Isaiah 52

Isaiah 52:1

O Zion] under the figure of the Jewish Nation, delivered from the captivity of Babylon the Church is exhorted to rejoyce, and triumph in the Lord, because she is through Christ delivered from all her spirituall enemies The uncircumcised] thou shalt be no more assaulted nor tyrannized over by any prophane Nations which are the figure of the World. And shalt moreover be spiritually sanctisied in all thy members, Isaiah 35:8. which shal perfectly be accomplished in the heavenly Jerusalem, Revelation 21:27.

Isaiah 52:2

Shake thy selfe] accept and make use of the spiritual liberty which I offer thee. And use all meanes and endeavours which thou art able to use, being thereunto strengthned by my Spirit of freedome, to free thy selfe perfectly.

Isaiah 52:3

Ye have sold your selves] the Italian, Ye have been sold] that is to say, according to mans reason, you have beene made subject to the Babylonians without any cause.

Isaiah 52:4

My people] that is to say, though the Egyptians had some right to my people, who were come into their Countrey, and had received many benefits from them in their extreame need, and therefore were bound and subject to them. Yet when the Egyptians begun to tyrannize over them, they were grievously punished for it. How much more then shall the Childeans be punished, who violently subdued my people, and kept them in most cruell bondage?

Isaiah 52:5

What have I] shal I suffer such an intolerable violence? Or, shal I who am alwaies inseparably present in grace with my people, be kept here in Babylon, as in captivity, out of my Temple, in a prophane Land?

Isaiah 52:6

My name] that is to say; my vertue and glorious power, from whence I have those titles and names which I have revealed unto them That doth speake] namely, as God, effecting by mine omnipotence what I have spoken

Isaiah 52:7

How beautifull] how acceptable and pleasing shal the message of our deliverance out of Babylon be unto us. And how much more welcome shal the Gospel be unto us, which is the embassage of life and peace? Thy God] that is to say, God hath raised up againe his glory and service, which was beaten downe by the Babylon captivity. And Jesus Christ, the true eternall God, hath taken upon him the spirituall Kingdom, which was bestowed upon him by his Father, Psal. 93. 1. and 96. 10. and 97. 1.

Isaiah 52:8

Thy watchmen] sigurative termes taken from watchmen that stood in watch-towers, who as soon as they saw a farre off any thing that was desired and expected, did use to call and give notice of it.

Isaiah 52:9

Waste places] that is to say, thou earthly Jerusalem, which hast been laid waste by the Babylonians: and especially thou Church which art spoiled by sin and death, rejoyce because of the salvation which God sendeth thee by Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 52:10

Hath made bare] the Italian, hath drawn out; as it were out of his bosome, Psal. 74. 11. and hath displaied his infinite power, which before seemed to lie idle.

Isaiah 52:11

Go ye out] an exhortation to the people to come forth of the earthly Babylon, and not to be allured or enticed by the uncleane and prophane commodities thereof. And an exhortation to all the Church, redeemed by Christ, to separate it selfe from the communion and affection of the world, and the corruptions and idolatries thereof, 2 Corinthians 6:17. Galatians 1:4. Be ye clean]namely, you sacred Officers, to whom it belongeth to carry those vessels and ornaments which belong to the Temple: and thereby are spiritually meant all beleevers, whereof every one carrieth a vessell sacred to the Lord, namely, himselfe, 1 Thessalonians 4:4. 2 Timothy 2:21.

Isaiah 52:12

Ye shall not] as you did formerly, when you came out of Egypt, Exodus 12:33; Exodus 12:39. The meaning is, this return from Babylon, shall be with publike authoritie and openly, under Gods manifest protection, and shall be like the peoples comming thorow the wildernesse following of the ark; and therefore every thing may be done in good order, observing of Gods. Ordinances concerning sacred things. And this spiritually hath a relation to the mature deliberation and calme minde with which beleevers do forsake the world to follow Christ.

Isaiah 52:13

My servant] namely, Christ, who is the chiefe subject of this Chapter, see Isa. 42. 1. and 49. 3.

Isaiah 52:14

As many] that is to say, Even as thou my people shalt be brought into such extream misery that many shall be astonished thereat, and afterwards shall by me be restored into a most happy estate: even so Christ thy head, from great ignominie before the world, Isa. 53. 2. 3. Philippians 2:7. shall be exalted to soveraign glory Hebrews 2:9.

Isaiah 52:15

So shall he] as thou, O my people, hast received abundance of graces after thy miserie, even so shall Christ receive the fulnesse of the Spirit from the Father, which he shall shed over all the world, Acts 2:33. and by this meanes shall make himselfe known Shall shut] submitting to him in silence and humilitie For that which] namely, the mysterie of the Gospell, and of the Sonne of Gods Kingdom, which was unknowne in former ages, Romans 15:21.