This response is thorough, easy to understand, and personable. It answers the question clearly, explains Scripture in context, and even adds a related passage the questioner hadn’t thought of. The response helps the questioner first understand the passages in question and then makes points of application. The tone is friendly.
Question: Is there a relationship between gospel and feet? (according to Isa. 52.7, Nahum 1:15, Rom. 10:15 & Matt10:14?
Profile: Male, Africa, Christian, 36–45
Answered by: William Stewart, who has been a volunteer with us since June, 2003.
Answer: Thank you for your question.
Basically, the connection is with those who brings the good news of something God has done and are given special honor by God by saying their feet are “beautiful” (Hebrew: na’ah, to be pleasant (or suitable, i.e. beautiful). The different verses you listed are different occasions when God had done something great for His people and used the special honor of; “How beautiful are the feet who bring good news”, for those who shared it with others.
Isaiah 52:7; “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!” (NIV) In this verse they were bringing the good news of the release of the captives in Babylon and received the honor of having beautiful feet in the sight of God. The mountains surrounded the city of Jerusalem and were seen by the watchmen on the walls (v 8). In chapter 52 Isaiah introduced the coming of the Savor, the Lord Jesus, in the next chapter 53; “all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God” (v. 10).
Nahum 1:15; “Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed.” This verse is referring to the destruction of the enemy of Israel, Nineveh (Nahum 1:1). The good news was; “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of [Nineveh]; he will pursue his foes into darkness” (Nahum 1:7-8). Verse 15 is referring to the ones who bring the good news of the destruction of Nineveh and the freedom of the Southern Kingdom of Judea from their affliction.
Romans 10:15; “And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Paul knowing well the Old Testament, quotes Isaiah 52:7 referring to those of his day who bring the gospel to the Lost Jews and Gentiles. The good news is the message; “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). They that preach this message deserve God’s honor of having “beautiful feet”. Every one of us today can spiritually receive this blessing if we share the gospel to the lost.
Matthew 10:14; “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.” This was a symbol to those who rejected God’s message. Israel’s rejection is stated In John 1:11-13; “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
One verse you failed to mention is the feet in the armor of the Christian in Ephesians 6:15; “and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (NIV). In the King James Version (KJV), it is translated; “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” This means wherever we go we are to be taking the message of the good news to others.
I hope this helps; verses were taken from the New International Version (NIV).
William
