Isaiah 52:7

Describes, in vivid pictorial imagery taken from ch. Isaiah 40:9, the arrival in Jerusalem of the first tidings of the deliverance from Babylon and the establishment of the kingdom of God. Part of the verse occurs in Nahum 1:15.

of him that bringeth good tidings The měbassçr(see on Isaiah 40:9 and cf. Isaiah 41:27) is one of the prophet's dramatis personœ, occupying a position somewhat analogous to that of "the fugitive" in the Book of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 24:26 f., Ezekiel 33:21 f.). He is the "evangelist," the herald of salvation whose single function is to announce to Zion the speedy advent of her God. He is an ideal creation of the writer's mind, and the conception fluctuates between that of an individual (as here and Isaiah 41:27) and of a company (in Isaiah 40:9). In St Paul's application of the figure (Romans 10:15) it becomes a type of the gospel ministry.

Thy God reigneth Rather, thy God hath become king, has established His everlasting kingdom (cf. ch. Isaiah 24:23; Psalms 93:1; Psalms 97:1).