Messengers on Foot

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!”
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.
9 Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.

When I watch or read the news, I sometimes feel sad because of all the pain and violence in the world. Other times I feel angry, and it seems that the news is even designed to make people angry. I’m ready to hear good news.

The prophet Isaiah spoke to God’s people at a time when they needed to hear good news. They were in exile, and they longed to return to their homeland and the city of Jerusalem.

God had such good news for the people that Isaiah said the feet of those who brought this news were beautiful. It’s not that the messengers’ feet were actually beautiful; they were probably dirty, blistered, and smelly after a long journey! But the news of restoration was so good and full of the hope of blessing that it helped people to appreciate the feet that brought this news to them.

The good news was that God reigns. No matter what bad news we hear, God is still in control of this world. No matter how sad or angry we might feel about the news of the world, God promises us a future of beauty and perfect peace. Just as God restored his people in ancient times, so too God will one day restore the world for all time. This is such good news that it helps us to persevere, looking ahead to the day when God will renew all things.

God, you rule over all things, and you will make everything beautiful again someday. Thank you for that good news! Amen.