfort and salvation for Jerusalem (40:1, 9-10), the Lord now details what this salvation will entail (1-12). No longer will the foreign enemy (“the uncircumcised and the unclean”) trample its streets (1). No longer will Jerusalem and its people be captives and slaves: “Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated, O Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion” (2).
Having been “sold for nothing” (3), Zion and its people will once again be “redeemed without money” (3, 50:1). In its history, Israel had been under the power of Egypt and Assyria (4), now they will be redeemed from the Babylonians (5). The Lord sees their groaning and tears (“Their rulers wail”—5) and hears the blasphemous taunts of their oppressors (“continually all the day my name is despised”—5; cited in Rom 2:24). For this reason (“Therefore”—6), the Lord promises to reveal Himself in power to His people: “Therefore, my people shall know my name. Therefore, in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am” (6). Knowing God’s name (character and fame) is to know “God reigns” (7).
The faithful remnant will come to know God’s name in a way that assures them that He reigns. The news that the Lord has “redeemed” His people (3) will be carried back to Jerusalem. Isaiah envisions the joyful scene when messengers arrive in downtrodden Jerusalem with the news that God is rescuing His people from captivity: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your god reigns’” (7; compare 40:9). The apostle Paul applies these words to those who carry the good news of the gospel to captives of Satan and sin (Rom. 10:15).
The spontaneous response to God’s salvation is joyful singing. The watchmen who hear the good news and see tangible evidence that He has redeemed His people “sing for joy.” Even the city itself seems to join the song (“Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem”). The comfort of the Lord, first proclaimed in 40:1, now becomes the lived experienced for God’s people (“for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem”—9).
News of God’s saving power on behalf of His people spreads far and wide. “The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God” (10). God reveals His name, shows His reign, and extends His fame globally.
The final words in this message of comfort and joy are directed to the exiles freed from captivity. “Depart, depart, go out from there; though no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord” (11). The Temple vessels, taken by the foreign armies that ransacked Jerusalem, are about to be returned to Zion. The priests and Levites who will carry them are to purify themselves; holy vessels must be carried by those whose vessels (bodies and souls) are holy.
Unlike the hasty departure from Egypt, this time those freed from captivity would “not out in haste” (12). They would march out in dignity and strength. Their confidence on the journey back to Jerusalem would be bolstered by the Lord’s promise of His presence and protection: “For the Lord God will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard” (12). These words of assurance gave Ezra the confidence to refuse an armed escort when he led the priests, Levites (carrying the Temple vessels), and people back to Jerusalem. Even though they were humanly defenseless, Ezra counted on God’s presence and protection for safe passage (Ezra 8:21-31). As promised, the Lord brought them safely home: “The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way” (Ezra 8:31).
Before chapter 52 ends, a new section begins. Starting in 52:13, we come to one of the most amazing portions in all of Isaiah’s magisterial book: the fourth and final “Servant song” (52:13-53:12. In these verses, we find a description of the Servant’s life and ministry that is both stunning and surprising. While previous Servant songs had prepared us for the grim reality that the Servant of the Lord would suffer in carrying out His calling (50:5-6), now we will learn the full extent of His suffering. We will also learn the glorious reversal and redemptive effect that makes the Servant’s suffering the hope of Israel and the nations.
The final three verses of chapter 52 introduce the fourth Servant Song in a fitting, yet unexpected way. We are told that, though the Servant of the Lord will “act wisely” and be “exalted” (13), he will also experience astonishing suffering: “his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance” (14). What happens to him will cause the leaders (“kings”) of “many nations” to go silent and shut their mouths. They will see and understand what they could have never imagined!
Behold Your God
The Lord redeems His people and restores them from captivity. Though the people of Jerusalem were “sold” into captivity for their iniquities and transgressions (50:1), the Lord still promises to bring about the release of His people (1-2) and redeem them from captivity (3). God’s covenant love and commitment to His own name (5-6) move Him to rescue His people. Even though He disciplines them for their disobedience, He still comes through to deliver them and bring them to Himself.
The Lord’s salvation will be seen by all peoples. Not only does the Lords rescue His people, He does so in a way that “all the ends of the earth shall see” (9). He bares “his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations” (9). He will be glorified among the nations as he “comforts” and “redeems” His people (9).
The Lord calls those who serve Him to be holy and pure. The Levites and priests who would carry the Temple vessels from captivity in Babylon back to Jerusalem were told to “touch no unclean thing” and “purify” themselves (11). Holiness (being separated from sin and unto God) is required among those who oversee the spiritual worship of God’s people.
Here Am I
I want to know God’s name so I can announce God reigns and be filled with His joy. As the Israelites come to know God—His name represents His character and fame—they will know their God “reigns” (6-7). Their mouths will be filled with praise and their hearts with joy. I want to know the Lord in this way. I want to see Him high and lifted up (6:1-2; 40:1-31) and erupt in joyful praise and celebration. He is with us (“Here I am”—6); He is “Immanuel” (7:14).
I want to trust in God’s salvation so I can gain new strength and shake off what shackles me. The Lord calls His people (represented by “Zion”) to “put on your strength” and “shake” off the dust of defeat and the “bonds” that shackle them (1). He is strong enough and loving enough to bring salvation to His people. This gives me new strength (1, 40:31) and freedom!
I want to pursue purity as one who handles the holy things of God. The priests and Levites who would “Bear the vessels of the Lord” back to Jerusalem (11) were to “purify” themselves and “touch no unclean thing” (11). They were to separate themselves from evil and walk in the presence and protection of the Lord (12). As one who “handles the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15), I want to join in the passionate pursuit of holiness, walking in God’s ways and in His presence.
Rick and Linda Reed 