Isaiah 52:5

“Now therefore what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? &c.] Or what do I get by it, that my people should be taken and held in captivity without cause? I am no gainer, but a loser by it, as it afterwards appears; and therefore why should I sit still, and delay the deliverance of my people any longer? but as I have delivered Israel out of Egypt, and the Jews from Babylon, so will I deliver my people out of mystical Babylon, spiritually called Sodom and Egypt. They that rule over them cause them to howl, saith the Lord; they that hath carried them captive, and exercised a tyrannical power over them, cause them to howl under their bondage and slavery, as the…”

“what have I here--that is, what am I called on to do? The fact "that My people is taken away (into captivity; Isa 49:24-25) for naught" (by gratuitous oppression, Isa 52:4; also Isa 52:3, and see on Isa 52:3) demands My interposition. they that rule--or "tyrannize," namely, Babylon, literal and mystical. make . . . to howl--or, raise a cry of exultation over them [MAURER]. blasphemed--namely, in Babylon: God's reason for delivering His people, not their goodness, but for the sake of His holy name (Eze 20:9, Eze 20:14).”

“Now, therefore, what have I here? - In Babylon, referring to the captivity of the Jews there. The idea is, that a state of things existed there which demanded his interposition as really as it did when his people had been oppressed by the Egyptians, or by the Assyrian. His people had been taken away for nought; they were subject to cruel oppressions; and his own name was continually blasphemed. In this state of things, it is inferred, that he would certainly come to their rescue, and that his own perfections as well as their welfare demanded that he should interpose to redeem them. The phrase, ‘what have I here?’ is equivalent to saying, what shall I do? what am I properly called on to do?…”

“What have I - Why do I sit still here, and not go to Babylon to punish the Babylonians, and to deliver my people? For nought - Without any provocation, or pretence of right. Howl - By their unmerciful usage. Blasphemed - The Babylonians blasphemed me as if I wanted either power or good will to save my people out of their hands. Isaiah 52:6”

“52:5 The oppressors would shout in exultation because they believed they had conquered not only Israel but also its God. • My name is blasphemed all day long: The condition of God’s people affects God’s reputation in the eyes of the watching world (see 37:6, 23; 48:11).”

“what: Isa 22:16; Jdg 18:3 people: Isa 52:3; Psa 44:12 make: Isa 47:6, Isa 51:20, Isa 51:23; Exo 1:13-16, Exo 2:23, Exo 2:24, Exo 3:7; Psa 137:1, Psa 137:2; Jer 50:17; Lam 1:21, Lam 2:3, Lam 5:13-15; Zep 1:10 my name: Isa 37:6, Isa 37:28; Psa 44:16, Psa 74:10, Psa 74:18, Psa 74:22, Psa 74:23; Eze 20:9, Eze 20:14, Eze 36:20-23; Rom 2:24 Isaiah 52:6”