1 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.
2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
3 For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
4 For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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!
8 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.
9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
10 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.
11 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.
12 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.
13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
15 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.
The 52nd chapter of the book of Isaiah in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible is a call to the people of Israel to awaken and prepare for the redemption that is to come. It is a chapter filled with messages of hope, deliverance, and salvation, a powerful reminder of God's love and faithfulness towards His people.
The chapter opens with God's call to Jerusalem, the Holy City, to "awake" and "put on strength". This figurative language symbolizes the divine call for the city to prepare for a new era of liberation and restoration. The city, which had been "uncircumcised and unclean," is encouraged to remove the chains of bondage and prepare for the arrival of a redeemed and sanctified nation.
The first three verses of the chapter present a strong message of redemption. God speaks directly to the city of Jerusalem, symbolizing the entire nation of Israel, and calls it to "shake itself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem." The imagery of shaking off the dust and arising is a powerful metaphor for the nation to leave behind its past of oppression and humiliation, and to rise to a new life of freedom and dignity.
God reminds the people of Israel that they were sold for nothing and will be redeemed without money. This emphasizes that their redemption is not a commercial transaction, but a divine act of grace. It further underscores God's sovereignty and His ability to restore His people without any human intervention or material resources.
Verses four to six reassure the people of God's continuous presence and His intention to make His name known to them. God recounts the historical context of His relationship with His people, starting from their time in Egypt to their deliverance from Assyria. The purpose of this historical recollection is not to remind them of their suffering, but to assure them of God's abiding presence and His power to deliver them from their enemies.
God's declaration that "my people shall know my name" is a promise of a deeper understanding and experience of His character. It signifies a more intimate relationship between God and His people, which is a crucial aspect of their redemption.
Verses seven to ten contain one of the most famous passages in the Bible, often referred to as the 'beautiful feet' passage. The prophet describes a messenger who brings good news of peace, happiness, and salvation. The messenger's feet are described as beautiful because they are bringing the good news of God's reign.
This passage is a powerful depiction of the joy and relief that the news of deliverance brings to a people who have long been waiting for their redemption. The proclamation that "thy God reigneth" is a reaffirmation of God's sovereignty over all nations and circumstances, and a promise of His reign of peace and justice.
Verses eleven and twelve depict the people of Israel leaving Babylon, the land of their captivity. God commands them to depart and to purify themselves as they leave the place of their bondage. This is a symbolic act of leaving behind their past and moving towards a future of freedom and holiness.
God assures the people that He will go before them and be their rear guard as they depart. This assurance of God's protection and guidance as they embark on their journey is a testament to His faithfulness and His commitment to their redemption.
The chapter ends with the introduction of the suffering servant, a theme that is fully developed in the following chapter. The servant is described as being marred beyond human likeness, yet he will startle many nations and kings will shut their mouths because of him. The description of the suffering servant is a prophecy about Jesus Christ, who would suffer and die for the sins of humanity, and whose sacrifice would bring about the redemption of mankind.
In conclusion, chapter 52 of the book of Isaiah is a powerful proclamation of God's redemption for His people. It is a chapter filled with hope and assurance, reminding us of God's unfailing love and faithfulness. It calls us to awake and prepare for the redemption that is to come, to trust in God's sovereign power, and to look forward to the good news of His reign. It is a chapter that reassures us of God's presence in our lives, His power to deliver us from our bondage, and His promise of a future filled with peace and joy.
Share this page