Day 337.
Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him
who brings good news,
who publishes peace!
Keep your feasts, O Judah;
fulfill your vows,
for never again shall the worthless pass through you;
he is utterly cut off. (Nahum 1:15 ESV)
THe apostle Paul quotes this verse in chapter 10 of Romans to refer to the person who proclaims the gospel of Jesus. But its original context, found here in Nahum, refers to the messenger who comes to Jerusalem (the reference to the mountains) bearing news of Babylon’s demise and an ensuing peace. Babylon was the enemy of Israel that conquered Jerusalem and carried into captivity the people of the land. Victory over the enemies of God’s people is good news and when we proclaim the gospel of Jesus we are doing nothing less than announcing victory over those enemies. Israel in the Old Testament was a type of the Kingdom of God that will one day cover the new heavens and the new earth, the true promised land, just as Babylon was a type of spiritual forces of evil arrayed against the Kingdom of God. Jesus came to “bind up the strongman” the devil by stripping him of his weapons. The devil, our adversary wields death as his weapon which we are susceptible to as long as we carry sin with us. Jesus takes that burden of sin away from us and thus defeats the power of Satan’s greatest weapon. This is good news!
The Old Testament is full of “types and shadows” of greater realities. Is it helpful to read the Old Testament through the eyes of the New?
Thank God for the history of God’s people and the glory of God’s plan revealed in it!
McCheyne’s reading plan: 2 Ch 2, 1 Jn 2, Na 1, Ps 110-111
Yes
it is the best of news. Praise the Lord! gabby