December 02, 2022 – Friday
Lovely & Beautiful
Isaiah 52:7 NASB 1995
7 How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Isaiah 52:7 NIV
7 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!”
Comment
A reader wrote in about the verse above quoting the NASB 1995 version which has as its second word lovely. Look at all the other versions and you will not find another using the word lovely in their translations. Instead of beautiful, a few use wonderful, another few use delightful, while the Wycliffe Bible uses Full fair (!), and Youngs Literal Translation (YLT) uses How comely.
But let’s talk about this verse anyway, whether we say How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news or we say How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news what are we talking about? Isaiah seems to be prophesying about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news.
Feet are not something in today’s world considered lovely or beautiful, but for those involved with bringing a message of peace, proclaiming peace, most would have to walk to do so. Certainly, Jesus walked everywhere except for His entry into Jerusalem on Psalm Sunday. His disciples and apostles did likewise. The feet that brought such a powerful message of love, forgiveness, redemption, hope and faith for a home in heaven – those feet would have to be considered wonderful, lovely, and beautiful.
There was no sharing of the good news of Jesus without one’s feet taking one from one place to another and that is how the message got shared throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria (Acts 9:31). His message was preached by His apostles as they walked everywhere.
At the end of the verse we read, they announce peace and brings good news of happiness, they announce or proclaim salvation, and say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” This happened as prophesied in Acts 9:31a, Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. The first one to see this day coming was Simeon when in Mark 2:26-32 we have, 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
Bottom Line: When I hear a voice proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, the voice is lovely and beautiful.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for the prophecy of Isaiah that we can clearly see take place in the wonderful beautiful and lovely reality of Jesus. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek