Background Scripture: Isaiah 52:1-12
Lesson Context: Isaiah 52 falls into five sections: verses 1-2, 3-6, 11-12, and 13-15. Each of the first four sections invites exiled Israelites to return home because Babylon is about to fall to the Persians under Cyrus the Great. The poems in these four sections personify Zinn as a woman, and depict the period of exile as one of slumber for the ancient city. A rebuilt Jerusalem would welcome home her returning children. The holy and ethical acts to which the prophets had always called the people could be embraced new as Jerusalem was given another chance to live up to her calling and potential.
A Call to Rejoice (Isaiah 52:7-10):
Chorus of Singers (vv. 7-9). V. 7a. “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.” A Vision of the Day of Deliverance-The prophet sees the messenger come bounding over the mountains of Judaea to bring the news to Jerusalem that her deliverance is come (v. 7).
V. 8a. “Thy watchman shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing.” The angelic watchers sing with joy.
V. 9a. “Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem.” The prophet calls upon the waste places of Jerusalem to do the same, and dwells on the greatness of the mercy wrought.
V. 9b. “For the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.” The comfort promised in Isaiah 40:1 is the rebuilding of the city. It was set in motion when Sheshbazzar led the first wave of returnees from Babylon back to Jerusalem in 538 BC according to a decree by Cyrus, king of Persia. They began a start-and-stop process of rebuilding that lasted through the time of Nehemiah, almost a century later.
Reason for Singing (v. 10). “The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations and all of the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” The image of God’s making bare his holy arm is an anthropomorphism-a description of something not human (in this case, someone) in terms of human characteristics. Since God is Spirit, He doesn’t have a literal, physical arm. The phrases in the eye of all the nations and all the ends of the earth shall see might cause us to wonder how widespread the knowledge of Israel’s experience of deliverance could have been in the sixth century BC.
A Call for A New Exodus (Isaiah 52:11-12):
Leaving Babylon (v. 11). “Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence.” Prophetically, this has booth a near and distant application. It was intended for the Babylonian captives. Isaiah has prophesied to; but also, for those gathered to the Lord in the very end times. The call to separate from Babylon-both literal and spiritual-is a call to purity for those who bear the vessels of the Lord.
Trusting God (v. 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 reward.” The second exodus here promised both a departure from the past – first exodus and a continuity with it. Before, the Israelites ate their food in haste because they had to leave Egypt quickly. In the second exodus, there was no need to depart quickly, because the Babylonian Empire had collapsed. No hasty flight would be necessary. Careful planning could occur, and the departure would take place when all was ready.
References: Enduring Word Bible Commentary, International Sunday School Lessons KJV 2022-2023, Standard Lesson Commentary