Five Minute Friday (on Tuesday) - Announce

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One word. Five minutes to write about it. This is the idea behind Five Minute Friday and this is today's free-writing post.

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I thought about the announcements of angels throughout Scripture, and of the great proclamations of the prophets that a Messiah would come. I thought about John the Baptist whose ministry was to prepare the way for the Lord. He announced the coming kingdom. And Jesus announced his kingdom to his followers and commissioned them to continue to spread the good news and make disciples.

We love to hear announcements of good news! A graduation announcement, a wedding announcement, a baby announcement . . . these are exciting and occasions to rejoice with our friends. I wasn't sure what to write about for this prompt though, so I looked to Scripture for an idea. I wasn't sure that the word "announce" was actually used when the angel appeared to Mary or to the shepherds, even though those certainly were monumental announcements and the first ones that came to mind because, after all, it's the Christmas season.

Here's the passage of Scripture that jumped out at me:

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious,

lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

I will take away the chariots from Ephraim

and the warhorses from Jerusalem,

and the battle bow will be broken.

He will proclaim peace to the nations.

His rule will extend from sea to sea

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,

I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.

Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope;

even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

~Zechariah 9:9-12~

 

What was God announcing through his prophet? I checked a couple of commentaries. I liked the way one explained it - that because God's promise was faithful, even the prisoners are prisoners of hope. The promise is meant to encourage them. The instruction to the return to the fortress, or stronghold, might mean to get back to a military fortress where they are protected and can regroup and prepare. But perhaps it's also meant in a spiritual sense. After all, God is our Rock and our Fortress, a mighty Tower that the righteous can run to, our strong Deliverer.

No matter what circumstances we are in, or how bleak the outlook, our God's promise is sure and faithful. He is our hope and our salvation. If we are prisoners of hope, we can always return to the strong fortress that is the Lord himself.

This is a season of hope and celebration, but many believers are discouraged and fearful. Return to the fortress, you prisoners of hope! God has announced that he will never leave you nor forsake you! Those who do not know the Messiah are longing for peace and purpose. Let's call them and bring them to the fortress and welcome them into the fellowship of the prisoners of hope. God has announced that his coming is good news that will bring great joy to all people!

You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

~Acts 10:36~

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This post is linked at Five Minute Friday for the word prompt "Announce".

This post will be linked at Scripture and a Snapshot hosted by Just A Second, and at Let's Have Coffee hosted by Joanne Viola: Days and Thoughts

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