Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Thursday, 25 December 2014 - Scripture: Isaiah 52:7-10

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Thursday, 25 December 2014 - Scripture: Isaiah 52:7-10 How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of the messenger bringing good news,
Breaking the news that all’s well,
    proclaiming good times, announcing salvation,
    telling Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Voices! Listen! Your scouts are shouting, thunderclap shouts,
    shouting in joyful unison.
They see with their own eyes
    God coming back to Zion.
Break into song! Boom it out, ruins of Jerusalem:
    “God has comforted his people!
    He’s redeemed Jerusalem!”
God has rolled up his sleeves.
    All the nations can see his holy, muscled arm.
Everyone, from one end of the earth to the other,
    sees him at work, doing his salvation work.(The Message)
What's the best news you ever received? A wedding announcement? A dream job? The birth of a baby? According to Isaiah, there's no news quite like the announcement of peace. Our striving is over, tensions have ended, conflict has ceased. "How beautiful ... are the feet of the messenger who announces peace" (Isaiah 52:7). Clearly, for Isaiah this isn't just any peace. God's messenger announces salvation, the breaking in of the very reign of God. Christ the Savior is born! In a world of seemingly endless conflict, we join the angels in singing of peace, goodwill to all. We give thanks for a light shining in the darkness. And we long for the day when "all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."
All hail the Lord's appearing! O glorious Sun, now come, Send forth your beams so cheering And guide us safely home.—O Lord How Shall I Meet You, ELW 241
Shelley Cunningham
Pastor, Zumbro Lutheran Church
Rochester, Minn. 
Master of Divinity , 1998
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."
8 Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion.
9 Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 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.(New Revised Standard Version)
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