Three valuable readings 

Awake, awake! ... to What?   

1 of 3

     Isaiah 52 begins, Awake, awake, O Zion. Put on your garments of strength. 

     In verse 2, ...rise up, sit enthroned O Jerusalem. This sounds odd for collapsing Israel, and the decline of Judah, while Assyrians were rising in power. 

     In verse 3, someone says, you will be redeemed. 

     In verse 6, Therefore my people will know my name; in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I." 

     Who is this?  

     Verses 8-9, Your watchmen...shout for joy. Oh! It's the Lord speaking? When he returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem...for the Lord has redeemed Jerusalem. Has? Past tense? This was written 700 BC. 

     They don't see it with their eyes. Moses is long gone, Noah and Joshua too.  

     Verse 13, See, my servant will act wisely...

     His servant? David is not available; nor is Abraham or Jacob. 

Continued tomorrow