This redemption of Jerusalem will place it in its proper eminent position. For the Jews, it had been the preeminent city. It will not become that for the world. Isaiah’s hope for the redemption of Jerusalem will be fulfilled. Where Jerusalem may have though that it could redeem itself, that redemption has required a greater source.
The imagery of the redemption is interesting as it creates a parallel between the secular attempt and the divine success:
“ye have sold yourselves for naught”
“ye shall be redeemed without money.”
The contrast here relies upon the concept of redeeming a item for debt. One of the methods of redeeming a debt was to sell oneself into slavery. The implication is that Jerusalem as attempted this method, but it has failed. They are to be redeemed, but it shall be “without money.” It will not be through earthly means and rules, but through a heavenly interference.
Reference: The Isaiah reference continues:
Isaiah 52:1-3
1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
3 For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
[henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.]: The rules of ritual purity were such that contact with something or someone that was unclean would make the clean person unclean. Thus when the promise is made that the uncircumcised and the unclean would not enter, the imagery is of Jerusalem becoming as sacred as a Temple. The purity would be undefiled. In modern times when this conception of ritual purity does not apply, the idea of purity of heart and intention still attach themselves as attributes of true Temple worship.