4. Zion is comforted (51:1-52:12)

This unit is comprised of several short poems, woven together to announce and celebrate proleptically the restoration of Zion with Yahweh reigning again in Jerusalem with his gathered children, the exiles.

The prophet states that because God is righteous, he will be faithful to his covenant and deliver his people. The mention of Abraham and Sarah has the twofold effect of (1) reaffirming the covenant and (2) reminding the exiles that God intervened when the future seemed to be without hope for Sarah and Abraham. So now they who seem to be without hope must trust God once again to intervene.

Again comes the call to listen (vv.4-7). Soon God will act, and transformation will be swift. Even the heavens, which were a symbol of constancy, will appear transitory compared to the everlasting nature of Yahweh’s righteousness.

In vv.9-16 the prophet turns from the exiles to Yahweh, though certainly his fellow countrymen were intended to “overhear” his call to Yahweh. He appeals to history, particularly the exodus story. Rahab is Egypt (cf. 30:7), although it is a term drawn from the chaos myth and therefore has great symbolic power to represent any ominous evil force. The deliverance at the first exodus is the basis for a new exodus and a return to Zion. The remainder of the poem finds Yahweh speaking in the first person. There is no need to awaken him. He is already acting in their behalf. Note the reiteration of earlier themes: comfort (40:1), mortals as grass (40:6-7), and God’s creative power (40:12ff.).

Finally, the prophet turns to Zion (51:17-23). It is the one that needs to awaken from its stupor. V.18 is a critical reference to the monarchy. No king was able to guide Israel faithfully. Indeed, all reliance on human ability has ended in calamity (vv.19-20). It is time now to turn to God for his help.

The call to Zion is repeated (52:1). The time of stupor and calamity is over. Restoration has begun. Jerusalem is to put on garments of splendor (an allusion to the loss of these in 3:18ff.). Jerusalem will rise up as from the dead (cf. the mention of dust in v.2 and 29:4-5) and sit enthroned.

Vv.4-7 are a rehearsal of history: first Jacob’s children as slaves in Egypt, then the oppressive rule of Assyria, and most recently the deportation of God’s people to Babylon. Enough! Yahweh will act!

The prophet now sees a magnificent sight, a messenger running to Jerusalem to bring the good news of God’s restoration of the exiles to Zion. The crescendo of phrases in v.7 is powerful. The watchmen in Jerusalem see the messenger and, anticipating his message, shout for joy. When Yahweh brings his people home, all the ends of the earth will recognize this as God’s salvation. The prophet concludes with a call to leave (which is similar to the concluding remarks of ch. 48).