Isaiah 52:7 - Meaning and Application

The return of the Jews from Babylon to their own land is described here both as mercy and as duty. Paul’s use of Isaiah 52:7 for the preaching of the gospel (Romans 10:15) clearly shows that this rescue was a picture of the greater rescue of humanity by Jesus Christ. What is said here about their release from Babylon should, then, be understood in light of redemption through Christ.

First, this is a great blessing, and it should be received with deep joy and thankfulness. Those who bring the news of release are very welcome, as the verse says: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news” (Isaiah 52:7). The picture is of messengers seen far away on the mountains around Jerusalem, bringing word that the captivity is ending. It is likely not mainly speaking of official couriers, but of some Jews who learned the news early and quickly spread it everywhere, even back to Jerusalem, so the small group still there would know their brothers were soon coming home.

The message is not only news, it is a sign that Zion’s God reigns. That is how it is announced: “Your God reigns.” When bad news is everywhere, this is good news. When good news comes, this is the best news, that Zion’s God reigns, that God is in covenant with his people and rules for them (Psalm 146:10; Zechariah 9:9). The Lord has founded Zion (Isaiah 14:32), so all events rise from his rule and move toward the advance of his grace.

This also points forward to the preaching of the gospel. The gospel is a proclamation of peace and salvation. It is truly good news, glad tidings of victory over our spiritual enemies and freedom from our spiritual slavery. The good news is that the Lord Jesus reigns, and all authority has been given to him. Christ himself first brought this news (Luke 4:18; Hebrews 2:3), and in that sense the text says, “How beautiful are his feet.” His feet were nailed to the cross, and yet they are beautiful on Mount Calvary. They were also beautiful when he came “leaping on the mountains” (Song of Solomon 2:8), lovely to those who knew his voice and knew it was the voice of their beloved.

His ministers also announce this good news. They should keep themselves clean from the world’s corruption, and then they will be precious to those they are sent to serve. People sit at their feet, or rather at Christ’s feet through them, to hear his word. They should be held in loving respect for the sake of their work and for the sake of their message, which deserves full acceptance (1 Thessalonians 5:13).

Those who hear the good news will be filled with joy. Zion’s watchmen will rejoice because they are suddenly given clear light, Isaiah 52:8. The watchmen on Jerusalem’s walls will lead the song of victory. These are the people God had set on the walls of Jerusalem to call on his name and keep praying until he again made Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62:6). They stand watch for an answer to prayer (Habakkuk 2:1), so when the good news comes, they hear it first. The longer they have waited and prayed for it, the more their hearts will rise when it arrives.

They will lift up their voices and sing together. They will call others to join them in praise. What will fill them with special joy is that they “will see eye to eye,” that is, face to face. God had seemed hidden, and through the dark cloud of suffering they could barely see his favor. Now that the cloud is gone, they will clearly see it. They will see Zion’s King face to face. This was fulfilled when the Word became flesh and lived among us, and some saw his glory (John 1:14; 1 John 1:1). They will also see that prophecy and event match exactly, promise and fulfillment standing together, as if they look one upon another face to face. Then they will know that the same God both spoke and acted.

When the Lord brings Zion back from captivity, the prophets will gain and give fuller insight than before into God’s good will toward his people. This also points to gospel times, when the Spirit is poured out on gospel ministers as a spirit of wisdom and revelation, leading them into all truth. Then they will see eye to eye and understand God’s grace more clearly than Old Testament believers could. They will also be united in these great matters of salvation, agreeing in both their views and their songs. Paul seems to echo this when he speaks of our future hope of seeing face to face.

Zion’s waste places will also rejoice because they will be greatly comforted, Isaiah 52:9. “Break forth into singing together, you ruins of Jerusalem,” means all parts of the city, for the whole city lay in ruins. Even the places that seemed most abandoned will share in the joy. They had expected so little that their joy will burst out like the joy of people waking from a dream (Psalm 126:1, Psalm 126:2). They are told to sing together, since those who share in mercy should also join in praise.

There is good reason for joy and praise here. God’s people will feel the comfort of this salvation, and what should move us to rejoice should also move us to give thanks. He has redeemed Jerusalem, meaning the people of Jerusalem who had been sold into their enemies’ hands, and by doing that he has comforted his sorrowful people. The redemption of Jerusalem is the joy of all God’s people, whose mark is that they look for that redemption (Luke 2:38). God himself will also receive glory from it, for he has bared his holy arm, showing his power openly before all nations, Isaiah 52:10. His arm is called holy because it is stretched out in purity and justice, in defense of holiness and in keeping with his promise. All the world will also benefit from it.

In the great salvation worked out by our Lord Jesus, the Lord’s power was revealed, and all the earth was made to see it. But this was not meant only as a sight to watch, like the Jews’ release from Babylon. It was meant to be shared in, so that people from every nation, even the farthest places, would receive the blessings of redemption. This is how it applies to our salvation through Christ. Luke 3:6 says, “All flesh shall see the salvation of God,” that great salvation.

This is also spoken of as a great work, one that should be handled with great care and seriousness. When freedom is announced, God’s people should hurry out of Babylon as quickly as they can. Even if they are settled there, they must not think of putting down roots in Babylon. The call is, “Depart, depart” (Isaiah 52:11), meaning, get out from the middle of her. This is not only for those on the edges, but also for those in the very center of the land. Babylon is no place for Israelites. As soon as they are allowed to leave, they should waste no time. God used this word to stir the hearts of those willing to return (Ezra 1:5). It is also a call to all who are still in the slavery of sin and Satan to make use of the freedom Christ has announced to them. If the Son sets them free, they will be truly free.

They must also be careful not to bring Babylon’s pollution with them: “Touch no unclean thing.” Now that God is showing his holy power on their behalf, they must be holy as he is and keep away from every evil thing. When Israel came out of Egypt, they brought some of Egypt’s idolatrous customs with them (Ezekiel 23:3), and that became their ruin. They must be careful not to do the same now that they are leaving Babylon. When we are receiving special mercy from God, we should be even more watchful against impurity. This matters especially for those who carry the vessels of the Lord, that is, the priests, who were given the task of carrying the sanctuary vessels back to Jerusalem when they were restored by special permission (Ezra 1:7; Ezra 8:24). They must not only avoid touching anything unclean, but must also cleanse themselves carefully according to the law for holy service. Christians are made spiritual priests to our God (Revelation 1:6). They are entrusted with keeping God’s ordinances pure and whole. That is a precious trust, so they should be clean, wash their hands in innocence, go around God’s altar, and carry his vessels with purity.

They must also trust God’s presence and protection as they leave (Isaiah 52:12). “You shall not go out in haste.” They were to go with a steady and urgent pace, not wasting time or lingering, like Lot in Sodom. But they were not to rush in fearful panic, as if enemies were chasing them, as when they left Egypt, or as if the order for their release might be taken back. No, they would find that God’s work is perfect, so they did not need to hurry more than was wise. Cyrus would send them away with honor, and they would return with honor, not as fugitives. The Lord would go before them as their leader and commander, and the God of Israel would be their rear guard, gathering up those left behind. God would protect them in front and behind. He would keep them safe from enemies who might meet them or follow them, for his favor would surround them. When Israel came out of Egypt, the pillar of cloud and fire sometimes moved behind them to guard their rear (Exodus 14:19). God’s presence with them would now serve the same purpose, though not in visible form. Those who walk in the path of duty are under God’s special protection, and the one who truly believes this will not act in a fearful rush.