Isaiah 52:7: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
There is something particularly beautiful about this verse. The words, the visions, the proclamations provoke the imagination of something – or more importantly – Someone – that is glorious. It begins with a picture of beautiful mountains – rising up into the clear blue sky leaving behind the sin shrouded valleys with wastelands of broken hearts and dreams. The air is so crisp and clear that when you breathe deep, your lungs fill with a life-giving force.
We then learn of a Majestic figure Who is standing on these mighty mountains as if they were footsteps to even a greater throne. What power. What greatness. What authority must the owners of these feet possess? We’re already humbled by the height of the mountains – our smallness already acknowledged. The imagery forces us to attempt to reconcile the distance between His highness and our lowness and makes the vastness between the two personal – this isn’t just the immenseness of God’s creation – it is the Creator Himself!
And what is our Creator doing? He’s bringing us things – things we didn’t ask for and clearly didn’t deserve because of our selfishness and pride. Do you hear Him asking for anything in return? Do you hear there’s a price to pay for what He’s bringing? No – He’s simply and generously offering things that this world is incapable of offering.
And what is He bringing? Good news. Peace. Glad Tidings. Salvation. Can the world offer any of these? Maybe we can get some good news from time to time, but it seems life does not offer just good news – there’s always plenty of bad news. Our Almighty Maker perched on the beautiful mountains also proclaims peace. Who of us doesn’t want peace? Does this world offer peace? Similarly to good news, the world’s peace is temporary and riddled with interruptions of chaos, loudness, distractions, attacks, and poor health – all emissions from a world run by Satan.
No – the peace God offers here is a personal peace – it is a peace with God Himself. It is His peace because His peace comes with a shield – a defense system against the prince of this world’s relentless assaults on our peace. His shield of peace protects us today and ushers us through the valley of the shadow of death into eternity that is forever ruled and illuminated by His glorious light.
As if the good news and peace weren’t enough, our God brings us glad tidings – joyful information. Can you feel what He offers gets better and better? Have you have ever been given something that was so obviously wonderful at first, yet as you further comprehended this gift your appreciation for it grows with each thought of it? It’s as if we were a parched shore gladly receiving a slowly rising tide of fresh water – gently building and satisfying our need for sources of refreshment.
Then – just as if you were listening to an orchestra building to a growing crescendo, we learn of the ultimate gift from the Divine lover of our souls – salvation. It is the one thing we need the most and are completely unable to attain by ourselves. We are utterly helpless – stuck in the quicksand of our sinful nature – slowly sinking in bad habits, poor choices, selfish pursuits, and prideful wanderings. Yet, His loving nail-pierced hand reaches down and pulls us up and brings us by His side on the top of the beautiful mountains. He saves us.
Only God. Only Jesus fits this picture. If this were a play, He is the only One who could play the lead character. If this were an opera, He is the only One who could sing that perfect note. He is unique – there is no one like Him. He first made Himself known to us as a lowly and vulnerable human baby. He grew up in humble circumstances, and He would be led to slaughter as an innocent lamb. But that is only part of who He is. Who we see in this verse is the same Jesus – the conquering King with all authority proclaiming to His homeland – Zion – that He reigns! Praise the Lord!