Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean. 2 Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated, O Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
3 For thus says the Lord: “You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.” 4 For thus says the Lord God: “My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrian oppressed them for nothing.[a] 5 Now therefore what have I here,” declares the Lord, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail,” declares the Lord, “and continually all the day my name is despised. 6 Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.” 7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” 8 The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. 9 Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. 11 Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord. 12 For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard. He Was Pierced for Our Transgressions13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14 As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— 15 so shall he sprinkle[c] many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand. Meditation No one has ever accused me of having physically beautiful feet. Ever. Feet carrying the good news are beautiful (7). They come from a heart awoken by grace (1). The people who were “nothing” (3, 4, 5), sold (3), oppressed (4), and despised (5) have moved from despair to dignity. Like the prodigal son (Luke 15), they have shaken off the dust and risen to return to the Father. The good news is a proclamation- “Our God reigns” (7). The gospel announcement is for joyful singing (8, 9) and salvation to the ends of the earth (10). This is a new exodus (11-12) for a fulfilled purpose- carrying the good news of the reign of God to all people in all places and in every circumstance. Nahum echoes the prophetic call for beautiful feet (Nahum 1:15). Paul uses Isaiah 52:7 as the bedrock for the call for the Church to evangelize asking, “How will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?... how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:14-18) Beautiful feet come from hearts awoken by grace and carry lives proclaiming, “Our God reigns.” Jesus Christ rules over history and those of us who have moved from devastation to dignity have the opportunity to invite people to allow Christ to rule over their hearts too. Richly Dwelling -Has your heart been awakened by grace, moving you from devastation to dignity? What has that looked like for you? -The good news of Isaiah 52 is, “Our God reigns!” Do you know this from your heart? Do you proclaim this truth with your lips and lives? -Paul calls the church to proclaim this in places where people have not yet heard. Whom do you know, or where do you know of, that the gospel of the rule of Christ, a rule you enter into by grace, has not been proclaimed? Pray for God’s guidance in how you can bring the Good News to these places. Key Verse 7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Comments are closed.
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