Major Prophets Isaiah

Awake! Awake!

Discover Jesus as: Immanuel Isaiah 50-52 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 596 of 730
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INTRO

Our word for the book of Isaiah is Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14), which is the prophecy of the birth of Jesus, God’s Son who took on human flesh. This was written about Christ around 738 BC, meaning He wouldn’t be born for more than 700 years. In the book of Isaiah, we always have to look at the message for the present Jews and the message for the future. In Isaiah 50:4-11, Raymond Ortlund describes the obedient servant as: “The learned servant (v. 4); the suffering servant (vv. 5-6); the confident servant (vv. 7-8); the vindicated servant (v. 9).”1 Verses 10-11 then ask, who will we follow—Christ or ourselves? If we chose to follow ourselves, we will lay down in a place of torment (v. 11b).

Ortlund points out that in Isaiah 51:1-8, “The attentive listeners” are “reassured by God,” and then outlined the chapter as: “(1) God’s comfort is life-giving (51:1-3); (2) God’s power is world-transforming (51:4-6); (3) God’s righteousness is courage-inspiring (51:7, 8).”2 God will take care of His people. Verse 9 includes the call to wake up to receive God’s comfort and invincible power instead of relying on your own (vv. 9-16). The same language is found in verse 17 as well, with the promise of escaping God’s wrath in the past through His mercy (vv. 17-23).3 This is all prophetic language that spoke of the time of Babylonian captivity, which had not yet happened but would happen in 586 BC, and at the same time spoke of the coming of God’s Savior—the Messiah (around 3 BC).

TEACHING

Isaiah 52:1-7: Chapter 52 begins with the third call to wake up (v. 1). Isaiah called Jerusalem (Zion) to put on their strength and their beautiful garments (righteous robes) to celebrate their freedom. MacArthur explains, “A call is given for Zion to awake from drunkenness and clothe herself in garments of honor and dignity provided by the Lord. Foreign invaders will no longer control the city at the time of her final restoration.”4 “The time of final restoration” refers both to returning from Babylonian captivity to Jerusalem and then when Jesus returns to Jerusalem the second time. Verse 2 says to “shake the dust off yourself,” meaning to let go of the past. Wiersbe states, “Egypt had enslaved God’s people, Assyria had oppressed them, and Babylon had taken them captive, but now that was ended.”5

Verse 3-5 states the people were sold into slavery without payment and were redeemed without silver. MacArthur explains, “The Jews became the servants of their foreign conquerors, who paid nothing for Israel, so the Lord will redeem Israel gratuitously from sin (Isaiah 45:13; 55:1).”6 God stepped in so His people will know His name (v. 6). God doesn’t deliver His people because they are good, righteous, or deserving. He delivers them to prove who He is. MacArthur states, “After the Day of the Lord, when Israel experiences deliverance from her worldwide dispersion, she will recognize the fulfillment of prophecies through Isaiah and others and enjoy full assurance that the Lord had spoken and fulfilled His promises of deliverance. They will connect these events with the great ‘I AM’”7 (Exodus 3:13-15; 2 Samuel 18:26; Isaiah 43:11; Romans 10:15). The city was waiting for news of the coming Messiah.

Isaiah 52:8-15: The people of Jerusalem will sing and shout for joy because they will see the transformation of Christ’s return (v. 8). Jerusalem will be redeemed. MacArthur writes, “The ruined city will respond to the call to sing for joy because the Lord has provided comfort and redemption” (vv. 9-10).8

Isaiah told them to leave, to touch nothing unclean, and for those who carried the Lord’s vessels to be purified (v. 11). They would not have to leave in a hurry, running from any enemy, because the Lord would go before them and behind them (v. 12). Verses 13-15 sets up the servant who is to come—Immanuel.

CLOSING

Sin always leads to the cross. Because of the resurrection of Christ, no longer do we remain in bondage to our sin. His work of redemption was not because of anything we have done but because of who He is. This is the good news of Jesus. People around us are waiting to hear that news. In Matthew 28, Jesus commissioned us to GO and to TELL the good news. We were not given an option.

Let me challenge you today. First, if you don’t know Christ, embrace Him now. Second, if you do know Him, start walking out this gospel. Verse 7 is a foreshadowing of the victory that is coming in Christ’s return. Comfort and redemption have come to Jerusalem once already. We need as many people as possible, Jew or Gentile, to articulate, with both our mouths and our feet, the good news. The good news is Immanuel, God, has come to be with us (v. 10).

  1. Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr., Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005), p. 334.

  2. Ortlund, p. 334.

  3. Ortlund, p. 332.

  4. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 823.

  5. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament (Colorado Springs, David C. Cook, 2002), p. 57.

  6. MacArthur, p. 823.

  7. MacArthur, p. 823.

  8. MacArthur, p. 824.

Questions

  1. In Isaiah 50:1 what reason did God give as to why Judah suffered? How does this tie in with the unconditional promises of the Davidic covenant? (2 Samuel 7)
  2. What things did God ask them to remember when they didn’t believe or obey Him in Isaiah 50:2?
  3. How did Jesus fulfill Isaiah 50:6? (Matthew 26:67; 27:26, 30; Mark 14:65)
  4. Although there was a time of separation between Israel and God, how did Isaiah encourage the people and reiterate the Lord’s promises to them in Isaiah 51? (Genesis 12:1-3)
  5. How is Isaiah 52:7 applied in context with Israel, and how did Paul apply it to us today? (Isaiah 40:9; Romans 10:15; Ephesians 6:15)
  6. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Isaiah 50—52 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Isaiah 52:6–7

“Therefore My people will know My name; therefore they will know on that day that I am He who says: ‘Here I am.’ 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!’”

God’s people turned away from the Lord, received the punishment and consequences for their sin, and then found restoration in the Lord. In time God would set them free from captivity. Because of God’s redeeming power in their lives, they proclaimed His name. People heard about God, the Great I Am, the only God who reigns. Yes, He is the God who frees captives and brings peace for today and hope for a future.

As Jesus departed the earth, He left His followers with this task: go and proclaim His name and bring Him glory as witnesses of His redeeming power. God even calls your feet beautiful when you pro- claim His name and share the good news of Jesus Christ! The world promises beauty through products, workouts, and even surgeries. But God says: “You are beautiful when you proclaim My name!” Today, put on your walking shoes for Jesus. Proclaim the good news of Jesus giving life rather than death, peace in place of anxiety, freedom instead of bondage, and hope for the future. So get up, beautiful child of God— you’ve got some walking to do!

“Therefore My people will know My name; therefore they will know on that day that I am He who says: ‘Here I am.’ 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!’”

— Isaiah 52:6–7

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Matthew 28:19–20 — “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
  • Romans 10:15 — “And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things!”
  • 2 Corinthians 4:15 — “Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to increase to God’s glory.”