From Isaiah 52: 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 TheLord 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. What a glorious image! To Israel, and Judah who were just devastated by God's divine discipline, Isaiah sings this song of Good News. Because they disobeyed God, He removed them from their lands, just as He said He would do. Yet God is not done with them yet. God promises through this beautiful poem of Isaiah that He will restore, that He has already begun the work, that there is GOOD NEWS in spite of the devastation around them. Church, do you consider that we live in a time and place that is not much different from Israel's exile? We are sojourners in this land. It irks me when I hear people say "Have you been exiled from your home," for example, in Jeremiah 29:11 (For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil,to give you a future and a hope). The answer is YES! My ancestors were exiled from God's presence, and I am sojourning here on my way back to the country I truly belong to. We are all exiles because of sin. We were meant to be in His presence. We were CREATED for it! But in our arrogance and self love, we sundered ourselves, and were exiled from our true home. So now what? Well, just as Isaiah said, 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,
Church, broadcast it! Publish it! Tell it to all you know and see. Shout it out "GOOD NEWS." Jesus has overcome the world. He has conquered sin and death, and through His death burial and resurrection, the way is now open for us to return from exile, and once again dwell in His presence! This world is not all there is. The best is yet to come, because God is there, and is inviting us back home, forever!
Be a messenger. Bring hope, and joy, and peace, even in the midst of trial and persecution. Spread hope amid the tears, trials, torture, temptation and tribulation. There is Good News. It's not over yet. The best is yet to come!
