UNROLL
Dawn over the mountains of Judah: a footpath runs along a high ridge, and far off on it one small runner seen from behind kicks up dust, the sky above calm and clear.

The Servant and Zion

Isaiah 52

Who brought you good news that changed everything?

15 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

  1. 1–5Zion on trialJudah’s sin, the mountain raised, the vineyard’s song
  2. 6Holy, holy, holyIsaiah’s call, in the year King Uzziah died (about 740 BC)
  3. 7–12ImmanuelAhaz’s fear, the sign, the Child, the shoot of Jesse
  4. 13–23The nations judgedBabylon to Tyre: the LORD is Judge of all the earth
  5. 24–27The whole earthThe earth laid waste, and death swallowed up
  6. 28–35Woe and a KingEgypt’s help or the LORD’s, and the King in His beauty
  7. 36–39Hezekiah’s crisisSennacherib, 701 BC: the prayer, the sickness, the envoys
  8. 40–48Comfort My peopleTo the exiles ahead: Cyrus, the idols, the Servant
  9. 49–55The Servant and ZionPierced for our transgressions; Zion restoredChapter 52
  10. 56–66New heavens and earthA house of prayer, the Anointed One, all things new

Deliverance for Jerusalem

Isaiah

Awake, 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.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Isaiah
A cleared courtyard among Jerusalem's ruins at dawn, a fine festival robe of dyed blue and red wool laid ready on a stone bench, dust shaken from it catching the low sun.

Shake off your dust!

Rise up and sit on your throne, O Jerusalem.

Remove the chains from your neck,

O captive Daughter of Zion.

God

For this is what the LORD says:

“You were sold for nothing,

and without money you will be redeemed.”

God

For this is what the Lord GOD says:

“At first My people went down to Egypt to live,

then Assyria oppressed them without cause.

And 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.

God

Therefore My people will know My name;

therefore they will know on that day

that I am He who speaks.

Here I am!”

Question

Quick question

The next lines are some of the best-loved in Isaiah, and Paul takes them up in Romans 10. See if you know where he goes with them.

Paul quotes 52:7 in Romans 10:15. Whose feet does he say are beautiful?

Isaiah

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!”

Isaiah 52:7

Isaiah
Two watchmen seen from behind on the flat top of Jerusalem's broken wall at dawn, arms raised and calling out, looking east down a long road where a small runner comes.

Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices,

together they shout for joy.

For every eye will see

when the LORD returns to Zion.

Isaiah
Isaiah

Break forth in joy, sing together,

O ruins of Jerusalem,

for the LORD has comforted His people;

He has redeemed Jerusalem.

Isaiah

The 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.

Isaiah

Depart, depart, go out from there!

Touch no unclean thing;

come out from it, purify yourselves,

you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

Isaiah
Dawn on a long road through open country: Levites in white linen walk unhurried carrying temple bowls wrapped in cloth, families with donkeys before and behind, a low morning cloud over the road ahead.

For 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.

0:08

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

Pray

Lord, wake me up and clothe me with strength. Thank You for the people whose feet brought me the good news that my God reigns. Help me go out clean, trusting that You go before me and that You are my rear guard. Amen.

The Servant Exalted

Awake!

Awake, O arm51:9: the prophetpraysRise, Jerusalem51:17: the cup takenawayAwake, O Zion52:1: put on strength“Your Godreigns!”52:7: the herald“Depart,depart”52:11–12: He goesbefore

Whiteboard

The prophet asked the LORD to wake. He answers by waking her, and sends her people home with Him in front and behind.

God

Behold, My Servant will prosper;

He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

God

Just as many were appalled at Him—

His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man,

and His form was marred beyond human likeness—

God
Close on a stone ledge in the temple court at early morning: a bundle of green hyssop lies across the rim of a bronze basin of clear water, drops falling from it.

so 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.

You’ve experienced

Isaiah 52

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A verse to carry with you

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!”

Isaiah 52:7

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