Isaiah Chapter 52
[Isaiah 52:1] 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.
Amos Chacham (Daat Mikra) points out that the previous verse spoke of the
subjection and humiliation of the Jews: [Isaiah 51:23] BUT I WILL PUT IT
INTO THE HAND OF THEM THAT AFFLICT THEE; WHICH HAVE SAID TO THY SOUL, BOW
DOWN, THAT WE MAY GO OVER: AND THOU HAST LAID THY BODY AS THE GROUND, AND
AS THE STREET, TO THEM THAT WENT OVER. In the past Judah was
humiliated and downtrodden and treated with contempt and forced to behave
accordingly.
Now Zion (Judah) is being called upon to assert herself “PUT ON THY STRENGTH, O ZION; PUT ON THY BEAUTIFUL GARMENTS”.
Judah is being called upon to reveal its inner strength and bravery. This has begun to take place.
This has occurred in a limited degree in recent times when the Jewish
people in the State of Israel defended themselves against evil oppressors
in several wars and numerous day-to-day incidents. Make no mistake. The enemies
of the Jewish people are evil.
Remember “Entebbe”? When Israeli soldiers were flown a great distance into
darkest Africa to rescue Jewish captives from wicked people? All the world
rejoiced. My brother at the time was working in a Governemental office in
Melborne, Australia. When his Gentile co-workers received the news of the
rescue at Entebbe they all went down to the pub to celebrate.
THE UNCIRCUMCISED AND THE UNCLEAN: this includes the Arabs even though the
Arabs technically are circumcised in Scriptural terms it is as though they
were not. In the future Jerusalem is destined to be the capital of
the world. Many peoples will come up to visit in Jerusalem. But these non-Israelitee
peoples will come up as visitors and guests and not as oppressors or owners.
Nowadays it is dangerous for Jews to walk around in any area of Jerusalem
or elsewhere that is dominated by Arabs. Arabs can walk around
almost anywhere in Israel and apart from security checks here and there (in
times of danger) nobody will even say anything to them. In the future this
will not be the case. The Jews will rehabilitate themselves after centuries
of degradation. Jewish self-respect will re-assert itself.
This is a powerful message. All the Bible is powerful and speaking to us all the time but we keep forgetting.
The sages said: “The Torah has seventy aspects”. The Hebrew language
and the structure of Biblical verses often lend themselves to more than one
viable interpretation. The clear impression is that the possibility of several
understandings was intended from the begining.
[Isaiah 52:2] SHAKE THYSELF FROM THE DUST; ARISE, AND SIT DOWN, O JERUSALEM:
LOOSE THYSELF FROM THE BANDS OF THY NECK, O CAPTIVE DAUGHTER OF ZION.
The captivity of the Jews was physical but it had psychological effects that
will have to be discarded. At the same time the experience did perhaps teach
us humility and sensitivity towards others.
[Isaiah 52:3] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD, YE HAVE SOLD YOURSELVES FOR
NOUGHT; AND YE SHALL BE REDEEMED WITHOUT MONEY.
[Isaiah 52:4] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, MY PEOPLE WENT DOWN AFORETIME
INTO EGYPT TO SOJOURN THERE; AND THE ASSYRIAN OPPRESSED THEM WITHOUT CAUSE.
The Assyrians oppressed both Judah and ten tribed “Israel” though the Ten
Tribes were the ones the Assyrians exiled. The Assyrians forced them to accept
the Assyrian religion. They were already practising pagans to a large degree
and heavily influenced by the surrouinding Canaanites and Middle East cults.
These were similar to the Greeek ones that were derived from the same sources.
The Lost Ten Tribes are not keeping the faith of Moses nor are they acknowledging their true identity.
[Isaiah 52:5] 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.
As long as the Ten Tribes do not know of their origins and do not turn back
to the God of Israel it is as if they were taken away – and indeed so they
were. For this reason the name of God is blasphemed and people
do not own up to the truth of the Bible.
THEY THAT RULE OVER THEM MAKE THEM TO HOWL: This could mean straightforward
physical oppression by foreigners. It could also refer to the fact that our
rulers (in the West) almost force us into immorality and bad living. This
is not to our benefit but rather causes a ruination of our lives as a result
of which in secret or openly we howl over the waste of our existence.
Boys do not want to masturbate or become homosexuals.
Girls do not want to be promiscuous or treated as such.
People do not want to cheat or steal or use violence or be victimised or
oppress others. We do not want to take drugs or act stupidly. Our leaders
should be helping us do what we really want to do and should do.
In Universtiy circles if you say the Bible is true they will long at you
as if you are not all there. If you are an academic you may be in danger
of losing your job.
By clinging to a Bible-based existence we can realize our true selves.
[Isaiah 52:6] 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.
God will save us and lead us forward. We shall know that it is by His power
we are led onwards. We shall know His name. The name reflects the essence
of the named. By knowing His name it means we shall know and realize in our
existence the meaning of His name. We shall be renewed.
[Isaiah 52:7] 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!
[Isaiah 52:8] 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.
“WATCHMEN” in Hebrew “Tsofaich”. These are the prophets. According
to tradition in the Messianic Age the gift of Prophecy will once again become
apparent.
[Isaiah 52:9] BREAK FORTH INTO JOY, SING TOGETHER, YE WASTE PLACES
OF JERUSALEM: FOR THE LORD HATH COMFORTED HIS PEOPLE, HE HATH REDEEMED
JERUSALEM.
This is referring to all Israel all of whom are centered on Jerusalem.
[Isaiah 52:10] 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 52:11] 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.
“BE YE CLEAN” in Hebrew “Hibaru” from the root “bar” meaning clean or clear.
Similarly in Psalms it says “Nashku Bar” [Psalms 2:12] translated as
KISS THE SON since “bar” in Aramaic can also mean son and Nashku can mean
either “kiss” or “join unto”. The expression in Psalmsshould more correctly
have been translated as “cling unto honesty”.
[Isaiah 52:12] 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.
“WILL BE YOUR REWARD” I do not understand where this translation came from.
Understand me: I resepect the King James version a lot and actually
prefer using it. Nevertheless here and there occur some renditions
of words and expressions that I have trouble comprehending. The Hebrew says
“umasifchem” meaning “and will gather you”, i.e. it should be translated
“AND THE GOD OF ISRAEL WILL GATHER YOU UP”.
The ffollowing verses are part of a separate section and should be considered together with the versesthat follow in Chapter 53.
[Isaiah 52:13] BEHOLD, MY SERVANT SHALL DEAL PRUDENTLY, HE SHALL BE
EXALTED AND EXTOLLED, AND BE VERY HIGH.
“MY SERVANT”: This is Israel.
The servant in Isaiah: The servant of God in Isaiah is either a Prophet, or a Holy Person, or the nation of Israel.
[[Isaiah 20:3] AND THE LORD SAID, LIKE AS MY SERVANT
ISAIAH HATH WALKED NAKED AND BAREFOOT THREE YEARS FOR A SIGN AND WONDER UPON EGYPT AND UPON ETHIOPIA;
[Isaiah 22:20] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT I WILL CALL MY SERVANT ELIAKIM THE SON OF HILKIAH:
[Isaiah 37:35] FOR I WILL DEFEND THIS CITY TO SAVE IT FOR MINE OWN SAKE, AND FOR MY SERVANT DAVID'S SAKE.
[Isaiah 41:8] BUT THOU, ISRAEL, ART MY SERVANT, JACOB WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN, THE SEED OF ABRAHAM MY FRIEND.
[Isaiah 41:9] THOU WHOM I HAVE TAKEN FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, AND
CALLED THEE FROM THE CHIEF MEN THEREOF, AND SAID UNTO THEE, THOU ART MY SERVANT;
I HAVE CHOSEN THEE, AND NOT CAST THEE AWAY.
[Isaiah 42:1] BEHOLD MY SERVANT, WHOM I UPHOLD; MINE ELECT, IN WHOM
MY SOUL DELIGHTETH; I HAVE PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM: HE SHALL BRING FORTH JUDGMENT
TO THE GENTILES.
[Isaiah 42:19] WHO IS BLIND, BUT MY SERVANT? OR DEAF, AS MY MESSENGER THAT
I SENT? WHO IS BLIND AS HE THAT IS PERFECT, AND BLIND AS THE LORD'S SERVANT?
[Isaiah 43:10] YE ARE MY WITNESSES, SAITH THE LORD, AND MY SERVANT WHOM I
HAVE CHOSEN: THAT YE MAY KNOW AND BELIEVE ME, AND UNDERSTAND THAT I AM HE:
BEFORE ME THERE WAS NO GOD FORMED, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE AFTER ME.
[Isaiah 44:1] YET NOW HEAR, O JACOB MY SERVANT; AND ISRAEL, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN:
[Isaiah 44:2] THUS SAITH THE LORD THAT MADE THEE, AND FORMED THEE FROM THE
WOMB, WHICH WILL HELP THEE; FEAR NOT, O JACOB, MY SERVANT; AND THOU, JESURUN,
WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN.
[Isaiah 44:21] REMEMBER THESE, O JACOB AND ISRAEL; FOR THOU ART MY SERVANT:
I HAVE FORMED THEE; THOU ART MY SERVANT: O ISRAEL, THOU SHALT NOT BE FORGOTTEN
OF ME.
[Isaiah 44:26] THAT CONFIRMETH THE WORD OF HIS SERVANT, AND PERFORMETH THE
COUNSEL OF HIS MESSENGERS; THAT SAITH TO JERUSALEM, THOU SHALT BE INHABITED;
AND TO THE CITIES OF JUDAH, YE SHALL BE BUILT, AND I WILL RAISE UP THE DECAYED
PLACES THEREOF:
[Isaiah 45:4] FOR JACOB MY SERVANT'S SAKE, AND ISRAEL MINE ELECT, I HAVE
EVEN CALLED THEE BY THY NAME: I HAVE SURNAMED THEE, THOUGH THOU HAST NOT
KNOWN ME.
[Isaiah 48:20] GO YE FORTH OF BABYLON, FLEE YE FROM THE CHALDEANS, WITH A
VOICE OF SINGING DECLARE YE, TELL THIS, UTTER IT EVEN TO THE END OF THE EARTH;
SAY YE, THE LORD HATH REDEEMED HIS SERVANT JACOB.
[Isaiah 49:3] AND SAID UNTO ME, THOU ART MY SERVANT, O ISRAEL, IN WHOM I WILL BE GLORIFIED.
[Isaiah 49:5] AND NOW, SAITH THE LORD THAT FORMED ME FROM THE WOMB TO BE
HIS SERVANT, TO BRING JACOB AGAIN TO HIM, THOUGH ISRAEL BE NOT GATHERED,
YET SHALL I BE GLORIOUS IN THE EYES OF THE LORD, AND MY GOD SHALL BE
MY STRENGTH.
[Isaiah 49:6] AND HE SAID, IT IS A LIGHT THING THAT THOU SHOULDEST BE MY
SERVANT TO RAISE UP THE TRIBES OF JACOB, AND TO RESTORE THE PRESERVED OF
ISRAEL: I WILL ALSO GIVE THEE FOR A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, THAT THOU
MAYEST BE MY SALVATION UNTO THE END OF THE EARTH.
[Isaiah 50:10] WHO IS AMONG YOU THAT FEARETH THE LORD, THAT OBEYETH THE VOICE
OF HIS SERVANT, THAT WALKETH IN DARKNESS, AND HATH NO LIGHT? LET HIM TRUST
IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, AND STAY UPON HIS GOD.
[Isaiah 52:13] BEHOLD, MY SERVANT SHALL DEAL PRUDENTLY, HE SHALL BE EXALTED
AND EXTOLLED, AND BE VERY HIGH.
[Isaiah 54:17] NO WEAPON THAT IS FORMED AGAINST THEE SHALL PROSPER; AND EVERY
TONGUE THAT SHALL RISE AGAINST THEE IN JUDGMENT THOU SHALT CONDEMN. THIS
IS THE HERITAGE OF THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD, AND THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS OF
ME, SAITH THE LORD.
[Isaiah 56:6] ALSO THE SONS OF THE STRANGER, THAT JOIN THEMSELVES TO THE
LORD, TO SERVE HIM, AND TO LOVE THE NAME OF THE LORD, TO BE HIS
SERVANTS, EVERY ONE THAT KEEPETH THE SABBATH FROM POLLUTING IT, AND TAKETH
HOLD OF MY COVENANT;
[Isaiah 63:17] O LORD, WHY HAST THOU MADE US TO ERR FROM THY WAYS, AND HARDENED
OUR HEART FROM THY FEAR? RETURN FOR THY SERVANTS' SAKE, THE TRIBES
OF THINE INHERITANCE.
[Isaiah 65:8] THUS SAITH THE LORD, AS THE NEW WINE IS FOUND IN THE CLUSTER,
AND ONE SAITH, DESTROY IT NOT; FOR A BLESSING IS IN IT: SO WILL I DO FOR
MY SERVANTS' SAKES, THAT I MAY NOT DESTROY
THEM ALL.
[Isaiah 65:9] AND I WILL BRING FORTH A SEED OUT OF JACOB, AND OUT OF JUDAH
AN INHERITOR OF MY MOUNTAINS: AND MINE ELECT SHALL INHERIT IT, AND MY SERVANTS
SHALL DWELL THERE.
[Isaiah 65:13] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, BEHOLD, MY
SERVANTS SHALL EAT, BUT YE SHALL BE HUNGRY: BEHOLD, MY SERVANTS SHALL DRINK,
BUT YE SHALL BE THIRSTY: BEHOLD, MY SERVANTS SHALL REJOICE, BUT YE SHALL
BE ASHAMED:
[Isaiah 65:14] BEHOLD, MY SERVANTS SHALL SING FOR JOY OF HEART, BUT
YE SHALL CRY FOR SORROW OF HEART, AND SHALL HOWL FOR VEXATION OF SPIRIT.
[Isaiah 65:15] AND YE SHALL LEAVE YOUR NAME FOR A CURSE UNTO MY CHOSEN: FOR
THE LORD GOD SHALL SLAY THEE, AND CALL HIS SERVANTS BY ANOTHER NAME:
[Isaiah 66:14] AND WHEN YE SEE THIS, YOUR HEART SHALL REJOICE, AND YOUR BONES
SHALL FLOURISH LIKE AN HERB: AND THE HAND OF THE LORD SHALL BE KNOWN TOWARD
HIS SERVANTS, AND HIS INDIGNATION TOWARD HIS ENEMIES.
[Isaiah 52:14] AS MANY WERE ASTONIED AT THEE; HIS VISAGE WAS SO MARRED MORE
THAN ANY MAN, AND HIS FORM MORE THAN THE SONS OF MEN:
The Jews were despised and treated as sub-humans. People were astounded at
the depths the Jews were reduced to. In the Ukraine the pogroms in
which pregnant Jewish women had their bellies ripped open, the foetus pulled
out and a live cat put inside. Then the bellies were sowed up again.
[Isaiah 52:15] 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.
They will be astounded that they whom they had treated with such contempt
had all along been the favored children of God Almighty. Even now you can
prove black on white that the Israelis are in the right and that justice
is on their side but no-one wants to hear. Why do all the nations rush
to honor and respect and support a perverted non-entity like the Nazi-beast
called Arafat? He is the enemy of the Jews therefore he is respected even
by some of the Jews and by many of those of “Israelite” origin.
An accounting will have to be made for this some day.
The leaders of the world will have to explain themselves.
The King will want to know why his servant was not accorded the respect due
to his position – regardless of personality differences.
Chapter Fifty-Three
HOme