Spiritual Recharge

Good morning everyone! It’s great to be here as we take a break from our series in Job, to a lead up to Easter in just a few weeks. I hope you’ve been participating in and enjoying the 40 days of seeking God devotion along with the Fast Friday’s we’ve been doing the last few weeks. 

Generally, when I have the chance to preach, I always do my best to set the scene of the passage.  I find it so important to put the scripture into proper context, that I’ll give a quick recap of what’s happened in the book leading up whatever chapter I’ll be in. However, with us being in chapter 52 I need to take a different approach. 

Isaiah was considered a Major prophet. Not to be confused with the minor prophets (Jonah, Michah, Nahum…) Major prophets and minor prophets alike, are probably some of the whitest pages in your bible, because they are rarely read, studied, preached from, etc… They’re not the most exciting books to read in our bibles. 

In the Bible, prophets had the task of faithfully speaking God’s Word to the people and confronting their leaders with God’s commands and promises.  They were instrumental in guiding the nation of Israel and establishing the church. Prophets often had both a teaching and revelatory role, declaring God’s truth on current issues while also revealing details about the future. 

The Major and Minor prophets we read about pretty much all have the same jist to them. There’s a lot of doom and gloom, talks of impending judgment and wrath on the people unless they turn from their sinful ways and return to God.  

What’s interesting for all prophetic books in our bible is they begin by saying something along the lines of “…and the word of the Lord came to _______ during the days of _____”. 

What makes Isaiah unique is that the word of the Lord appeared to him in a vision, or perhaps a series of visions given to him by the Lord during the reign of four separate kings. 

Isaiah touches on both the present and the future. In the first portion of his book, spanning 39 chapters, he preaches against the corruption of his day and age. Warning the people to turn from their lives of sin and warns of God’s coming judgment and punishment. He calls them to repent of their sin!

The remaining 27 chapters, thought to be written during the exile, are filled with forgiveness, comfort and hope, as he delivers grand visions of the future of Israel through God’s unfolding promise of the coming messiah.    

It begins with a commanding wake up call, there’s a reminder of how Israel got to where they are in the first place. A joyful, and comforting section of hope as we see God’s redemption, and the passage ends in the same way it starts- a call to action. Poetry is not my strong suit, but I’m going to do my best to decipher and explain this passage.  

Isaiah 52:1-2 

Awake, awake, Zion,

    clothe yourself with strength!

Put on your garments of splendor,

    Jerusalem, the holy city.

The uncircumcised and defiled

    will not enter you again.

2 Shake off your dust;

    rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem.

Free yourself from the chains on your neck,

    Daughter Zion, now a captive.

1. Rise Up.

Isaiah starts by giving the people of Judah a wakeup call! There are multiple verbs, or actions he is giving them to do. Which is on par for the role of a prophet. They receive a message from the Lord and relay the message to the people. Usually, that message is what they should to be doing instead of what they are currently doing. 

Oftentimes, prophets were not the most popular amongst the people, which makes sense as they are the ones who were out here giving unsolicited wake up calls and telling people what they are doing is wrong. 

He urges them to wake up and to clothe themselves with “strength” and “garments of splendor”.  He calls them “Jerusalem, the holy city.” A reminder of who they are. This isn’t written to just to anyone. This isn’t just an ancient poem. This is the word of the Lord written to the Lord’s chosen people. So, yeah, as the Lord’s chosen people they ought to be clothed in strength and dressed in garments of splendor, because they are a chosen nation. A royal priesthood. 

But then as we keep reading in verse 2 we uncover a lot more. He tells them to “Shake off your dust; RISE UP, sit enthroned…free yourself from the chains on your neck.”

Connecting some dots here, the people of Israel are obviously not dressed in strength and splendor if they are now being reminded and commanded to do that. My new guess is they are dressed in rags. Not the nicest clothes. Especially for God’s chosen people, right?

But they’ve now been told to “shake off the dust, and free yourself from the chains on your neck”. Them being dressed in rags may have been a pretty generous guess, if they have to dust themselves off and remove the shackles from their neck.
              We learn from the last line of verse 2 that they are literally in captivity. 

God’s chosen people aren’t even in rags, they’re in dusty prison clothes. It’s not a bling gold chain on their neck, but a chain of shackles. Really, it’s not just a wakeup call and a reminder to clothe yourself with the best of the best. Its beyond that. It’s a call to action! These are serious commands from the Lord, that they are to follow. 

There’s a very similar wakeup call in Revelation 3:2-3 where it’s Jesus Christ himself with a message for the church: “² Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. ³ Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” 

He’s saying RISE UP!!! Get ready!!

That same wakeup call is for us today as children of God.

Are you clothing yourself with the Strength that comes from the Holy Spirit? Are you wearing “Garments of Splendor” in the way you present yourselves as a follower of Jesus Christ?

Are you living out the calling God has for you?
Are you spending time reading the word and putting on the full armor of God? 

Or are you dressed in dusty old prison clothes? Weighed down by chains and shackles.

It’s pretty easy to backslide into the very lifestyles we’ve been set free from, when we’re not dressing in what God has picked out for us, as the analogy goes.
Isaiah tells them to RISE UP! Because they have been called to something far greater than what they have bought into.

2. Reminder of (our unfaithfulness) God’s Faithfulness v.3-6

In the literal sense, the people Isaiah is writing to are currently in captivity. They’re in exile. Scattered. Dispersed. So your heart goes out to them. But if you know the story, you know how they got there, and then you don’t feel so bad for them. 

Isaiah reminds us of the Lord’s words saying: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.” This portion is prophesy being repeated. Isaiah wrote earlier in his book that the Lord would use Cyrus the Great in restoring his people. In chapter 45 he says: “He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 45:13)

Then the Lord is quoted saying “At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them. 5 “And now what do I have here?” declares the Lord.

“For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock,” declares the Lord. “And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.
6 Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I.”

As the history of the Israelites goes, they have continually been unfaithful to God. From grumbling and complaining, to a lack of trust and rebellion.  Not to mention the idol worship, and blaspheming the name of God.  

The Israelites were to worship and obey God. But they didn’t. They created for themselves idols. They chased after pagan gods of their oppressors. How did they get wind up in captivity? They sinned their way in one step at a time. “they were taken away for nothing” as it says in verse 5, because it wasn’t a transaction. They weren’t sold into slavery. They made choices. They turned their back on God and worshipped the false gods of the very people who were oppressing them. 

And now their oppressors, the Assyrians, believe that their false gods are greater than the one true God of the Israelites.  So they also blaspheme the name of the Lord. Specifically, to blaspheme is to speak with contempt about God or to be defiantly irreverent. Blasphemy is verbal or written reproach of God’s name, character, work, or attributes. It was a serious crime in the law God gave to Moses. All day long his name is being blasphemed. 

All this goes to show the relationship that Israel has with God. It’s not good. They have a terrible track record with him, now to the point that other people groups are seeing it too. 

God sets them straight too! Saying “…My people will know my name, and they’ll know it is I who foretold it.” The choices of the Israelites has been downright shameful, and because of that they have brought shame upon the name of the Lord.  Therefore, he will vindicate himself with unmistakable clarity for his own glory! 

There are a few reasons as to why Isaiah writes this and in the way he does. Again, this is poetry, so it’s possible there are a couple of ways to interpret it, and if or how it connects with you today may change if you were to read it again in a different season of life. 

I believe Isaiah writes this to do one of a few things. Remind us of where we’ve been. To remind of our sinful past. To remind us of what things were like when we tried things our own way. When we turned our backs on god, were unfaithful, disobedient, chasing after idols. 

I don’t think he brings this up to salt the wound, but to remind us to come back to the one true faithful God who never left us. Who loves unconditionally. Who is kind and compassionate. Who has plans and a purpose for us. Who will make his presence known among the nations! 

I feel like Isaiah is holding up a mirror in this passage. He’s showing them how they have Represented the Lord to those around him. And for any sort of personal application, we need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves “How have I been Representing the Lord to those around me?” Am I the reason others are curious and asking questions about God? Am I turning people towards God or away from God in the way I act, and speak, in my work ethic, etc…

Every summer when the youth group students go on the mission trip they’re reminded who they represent. First and foremost, Jesus Christ. Behind that is Eagleville Bible Church and Eagleville Youth. Behind that is their own family. 

That’s why Paul writes in Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…because it is Christ who you are serving”

3. We are Redeemed

Isaiah continues, writing about one who does represent Christ well! In these next few verses He prophetically envisions the messengers bringing their joyous good news to a sad and forsaken land: 

7 How beautiful on the mountains

    are the feet of those who bring good news,

who proclaim peace,

    who bring good tidings,

    who proclaim salvation,

who say to Zion,

    “Your God reigns!”

8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;

    together they shout for joy.

When the Lord returns to Zion,

    they will see it with their own eyes.

9 Burst into songs of joy together,

    you ruins of Jerusalem,

for the Lord has comforted his people,

    he has redeemed Jerusalem.

10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm

    in the sight of all the nations,

and all the ends of the earth will see

    the salvation of our God.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news.” After a long, weary time of seeing Jerusalem in ruins, news finally comes of Israel’s redemption. Peace and salvation are on the way! 

This section is written with such a joyful tone as it’s full of good news! Verse 7 is a famous verse quoted throughout scripture. 

One hundred years after Isaiah’s time, this same imagery was used by Nahum in a prophecy concerning Judah’s imminent victory over Assyria: “Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed” (Nahum 1:15)

The feet themselves are not the subject of beauty, instead it is the action of the feet! They are not standing their idle when there is good news to be declared, instead they are on the move proclaiming the good news! 

When I think of the words “bring good news” my brain goes to the Christmas story every time in Luke 2. When the angels appear to the shepherds saying “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10) Once the shepherds get the good news what do they do? They hurry off and go see Mary, Joseph and the baby. And after that; “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.” (Luke 2:17) They’re on the move!

My foster daughter loves music! She loves singing and dancing, but bless her heart she can’t remember the words to save her life. She’d come home on Sundays singing the songs from Jr. church. I would ask her about the songs, because the one week she was singing “Don’t tell it on the mountain.” I said Gia, that’s not how it goes….its GO tell it on the mountain. “No, it’s not.”

We’re instructed to “Go tell it on the mountain” the good news of Jesus Christ and to proclaim the message of salvation. That Jesus Christ has come to this earth and lived the perfect, sinless life that we could not. He died the death that we deserved. 

He did it because he loves us. He did it to offer us forgiveness for the sins we’ve committed. He did it so that we may have life everlasting!

It is good news worth sharing! The only things to make it better is to know that it is for all people!! “All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.” (v.10)

Nearly one thousand years later, the apostle Paul, in the book of Romans, described a similar messenger proclaiming the good news of peace and salvation in Jesus Christ: 

⁹ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. ¹¹ As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” ¹² Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. ¹³ For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” (Romans 10:9-15)

To give you the correct lyrics to the song… “Go tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere that Jesus Christ is born!” Go! Tell it! We have good news worth sharing. 

4. Spiritual Recharge!

I love when scripture is repeated and referenced in other books of the bible like that. I like to see and study that reinforcement. In a similar way, Isaiah concludes this passage in the same manner he started it; with a call to action. Listing out several verbs, or action words it seems like he’s sending them out from the captivity that they’ve been in this whole time. This passage is like a sandwich. Starting with a call to action, as our piece of bread. In the middle we’ve got some not so great news, some really great news. It ends the way it began, another call to action.

11 Depart, depart, go out from there!

    Touch no unclean thing!

Come out from it and be pure,
you who carry the articles of the Lord’s house.

12 But you will not leave in haste

    or go in flight;

for the Lord will go before you,                          

the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

He started with a wakeup call, to Rise up, shake off the dust and get dressed. He concludes it by sending them out with a Spiritual Recharge. “Go out from here!” “Touch no unclean thing!” It’s a challenge that you’re not gonna want to lose! Don’t return to the dusty prison clothes and chains you just came from. These aren’t the souvenirs you want to leave with. “Be Pure”.

It’s this idea of having a line drawn in the sand and not crossing it. Maybe it’s some behaviors we’ve decided we’re not going to participate in. Maybe it’s some people we don’t need to be hanging out with anymore. We don’t need to wear the dusty prison clothes anymore, because we’ve been clothed in strength and splendor. Because we have been redeemed!

Lastly, Isaiah concludes the poem with the best kind of promise. A promise we need to keep on the forefront of our minds. A promise that the Lord will go before us, and be our rear guard. 

A similar promise was made to Joshua all the way back in Deuteronomy :“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

That promise still stand for us today! Jesus himself said it as he ascended into heaven. “Surely I am with you always…” (Matthew 28:20)

5. Application//Conclusion

As we wrap up our time here this morning, I want to ask the questions again for self-reflection… 

-(I) Are you clothing yourself with the best God has for you, living out what he has called you to.. or are you settling and backsliding into what’s more familiar, more comfortable?

-(II) How are you representing the Lord to those around you? in the good times and in the bad times? 

-(III)Are your feet idle? Are you sharing the good news? Do you know of the good news? That your sins that been paid for?? That the penalty has already been paid on your behalf! That Christ offers forgiveness for your sins.