Beautiful Feet

Isaiah 52:7-10

New Living Translation (NLT)

 7 How beautiful on the mountains

      are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,

  the good news of peace and salvation,
 

      the news that the God of Israel reigns!
 

8 The watchmen shout and sing with joy,


      for before their very eyes
      

       they see the Lord returning to Jerusalem.

 9 Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song,


      for the Lord has comforted his people.


      He has redeemed Jerusalem.
 

10 The Lord has demonstrated his holy power

       before the eyes of all the nations.


 All the ends of the earth will see


      the victory of our God.

What beautiful realities are spoken in this passage!

Good news

            Peace

                        Salvation

                                    Reign of God                                               

                                                The Lord’s return – His presence

                                                            Comfort

                                                                        Redemption

                                                                                    The Lord’s holy power

                                                                                                Victory (salvation)

I am grateful for the reminder to join the “ruins of Jerusalem” in breaking into joyful song over these realities God has demonstrated in my own life.

This is a timely passage for us at Faith Fellowship as we are in this season of learning to make ourselves available to be “the messenger who brings good news!”

This passage speaks of a time when messengers would bring the welcome news that the Lord’s people, exiled in Babylon, would be returning to Jerusalem, accompanied by the presence of the Lord - just as a messenger would bring news of victory from a battlefield. This return from exile foreshadows our own redemption and deliverance from sin and death through Christ.

The return of God’s people to Jerusalem would be a demonstration of the power of God, just as our own deliverance is a demonstration of God’s power. The NIV renders verse 10b “and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.”

Paul quotes this passage in Romans 10:

9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. …  13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

My questions today are:

Am I a messenger who brings THE Good News in my actions and words? (Or am I cranky, depressed, complaining…)

Am I recognizing and rejoicing over the peace, salvation, reign, presence, comfort, redemption, power, victory, and salvation of God – all the realities described in this passage of scripture?

I am enjoying meditating on these scriptures and on our Advent theme this year, “Christ is Here” and look forward to reading your thoughts!

Tomorrow’s passage: Is. 40:9-11