"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" (Isa. 52:7).

"Behold upon the mountains the feet of Him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace!"(Nah. 1:15).

"How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! The joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman" (Song 7:1).

FRAGMENT We generally look for beautiful features in the face, and speak of beautiful eyes, complexion, hair or features; it is not customary to look at the feet for beauty. But the Spirit of God in the above-quoted scriptures speaks of beautiful feet, another instance that, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord" (Isa. 55:8).

As we realize that the prophets as led by the Spirit of God are speaking of God's beloved Son, what food for thought is afforded us in the fact that it is His "beautiful feet" that are dwelt upon! We read, and can never forget, "As many were astonied at Thee:His visage was so marred more than any man and His form more than the sons of men," and once we could see "no beauty that we could desire Him" (Isa. 52:14; 53:2). Now all is changed:

"His beauty shineth far above
Our feeble power of praise,
And we shall live and learn His love
Through everlasting days."

Those beautiful feet show His walk and pathway here below, a path of lowliness, holiness, meekness, cheerfulness, and service, at which even His enemies wondered, which delighted God, for it was a path of perfect submission to His will, and thrills our hearts. No wonder the Spirit of God could speak of His beautiful feet! But His path led Him to the cross. Unwavering, unfaltering, knowing what lay before Him, those beautiful feet went on to greater humiliation and suffering. It was the only way He could bring good tidings and publish peace. Let us never forget this, brethren.

The angel of the Lord said to the shepherds in the fields at night, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people." And when he had given his message "a multitude of the heavenly host praised God saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:10-14). Good tidings and peace are linked together, brought to us and published to us by our blessed Saviour, the result of the pathway of those beautiful feet. He could say here on earth, "I do always those things that please Him;" '"I came to do the will of Him that sent Me;" and His expiring words were, "It is finished." After His resurrection, making Himself known to His own He said, "Behold My hands and My feet that it is I Myself … and when He had thus spoken, He showed them His hands and His feet" (Lk. 24:39, 40).

"Lo, the tokens of His passion,
Though in glory, still He bears;
Cause of endless exultation
To His ransomed worshipper."

But the beautiful feet of Him that bringeth good tidings are upon the mountains. Spoken first to Israel, surely, the day is coming when those feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4). They have trodden that same mountain before. It was the last place, after His toilsome journey here, where those beautiful feet rested ere He ascended to heaven. On that Mount His disciples looked steadfastly up and beheld Him blessing them as He was parted from them. They heard those words that have so long cheered His own in their pathway here, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). He went, leaving His blessing; He comes back to bless. Good tidings and peace are for Israel as He comes, swiftly and surely, upon the mountains, the Cynosure of every eye, as their Deliverer. Then the waste places of Jerusalem shall break forth and sing together when the Lord com-; forts His people and redeems. Jerusalem.

How precious in the light of all this is the scripture from Song 7:1. For here it is not the feet of the Lord that are said to be beautiful, but He Himself says it His redeemed people, His bride:"How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter!" Attracted to Him, and the expression of His heart to them, He beholds in His people a desire to walk in His ways. Are not His eyes upon us? Does He not see our walk? Can He now say of us, "How beautiful are thy feet with shoes?" The shoes are of His providing; it is the peace with Himself which gives peace as to all things (Eph. 6:15). There should be a state which corresponds to the standing that matchless grace has conferred upon us, a walk consistent with the precious truth committed to our trust. May we be true Asherites, acceptable to our brethren, with a foot dipped in oil-a walk in the power of the Spirit. Accompanying this are the shoes of iron and brass, the power of endurance as we walk here below (Deut. 33:24, 25). "How beautiful are thy feet with shoes!"-the gift of His grace (Lk. 15:22).

And with a walk in the power of the Spirit, the joints of the thighs are likened to "jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman." The jeweled movement of a timepiece ensures perfect harmony; each part works in co-ordination. The workman who has made it has fitted each part with one end in view-that they may work in harmony together. We too are the work of the hands of a cunning Workman-"We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 6:10). May we thus follow with "beautiful feet" in His footsteps, maintaining a consistent walk here for Him, and thus be found to His praise, honor and glory. R. S. Stratton