Isaiah 52:1 - Exposition

Awake, awake; put on thy strength (comp. Isaiah 51:9 ). God can help those only who help themselves. The "arm of the Lord" having been called upon to "put on strength" in order to help Zion, Zion is now exhorted to do her part, and put on her own strength. Nor is she to stop there; she is further to rut on her beautiful garments—to array herself in the glorious robes which befit her as a royal and a holy city, and show herself once more a queen, instead of being content to remain grovelling as a captive ( Isaiah 51:20 , Isaiah 51:21 ). Henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised . Foreigners shall no more visit Jerusalem to injure her or exult over her misfortunes (comp. Joel 3:17 ). When the influx of the Gentiles comes ( Isaiah 42:6 ; Isaiah 49:6 , Isaiah 49:22 , etc.), it will be one of Gentiles who are "circumcised in heart and lips," and no longer "unclean" ( Acts 10:15 ).