Mid-chapter, Isaiah 52, the Prophet has written this little Piece of Beauty: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” Verse 7

Israel, after much tribulation, is about to get some good news!

A runner (the pronoun is singular) approaches, bearing news of peace, victory … and (metaphorically) he is said to have “beautiful feet!”

“Good tidings” in Hebrew, the “Gospel” in Greek!

The verb “publisheth” (occurring twice in our little verse, translates a single verb, “shama.” Meaning “to show forth, to sound out, to report, to tell,” even “to noise abroad!”

And “salvation,” spelled “yeshuah” in Hebrew, means “help, deliverance, welfare, health,” but here eternal soul salvation is in view.

The ultimate fulfillment of the verse is, I suspect, during the Millennium. Look at that last clause: “THY GOD REIGNETH!” He is King!

What a precious Passage today.

Earth-shaking, for future Israel, that little remnant in the last days!

The Apostle Paul, also preaching salvation (not for the Jews only this time, but for the Gentiles as well) quotes our Text, as shown below:

“12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? AS IT IS WRITTEN, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:12-15

See the formula? “It is written,” always meaning an Old Testament allusion or quotation is “on the way.”

Then he uses Isaiah 52:7, nearly word for word: “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Wow!

By the way, thank God this morning for the one (or ones) who brought YOU the Message of Salvation!

Their feet too, in the same way, are beautiful!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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One short verse this afternoon: “Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.” Isaiah 51:7, the Lord Himself obviously speaking!

The “heart,” the very “center” of this great verse seems to be: “The people in whose heart is My Law!”

This whole Passage/Text is written to those (few in number) who so adore God’s Word!

Who … “meditate therein day and night,” in the Bible!

Who … “delight in the Word of God!”

Who … do not let the Scripture “depart out of his or her mouth!”

(All three quotes above are allusions to Psalm 1:2 and Joshua 1:8.)

Now, the rest of the verse … gives us two results of such a Scripture saturated lifestyle.

First, they (we) will know Righteousness! (The Bible will work such godly living into our hearts!)

Maybe even they will (better and better) know God/ Jesus … Who is Righteousness personified!

Second, they will not fear men, not even when the heathen are reproaching them, persecuting them!

1 Righteousness!

2. Fearlessness!

Both great traits derived from loving intently (with all one’s heart) the precious Scriptures of Truth!

Wow!

Let’s go study the Bible, folks!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Due to an earlier than usual morning preaching engagement, the Lesson will be written later today.

Plus … I preach again tonight! The Lord willing.

Quite a busy day.

I trust your who follow the Website, studying Scripture here with us, will understand.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Earlier today I was reading our chapter, Isaiah 51, and there it was! A clause I do not remember ever seeing! (Though I have read Isaiah again and again.) This little divinely inspired “Line” sounds like the lawgiver Moses (his style of writing) more than any Prophet I can recall.

Here is the little “Jewel” I discovered. God is speaking: “My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, AND ON MINE ARM SHALL THEY TRUST.” Isaiah 51:5

What a Verse!

In their precise Context these promises are given to Israel, to the faithful, believing Remnant among her population.

And God certainly has delivered her … time and time again. Otherwise there would be no Israel today! (Rescued from Babylon, from Rome, from Hitler, from … and the list goes on and on!)

But the Salvation here promised is likely (in the long run) that which will occur at the end of the Tribulation, when anti-Christ and his hordes try to destroy that little Nation, when Jesus returns to offer/provide to that little Handful of Jews … Salvation!

Then for sure … God predicts … “ON MINE ARM SHALL THEY TRUST!” Finally!

The noun “arm” is “zeroa” in Hebrew. It is translated “arm” 83 times in our King James Bibles, but also “shoulder” 2 times! And “power” 3 times! Then “strength” 1 more time!

Wow!

The verb Isaiah uses, “shall trust,” is spelled “yachal” in Hebrew. And here it is framed in the Piel stem, a technicality meaning INTENSIVE, WHOLE HEARTED TRUST! It is rendered “hope” 22 times and “wait” (expectantly) 12 times and (surprisingly) “trust” only 2 times! It is even written as “stayed” 1 time, meaning “to lean upon!”

Wow!

Do too remember Moses famous words, Deuteronomy 33:27 … “The eternal God is thy refuge, AND UNDERNEATH ARE THE EVELASTING ARMS: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”   

By the way, even us Gentiles might indirectly apply this precious Assurance as well!

Leaning on His Arm! (Isaiah)

Resting on His Arms! (Moses)

I’ll enjoy either word picture!

This too, a final verse to ponder throughout the day … “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40:11

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Isaiah chapter 51 opens with a glorious note of promise! To the believing sons of Abraham anyway.

“Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. 2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. 3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.” Isaiah 51:1-3

The imperative verb “hearken” is “shama” in Hebrew, meaning “listen, hear,” and even “obey!”

The paragraph is NOT addressed to the ungodly in Israel, not this Text! Rather, the Prophet is talking to those who “follow righteousness” and “seek the Lord.” (People “hungry” for the things of God!)

First, these good people are minded to not forget their past. Their very existence is owed to the miracle working Power of God! “Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you.” Verse 1b and 2a, blended.

Maybe Sarah’s dead, dry womb (at age 90) was the “rock” or “hole” from which Israel was “hewn.” We know (from the context) that the “hewn rock” and “digged pit” refer to Abraham and Sarah in some manner. (Every Christian who is Spirit-filled also ought to “remember” his or her past! The hard, rocky place where the Lord “found” you!)

Think … God twice promised “honey” from the rock … and now “life” itself from the rock! See Deuteronomy 32:13 and Psalm 81:16.

All these born-again Israelites have historically come from one person, one man! (That being Abraham!) Whom God abundantly blessed and multiplied as promised back in Genesis 12:1-3. Here is verse 2 of that Text … “And I (the Lord) will make of thee (Abraham) a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.“)

Wow!

We too, every Christian who reads these lines, also came (spiritually) from one man! One Whom Paul calls “the last Adam,” that being none Other than Jesus Christ our Saviour! (Romans 5:15 … “The grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by ONE MAN, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”)

Then today’s Paragraph reaches it zenith (high point)! Verse 3: “For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.” Layered promises, one upon another!

As I titled this Lesson … “God’s future for Israel.”

Comfort! (The verb is “nacham,” expressing deep “compassion,” from the very depths of God’s Heart.)

Transformation! (The stark, arid desert becoming like the Garden of Eden!) By the way, here is proof that Isaiah interpreted the first chapters of Genesis literally!)

Internal delight! Both (synonyms) joy and gladness, each being very emotional words! Plus thanksgiving, no more national grumbling! And also singing, as in “the voice of melody.” (God’s people have always had songs in their hearts!)

I will assure you that in the dark days ahead, for Israel as a people, she will come to these three verses and read them again and again!

Utilizing what Paul the Apostle much later called “the comfort of the Scriptures!” (Romans 15:4 … For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”)

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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