Which Old Testament prophecies connect with the announcement in Luke 2:10? “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’” Good News foretold • Isaiah 40:9 ‑ “Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news… Lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’” • Isaiah 52:7-10 ‑ “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news… The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.” • Isaiah 61:1-2 ‑ “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor… to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor.” Great Joy promised • Isaiah 9:2-3, 6-7 ‑ “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light… You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy… For unto us a child is born… and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor…” • Zechariah 9:9-10 ‑ “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you…” Fear removed • Isaiah 41:10 ‑ “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” • Isaiah 43:1 ‑ “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.” (The angel echoes these assurances with “Do not be afraid!”) For all the people • Genesis 12:3 ‑ “All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” • Psalm 98:2-3 ‑ “The LORD has made His salvation known… All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” • Isaiah 49:6 ‑ “I will also make You a light for the nations to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.” Bethlehem connection • Micah 5:2-4 ‑ “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… out of you will come forth for Me One to be Ruler in Israel… He will stand and shepherd His flock.” (The setting with shepherds outside Bethlehem highlights this prophecy.) The Shepherd-King motif • Micah 4:8 ‑ “As for you, O watchtower of the flock… to you it will come—the former dominion will be restored, kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem.” (The “tower of the flock” region where temple flocks were kept ties the shepherds to Messianic expectation.) The Righteous Branch anticipated • Jeremiah 23:5-6 ‑ “I will raise up to David a righteous Branch… This is the name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.” • Isaiah 11:1-10 ‑ Shoot from Jesse’s stump bringing justice and rest to the nations. Summary links The angel’s proclamation weaves together: —“Good news” foretold by Isaiah (40, 52, 61). —Nation-wide and world-wide “joy” predicted in Isaiah 9 and Zechariah 9. —The removal of fear promised in Isaiah 41-43. —A universal blessing stretching back to Abraham (Genesis 12). —A Davidic, Bethlehem-born Shepherd-King (Micah 5; Jeremiah 23). Every line in Luke 2:10 resonates with these Old Testament promises, confirming that the newborn Child is the long-awaited Messiah whose coming brings salvation, joy, and hope to Israel and to “all the people.” |
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