Isaiah Study Notes

Chapter 52:1–12

Isaiah 52 begins with “”Awake, Awake…” and is referenced to Jerusalem, who has endured the scourging of God’s double punishments of ruin and destruction & famine and sword, and the LORD awakens her to know that He will in fact remove the cup of God’s wrath from her.

This is what your Sovereign Lord says,

your God, who defends his people:

“See, I have taken out of your hand

the cup that made you stagger;

from that cup, the goblet of my wrath,

you will never drink again.

In other words, the LORD Himself will relieve her of His punishments. God will deliver His people from punishment.

In verses 1–12 Zion, the city of the true people of God is aroused to put on her garments of praise and freedom, victory, and redemption. She is to, “Awake, Awake…” to the deliverance from exile, abandonment, and isolation which had marked her history, as God promised the joyous deliverance and good news, that they would once again know HIM! It is as if the deliverance foretold is at hand- in fact Isaiah sings:

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!”

The LORD will deliver her of her exile and her abandonment. God delivers His people from isolation.

Isaiah continues two verses later saying that the LORD has delivered His people! How has He done it! Well that comes in the next passage and ultimately in chapter 53 as the LORD puts on the suffering Servant the abuse of our enemies and the punishment of God Himself, and the chains of exile- as we learn that in this, and only this, is there true deliverance. Just peaking ahead He says:

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,

and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,

he will see his offspring and prolong his days,

and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

After he has suffered,

he will see the light of life and be satisfied;

by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,

and he will bear their iniquities.

As we noted at the beginning this section of Isaiah’s prophecy is anticipatory and completely sets up what comes next, the height of Isaiah’s work.