Isaiah 52

11–12 Here Isaiah makes a final call to the exiles to depart from Babylon and its ungodliness. Let them not defile themselves by touching any unclean thing, or engaging in any unclean act.¹⁹⁸ Especially the priests and Levites among them—those assigned to carry back to Jerusalem the vessels (articles) of the temple—must remain pure (Ezra 1:7–11).

In verse 12, Isaiah tells the exiles that they will not need to leave in haste: the Lord will be with them. He will go before them¹⁹⁹ and behind them, just as He did when the Israelites left Egypt (Exodus 13:21–22; 14:19–20). Ezra, who led the first group of exiles on their journey back to Jerusalem, took this promise to heart; he refused the military escort that was offered to him, saying: “The gracious hand of our God is on us” (Ezra 8:22–23). Ezra and his fellow exiles were not disappointed.

The Suffering and Glory of the Servant (52:13–15)

13–15 Beginning with these verses and continuing throughout the next chapter, Isaiah presents his fourth and final prophecy concerning the “servant of the Lord” (see Isaiah 42:1–9; 49:1–7; 50:4–9). This final prophecy is regarded by many to be the most important passage in the book of Isaiah, and one of the most important in the entire Old Testament.

Isaiah says that the Lord’s servant (Jesus) will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted (verse 13), something Isaiah has said before (Isaiah 49:7), and which is repeated often in the New Testament (Acts 2:32–33; Ephesians 1:20–23; Philippians 2:9–11).

But then, in verse 14, Isaiah says that before the servant’s exaltation takes place, many people would be appalled at him; he would be disfigured by pain and sorrow. Isaiah had said earlier that the servant would be despised and abhorred by the nation—by his own people (Isaiah 49:7). All of this would come true in Jesus’ life.

But just as people would be appalled at the servant’s suffering, so would they be amazed at his rising. Even kings will be speechless, says Isaiah. For the exalted servant will sprinkle many nations (verse 15). This “sprinkling” refers to both the sprinkling of cleansing (Numbers 8:5–7) and the sprinkling of CONSECRATION (Exodus 29:21). Those who believe in Jesus are both cleansed from sin and consecrated (set apart) for service.

The kings and the people of the nations will be amazed because they will see what no one had ever told them (verse 15). Paul quoted these words in Romans 15:21 to explain why he felt called to preach to the Gentiles: they had never had the chance to hear God’s prophetic word concerning Christ. Paul knew that if they could only hear about Christ’s suffering and exaltation they would see and understand—and believe in the One who died and rose again.