How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
This is from Isaiah 52, written to Israelites who were sold for nothing, enslaved first by Egyptians then the Assyrians who blasphemed God.
They are told “my people will know my name”. They are given assurance of their salvation and told they will: “see it with their own eyes”. They will: “burst into songs of joy together” and be comforted, and “all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God”.
They are told their servant will: “act wisely”, “be raised up and highly exalted”. But that “his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness”. They are given a description of the good news to come, and that it would be different than their idea of a conquering king.
As followers of Jesus and on this end of the story we can be those people with beautiful feet!
We can be the ones who bring the good news that God reigns! He reigns over disease, politics, race relations, family disagreements, whatever your challenges are. And he reigns over even death itself.
We know this and we can pass it on and bring peace, good tidings, and proclaim salvation.
We can assure people that: “God reigns and together burst into songs of joy together you ruins of Jerusalem”. Yes even as “ruined” people we know the end of the story and can walk with others in their pain and suffering and disappointments to point them to the God of Israel.
Look down at your beautiful feet and realize that this is us! Let’s go over the mountains, overcome the challenges, and share the Good News! There is a world out there that desperately needs to hear and receive it.
Barnabas Man 