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Overview

In Isaiah 52, YHWH is gracious, redeeming His people. He doesn’t redeem them with money—He redeems them through the work of the Messiah. 

Isaiah 52:7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

The feet of the Messiah. They are beautiful—why? Because by those feet the good news is brought to us. What is this good news? Peace, happiness and salvation. That is quite a combo. But what is interesting to me is the blessings given to the Watchmen. The Watchmen see the messenger first. In a sense, the Watchmen are given a reward for their faithfulness. They are the poor man versions of John the Baptist. But there is still a unique joy to be able to tell others—the Messiah is coming. He is here! Our mission is no different today. The gospel is beautiful. People need to hear it. 

Isaiah 52:11-12

Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord. For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

This section seems to foreshadow the future captivity in Babylon. Judah will be deported. We know this occurs around 586 B.C. But historically we know that Judah will be released in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah and eschatologically, well—we know that the people of God will turn away from spiritual Babylon, during the end times, the end of all human kingdoms. 

And yet, the application here cannot be missed. Anytime you want to leave a cycle of sin, you must depart. You must choose to leave the darkness and head towards the light. But remember—God is with you! As verse 12 states, He is going before you and He will be your rear guard. You are not alone. 

Isaiah 52:13-15

Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.

The chapter breaks in most English translations are helpful. But not here. Isaiah 52 should actually absorb Isaiah 53. The end of Isaiah 52 is abrupt and awkward. That being said, the portrait of the Messiah is slightly shocking. His appearance is “marred, beyond human semblance”. The Messiah did not look like King Saul. The Messiah did not have amazing hair like Absalom. The Messiah came from the line of David, but I promise you the appearance of King David was way more kingly than Jesus. That being said, Isaiah 52 foreshadows the coming of the Suffering Servant. Suffering. Servant. Neither words provoke visions of kingly grandeur and global fame. 

This view of Jesus, the Messiah, was difficult for the Jews to swallow. They wanted (and expected) another King David. An adonis. A warrior. A proven leader. A hero. A global phenomenon. Not a suffering servant. This is one of the many reasons why the Jews missed the day of visitation. 

What is your view of Jesus? At the end of it all, what you do with the person and works of Jesus is everything. Was He just a popular rabbi in the 1st century or what He who He said He was—the Messiah? If He was just a popular rabbi, treat Him as such. But if He is the Messiah, the Savior of the world, treat Him as such. He is the only way home.