Isaiah 52

• This second call to wake up (see Isaiah 51:17) was in preparation for a glorious future.

• holy city: The new city would be holy because its citizens would be holy (see Israel 4:3).

• will no longer enter you: Things that are unclean will not be permitted to enter the holy city (see Revelation 21:27).

You were sold for nothing … you will be redeemed: The Lord was in control when he allowed his people to be captured by their enemies. He stayed in control and could save them if he wanted to.

went down to Egypt to live, then Assyria oppressed them: The exodus from exile would resemble Israel's past exodus from Egypt.

• The oppressors would shout with joy because they thought they had defeated both Israel and its God.

• My name is blasphemed continually all day long: The state of God's people influences God's reputation in the eyes of the world (see Isaiah 37:6, 23; 48:11).

Just as God revealed himself to Moses before the exodus (Exodus 3:15), he will reveal himself in the future rescue from exile.

• How beautiful on the mountains: See Nahum 1:15; Romans 10:15.

• The good news is more than ending the exile in Babylon. It also points to the peace and salvation of the age to come (Isaiah 54:13–14; see 40:9–10; 41:27).

This passage uses poetry to describe God’s promise to save his people. Their sin had separated them from God (it had broken their relationship with him). God promised to remove that separation and bring them back to himself.

The picture is of a city surrounded by enemy armies. The people inside the city are waiting for news. They hope to hear that their hero has defeated the enemy and won the battle.

Paul uses these words to speak about the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 10:15). He shows that this promise is fulfilled in the message about Jesus.

• The watchmen were those seeking news of Zion's redemption.

• the LORD returns to Zion: The sin of those who lived in the city had driven God away.

the salvation of our God: God saving his people from shame hints at a greater victory. God will rule triumphantly everywhere (note the similarities with Psalm 98:1–3).

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.

This is a call to escape the captivity of sin (see Isaiah 48:20 on leaving physical captivity in Babylon). See also 2 Corinthians 6:17; 2 Timothy 2:19.

• you will not leave in a hurry: At the time of the exodus, the people had to leave quickly (see Exodus 12:11, 31–36). Isaiah highlighted this difference to emphasize the newness of God's plan.

• your rear guard: See Exodus 13:21; 14:19–20.

prosper … highly exalted: The servant will be wise and successful, standing with the great and noble. Similar terms describe God in Isaiah 6:1 and 57:15.

This is the fourth of four passages that speak about the promised servant (see study note on Isaiah 42:1–4). The Hebrew poem is carefully constructed in five three-line stanzas.It begins with the servant’s exaltation (52:13), proceeds to his humiliation (52:14–53:9), and ends with his exaltation (53:10–12).

The faithful servant’s suffering would bring reconciliation between God and humans. The Lord Jesus perfectly fulfilled this prophecy (see Isaiah 40; Matthew 8:17; Acts 8:30–35; Romans 10:15–17; 15:21; 1 Peter 2:24–25).

many were appalled: No one expected that the rescuer would suffer and die.

Despite the servant’s greatness, the actual way he would appear on earth would surprise people.

• sprinkle many nation: They will be amazed that a rescuer appears weak and helpless, leaving them speechless.

• What they will see and what they will understand will be in complete contrast to anything they had previously imagined.