Isaiah 52
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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.
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.
3 For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
4 For thus saith the Lord God, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.
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.
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.
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!
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.
9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
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.
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.
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.
13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
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:
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.
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Commentary
Commissioned by the commander on the field of battle, a young man runs with joy in his heart and a great message on his lips: the king wins! The war against our enemy is nearly over, the king is near the victory, and peace is almost here! Such is the picture of verse 7: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news. . . who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’”
Have you heard the scripture song based on Isaiah 52:7, Our God Reigns? What a simple and powerful message it contains! How true is the power of a song of hope in times of distress. When darkness and depression seem to envelop the soul, singing the songs of Zion will lift the cloud our enemy has placed there to oppress us. Sing. Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing in the morning, sing at noon, and at night. Sing whether or not you can carry a tune. It will bring heavenly angels next to you to silently harmonize your longing for God.
God is able, He is abundantly able! Choose is to look up and sing!
Ron E M Clouzet
Director, Ministerial Association
Northern Asia-Pacific Division
