your God reigns

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.” (Isaiah 52:7)

This is a coffee cup verse if ever there was one. Yet I think that removed from its context and incompletely quoted, we miss the main point and weight of this verse.

Usually, we only quote the first stanza. But when we leave off the second stanza, we miss the content of the good news, and the audience. And when taken out of its context, we also lose the circumstances that make the news good to begin with!

First, the audience. We often think of the good news, the gospel, as the message of personal salvation. We assume the audience is those who have yet to hear and believe the gospel. But that’s not what’s going on at all. The audience for the good news in this passage is the people of God. We’re not talking about those who don’t know God, but rather, those who are in covenant relationship with him. Believers need to hear this good news!

Next, the content. The message is simply this: “Your God reigns.” The God you already know and worship, he’s still on the throne. He has things under control. Don’t worry, be happy. The verse tells us this. The good news is a message of peace, happiness, and salvation.

I don’t know about you, but I could often benefit from hearing again, “Your God reigns.” Sometimes life seems a little out of control. At least out of my control. It’s comforting to know it’s not out of God’s control. And though I know this, I still need to be reminded at times. It does bring peace and happiness to know that my God, the God I know and am in relationship with, has things in hand, even when I don’t.

Finally, the circumstances. The good news is news of salvation for God’s people. It is news that God is coming to the aid of his people, in the midst of their distress. In the context of the chapter and book, God’s people are in captivity, oppressed, and beaten down.

In verse two God tells them to “shake yourself from the dust and arise”. Get up, dust yourself off, then “be seated”, take a rest and watch God redeem you. Yes, God’s people do at times experience distress, physical hardship, and suffering. But ultimately,

The Lord 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. (Isaiah 52:10)

God is going to show the world his power, but he does it in a strange way. The chapter goes on to describe what we refer to as “the suffering servant”. It is describing Jesus and how he would suffer and be “wounded for our transgressions…crushed for our iniquities”. So yes, the good news is the news of Jesus, the King of kings, who redeems his people by taking their suffering, the suffering of sin and brokenness, on himself.

This message is for God’s people.

“Your God reigns!”

Even in the midst of a broken world.

Be at peace. Be happy. Relax and enjoy God’s salvation.