The feet of those who walk upon the mountains crying peace are beautiful (Isa. 52:7) because they are clean from the blood and sins of their generation.
In the ancient ceremonies involving animal sacrifice, blood was shed upon the ground and the feet of those involved in the rites became bloody. The blood of the sacrifice upon the feet became a symbol of the sins for which the sacrifice was offered.
The feet of those who walk upon the mountains crying peace are cleansed from that blood. Christ's washing of His Apostles' feet was to symbolize this cleansing which He alone could provide. He employs no servant to provide such a cleansing. (2 Ne. 9: 41.) These feet, washed by Him are, therefore, beautiful because they connote the sanctity of the one crying peace.
"Crying peace" because the only thing which stills the mind of man, and brings rest from the trouble of this world, is the atonement of Christ. That is why it is called "the rest of the Lord." When cleansed, it becomes the consuming desire of those who are clean to bring others to partake. Just like Lehi's dream, when those who had eaten of the fruit of the tree of life ate, they immediately invited others to come and join them.
"Upon the mountains" because the mountain is nature's symbol of the ascent to God. The climb represents repentance and purification of the soul. When a person stands upon the top of the mountain, she appears to be part of heaven itself and no longer earthbound. Her profile is with the sky, symbolizing the completion of the ascent back to God.
It is beautiful. All of it is beautiful. All of it is a reflection of the purity and intelligence of God, whose ways are higher than man's ways as the heavens are higher than the earth. (Isa. 55: 8-9.)
Beautiful symbolism. One other thought that comes to mind--Isaiah also uses mountains to signify nations.
ReplyDeleteOften the imagery of one "publishing peace" on the mountains is that of one separated from world (which is true in a spiritual sense); however, when substituting the word nation it evokes the thought of one going where those in need are--in the towns, cities, etc...
This has beautiful connections to the progressive nature of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5), where the peacemakers become the children of God. They are peacemakers as they proclaim peace with feet that are sanctified and washed clean.
ReplyDeleteAdditional ties would also be in Ephesians where the armor of God includes having one's feed shod in the gospel of peace.
How important the process of sanctification is and how great the blessings associated with it!