Isaiah Chapter 52
1 Awake, awake! Put on your strength, Zion. Put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city: for from now on the uncircumcised and the unclean will no more come into you.
2 Shake yourself from the dust! Arise, sit up, Jerusalem! Release yourself from the bonds of your neck, captive daughter of Zion!
3 For the LORD says, "You were sold for nothing; and you will be redeemed without money."
4 For the Lord GOD says: "My people went down at the first into Egypt to live there: and the Assyrian has oppressed them without cause.
5 "Now therefore, what do I do here," says the LORD, "seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them mock," says the LORD, "and my name is blasphemed continually all day long.
6 Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore they shall know in that day that I am he who speaks. Behold, it is I."
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
8 Your watchmen lift up their voice. Together they sing; for they shall see eye to eye when the LORD returns to Zion.
9 Break out into joy! Sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted his people. He has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The LORD has made his holy arm bare in the eyes of all the nations. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
11 Depart! Depart! Go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Go out from amongst her! Cleanse yourselves, you who carry the LORD's vessels.
12 For you shall not go out in haste, neither shall you go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
13 Behold, my servant will deal wisely. He will be exalted and lifted up, and will be very high.
14 Just as many were astonished at you- his appearance was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men-
15 so he will cleanse many nations. Kings will shut their mouths at him; for they will see that which had not been told them, and they will understand that which they had not heard.
Footnotes
- Verse 15 (cleanse)
- or, sprinkle
Version: World English Bible
- About World English Bible (WEB)
- WEB Glossary
- WEB Web Site (source documents)
- Bible on one web page
- Download WEB (for MS Word)
Audio
To Listen to this Chapter
The mp3 Audio File should start to play in a new Tab. Then return to this Tab to follow the text whilst listening.
Isaiah Chapter 52:1 - 52:12 Guide
The second message (verses Isaiah 52:1-6) calls on Zion to awake and put on her strength and her beautiful garments, because she is to be cleansed of all internal defilement. Though she had been sold into slavery for naught, her redemption is determined on, and she is to know Jehovah as the name of Him who is able to accomplish His purpose.
The third (verses Isaiah 52:7-12) describes the return of Jehovah to His people. It is announced by runners and watchmen, and results in an outburst of song. In view of the certainty of this return the prophet calls on the people to cleanse themselves; and finally announces that Jehovah will go before, and the God of Israel will be the rearward.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Isaiah Chapter 52 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- The welcome news of Christ's kingdom. -- (1-12)
- The humiliation of the Messiah. -- (13-15)
Verses 1-12
The gospel proclaims liberty to those bound with fears. Let those weary and heavy laden under the burden of sin, find relief in Christ, shake themselves from the dust of their doubts and fears, and loose themselves from those bands. The price paid by the Redeemer for our salvation, was not silver or gold, or corruptible things, but his own precious blood. Considering the freeness of this salvation, and how hurtful to temporal comfort sins are, we shall more value the redemption which is in Christ. Do we seek victory over every sin, recollecting that the glory of God requires holiness in every follower of Christ? The good news is, that the Lord Jesus reigns. Christ himself brought these tidings first. His ministers proclaim these good tidings: keeping themselves clean from the pollutions of the world, they are beautiful to those to whom they are sent. Zion's watchmen could scarcely discern any thing of God's favour through the dark cloud of their afflictions; but now the cloud is scattered, they shall plainly see the performance. Zion's waste places shall then rejoice; all the world will have the benefit. This is applied to our salvation by Christ. Babylon is no place for Israelites. And it is a call to all in the bondage of sin and Satan, to use the liberty Christ has proclaimed. They were to go with diligent haste, not to lose time nor linger; but they were not to go with distrustful haste. Those in the way of duty, are under God's special protection; and he that believes this, will not hasten for fear.
Verses 13-15
Here begins that wonderful, minute, and faithful description of the office, character, and glory of the Messiah, which has struck conviction to many of the most hardened unbelievers. Christ is Wisdom itself; in the work of our redemption there appeared the wisdom of God in a mystery. Those that saw him, said, Surely never man looked so miserable: never was sorrow like unto his sorrow. But God highly exalted him. That shall be discovered by the gospel of Christ, which could never be told in any other way. And Christ having once shed his blood for sinners, its power still continues. May all opposers see the wisdom of ceasing from their opposition, and be made partakers of the blood of sprinkling, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost; obeying him, and praising his salvation.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.