THE GREAT GOOD NEWS

ISAIAH 52

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!”

(Isaiah 52:7).

The greatest of the Servant Songs of the second part of Isaiah is found in Isaiah 52:13–53:12. It describes the coming sufferings and glories of the Messiah. Isaiah leads into this passage with an interesting statement of what God is going to do.

Isaiah 52:7 tells the people to reflect on the excitement of the runner who brings good news of victory. After a battle, a trained runner would carry the message of either victory or defeat to the nation. As the runner came over the hills and became visible to the people, they could tell by how he ran whether the news was good or bad. Was his running heavy-footed? The battle was probably lost. Was his running dancelike? The battle was doubtless won.

The runner proclaims, “Your God, the God of Israel, has been victorious, and now He reigns over a new conquest!” The conquest in this case is Israel herself, conquered anew for God and by God. Isaiah says that God has done this by baring “His holy arm in the sight of all the nations” (52:10). God has accomplished a great victory by His mighty power and has established His rule.

Isaiah tells us that it is God’s Servant who has acted craftily and who will prosper in His service of bringing in God’s kingdom (52:13). From what has gone before, we might expect Isaiah to describe how the Servant shamed and smashed God’s enemies. After all, there are many passages in the Bible that describe God’s victory in such terms. But Isaiah does exactly the opposite. Turning to God’s method of achieving victory, he tells us that though God’s Servant will in time be lifted up, first He will be regarded with horror. Men will be appalled at Him, and His appearance will be so ugly and marred that he will be scarcely recognizable as human (52:14).

Isaiah’s point is that before there can be any kind of cultural victory or transformation, there must first be a victory over sin. And the only way a victory over sin can take place is if someone pays the penalty sin deserves and sets sinners free.

CORAM DEO

Ezekiel 7–9

Hebrews 10

Notice that the response of Zion to the Servant’s work is said to be fierce joy and rejoicing (Isaiah 52 and 54). The good news of the gospel is that Christ, as our Suffering Servant, has paid the penalty for our sin, setting us free. If you have not felt very joyful recently, take the time today to read Isaiah 52–54 aloud. Recapture the exuberance that these passages are designed to communicate to you.

For further study: Psalm 22 • Matthew 12:14–21 • 1 Peter 5:1

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