Isaiah 52:7

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, &c.] Not of the messenger that brought the news of Cyrus’s proclamation of liberty to the Jews; rather of John the Baptist, the forerunner of our Lord; best of Christ himself, the messenger of the covenant, who was anointed to preach glad tidings to the meek, and by whom grace, peace, life, and salvation came; and also of the apostles of Christ, for to Gospel times are these words applied, and to more persons than one, (<451015>Romans 10:15), who were not only seen “upon the mountains” of the land of Israel, as the Targum paraphrases it, where both Christ and his apostles preached, but upon the mountains of the…”

“beautiful . . . feet--that is, The advent of such a herald seen on the distant "mountains" (see on Isa 40:9; Isa 41:27; Isa 25:6-7; Sol 2:17) running in haste with the long-expected good tidings, is most grateful to the desolated city (Nah 1:15). good tidings--only partially applying to the return from Babylon. Fully, and antitypically, the Gospel (Luk 2:10-11), "beginning at Jerusalem" (Luk 24:17), "the city of the great King" (Mat 5:35), where Messiah shall, at the final restoration of Israel, "reign" as peculiarly Zion's God ("Thy God reigneth"; compare Psa 2:6).”

“How beautiful upon the mountains - This passage is applied by Paul to the ministers of the gospel (see Romans 10:15). The meaning here seems to be this: Isaiah was describing the certain return of the Jews to their own land. He sees in vision the heralds announcing their return to Jerusalem running on the distant hills. A herald bearing good news is a beautiful object; and he says that his feet are beautiful; that is, his running is beautiful. He came to declare that the long and painful captivity was closed, and that the holy city and its temple were again to rise with splendor, and that peace and plenty and joy were to be spread over the land. Such a messenger coming with haste, the…”

“The mountains - Of Judea, to which these glad tidings were brought, and from which they were spread abroad into other countries. Of him - Or, of them; the singular number being put for the plural. Returneth - In the days of the Messiah, God did discover and exercise his dominion over the world far more eminently than ever he had done from the beginning of the world until that time. Isaiah 52:8”

“52:7-12 This is a poetic description of God’s promise to rescue his people from the alienation their sin created. The imagery is of a besieged city waiting for word that its hero has defeated the enemy armies. Paul applies these words to the proclamation of the Good News of the Lord Jesus (Rom 10:15). 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains: See Nah 1:15; Rom 10:15. • The good news goes beyond proclaiming an end to the Exile; it also points to the peace and salvation of the age to come (Isa 54:13-14; see 40:9-10; 41:27).”

“How beautiful: This is a highly poetical expression, for, How welcome is his arrival! how agreeable are the tidings which he brings! Isa 40:9, Isa 61:1-3; Nah 1:15; Luk 2:10; Rom 10:12-15 publisheth: Psa 68:11; Sol 2:8; Mar 13:10, Mar 16:15; Luk 24:47; Act 10:36-38; Rev 14:6 Thy God: Isa 24:23, Isa 33:22; Psa 59:13, Psa 93:1, Psa 96:10, Psa 97:1, Psa 99:1; Mic 4:7; Zac 9:9; Mat 25:34, Mat 28:18; Rev 11:15 Isaiah 52:8”

“The first two turns in the prophecy ( Isa 52:1-2, Isa 52:3-6) close here. The third turn ( Isa 52:7-10) exults at the salvation which is being carried into effect. The prophet sees in spirit, how the tidings of the redemption, to which the fall of Babylon, which is equivalent to the dismission of the prisoners, gives the finishing stroke, are carried over the mountains of Judah to Jerusalem. "How lovely upon the mountains are the feet of them that bring good tidings, that publish peace, that bring tidings of good, that publish salvation, that say unto Zion, Thy God reigneth royally!" The words are addressed to Jerusalem, consequently the mountains are those of the Holy Land, and especially…”