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!

Isaiah 52:7

“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?
    Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible,
    I would not forget you!
Isaiah 49:15

• This verse is a shift in tone from much of Isaiah's earlier prophecies, which often included warnings of judgment and exile. Here, we see a glimpse of hope and the promise of restoration for God's people.
• The book of Isaiah was written during a tumultuous time for Israel, predicting both the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles. Chapter 52 comes after extended prophecies of judgment and captivity.
• Jerusalem has been destroyed, the Temple is gone, and God's people are scattered in Babylon, longing for restoration. They feel forsaken, defeated, and without hope.
• Their "watchmen" (prophets/lookouts) would normally be looking for signs of attack, but now they are looking for signs of salvation and return.
• Jerusalem was built on mountains. For the exiles in Babylon, the first glimpse of a messenger running towards Jerusalem, over the mountains, would signify news arriving.
• Not just the message, but the messenger themselves, particularly their feet, are called beautiful. 
• "Good news of peace": Peace (shalom) here is not just the absence of conflict, but holistic well-being, restoration, and reconciliation with God and each other. 
• It means the end of their exile and suffering.
• It means deliverance from their enemies, from captivity, and from the consequences of their sin.
• "The news that our God reigns!": This is the ultimate and foundational good news. Despite the appearance of defeat, despite Babylon's power, God is still on the throne. He has not abandoned His people; He is sovereign and actively working for their redemption.
• In a time of deep despair, this verse announces that God's faithful messengers would bring the long-awaited tidings of His intervention, signaling the end of exile and the return of His reign and favor.
• While initially for the return from Babylonian exile, the prophecy's language and ultimate scope point to an even greater fulfillment.
• Paul explicitly quotes Isaiah 52:7 when talking about the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Paul applies this directly to those who preach the good news of Jesus.
• Jesus is the ultimate "good news." He ushered in a new era of peace with God, brought salvation from sin and death, and definitively demonstrated that "our God reigns" through His life, death, and resurrection.
• The prophecies in Isaiah often have multiple layers of fulfillment – immediate (return from exile), mediate (the coming of Christ), and ultimate (the establishment of God's eternal kingdom).
• If Paul applies this to Christian evangelists, then our feet, as believers commissioned to share the Gospel, are also "beautiful."
• This applies to all believers, not just professional missionaries or pastors. Every Christian has the privilege and responsibility to be a messenger of this good news in their sphere of influence.
• We carry the same core message:
  
  • Peace: Reconciliation with God through Christ (Romans 5:1).
  • Salvation: Deliverance from the power and penalty of sin (Acts 4:12).
• Just as the news of freedom was urgent for the exiles, the Gospel is urgent for a world still in bondage to sin and despair.
• The messenger's journey "over the mountains" often involved hardship. Sharing the Gospel today can also be challenging, requiring courage and perseverance.
• How can you more intentionally view your daily interactions and relationships as opportunities to carry the "good news of peace and salvation" that "our God reigns"?
• Our lives should reflect the good news we carry. Are we living as people who have peace with God? Do our actions demonstrate our belief that God is truly reigning, even in difficult times?
• Isaiah 52:7 reminds us of the profound privilege and urgent responsibility we have as Christians. 
• We are the "beautiful feet”.
• Our God Reigns

Look for practical ways to share the hope you have in Christ, not just with words, but also through your actions, your peace in trials, and your trust in God's sovereignty. We are the "beautiful feet" of today, carrying the life-changing news that our God reigns, offering true peace and salvation to a world that desperately needs to hear it!