Isaiah 52:1-15
Wake Up and Put on Your Strength
1Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.
2Shake off your dust! Rise up and sit on your throne, O Jerusalem. Remove the chains from your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.
3For this is what the LORD says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.”
4For this is what the Lord GOD says: “At first My people went down to Egypt to live, then Assyria oppressed them without cause.
5And now what have I here? declares the LORD. For My people have been taken without cause; those who rule them taunt, declares the LORD, and My name is blasphemed continually all day long.
6Therefore My people will know My name; therefore they will know on that day that I am He who speaks. Here I am!”
7How 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!”
8Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy. For every eye will see when the LORD returns to Zion.
9Break forth in joy, sing together, O ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem.
10The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
11Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.
12For you will not leave in a hurry nor flee in haste, for the LORD goes before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard.
13Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness—
15so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For they will see what they have not been told, and they will understand what they have not heard.
Berean Standard Bible
Zion is told to wake up, put on strength, and put on beautiful garments. She will no longer be uncircumcised and unclean. The LORD's people were taken away for nothing, and their rulers howl, while His name is continually blasphemed among the nations.
Therefore the LORD will make His name known. His people will know that He is the One who speaks. The feet of the messenger on the mountains are beautiful because he announces peace, brings good news, announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
The watchmen lift their voices and shout together because the LORD returns to Zion. The people leave Babylon without haste or panic, and the LORD goes before and behind them. Their departure resembles a new exodus, but the promise also insists that they leave uncleanness behind.
Then the servant is introduced as exalted and disfigured beyond human likeness. Kings will shut their mouths because they will see and understand what had not been told them. The chapter ends by making glory and suffering stand close together.
Questions
1 What is Zion told to put on?
AnswerZion is told to wake up, put on strength, and wear beautiful garments.
2 What does the messenger announce?
AnswerThe messenger announces peace, good news, salvation, and that the LORD reigns.
3 How do the people leave Babylon?
AnswerThey leave without haste, because the LORD goes before and behind them.
4 What is said about the servant?
AnswerHe will be exalted, yet his appearance will be disfigured beyond human likeness.
What This Means for Us
Good news is not only private encouragement. It announces that God reigns and gives people a reason to leave what has held them captive.
Ask what peace should sound like in your household today. Speak news that is true and useful, then make the concrete departure from a habit or injustice that cannot travel with God's people.
Prayer
Our reigning God, wake us from fear and give us strength to leave captivity. Make our words good news to the weary, and teach us to follow where your peace leads. Amen.