View Isaiah 52 in the note window.
The church redeemed and called upon to rejoice therein, ver. 1 - 6.
The universal preaching of the gospel glorious, ver. 7 - 10.
A call to free ourselves from bondage, ver. 11, 12.
Christ's kingdom shall be exalted, ver. 13 - 15.
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.
2: The dust - In which thou hast sat as a mourner. The bands - The
yoke of thy captivity shall be taken off from thee.
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.
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, (2Ki 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
13: Behold - This is the beginning of a new prophecy, which is
continued from hence to the end of the next chapter. My servant - That
it is Christ who is here spoken of, is so evident, that the Chaldee
paraphrast, and other ancient, and some later Hebrew doctors, understand
it directly of him, and that divers Jews have been convinced and
converted to the Christian faith, by the evidence of this prophecy.
Prosper - This is fitly put in the first place to prevent those scandals
which otherwise might arise from the succeeding passages, which describe
his state of humiliation. Very high - Here are three words signifying the
same thing to express the height and glory of his exaltation.
14: Astonished - At his humiliation. Thee - At thee, O my servant.
His form - Christ, in respect of his birth, breeding, and manner of life,
was most obscure and contemptible. His countenance also was so marred
with frequent watchings, and fastings, and troubles, that he was thought
to be near fifty years old when he was but about thirty, (Joh 8:57),
and was farther spoiled with buffetings, and crowning with thorns, and
other cruel and despiteful usages.
15: So - His exaltation shall be answerable to his humiliation.
Sprinkle - With his word or doctrine; which being often compared to rain
or water, may be said to be sprinkled, as it is said to be dropped,(De 32:2,Eze 20:46).
Kings - Shall be silent before him out of profound humility, reverence,
and admiration of his wisdom. For - They shall hear from his mouth many
excellent doctrines, which will be new and strange to them. And
particularly that comfortable doctrine of the salvation of the Gentiles,
which was not only new to them, but strange and incredible to the Jews
themselves.
