Friday, February 2, 2024

Isaiah 52: the Lord will rule over Jerusalem

 In Isaiah 52, we read:

 1-3: Wake Up, Jerusalem!

 The people of the Lord are in the Babylonian captivity (not 100% sure). Jerusalem are destroyed.

 2
Shake the dust from yourselves.
    Get up, captive Jerusalem.
    Free yourself from the chains around your neck, captive people of Zion.


4-6: Reflection on Past Injustices.

The Lord is sovereign, but how Egypt and Assyria let them mistreat his people? Is the Lord really ruling over his people? Perhaps not.

4 This is what Adonay Yahweh says: In the beginning my people went to Egypt to live there as foreigners. Later the Assyrians oppressed them for no reason. 5 So what do I find here? asks Yahweh. My people are taken away for no reason. Their rulers are screaming, declares Yahweh. And my name is cursed all day long. 6 Now my people will know my name. When that day comes, they will know that I am the one who says, “Here I am!”

7-10: Proclamation of Salvation

Jerusalem is destroyed, a good news is proclaimed:

7 (...)
Elohim rules as king.
8
Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices
    and shout together joyfully.
        When Yahweh brings Zion back,
            they will see it with their own eyes.
9
Break out into shouts of joy, ruins of Jerusalem.
    Yahweh will comfort his people.
        He will reclaim Jerusalem.


11-12: Call to Depart from Babylon
The people of the Lord are called to leave Babylon and go back (to Jerusalem).
11
Run away! Run away!
    Get away from there!
    Do not touch anything unclean.[a]
    Get away from it!
    Make yourselves pure,
    you Levites who carry the utensils for Yahweh’s temple.


13-15: The Suffering Servant

Now we are introduced to the "Suffering Servant". How this Servant is important in the return to Jerusalem? We read:

13
My servant will be successful.
    He will be respected, praised, and highly honored.
14
Many will be shocked by him.[b]
    His appearance will be so disfigured
        that he won’t look like any other man.
        His looks will be so disfigured
            that he will hardly look like a human.
15
He will cleanse many nations with his blood.
    Kings will shut their mouths because of him.
        They will see things that they had never been told.
        They will understand things that they had never heard.


As a Christian, I understand that it refers to Jesus. He cleanses many nations with his blood. Perhaps a Jew would think this servant as Israel that was mistreated by many nations.

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