Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. Feet are mentioned instead of their whole persons, because the instruments of motion, and so of bringing the tidings, and of running to and fro with them from place to place, and even though they are dirty and defiled with sin; for Gospel ministers are not free from it, and are men of like passions with others; yet are beautiful when their walk and ministry, conversation and doctrine, agree together; and their feet are particularly so, being shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Yahwehs bared arm serves to warn those who would oppose Yahwehs purposes. The ruins will not remain ruins, because Yahweh has comforted his people and has redeemed Jerusalem. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Such a wonderfully positive announcement is possible because God reigns (see Psalm 96:10). The call from God is not irresistible. Psalm 97, one of the psalms appointed for Christmas Day, also echoes this theme in song. ASV: 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! A new day has dawned! Put on your strength, O Zion; Suddenly they spy a runner. b. Isaiah: End Times and Messiah in Judaism by Israel Rosenberg. Comfort!) 2. b. When we speak of physical beauty, we seldom if ever mention feet. The text from Second Isaiah follows closely on Christmas Eves reading from First Isaiah though historically they are situated far apart. O Jerusalem, the holy city! The result was so shocking that many were astonished when they saw Jesus. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. The author is Second Isaiah, who wrote chapters 40-55 to bring words of hope to the people of Judah, who have suffered defeat and have seen their beloved Jerusalem destroyed and many of their fellow-citizens killed by the sword. a. Additionally, Matthew quotes Isaiah 42:1-5 and plainly says it is a prophecy fulfilled in Jesus (Matthew 12:16-21). First, the messenger signaled that the news was good. Celebrate, O Judah, thy festivals; perform thy vows; For no more shall pass through thee the wicked one; good tidingsonly partially applying to the return from Babylon. Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city. Isaiah exulted in the good news that the Lord had just revealed. Egypt held them in captivity. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Isaiah 52is the fifty-second chapterof the Book of Isaiahin the Hebrew Bibleor the Old Testamentof the ChristianBible. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7 What a sight! And the view comes into plain sight! 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. xxix. Isaiah 52:7 in all English translations. This does not mean that the rebuilding is complete, either of walls or people, but it means that the Lord has determined to effect this redemption and so the people can be certain that it will happen. Jesus was beaten so badly on His face that He hardly looked like a man. For you shall not go out in haste, neither shall you go by flight (v. 12a). They remain and are more permanent than even the heavens and the earth. Therefore they shall know in that day that I am he who speaks; behold, it is (v. 6). The larger context of these verses (see 51:17-23) vividly describes how the people of Israel have been devastated and depopulated in the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 587 BCE. The watchmen cannot refrain from singing with joy. Touch no unclean thing; For henceforth there will no more come to you The uncircumcised and the unclean. His saving, cleansing work will extend far beyond Israel to many nations. While Yahweh guaranteed the restoration, he didnt make it easy. 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., How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'. In truth, Yahweh has been accomplishing his purposes through the Babylonian captivity, but that is something that neither the exiles nor the Babylonians could understand. advertisement Join now to personalize . The first people to see the messenger would be the watchmen or sentinels looking out over the surrounding countryside. Put away your pre-conceived notions and your cultural Jesus. So one . The prophet Isaiah is revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. It is an embodied peace! Your God reigns! The long anticipated herald announcing that these ruins are to rise, at length appears. i. The Lord who reigns is God over all gods, over all those forces, powers, idols, and obsessions that enslave the people. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. b. The time is coming when Israel as a nation will kneel before Him in unanimous repentance and national grief, when "they look upon Him Whom they have pierced," and God Almighty will proclaim, "Behold, My servant. Commentary on Isaiah 52:7-10 Terence E. Fretheim The larger context of these verses (see 51:17-23) vividly describes how the people of Israel have been devastated and depopulated in the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 587 BCE. Published: APRIL 1, 2020 16:27. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell of the restoration of Jerusalem and the temple. They have sinned, and the exile is their punishment. King James Version (KJV) Isaiah 52:13-66:18. The victory that is proclaimed does not belong to this or that king, to this or that country, to this or that ideology, but to God alone. OVERVIEW These verses are an allegory (a work in which the characters represent other things and symbolically express a deeper . This chapter is a prophecy of the glorious state of the church in the latter day, typified by the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon. It comes running to greet the oppressed. You can check these in your browser security settings. Before any of His suffering is announced, His glorious triumph is assured. a. Being awakened, we discover that two sets of attire are waiting for us: First, His strength, so that we may not be afraid of ten thousands of people who set themselves round about; and secondly, the beautiful garments of our Lord's character. The word redeemed has to do with release from bondage, and usually involves some sort of payment or ransom to achieve the release. Put on your beautiful garments, However, we should not be troubled by the thought of seeing an ugly Jesus in heaven. Elva B. Lovell Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. Zion and the towns of Judah constitute the watchmen. iv. For the uncircumcised and the unclean Yahweh has raised up Cyrus of Persia to defeat the Babylonians and to assume world dominance (Isaiah 45:1). Go out from there: Prophetically, this has both a near and a distant application. of Leave! He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high: The first words of the LORD in the mouth of the prophet regarding His Servant declare His victory. The astonishment mentioned may be subtly referred to in the New Testament. A cascade of words is used to describe the communication these messengers/sentinels convey: peace, good news, salvation (repeated at the beginning and end of the pericope), Gods return to Zion, comfort, redemption. How beautiful How exceeding precious and acceptable; upon the mountains Of Judea, to which these glad tidings were brought; are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings Tidings, first, Of the release of the Jews from captivity in Babylon; and, secondly, Of the redemption and salvation of mankind by the Messiah. The feet speak of activity, motion, and progress, and those who are active and moving in the work of preaching the gospel have beautifulfeet. The sentinels shout for joy over the news that the experience of warfare and all of the associated suffering has ended because of what God has accomplished. The church, under the names of Zion and Jerusalem, is exhorted to awake and clothe herself with strength, and with beautiful garments, to shake off her dust, and loose her bands, since she should become a pure and separate people, Isa 52:1,2 and whereas the Lord's people had been afflicted formerly by the Egyptians, and more lately by the Assyrians, a free redemption is promised them; and the rather they might expect it, since the Lord was no gainer by their affliction, but a loser in his name and honour, as well as they distressed, Isa 52:3-5. Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. Proud member Go out of the midst of her! How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times, 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. Isaiah 52:6-7 6 Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Depart! Though the "servant" in Isaiah 53 is not openly identified - these verses merely refer to "My servant" (52:13, 53:11) - the "servant" in each of the previous Servant Songs is plainly and repeatedly identified as the . What do the major concepts mean in Isaiah 52:7? But it is not Cyrus who is the ultimate guarantor of their freedom. According to Ezekiel, the prophets were the leading watchmen for the nation. (Wolf). It is not God that has become lethargic; but we that have slept and need to awake. Returning to life is completely dependent on Gods own choice to return, to return to Zion, and to return to the people. However, it is not Cyrus who will save the people, but Yahweh. 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. But there is no doubt that the phrase is also used as a specific title for the Messiah, and this is what is in view here. The victory is peace but a peace that is more than simply an end to war. Is It Ok for Christians to Follow Zodiac Signs? When Yahweh raises up Cyrus of Persia to defeat the Babylonians and free the Judean exiles, Yahweh will be publicly vindicated. And all the ends of the earth shall see (c) 2021 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik ewm@enduringword.com. Then the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. They can be assured that God will surround them in their return home, going before them and bringing up the rear. The word ruins describes Jerusalem after the Babylonian devastation. (52:7-10) "Practically each line is a jubilant note of victory. c. Therefore they shall know in that day that I am He who speaks: In Isaiahs day, they didnt know that the LORD had spoken through His Word. to this victory celebration in which comfort is clearly defined as Gods own coming, Gods engagement with Gods people, the text pulls us all out of ourselves and into song. If they have become overly comfortable in their servitude or too fearful to act, they will never see their homeland again. Now, in view of what God has done, ruins can sing! They call captive Jerusalem to wake up and loose the bonds of captivity (v. 2). Gods mercy answered to their tragic sin. 1. The comfort that God brings is a strong theme throughout this section of Isaiah, bracketing the entire segment (see 40:1-2; 66:13). This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased." Jesus Christ is not only Saviour of the world but He is King of Israel and Lord of . What a marvelous declaration Our God reigns. As mentioned, the text gestures beyond its historical confines. From the words of the prophet that begin Second Isaiah (Comfort! How delightful on the mountains Are the feet of one who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns! The idea in the mind of the prophet is not, that the messenger is so near that the sordid appearance of his feet could be seen. i. When they spoke against Him before, it was in blindness, but now what had not been told them they shall see. What God does cannot be reduced to an idea, a concept, an abstraction or a program. This includes Isaiah himself (Isaiah 20:3), Eliakim (Isaiah 22:20), David (Isaiah 37:35), and Israel (Isaiah 41:8-9). The survivors have suffered a lengthy exile in Babylonia. However, as noted in verse 3, Yahweh has not had to pay a price to achieve the redemption of his people. 8The voice of your watchmen! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off. That My people are taken away for nothing? Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. The New King James Version rightly capitalizes Servant, because the context demonstrates this is a clear reference to Jesus. He has redeemed Jerusalem. that bringeth good tidings of good; or, "that bringeth good tidings" (l); for the original does not require such a tautology; it means the same good tidings as before, and which follow after: that publisheth salvation; by Jesus Christ, as wrought out by him for sinners, which is full, complete, and suitable for them, and to be had of him freely; and what better tidings than this? This echoes the meaning of Isaiah's name, which means the "salvation of Yahweh." 2 Having read the book, one might wonder about the strong presence of judgment that runs through the first thirty-nine chapters when the theme is salvation. The call to separate from Babylon both literal and spiritual is a call to purity, for those who bear the vessels of the LORD. The Ethiopian in Acts 8:34 asked a question about Isaiah 52:13-53:12: Of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man? Isaiah 52:1-2 'Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. You who bear the vessels of the LORD. However, in verses such as this, the Old Testament gives notice that God is concerned for both Jews and Gentilesfor all the ends of the earth.. Being in great distress and confusion, the Jews gave up all for lost. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. Hear the good news! they lift up the voice, together do they sing (v. 8a). Awake, awake! They had made God their enemy, and knew not how to make him their friend. These events are ascribed to the wrath of God; that is, the people have experienced the effects of Gods moral order sins have consequences. Is It Ok for Christians to Follow Zodiac Signs? They petitioned Darius to examine the archives to confirm that Cyrus had, in fact, commissioned the return of the exiles and the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 5). 153. Ruins can live again as the people of God flow back into those spaces. Just as many were astonished at you, Verse Isaiah 52:7. halcyon days! How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! 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. To give thanks in advance is the highest form of praise (Oswalt, 370). 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