Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Advent Words: T is for Tidings


T is for Tidings


"How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    “Your God reigns!” " 
Isaiah 52:7


"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  
Luke 2:8-14
A "tiding" is an announcement or a piece of news that is favorable. It is a good message to be shared. The thing about a tiding or message is that it needs a messenger in order for it to be shared. Both Isaiah and Luke point out the messengers that bring good tidings in our passages today.

Isaiah says that those who bring good tidings have beautiful feet. The NIV study notes tell us that in ancient times during battle, a messenger would run from the scene of the battle to bring news of the outcome to the waiting king and people. Isaiah notes that when the message is good, then the feet of the one who brings it are beautiful. In Isaiah's proclamation of deliverance in Isaiah 52:7, he says that the announced good news is one of peace, good tidings and salvation. 

A similar message would ring out in praise on the night of Jesus' birth. The angel proclaims "good news of great joy that will be for all people" (Luke 2:10). A heavenly host of angels respond to the glad tidings with praise to God:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  Luke 2:14



Both spread the same message of good tidings: Our God reigns! The happy news that Jesus Christ the Savior has come to earth is a message of God's glory and our peace.

"The coming of this child will be the greatest revelation of the glory of God even among the heights of heaven, and the coming of this child will bring peace to God’s people—who will one day fill the whole earth with righteousness and peace." ~  John Piper
"The story of the world meeting Jesus in the flesh is a story of the world finding their full joy in God." ~Marshall Segal
God's good tidings are Joy to the World!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come !





Share your creative response to the Advent Words challenge in our private Facebook group  Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/

If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.

Share on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2018.


Check out my Pinterest board for this challenge and see some of the wonderful and diverse creativity of Advent Words 2018 participants. https://www.pinterest.com/marynbtol/advent-words-2018-challenge/



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