Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

51:9-11 God's oppressed people pray for a new exodus into eternal joy.

51:9 Awake, awake. The discouraged people of God think of him as asleep. As in v. 17 and 52:1, the double imperative intensifies the urgency of the appeal. as in days of old. I.e., the days of the exodus. Was it not you . . . ? The helpless people wonder if God is as active as he once was. Rahab is Egypt (cf. 30:7). The ancient oppressor nation is perceived as a monster of mythic evil, slain by the power of God.

51:10 the sea. I.e., the Red Sea.

51:11 See the very similar 35:10.

51:12-16 God assures his people of his omnipotent salvation.

51:12-13 The Creator God rebukes the fears of his people. I, I am he answers the double "Awake, awake" of v. 9. Those who are afraid of man who dies have forgotten the Lord. Human opposition to God cannot last. And where is the wrath of the oppressor? Human wrath is nothing compared to divine wrath (cf. Matt. 10:28).

51:14 No bondage can keep God's people from their salvation (cf. Rom. 8:31-39).

51:15-16 I am the Lord your God . . . You are my people. God's covenant with his people defines both him and them. I have put my words in your mouth. This is the language by which God describes a prophet (cf. Deut. 18:18; Jer. 1:9). Here God speaks to his messianic servant, through whom he keeps his covenant.

51:17-23 God rouses his defeated people to renewed comforts.

51:17 Wake yourself, wake yourself. In v. 9, the people think God needs to be awakened to action; but in reality, they need to wake themselves. It was God, not their Babylonian captors, who force-fed Jerusalem the cup of wrath (cf. Ps. 75:8; Rev. 16:19). Now God invites his people to rise up from their stupor of despair.

51:18-20 When God disciplines, no human help suffices. Jerusalem was left depopulated and defenseless.

51:21-23 The same divine power that humiliated Jerusalem turns the tables on her enemies.

52:1-10 God calls his royal people into a new era of blessing for themselves and the whole world.

52:1 Awake, awake. God turns the cry of his people (51:9) back on them. God has prepared a bright future, to be entered into by faith. put on your strength. I.e., live as what the one God says you are (cf. Eph. 4:22-24; Rev. 3:4-5). there shall no more come into you. Never again will foreign invaders violate the holy city, i.e., the people of God (cf. Rev. 21:22-27). Note the reversal of Isa. 47:1-2.

52:2 loose the bonds from your neck. Bondage is to be rejected.

52:3-6 The people of God will enter into their true identity, for it is all by his grace and for his glory.

52:3-4 You were sold for nothing. Judah was sold into Babylonian captivity, but not because of any lack in God. you shall be redeemed without money. See note on 43:3-4. at the first. The whole of Israel's history proves the faithfulness of God.

52:5-6 The defeat of God's people has brought shame upon his name, the most disastrous consequence (cf. Rom. 2:24). Therefore, he will vindicate himself with unmistakable clarity, for his own glory (cf. Ezek. 36:16-32).

52:7-10 God turns the wailing of his people and the despising of his name (as in v. 5) into rejoicing as the gospel of God's sovereign grace spreads over the world.

52:7 The "here am I" of v. 6 is experienced through the gospel. Isaiah prompts the people of God to welcome the approach of every gospel messenger (cf. Rom. 10:14-15). the feet of him who brings good news. As 2 Sam. 18:24-27 shows, this refers to someone who announces a great deed, usually a victory. (On how this verse relates to the "armor of God," see note on Isa. 11:5.) The longed-for message of peace . . . good news of happiness . . . salvation is summed up in one glad cry: Your God reigns--the victory of God over every oppression is now a reality (cf. Ps. 97:1; Acts 13:30-33; Rev. 19:6).

52:8-9 As the lone messenger approaches the city of God, the watchmen on the wall shout the good news that the King is returning.

52:10 The power of salvation spreads to the ends of the earth (cf. 49:6). before the eyes of all the nations. Restoring Jerusalem is a means to this great end.

52:11-12 Depart, depart. God calls his exiled people to leave Babylon as pilgrims, staking everything on his promises (cf. 2 Cor. 6:17). touch no unclean thing. I.e., do not bring any defilement with you as you return to rebuild the holy city. you who bear the vessels of the Lord. I.e., they are restoring these vessels to the temple service (cf. Ezra 1:1-11). you shall not go out in haste. Not as panicky fugitives but in confidence. before you . . . your rear guard. The Lord surrounds his Jerusalem-bound people as their escort (cf. Ex. 14:19-20; Ezra 8:21-23).