ISAIAH LESSON 61


     We will begin this lesson in Isaiah 52:1 "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."

     God has restored Jerusalem to the Israelites. They have returned
from captivity, and God is expressing, here, the need for them to take
their rightful place as God's people. They should be strengthened by
the knowledge that God is their Protector. Their strength originates
in their faith in God. The beautiful garments are, possibly, speaking
of garments that will show the world who their God is. It could be the
garment of holiness. We know that the beautiful garment of the high
priest was worn when he was representing God to the people. The world
should be able to look at them and see they are on God's side. The
"uncircumcised" are speaking of worldly people. True believers in
Christ are circumcised in their hearts. Romans 2:29 "But he [is] a
Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart,
in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men,
but of God." Jerusalem is the holy city of God. Only believers are to
come there.

     Isaiah 52:2 "Shake thyself from the dust; arise, [and] sit down,
O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive
daughter of Zion."

     Their captivity had been a dry and a thirsty land. They were to
shake off the past and live for the future. The bands of thy neck had
been the bands of bondage. They are no longer in bondage. They must
accept their freedom and rise above the past.

     Isaiah 52:3 "For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for
nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money."

     The enemy, Babylon, had not bought the people. They were taken in
battle. They will not be purchased back, either. They will regain
their freedom when Babylon falls. There was no money exchanging hands
either way. We, Christians, have been bought with a price, and it was
the shed blood of Jesus. God has spoken it, and it is so.

     Isaiah 52:4 "For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down
aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them
without cause."

     The first time they went into Egypt, was a voluntary act upon
their part to find food for their family. Of course, God sent them
there to cause them to seek Him. They were cruelly treated while in
Egypt. They worked as slaves, until God sent Moses to get them. They
were again carried into Egypt under the evil Assyrian kings, and God
delivered them. They were captured by the Babylonians, also. All of
these times happened, because God was teaching them a lesson.

     Isaiah 52:5 "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."

     For God's people to be in captivity, would be like saying God was
not strong enough to deliver them. Of course, this was not the reason
at all. God sent them there to repent and return to Him. The
captivity, in all cases, was cruel and caused them to cry out to God
to help them. The minute they cried out to God, He heard them and soon
after came to their rescue.

     Isaiah 52:6 "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."

     The purpose in all of this was so that God's people would realize
who He Is. They were spiritual adulterers before the captivity. God
teaches them to respect and know His name above all other names.

     Isaiah 52:7  "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!"

     We see in this that their deliverance was not because they
deserved it, but because God loved them. Jesus redeemed all believers
while they were yet sinners. Jesus brought the good news of the Gospel
into the world. Certainly the feet that carry that message to the
world are beautiful. Jesus is peace, He is salvation, He is King of
kings. Zion {the church} does have a King that reigns, and His name is
Jesus. Our God truly reigns. "Reigneth" means continually reigns.
Romans 10:15 "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is
written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of
peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" The message is Jesus
Christ and Him crucified, the hope of all who believe.

     Isaiah 52:8 "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."

     This is a strange statement. I believe it is speaking of those
who watch over Zion. Remember, Zion can be Jerusalem, or the church. A
"watchman" is someone who keeps constant alert about a specific thing.
We know in Jerusalem today, there are old Jewish leaders who are
watching for the coming Messiah. It would be a joyous thing for the
watchman to see God's people come back into Jerusalem. We, also, know
that the angels in heaven are constantly watching the happenings of
God's people here on the earth. They rejoice when even one sinner
comes to Christ. Angels are ministering spirits. Hebrews 1:13 "But to
which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I
make thine enemies thy footstool?"  Hebrews 1:14 "Are they not all
ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be
heirs of salvation?"
     Isaiah 52:9  "Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste
places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath
redeemed Jerusalem."

     God redeemed Jerusalem, when they were not worthy to be forgiven.
The best thing to do is to praise Him from the gift He gave them. The
sacrifice we make to Him now is praise. Hebrews 13:15 "By him
therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,
that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name."

     Isaiah 52:10 "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."

     All of the nations see the power of God {naked arm}. This Arm
actually symbolizes Jesus Christ, who is the fulness of the Godhead
bodily. Salvation through Jesus Christ is offered to the whole world.

     Isaiah 52:11  "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."

     This going out is speaking of Babylon, but is, also, speaking of
separating oneself from an evil world. When a person is saved, he must
separate himself from the world. God wants His people to be holy, as
He is holy. "Those that bears the vessels" are the ministers for God.

     Isaiah 52:12 "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 rereward."

     "Rereward" means to gather for any purpose. It, also, means take
away, or remove. The presence of God went before the children of
Israel, when they wandered in the wilderness. Jesus made the way open
for us, as well. He leaves a path for us to walk in. He is our leader.

     Isaiah 52:13  "Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall
be exalted and extolled, and be very high."

     "Extolled" means to lift. The servant here, could be Jesus, or
His followers. Jesus is lifted up. He is exalted above all else. At
the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord.

     Isaiah 52:14 "As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so
marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:"

     Jesus was not outstandingly beautiful in the flesh. He had His
flesh torn severely before the crucifixion. When He took the sin of
the world upon His body, the sin was ugly. People were astonished that
this very Jesus was actually the Son of God, who would save the world.

     Isaiah 52:15 "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."

     This sprinkling, I believe to be purification through His blood.
His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness. We put on His robe of
righteousness washed in His blood and made white as snow. They had not
heard of God's great love for mankind before. His love was so great,
that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have eternal life. The hard thing for them, and
us, to understand is the great love of God for all mankind.












































                          Isaiah 61 Questions


1.  What does this Scripture promise to the exiled Israelites?
2.  What should be their strength?
3.  What are the beautiful garments?
4.  When did the high priest wear his beautiful garment?
5.  Who are the "uncircumcised" of verse 1?
6.  Quote Romans chapter 2 verse 29.
7.  What is verse 2 telling them to shake off?
8.  How had Babylon obtained these people of God?
9.  What have we Christians been bought with?
10. Why had Jacob's family gone into Egypt the first time?
11. What was different about the Babylonian captivity?
12. Why had God allowed His people to go into captivity?
13. The captivity of God's people sent what message to the outside
    world?
14. What caused them to cry out to God?
15. Quote Isaiah chapter 52 verse 7.
16. Why did God deliver them?
17. Name some things that Jesus is.
18. What does "reigneth" mean?
19. Quote Romans chapter 10 verse 15.
20. What is the message?
21. Who does the author believe verse 8 is speaking to?
22. What is a "watchman"?
23. Quote Hebrews chapter 1 verse 4.
24. God redeemed His people, when they were not worthy. What can His
    people do for Him?
25. Quote Hebrews chapter 13 verse 15.
26. What does the "arm" in verse 10, symbolize?
27. Who are "those that bear the vessels"?
28. What does "rereward" mean?
29. What does "extolled" mean?
30. The sin on Jesus' body on the cross was ________.
31. What does the author believe the sprinkling, in verse 15, to be?