Chapter 52
First two verses are sort of a poem, or a refrain, exhorting Zion to dress up, to raise her head, to loose her bonds. The implication is that their freedom is coming, their return to Zion is coming.
vs 3 is very interesting:
3 For thus says the LORD: "You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money." [Isa 52:3 ESV]
Seems to imply that no permanent contract of their captivity was made. Possibly referring to the earlier idea that there was no divorce, and there was no sale into slavery. If no money changes hands, there is no contract. In the same way as the Holy Spirit is the earnest of our salvation. Something of value changes hands when we are saved. That is a permanent contract between God and those He saves. His promise to fulfill or forfeit.
vs 7 starts with "How beautiful upon the mountains..." MSB says this is about the Millennial, when the Jews return to Zion.
vs 10 says all nations will see the salvation of Israel.
When Israel returns to Zion, she will not be running in fear, she will not be in a moving skirmish. God will go before, and God will be her rear guard. Israel will go home in peace and assurance, calmly, and without fear.
Then we come to the next "Servant Song". It starts like this:
13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. [Isa 52:13 ESV] Prophesies the cross before crucifixion was invented.
2023 - I think you could say just as easily that this verse is about the throne of Christ in the Millennial kingdom. MSB points out that 52:13-15 are a summary and preview of the humiliation and exaltation of the Servant...As to vs 13 specifically, he says "Ultimately, when the Servant rules over His kingdom, He will receive international recognition for the effectiveness of His reign." So MSB says vs 13 is about the Millennial. It is more internally consistent if applied there.
14 As many were astonished at you-- his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind-- [Isa 52:14 ESV] Prophesies the scourging, the beating, the abuse. So bruised and beaten he didn't even look human anymore. What they did to Jesus would have killed anyone else way before they put him on the cross. Only a man perfect in every way - not just sinless, but with the physical perfection that only God can create - would have been able to withstand the cruelty that Jesus endured.
2023 - Here is the last verse:
15 so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand. [Isa 52:15 ESV]. TCR footnote says "sprinkle" can also be translated "startle". Imagine the shock of seeing Jesus carrying that cross with his skin in tatters, blood everywhere, a walking dead man. Horror mixed with shock and incredulity that this man was still alive. The powers of this world will feel those same emotions when Jesus appears again, this time with an uncountable army, coming to take over the whole planet and rule it from Jerusalem. They won't want to believe what their own eyes tell them.
2021 - No new notes.