1. Who was told to awake?
Zion, which was in the holy city of Jerusalem: “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean” (Isaiah 52:1).
This instruction is the same as in Isaiah 51:9; 51:17.
Now the correction is over, time to get strong (Hebrews 12:5-14).
Time to change the garments (Isaiah 61:1-3 and Luke 15:11-24).
Jerusalem was again to become the holy city (Nehemiah 11:1 and Joel 3:17).
Zion was in Jerusalem (Psalms 135:21).
The reason the city was going to be holy included the fact that the unclean were not there (Isaiah 26:1-2 and Nahum 1:15; cf. II John 1:9-11).
Food for thought, which causes some thoughts in this study, there could also be a hint to the future [as in the New Testament] here (Hebrews 12:22-23).
2. Once awakened, would they go into captivity?
No, they were going to be being freed from captivity: “Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion” (Isaiah 52:2).
There was a promise of deliverance that once realized, they needed to come forth (Zechariah 2:6-7) and be free (Isaiah 58:6).
3. What did Zion gain from selling themselves?
Nothing: “For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money” (Isaiah 52:3).
They gained nothing by selling themselves (Isaiah 1:21) into physical and spiritual captivity (Jeremiah 15:10-14).
They played the harlot, but for free (Ezekiel 16:29-34).
Jesus asked what a man would exchange for his soul (Mark 8:34-37). Sadly, some sell for nothing.
Their redemption, it would not be financial. This very well could be looking forward to the ultimate redemption (I Peter 1:18-19; cf. Colossians 1:12-14). With God, the ransom is not able to be paid by things of this world (Psalms 49:7-8).
4. When God’s people were oppressed, what was happening to the name of the Lord?
His name was continually blasphemed: “(4) For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. (5) Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed” (Isaiah 52:4-5).
They were in Egypt and redeemed out of there (I Chronicles 17:21-22).
The Assyrian’s oppressed them for God’s will, but no cause of their own (Isaiah 10:5-7).
Now, God is taking this personally as they are His people (Jeremiah 50:17-20).
His name was being blasphemed and that meant something to God (Ezekiel 36:20-29).
Consider something, our actions can effect the reputation of our Lord (Romans 2:19-24).
5. Was God going to allow His name to be unknown among His people?
No: “Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I” (Isaiah 52:6).
The identifier of “my people” here is Israel (Exodus 3:10, I Kings 16:1-2, Isaiah 1:3, and Jeremiah 12:14).
He would be known among His people then (Ezekiel 20:41-44 and Ezekiel 39:27-29) and among in the 1st century (Hebrews 8:10-13; cf. Colossians 1:23).
6. Did Jerusalem have good or bad news coming to them at this time?
Good news: “(7) 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! (8) Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion” (Isaiah 52:7-8).
The message of salvation is one of peace (Acts 10:33-37).
This is a statement that Paul used in application even now (Romans 10:14-17).
Thy God reigneth (Psalms 99:1-3).
The watchmen had failed (Isaiah 56:10-12 and Jeremiah 6:17), but would obviously change for the better (Isaiah 62:6 and Jeremiah 31:6-7).
7. What reasons were there for Jerusalem to break forth into joy?
“(9) Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. (10) The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God” (Isaiah 52:9-10).
Break forth in joy (Isaiah 66:10-14).
Comfort (Isaiah 49:13).
Redemption (Psalms 71:23 and Isaiah 44:23).
God showed forth His strength (Psalms 21:13 and Psalms 59:17).
All shall see salvation and this is reason to praise Him in song (I Chronicles 16:23, Psalms 95:1, and Psalms 96:2).
8. When the Lord would lead them from captivity, what did He instruct them not to do?
Don’t touch the unclean things: “(11) Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. (12) For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward” (Isaiah 52:11-12).
Their departure was a brisk one, though they were not running away in an escape (Jeremiah 51:6).
If they touched anything unclean, they would be too (Leviticus 5:2-3).
They needed to know what was clean and what was unclean (Ezekiel 44:23).
This teaching applies spiritually (II Corinthians 6:14-18; cf. Ephesians 5:11).
God had them protected upfront (cf. Exodus 13:21-22) and in their rear (cf. Exodus 14:19-20).
9. Was the Lord’s servant going to leave an impression on the nations?
For sure: “(13) Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. (14) As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: (15) So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider” (Isaiah 52:13-15).
Seemingly, up to this point, it appeared we were talking about captivity and deliverance from Babylon. It is slightly possible the references could be made the deliverance from the captivity of sin (Romans 6:1-23).
Now, the water gets a bit muddier. Cyrus is a servant of God we’ve discussed (Isaiah 44:28-45:4). The things could apply to him.
We could also begin talking about Jesus, whom we will discuss clearly in the next chapter.
The servant of the Lord here would deal prudently [wisely].
Jesus (Matthew 12:39-42).
Or could be said of a king like Cyrus (Psalms 2:10).
The servant would be exalted.
Jesus (Philippians 2:3-10).
Or Cyrus (Ezra 1:2).
Astonishment could be of Cyrus (II Chronicles 36:22-23) and definitely at Jesus (Mark 7:32-37).
The part of his visage [sight; appearance] being marred [disfigured; corrupt] is confusing at best. It could have references to Christ (Matthew 27:29-30). However, I cannot definitively put a Scripture to a conclusion here either.
His form more than sons of men could be cited against it being Christ (Romans 8:3, Philippians 2:7, and Hebrews 2:9-14).
Sprinkle many nations infers physical destruction (cf. Isaiah 63:1-6).
The response of kings doesn’t clarify this possibly being Cyrus (Isaiah 45:1) or Jesus (Isaiah 49:5-7 and Ephesians 1:20-23). They were warned of both too!