Isaiah 52:4
For this is what the Lord GOD says: "At first My people went down to Egypt to live, then Assyria oppressed them without cause.
For this is what the Lord GOD says
This phrase introduces a divine declaration, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. The Hebrew term for "Lord GOD" is "Adonai Yahweh," which underscores God's supreme power and covenantal relationship with Israel. This introduction sets the stage for a message of both historical reflection and prophetic insight, reminding the audience of God's active role in their history.

At first My people went down to Egypt to reside there
The phrase "went down to Egypt" refers to the historical event of Jacob and his family moving to Egypt during a famine, as recorded in Genesis. The Hebrew word for "reside" (גּוּר, gur) implies a temporary dwelling, highlighting that their stay in Egypt was not meant to be permanent. This reflects God's providential care in using Egypt as a place of refuge and sustenance for His people during a time of need.

then Assyria oppressed them without cause
The mention of Assyria brings to mind the later period of Israel's history when the Assyrian Empire became a dominant force, oppressing the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The phrase "without cause" suggests an unjust and unprovoked aggression, highlighting the suffering of God's people at the hands of foreign powers. This historical context serves as a reminder of the recurring theme of oppression and deliverance in Israel's story, pointing to God's ultimate plan for redemption and justice.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Lord GOD
The sovereign and covenant-keeping God of Israel, who speaks through the prophet Isaiah.

2. Egypt
A significant nation in biblical history where the Israelites initially went to reside during a famine and later became enslaved.

3. Assyria
A powerful empire known for its military might and oppression of Israel, representing a period of suffering for God's people.

4. My people
Refers to the Israelites, God's chosen people, who experienced oppression and deliverance throughout their history.

5. Isaiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, through whom God communicated His messages to Israel.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty Over History
God is in control of the nations and uses historical events to fulfill His purposes.

The Reality of Oppression
God's people have faced oppression throughout history, yet God remains their deliverer.

Trust in God's Deliverance
Just as God delivered Israel from Egypt and Assyria, He is faithful to deliver us from our own trials.

The Importance of Remembering History
Reflecting on past deliverances strengthens our faith and trust in God's future promises.

God's Justice and Righteousness
God sees the unjust oppression of His people and will act in His perfect timing to bring justice.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the historical context of Israel's oppression in Egypt and Assyria help us understand God's character and His promises?

2. In what ways can we see God's sovereignty at work in the world today, similar to how He worked in the times of Egypt and Assyria?

3. How can remembering God's past deliverances in our own lives strengthen our faith during current challenges?

4. What are some modern-day "Egypts" or "Assyrias" that believers might face, and how can we apply God's promises of deliverance to these situations?

5. How does understanding God's justice and righteousness in dealing with oppressors influence our response to injustice in the world today?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 1
Describes the initial descent of the Israelites into Egypt and their subsequent enslavement, setting the stage for God's deliverance.

2 Kings 17
Details the Assyrian oppression and the eventual fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, illustrating the historical context of Isaiah's prophecy.

Exodus 3:7-8
God's promise to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage, highlighting His faithfulness and power to save.

Isaiah 10:5-6
Discusses Assyria as an instrument of God's judgment, yet also as an oppressor acting without just cause.
Take My Yoke Upon YouHugh BinningIsaiah 52:4
A Call to ExertionJ. H. Hinton, M.A.Isaiah 52:1-6
Awake, AwakeF. B. Meyer, B.A.Isaiah 52:1-6
Awake, O ZionS. Martin.Isaiah 52:1-6
Effort Gives StrengthW. Burrows, B.A.Isaiah 52:1-6
God's Call to a Sleeping ChurchC. Inwood.Isaiah 52:1-6
God's Call to be StrongS. Martin.Isaiah 52:1-6
Injunctions to be StrongS. Martin.Isaiah 52:1-6
Relapses in the History of the ChurchR. V. Foster, D.D.Isaiah 52:1-6
Some Elements of Church StrengthD. Winters.Isaiah 52:1-6
Strength Increased by UseChristian Budget.Isaiah 52:1-6
Strength Put on by Being Put OutS. Martin.Isaiah 52:1-6
The Church AsleepS. Martin.Isaiah 52:1-6
The Church Tenacious of its LifeR. V. Foster, D. D.Isaiah 52:1-6
The Church: its Strength and its WeaknessW. M. Paxton, D. D.Isaiah 52:1-6
The Church's Duty Towards the WorldJ. Sherman.Isaiah 52:1-6
The Church's StrengthJ. C. Rust, M.A.Isaiah 52:1-6
The Danger of InactionSunday School ChronicleIsaiah 52:1-6
The Elements of the Church's StrengthBp. W. X. Winde.Isaiah 52:1-6
The Essential Elements of a Church's StrengthR. V. Foster, D.D.Isaiah 52:1-6
The Sleeping ChurchS. Martin.Isaiah 52:1-6
The Supreme Point of EnergyJ. Parker, D.D.Isaiah 52:1-6
Thy Strength of ZionS. Martin.Isaiah 52:1-6
What Sends the Church to SleepS. Martin.Isaiah 52:1-6
Zion's AwakeningR. V. Foster, D. D.Isaiah 52:1-6
Zion's StrengthS. Martin.Isaiah 52:1-6
The Redemption of JerusalemE. Johnson Isaiah 52:1-12
The Liberty of the ChurchW. Clarkson Isaiah 52:2-9
People
Isaiah
Places
Egypt, Jerusalem, Zion
Topics
Aforetime, Asshur, Assyria, Assyrian, Cause, Cruel, Egypt, Formerly, Lately, Nothing, Nought, Oppressed, Reside, Says, Sojourn, Themselves, Thus, Yoke
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 52:4

     4909   beginning
     8791   oppression, nature of

Library
Clean Carriers
'Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.'--ISAIAH lii. 11. The context points to a great deliverance. It is a good example of the prophetical habit of casting prophecies of the future into the mould of the past. The features of the Exodus are repeated, but some of them are set aside. This deliverance, whatever it be, is to be after the pattern of that old story, but with very significant differences. Then, the departing Israelites had spoiled the Egyptians and come out, laden with silver
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Great Revival
Now, leaving the figure, which is a very great one, I would remind you that its meaning is fully carried out, whenever God is pleased to send a great revival of religion. My heart is glad within me this day, for I am the bearer of good tidings. My soul has been made exceedingly full of happiness, by the tidings of a great revival of religion throughout the United States. Some hundred years, or more, ago, it pleased the Lord to send one of the most marvellous religious awakenings that was ever known;
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

The Vanguard and Rereward of the Church
I shall first consider this as it respects the church of God; and then, in the second place, I shall endeavour to consider it as it respects us, as individual believers. May God comfort our hearts while considering this precious truth! I. First, consider THE WHOLE CHURCH OF GOD AS AN ARMY. Remember that part of the host have crossed the flood; a large part of the army are standing this day upon the hills of glory; having overcome and triumphed. As for the rear, it stretches far into the future; some
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

"Take My Yoke Upon You," &C.
Matt. xi. 29.--"Take my yoke upon you," &c. Christianity consists in a blessed exchange of yokes between Christ and a pious soul. He takes our uneasy yoke, and gives his easy yoke. The soul puts upon him that unsupportable yoke of transgressions, and takes from him the portable yoke of his commandments. Our burden was heavy, too heavy for angels, and much more for men. It would crush under it all the strength of the creatures, for who could endure the wrath of the Almighty? Or, "what could a man
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Jesus, the Great Object of Astonishment.
A COMMUNION ADDRESS AT MENTONE. "Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at Thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; 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."--Isaiah lii. 13-15. JESUS, THE GREAT OBJECT ASTONISHMENT. OUR Lord Jesus
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come

If Then the Prophets Prophesied that the Son of God was to Appear Upon The...
If then the prophets prophesied that the Son of God was to appear upon the earth, and prophesied also where on the earth and how and in what manner He should make known His appearance, and all these prophecies the Lord took upon Himself; our faith in Him was well-founded, and the tradition of the preaching (is) true: that is to say, the testimony of the apostles, who being sent forth by the Lord preached in all the world the Son of God, who came to suffer, and endured to the destruction of death
Irenæus—The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching

Elucidations.
I. (Princes and kings, [154]p. 13.) How memorable the histories, moreover, of Nebuchadnezzar [1609] and his decrees; of Darius [1610] and his also; but especially of Cyrus and his great monumental edict! [1611] The beautiful narratives of the Queen of Sheba and of the Persian consort of Queen Esther (probably Xerxes) are also manifestations of the ways of Providence in giving light to the heathen world through that "nation of priests" in Israel. But Lactantius, who uses the Sibyls so freely, should
Lactantius—The divine institutes

That the Ruler Should be Pure in Thought.
The ruler should always be pure in thought, inasmuch as no impurity ought to pollute him who has undertaken the office of wiping away the stains of pollution in the hearts of others also; for the hand that would cleanse from dirt must needs be clean, lest, being itself sordid with clinging mire, it soil whatever it touches all the more. For on this account it is said through the prophet, Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord (Isai. lii. 11). For they bear the vessels of the Lord who undertake,
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Awakening of Zion
'Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old.'--ISAIAH li. 9. 'Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion.'--ISAIAH lii. 1. Both these verses are, I think, to be regarded as spoken by one voice, that of the Servant of the Lord. His majestic figure, wrapped in a light veil of obscurity, fills the eye in all these later prophecies of Isaiah. It is sometimes clothed with divine power, sometimes girded with the towel of human weakness, sometimes
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Remaining Books of the Old Testament.
1. The divine authority of the Pentateuch having been established, it is not necessary to dwell at length on the historical books which follow. The events which they record are a natural and necessary sequel to the establishment of the theocracy, as given in the five books of Moses. The Pentateuch is occupied mainly with the founding of the theocracy; the following historical books describe the settlement of the Israelitish nation under this theocracy in the promised land, and its practical operation
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Councils of Ariminum and Seleucia.
Part I. History of the Councils. Reason why two Councils were called. Inconsistency and folly of calling any; and of the style of the Arian formularies; occasion of the Nicene Council; proceedings at Ariminum; Letter of the Council to Constantius; its decree. Proceedings at Seleucia; reflections on the conduct of the Arians. 1. Perhaps news has reached even yourselves concerning the Council, which is at this time the subject of general conversation; for letters both from the Emperor and the Prefects
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Place of Jesus in the History of the World.
The great event of the History of the world is the revolution by which the noblest portions of humanity have passed from the ancient religions, comprised under the vague name of Paganism, to a religion founded on the Divine Unity, the Trinity, and the Incarnation of the Son of God. It has taken nearly a thousand years to accomplish this conversion. The new religion had itself taken at least three hundred years in its formation. But the origin of the revolution in question with which we have to do
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

Christ all and in All.
(Colossians iii. 11.) Christ is all to us that we make Him to be. I want to emphasize that word "all." Some men make Him to be "a root out of a dry ground," "without form or comeliness." He is nothing to them; they do not want Him. Some Christians have a very small Saviour, for they are not willing to receive Him fully, and let Him do great and mighty things for them. Others have a mighty Saviour, because they make Him to be great and mighty. If we would know what Christ wants to be to us, we
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It

Bunsen's Biblical Researches.
When geologists began to ask whether changes in the earth's structure might be explained by causes still in operation, they did not disprove the possibility of great convulsions, but they lessened necessity for imagining them. So, if a theologian has his eyes opened to the Divine energy as continuous and omnipresent, he lessens the sharp contrast of epochs in Revelation, but need not assume that the stream has never varied in its flow. Devotion raises time present into the sacredness of the past;
Frederick Temple—Essays and Reviews: The Education of the World

The Gospel Message, Good Tidings
[As it is written] How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! T he account which the Apostle Paul gives of his first reception among the Galatians (Galatians 4:15) , exemplifies the truth of this passage. He found them in a state of ignorance and misery; alienated from God, and enslaved to the blind and comfortless superstitions of idolatry. His preaching, accompanied with the power of the Holy Spirit, had a great and marvellous effect.
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

First Ministry in Judæa --John's Second Testimony.
(Judæa and Ænon.) ^D John III. 22-36. ^d 22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judæa [That is, he left Jerusalem, the capital of Judæa, and went into the rural districts thereof. We find him there again in John xi. and Luke xiii.-xviii. He gained disciples there, but of them we know but few, such as Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Simeon, and Judas Iscariot]; and there he tarried with them [It is not stated how long he tarried, but it may have been from
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of the Messiah
To complete the evidence, presented in the text, as to the essential difference between the teaching of the ancient Synagogue about the Forerunner of the Messiah' and the history and mission of John the Baptist, as described in the New Testaments, we subjoin a full, though condensed, account of the earlier Rabbinic traditions about Elijah. Opinions differ as to the descent and birthplace of Elijah. According to some, he was from the land of Gilead (Bemid. R. 14), and of the tribe of Gad (Tanch. on
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

"For what the Law could not Do, in that it was Weak through the Flesh, God Sending his Own Son in the Likeness of Sinful Flesh,
Rom. viii. 3.--"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh." For what purpose do we meet thus together? I would we knew it,--then it might be to some better purpose. In all other things we are rational, and do nothing of moment without some end and purpose. But, alas! in this matter of greatest moment, our going about divine ordinances, we have scarce any distinct or deliberate
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Covenanting Predicted in Prophecy.
The fact of Covenanting, under the Old Testament dispensations, being approved of God, gives a proof that it was proper then, which is accompanied by the voice of prophecy, affording evidence that even in periods then future it should no less be proper. The argument for the service that is afforded by prophecy is peculiar, and, though corresponding with evidence from other sources, is independent. Because that God willed to make known truth through his servants the prophets, we should receive it
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

How Christ is to be Made Use Of, as the Way, for Sanctification in General.
Having shown how a poor soul, lying under the burden of sin and wrath, is to make use of Jesus Christ for righteousness and justification, and so to make use of him, go out to him, and apply him, as "he is made of God to us righteousness," 1 Cor. i. 30, and that but briefly. This whole great business being more fully and satisfactorily handled, in that forementioned great, though small treatise, viz. "The Christian's Great Interest," we shall now come and show, how a believer or a justified soul
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Isaiah
CHAPTERS I-XXXIX Isaiah is the most regal of the prophets. His words and thoughts are those of a man whose eyes had seen the King, vi. 5. The times in which he lived were big with political problems, which he met as a statesman who saw the large meaning of events, and as a prophet who read a divine purpose in history. Unlike his younger contemporary Micah, he was, in all probability, an aristocrat; and during his long ministry (740-701 B.C., possibly, but not probably later) he bore testimony, as
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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