Today's reading is devoted entirely to the coming revival of Jerusalem. Of course, the prophecy given here also had a very concrete historical meaning: after Cyrus's decree and the return of the repatriates from Babylon to Judea, the city and the Temple were indeed...
Today's reading is devoted entirely to the coming revival of Jerusalem. Of course, the prophecy given here also had a very concrete historical meaning: after Cyrus's decree and the return of the repatriates from Babylon to Judea, the city and the Temple were indeed rebuilt. Rising again from the ruins, Jerusalem subsequently became a major economic, political, and cultural centre of the ancient Near East. Yet Isaiah is evidently speaking not only about history. At the centre of his preaching is not the return of the people, but the return of God to the place from which He had once been driven out (v. 8). Ezekiel once saw God leave the Temple, where no room remained for Him (Ezek 11:22–23); now it was revealed to Isaiah that He would return to the place where His house had once stood and would be rebuilt.
But this would not mean a return to the past. Now He returns as King (v. 7), which means that the time has come for the triumph of the Kingdom of which the pre-exilic prophets had already spoken. The new Jerusalem becomes the centre of this Kingdom. The Jerusalem of Isaiah of Babylon is the messianic Jerusalem. Yet it does not cease to be a completely real, earthly city whose walls and towers can be touched and whose streets can be walked.
Moreover, this is not only about a new city, but also about a new people (vv. 14–15). The community of exiles becomes the remnant of which Isaiah of Jerusalem had already spoken. And when God returns to His house and restores His people to the land of their fathers, the remnant, transformed, becomes the nucleus of the new, messianic Israel—whose appearance, of course, none of those who had once driven the Jews from that land expected, convinced as they were that the rebellious city had been dealt with forever. Only when all this is accomplished will the Messiah promised by God appear to the world.
52 The church redeemed and called upon to rejoice therein, Isa 52:1-6.
The universal preaching of the gospel glorious, Isa 52:7-10.
A call to free ourselves from bondage, Isa 52:11-12.
Christ's kingdom shall be exalted, Isa 52:13-15.
52:1 Awake - This is a prediction and promise what she should do, that she should awake or arise out of her low estate, and be strong and courageous. Beautiful garments - Thy sorrows shall be ended, and thou shalt be advanced into a glorious condition. O Zion - O my church.Come - Either to molest thee, or defile thee.The uncircumcised - Heathens or infidels.Unclean - Nor any others, who are unholy.
52:2 The dust - In which thou hast sat as a mourner. The bands - The yoke of thy captivity shall be taken off from thee.
52:3 Sold yourselves - By your sins, without any valuable consideration paid by them either to you, or to your Lord and owner.Without money - Without paying any ransom.
52:4 Egypt - Where they had protection and sustenance, and therefore owed subjection to the king of Egypt. And yet when he oppressed them, I punished him severely, and delivered them out of his hands.The Assyrian - The king of Babylon, who is called the king of Assyria, Ki2 23:29, as also the Persian emperor is called, Ezr 6:22, because it was one and the same empire which was possessed, first by the Assyrians, then by the Babylonians, and afterwards by the Persians.Without cause - Without any such ground or colour, by mere force invading their land, and carrying them away into captivity.
52:5 What have I - Why do I sit still here, and not go to Babylon to punish the Babylonians, and to deliver my people? For nought - Without any provocation, or pretence of right. Howl - By their unmerciful usage.Blasphemed - The Babylonians blasphemed me as if I wanted either power or good will to save my people out of their hands.
52:6 Shall know - They shall experience my power and goodness in fighting for them. In that day - When I shall redeem my people: which work was begun by the return of the Jews from Babylon, and perfected by the coming of the Messiah. Behold - That all these promises are the words of the omnipotent, unchangeable God.
52:7 The mountains - Of Judea, to which these glad tidings were brought, and from which they were spread abroad into other countries.Of him - Or, of them; the singular number being put for the plural.Returneth - In the days of the Messiah, God did discover and exercise his dominion over the world far more eminently than ever he had done from the beginning of the world until that time.
52:8 Thy watchmen - Thy ministers, who descry the approach of this heavenly king. Lift up thy voice - To give notice to all people of these glad tidings; and by way of exultation, to sing forth the praises of God for this glorious day. Eye - Distinctly and familiarly, their eyes beholding the eyes of this king of glory. They shall be eye and ear - witnesses of the words and works of Christ, and therefore their testimony shall be more certain and valuable. Bring again - When God shall complete the work of bringing his church out of captivity.
52:11 Depart - Out of Babylon. Touch - Carry not along with you any of their superstitions or idolatries. Ye - And especially your priests and Levites, who minister in holy things, and carry the holy vessels of the temple, keep yourselves from all pollution.
52:12 Not by flight - But securely, and in triumph, being conducted by your great captain the Lord of hosts. Rereward - So that none shall be able either to oppose you in your march, or to fall upon you in the rear.