Isaiah 52:7-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 52:7

Beautiful messengers. "How beautiful upon the mountains," etc.! Not so with the warrior. His garments are dyed in blood; his track is over desolated cornfields and ruined vineyards. Look at the footsteps of the servants of God. I. THE MESSENGERS . They are not self-inspired or self-commissioned. They are sent of God. From Jerusalem the apostles are to go forth; over her all-surrounding mountains they go to tell the story of the angels' song, the Messiah's ministry, and the redeeming... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 52:7

The message glorifying the messengers. Immediate reference is to the heralds who go on in advance of the returning exiles to proclaim to Jerusalem that "the time to favour her, yea, the set time has come." And to those who send the heralds, as well as to those who receive them, they seem beautiful for the sake of their message. And this is the only worthy reason for glorying in the ministers of Christ—we love them "for their work's sake" (see St. Paul's use of this verse in relation to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 52:7-12

A VISION OF THE DAY OF DELIVERANCE . The prophet sees the messenger come bounding over the mountains of Judaea, to bring the news to Jerusalem that her deliverance is come ( Isaiah 52:7 ). The angelic watchers sing with joy ( Isaiah 52:8 ). The prophet calls upon the waste places of Jerusalem to do the same, and dwells on the greatness of the mercy wrought ( Isaiah 52:9 , Isaiah 52:10 ). Finally, he exhorts the exiles to avail themselves of the permission to quit Babylon,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 52:8

Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice ; literally, The voice of thy watchers. They have lifted up the voice; they sing (or, shout joyfully , Kay) together. The "watchmen" are regarded by some as the prophets of the Captivity-time (Delitzsch), by others—as the faithful who "waited for the redemption of Israel" (Kay); but are considered by the best critics (Cheyne, Alexander) to be "supersensible beings," or, in other words, angels, who "watch" over the fortunes of Israel, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 52:9

Ye waste places of Jerusalem (comp. Isaiah 44:26 ; Isaiah 49:19 ; Isaiah 64:10 , Isaiah 64:11 ). The city had not been wholly destroyed. Only the temple, the royal palace, and the houses of the nobles had been "burnt with fire" ( 2 Kings 25:9 ; 2 Chronicles 36:19 ). The poorer houses had been left. Even these, however, must in the space of fifty years have for the most part fallen into decay. The ruins are now called upon to join in the general chorus of rejoicing, as they rise... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 52:7

How beautiful upon the mountains - This passage is applied by Paul to the ministers of the gospel (see Romans 10:15). The meaning here seems to be this: Isaiah was describing the certain return of the Jews to their own land. He sees in vision the heralds announcing their return to Jerusalem running on the distant hills. A herald bearing good news is a beautiful object; and he says that his feet are beautiful; that is, his running is beautiful. He came to declare that the long and painful... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 52:8

Thy watchmen - This language is taken from the custom of placing watchmen on the walls of a city, or on elevated towers, who could see if an enemy approached, and who of course would be the first to discern a messenger at a distance who was coming to announce good news. The idea is, that there would be as great joy at the announcement of the return of the exiles, as if they who were stationed on the wall should see the long-expected herald on the distant hills, coming to announce that they were... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 52:9

Break forth into joy - Jerusalem, at the time here referred to, was lying waste and in ruins. This call on the waste places of Jerusalem to break out into expressions of praise, is in accordance with a style which frequently occurs in Isaiah, and in other sacred writers, by which inanimate objects are called on to manifest their joy (see the notes at Isaiah 14:7-8; Isaiah 42:11).For the Lord hath comforted his people - That is, he does comfort his people, and redeem them. This is seen by the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 52:7

Isaiah 52:7. How beautiful How exceeding precious and acceptable; upon the mountains Of Judea, to which these glad tidings were brought; are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings Tidings, first, Of the release of the Jews from captivity in Babylon; and, secondly, Of the redemption and salvation of mankind by the Messiah. Thus most commentators interpret the prophet’s words. They are “a poetical description,” says Lowth, “of the messenger who first brought the good news of Cyrus’s... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 52:8

Isaiah 52:8. Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice Partly to give notice to all people of these glad tidings, and partly by way of exultation, to sing forth the praises of God for this glorious season and exercise of mercy. If we consider this passage as referring to the deliverance from Babylon, by the watch-men here, we must understand those prophets who prophesied at or after the time of that deliverance, such as Haggai and Zechariah: but if the good tidings be interpreted of the... read more

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